Serbians Through Austria-Hungary's Wwi Lens

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, on June 28, 1914, by a Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo, set off a chain of events that led to World War I. This act threatened Austrian ambitions in the Balkans and was deemed a provocation by Austria-Hungary, which had long viewed Serbia as a hostile neighbour. The assassination was the culmination of rising tensions between the two nations, with Austria-Hungary seeking to suppress Serbian nationalism and maintain dominance in the region. The conflict was also fuelled by Serbia's desire to establish a pan-Slavic state, which Austria-Hungary saw as a direct threat to its multi-ethnic empire. As a result, Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia, which was largely accepted, but this did not prevent the former from declaring war on July 28, 1914, marking the start of World War I.

Austria-Hungary's declaration of war on Serbia

In the aftermath of the assassination, Austria-Hungary sought to punish Serbia and curb its nationalist aspirations. On July 23, 1914, Austria-Hungary, with the backing of its ally Germany, presented Serbia with an ultimatum, demanding, among other things, the suppression of anti-Austrian propaganda and the allowance of an Austrian investigation into the assassination. Serbia accepted most of the demands but rejected the demand for an Austrian-led investigation, which it saw as an infringement of its sovereignty.

Austria-Hungary broke off diplomatic relations with Serbia on July 25 and began preparing for military action. This escalation alarmed other European powers, who feared that the conflict could escalate into a wider European war. Despite last-minute attempts at mediation, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28, 1914, initiating a chain reaction of alliances and hostilities that plunged Europe into World War I.

The Austro-Hungarian Army initiated hostilities by bombarding Belgrade, the Serbian capital, across the Danube River. The invasion of Serbia, however, proved more challenging than expected, and it was not until October 1915, with the support of German and Bulgarian forces, that they were able to breach the Serbian front and occupy the country. The occupation was marked by brutal repression, including massacres, deportations, and the establishment of concentration camps, with an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 Serbian civilians deported to camps in Austria-Hungary.

The occupation of Serbia was driven by Austria-Hungary's desire to quash Serbian independence and nationalism, which it saw as a threat to its multi-national empire. The harsh measures implemented during the occupation aimed to denationalise the Serb population and exploit Serbia's economic resources. Ultimately, the occupation ended in November 1918 with the liberation of Serbia by Allied forces, marking a turning point in the war.

The Serbian Campaign

The First Campaign (1914)

The first campaign, dubbed a "punitive expedition" by the Austro-Hungarian leadership, was commanded by Austrian General Oskar Potiorek and consisted of three unsuccessful invasions of Serbia. The first invasion began on August 12, 1914, when Austro-Hungarian forces attacked Serbia from the west and north. Despite their superior numbers, the Austro-Hungarian forces were defeated by the Serbian army, which used its knowledge of the rugged terrain and rivers to its advantage. The Battle of Cer, which resulted in the defeat of the Austro-Hungarian 5th Army, marked the first Allied victory of World War I.

After the failure of the first invasion, Austria-Hungary launched a second invasion in September 1914. At the Battle of the Drina, the Serbs pushed the 5th Army back into Bosnia, and on September 25, forced the remaining Austro-Hungarian forces to retreat to avoid encirclement. However, Potiorek launched a third invasion in October, reaching deep into northern Serbia and capturing Belgrade, the Serbian capital, on December 2, 1914. The Serbian Army counter-attacked and expelled the Austro-Hungarian forces from its territory before the end of December, ending the first campaign.

The Second Campaign (1915)

The second campaign was launched almost a year later, on October 6, 1915, under German command. Bulgarian, Austro-Hungarian, and German forces, led by Field Marshal August von Mackensen, successfully invaded Serbia from three sides. This resulted in the Great Retreat through Montenegro and Albania and the evacuation of Serbian forces to Greece. The defeat of Serbia gave the Central Powers temporary control over the Balkans, opening a land route to resupply the Ottoman Empire. Serbia was then occupied and divided between the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Bulgaria.

Liberation of Serbia (1918)

In September 1918, Allied forces, including the Serbian Second Army, broke through the Macedonian front, leading to the liberation of Serbia and the retreat of Austro-Hungarian troops. By November 1, 1918, all of pre-war Serbia had been liberated, bringing an end to the occupation.

The Austro-Hungarian occupation of Serbia

The first invasion of Serbia, dubbed a "punitive expedition" by the Austro-Hungarians, lasted only thirteen days but was marked by massacres of civilians and the taking of hostages. Between 3,500 and 4,000 Serb civilians were killed in executions and acts of random violence. Mass killings took place in numerous towns in northern Serbia, with women, children, and the elderly making up most of the victims. The Austro-Hungarian troops committed a number of war crimes, especially in the area of Mačva.

The second invasion of Serbia began in September 1914 and was more successful for the Austro-Hungarian forces. They managed to capture Valjevo and Belgrade, forcing the Royal Serbian Army to retreat. The Austro-Hungarians established multiple concentration camps, interning tens of thousands of Serbs. The conditions in these camps were harsh and led to many deaths.

By January 1916, all of Serbia had been occupied by the Central Powers. Serbia was divided into two separate occupation zones: an Austro-Hungarian zone and a Bulgarian zone. The goal of the Austro-Hungarian administration was to denationalise the Serb population and exploit the country's economic resources. They imposed martial law, banned political organisations, and restricted civil liberties. Between 150,0000 and 200,000 Serb men, women, and children were deported to internment and concentration camps in Austria-Hungary.

The occupation lasted until the end of World War I, when Allied forces broke through the Salonica front, leading to the liberation of Serbia and the retreat of Austro-Hungarian troops by the end of October 1918. The occupation had devastating consequences for Serbia, with widespread destruction, epidemics, and a depleted population.

The Balkan dispute

The Balkan region was a source of tension between Austria-Hungary and Serbia in the years leading up to World War I. This dispute was fuelled by competing ambitions and ethnic nationalism, which ultimately contributed to the outbreak of the war.

Austria-Hungary, a multi-ethnic empire, sought to suppress ethnic nationalism within its borders as it posed a threat to the empire's stability. In contrast, Serbia, backed by the Pan-Slavic and Orthodox Russian Empire, aimed to unite all Balkan Slavs under its kingdom, challenging Austria-Hungary's dominance in the region.

The annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina by Austria-Hungary in 1908 angered Serbia, which considered these territories as rightfully belonging to the Kingdom of Serbia. This annexation further strained relations and destabilised the region, known as the "powder keg of Europe".

The First Balkan War (1912-1913) resulted in the expansion of Serbian territory and its emergence as a larger and more assertive power in southeast Europe. This increased Serbia's threat to the stability of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, particularly with its ambitions to unify southeast Europe's Slavic people.

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, by Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb student and nationalist, on 28 June 1914, served as the immediate spark that ignited the dispute into a regional conflict. Austria-Hungary blamed the Serbian government for the assassination and used it as a pretext to punish and crush Serbia.

Austria-Hungary, with the support of its ally Germany, issued an ultimatum to Serbia on 23 July 1914, demanding, among other things, the suppression of anti-Austrian propaganda and the participation of Austro-Hungarian officials in the investigation of the archduke's assassination. Serbia accepted all but one of the demands, refusing to allow Austro-Hungarian officials in the inquiry.

Austria-Hungary found Serbia's response inadequate and declared war on 28 July 1914, marking the beginning of World War I. The dispute quickly escalated as Russia, France, Germany, and other European powers became involved, turning a localised conflict into a global war.

The ultimatum to Serbia

On June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the thrones of Austria and Hungary, was assassinated in Sarajevo, Bosnia. The assassination was carried out by Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb student and member of an organisation of national revolutionaries called Young Bosnia. This event triggered a chain of events that eventually led to World War I.

Austria-Hungary, threatened by Serbian ambition in the tumultuous Balkans region, decided that a military invasion of Serbia was the appropriate response to the assassination. After securing the support of its powerful ally, Germany, Austria-Hungary presented Serbia with an ultimatum—a series of demands designed to be unacceptable and to provoke a war. This ultimatum was delivered on July 23, 1914, and included the following key points:

• The Serbian government was required to officially distance itself from the political campaign to unite the southern Slav peoples under Serbian leadership, which challenged the territorial integrity of Austria-Hungary.
• The purging of the Serbian army and civil service of anti-Austrian agitators and the suppression of anti-Austrian propaganda in the Serbian press.
• The participation of Austrian officials in the investigation of the assassination and the prosecution of the ringleaders on Serbian territory, which infringed upon Serbia's state sovereignty.
• The suppression of publications inciting hatred or contempt for the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and the confiscation of propaganda tools.
• The removal of content from Serbian public education that incited propaganda against Austria-Hungary.
• The dismissal of military and administrative officials who were guilty of carrying out propaganda against Austria-Hungary.
• The initiation of judicial inquiries against participants in the conspiracy who may have been found in Serbian territory, with the participation of Austrian officials.
• The arrest of specific individuals implicated in the assassination, including Commandant Vojislav Tankosić and Milan Ciganović, a Serbian state employee.
• The prevention of Serbian authorities from aiding the illegal trafficking of arms and explosives across the border and the punishment of any border officials who neglected their duties.
• Explanations for hostile remarks made by Serbian officials, both domestically and abroad, expressing hostility towards the Monarchy.

Serbia was given 48 hours to respond to the ultimatum. On July 25, Serbia accepted the majority of the demands but rejected the demand for Austrian officials to operate within its territory. As a result, Austria-Hungary broke off diplomatic relations with Serbia and continued with military preparedness measures.

The rejection of the ultimatum by Serbia, coupled with the mobilisation of the Russian army, led to a diplomatic crisis that ultimately escalated into World War I. On July 28, 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, marking the beginning of the First World War.

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