Serbia's Role In Archduke Franz Ferdinand's Assassination

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, on June 28, 1914, was one of the key events that led to World War I. The assassination was carried out by a group of Bosnian assassins, including Gavrilo Princip, a 19-year-old Bosnian Serb and member of Young Bosnia, a secret revolutionary society aiming to free Bosnia and Herzegovina from Austrian-Hungarian rule. While Princip is often regarded as the sole assassin, there were six conspirators in total, all armed with bombs and pistols, and affiliated with the Serbian nationalist society Black Hand. This group had ties to the Serbian government and was dedicated to uniting Bosnia with Serbia. The assassination of Franz Ferdinand by Serbian nationalists sparked a rapid descent into World War I, as Austria-Hungary, supported by Germany, declared war on Serbia, leading to a series of declarations that drew Europe into conflict.

The Serbian government's involvement

The Black Hand Connection

The Black Hand, a Serbian secret nationalist group with close ties to the Serbian army, played a crucial role in the assassination. The group provided the assassins with weapons, training, and safe houses. Major Vojislav Tankosić, a member of the Black Hand, supplied bombs and pistols to the assassins and trained them in their use. Additionally, the assassins were given access to a clandestine network of safe houses and agents led by Rade Malobabić, a Serbian intelligence agent. This network was used to infiltrate weapons and operatives into Austria-Hungary.

Serbian Military Intelligence

Some historians argue that the assassination was a Serbian Military Intelligence operation. Dragutin Dimitrijević, the chief of the military intelligence section of the Serbian general staff, was closely linked to the Black Hand and played a role in supporting the assassination plot. Additionally, there is evidence that Rade Malobabić, the Serbian Military Intelligence's chief undercover operative against Austria-Hungary, was involved in the planning and execution of the assassination.

Serbian Government Complicity

While the extent of the Serbian government's direct involvement in the assassination remains unclear, there is evidence that suggests some level of complicity. For example, Serbian Prime Minister Nikola Pašić received early information about the assassination plan from the President of the Narodna Odbrana, Boža Milanović. Pašić was informed early enough to have ordered the border guards to prevent the assassins from crossing into Austria-Hungary, but he did not take any action. Additionally, the Serbian government denied making any warnings to Austria-Hungary about the plot and denied knowledge of it. However, Serbian Ambassador to France Milenko Vesnić and Serbian Ambassador to Russia Miroslav Spalajković initially put out statements claiming that Serbia had warned Austria-Hungary of the impending assassination.

The Salonika Trial

In 1917, members of the Black Hand and Serbian military officers were tried before a Serbian court in Salonika on charges of high treason. During the trial, Colonel Dragutin Dimitrijević, known as Apis, confessed to ordering the assassination in his position as head of the Intelligence Department. However, Apis made these claims while facing execution for high treason, and they could not be proven. Additionally, Serbia suppressed Apis's confession and the trial transcripts, making it difficult for historians to establish the full extent of the Serbian government's involvement.

In conclusion, while the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand was carried out by a group of Bosnian assassins, evidence suggests that the Serbian government may have had some level of involvement or, at the very least, knowledge of the plot. The actions of the Black Hand, Serbian Military Intelligence, and the complicity of high-ranking Serbian officials all point to a degree of Serbian government involvement. However, the true extent of their role remains a subject of historical debate and further research.

The role of the Black Hand

The Black Hand was a Serbian secret society and terrorist group with close ties to the Serbian army. It was formed in 1911 by members of the Serbian royal army and was dedicated to creating a Greater Serbia through "terrorist action".

In May 1914, three members of a Bosnian revolutionary group known as the Young Bosnians travelled to Belgrade, where they met with members of the Black Hand. The Young Bosnians received six handheld bombs, four semi-automatic pistols, and cyanide suicide capsules from the Black Hand. They also received training on how to use the weapons. The Black Hand further helped the Young Bosnians smuggle their weapons across the border.

The Black Hand was supported by Dragutin Dimitrijević, chief of the military intelligence section of the Serbian general staff, as well as Major Vojislav Tankosić and Rade Malobabić, a Serbian intelligence agent. Tankosić provided the assassins with bombs and pistols and trained them in their use. Malobabić gave the assassins access to a network of safe houses and agents that he used for the infiltration of weapons and operatives into Austria-Hungary.

After the assassination, members of the Black Hand were arrested and tried before a Serbian court in Salonika in 1917 on fabricated charges of high treason. The group was disbanded, and three of its leaders were executed.

The Young Bosnians

The members of the Young Bosnians were predominantly school students who were inspired by a diverse range of philosophical and ideological influences. They were influenced by historical events such as the Battle of Kosovo and figures like Fyodor Dostoevsky and Friedrich Nietzsche. The group's activities were also influenced by Serbian and Croatian nationalist circles, as well as the rise to power of the Karađorđević dynasty in Serbia.

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand was one of the key events that led to World War I. The political objective of the Young Bosnians was to free Bosnia and Herzegovina from Austro-Hungarian rule and establish a common South Slav ("Yugoslav") state. The assassination precipitated the July Crisis, which ultimately led to Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia and the start of World War I.

The members of the Young Bosnians who participated in the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand were:

• Danilo Ilić
• Veljko Čubrilović
• Miško Jovanović
• Nedeljko Čabrinović
• Vladimir Gaćinović
• Trifko Grabež
• Gavrilo Princip
• Muhamed Mehmedbašić
• Cvjetko Popović
• Vaso Čubrilović

The July Crisis

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand was one of the key events that led to World War I. Princip was part of a group of six Bosnian assassins, all but one of whom were Bosnian Serbs and members of a student revolutionary group that later became known as Young Bosnia. The political objective of the assassination was to free Bosnia and Herzegovina of Austria-Hungarian rule and establish a common South Slav ("Yugoslav") state.

The assassination team was helped by the Black Hand, a Serbian secret nationalist group, with support from Dragutin Dimitrijević, chief of the military intelligence section of the Serbian general staff, as well as from Major Vojislav Tankosić and Rade Malobabić, a Serbian intelligence agent. Tankosić provided bombs and pistols to the assassins and trained them in their use. The assassins were given access to the same clandestine network of safe-houses and agents that Malobabić used for the infiltration of weapons and operatives into Austria-Hungary.

The assassination of Franz Ferdinand and his wife in Sarajevo was the most immediate cause of World War I. Following the murder, Austria-Hungary sought to inflict a military blow on Serbia, to demonstrate its own strength and to dampen Serbian support for Yugoslav nationalism, viewing it as a threat to the unity of its multi-national empire. However, Vienna, wary of the reaction of Russia (a major supporter of Serbia), sought a guarantee from its ally, Germany, that Berlin would support Austria in any conflict. Germany guaranteed its support through what came to be known as the "blank cheque", but urged Austria-Hungary to attack quickly to localise the war and avoid drawing in Russia.

Austria-Hungary made its ultimatum to Serbia on 23 July; before Serbia replied, Russia ordered a secret, but noticed, partial mobilisation of its armed forces. Though Russia's military leadership knew they were not yet strong enough for a general war, they believed that the Austro-Hungarian grievance against Serbia was a pretext orchestrated by Germany, and considered a forceful response to be the best course of action.

On 28 July 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. This declaration of war, along with the arms race, nationalism, imperialism, and militarism of Imperial Germany, and the alliance system, all contributed to the origins of World War I.

The July Ultimatum

• Formally and publicly condemn the "dangerous propaganda" against Austria-Hungary, which it claimed was ultimately aimed at detaching territories from the Monarchy.
• Suppress all publications that "incite hatred and contempt" of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and are "directed against its territorial integrity".
• Dissolve the Serbian nationalist organisation Narodna Odbrana ("The People's Defence") and all other such societies in Serbia.
• Eliminate, without delay, propaganda against Austria-Hungary from schoolbooks and public documents.
• Remove from the Serbian military and civil administration all officers and functionaries whose names the Austro-Hungarian government would provide.
• Accept in Serbia "representatives of the Austro-Hungarian Government" for the "suppression of subversive movements".
• Bring to trial all accessories to the Archduke's assassination and allow "Austro-Hungarian delegates" to take part in the investigations.
• Arrest Major Vojislav Tankosić and civil servant Milan Ciganović, who were named as participants in the assassination plot.
• Cease the cooperation of Serbian authorities in the "traffic in arms and explosives" across the frontier and dismiss and punish the officials of Šabac and Loznica frontier service, "guilty of having assisted the perpetrators of the Sarajevo crime".
• Provide "explanations" to the Austro-Hungarian government regarding "Serbian officials" who had expressed themselves in interviews "in terms of hostility" to the Austro-Hungarian Government.
• Notify the Austro-Hungarian Government "without delay" of the execution of the measures comprised in the ultimatum.

The ultimatum was formulated in terms so harsh that the Serbs would be unable to accept it. Additionally, Serbia was only given 48 hours to comply.

Frequently asked questions