Austria-Hungary's Demands: What Were Serbia's Options?

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife on 28 June 1914 by a young Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo, Bosnia, was the catalyst for a series of events that led to the outbreak of World War I. Austria-Hungary, with the full support of its allies in Berlin, pursued a hard-line policy towards Serbia. The plan, developed in coordination with the German foreign office, was to force a military conflict that would end quickly and decisively with a crushing Austrian victory before Serbia's powerful ally, Russia, had time to react.

On 23 July 1914, Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia, demanding that they accept an Austro-Hungarian inquiry into the assassination, suppress all anti-Austrian propaganda, and take steps to root out and eliminate terrorist organisations within its borders. The ultimatum was designed to be unacceptable to Serbia, and Vienna was not interested in a diplomatic solution. Serbia was required to react within 48 hours.

Serbia's response on 25 July accepted the majority of the demands but rejected the final point concerning the participation of Austrian officials in investigations on Serbian sovereign territory. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on 28 July 1914, beginning World War I.

To investigate the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, on 28 June 1914 was one of the key events that led to World War I. The assassination was carried out by 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 investigation into the assassination was swift, with most of the conspirators caught within a month. The assassins were helped by the Black Hand, a Serbian secret nationalist group, and Major Vojislav Tankosić, who provided bombs, pistols, and training to the assassins. The assassins were also aided by Rade Malobabić, a Serbian intelligence agent, who provided them with access to a clandestine network of safe houses and agents.

The assassins and key members of the clandestine network were tried in Sarajevo in October 1914. Twenty-five people were indicted, including six assassins, four Bosnian Croats, and all Austro-Hungarian citizens, none from Serbia. Gavrilo Princip, who shot the Archduke and his wife at close range, was found guilty of murder and high treason. Being too young to be executed, he was sentenced to twenty years in jail. Four other attackers also received jail terms, and five of the older prisoners were sentenced to be hanged.

The investigation also revealed the involvement of Serbian military intelligence in the assassination. In 1917, three leaders of the Black Hand were tried and executed by the Serbian court on fabricated charges of high treason.

Austria-Hungary's Demands from Serbia

Following the assassination, Austria-Hungary sought to inflict a military blow on Serbia, demonstrating its strength and attempting to dampen Serbian support for Yugoslav nationalism, which it viewed as a threat to the unity of its multi-national empire. On 23 July 1914, Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia, demanding that it:

• Officially distance itself from the political campaign to unite the southern Slav peoples under Serbian leadership.
• Purge the Serbian army and civil service of anti-Austrian agitators.
• Suppress anti-Austrian propaganda in the Serbian press.
• Track down and take legal action against extremist secret organizations operating against Austria.
• Allow Austrian officials to take part in the investigation and prosecution of the ringleaders on Serbian territory.

The ultimatum was intentionally formulated to be unacceptable to Serbia, and Serbia's rejection of it ultimately led to Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia on 28 July 1914, exactly a month after the assassination of the Archduke.

To suppress anti-Austrian propaganda

The suppression of anti-Austrian propaganda in Serbia was one of the six demands made by Austria-Hungary in an ultimatum issued to Serbia on 23 July 1914. The ultimatum was designed to be unacceptable and to prevent a diplomatic solution. The other demands included:

• That the Serbian government distance itself from the campaign to unite the southern Slav peoples under Serbian leadership.
• The purging of the Serbian army and civil service of anti-Austrian agitators.
• The tracking down and prosecution of extremist secret organisations operating against Austria.
• The participation of Austrian officials in the investigation and prosecution of the ringleaders of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

Austria-Hungary's aim in suppressing anti-Austrian propaganda in Serbia was to prevent Serbian support for Yugoslav nationalism, which it viewed as a threat to the unity of its multi-national empire. The ultimatum was part of a series of diplomatic and military escalations among the major powers of Europe in the summer of 1914, which ultimately led to the outbreak of World War I.

To eliminate terrorist organisations within Serbia

Austria-Hungary's ultimatum to Serbia in July 1914 was a direct response to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, by a young Serbian nationalist named Gavrilo Princip. The ultimatum, which was issued by the Austro-Hungarian ambassador to Serbia, Baron Giesl von Gieslingen, contained a series of demands designed to be unacceptable to Serbia, including the suppression of anti-Austrian propaganda and the elimination of terrorist organisations within Serbia.

One of the key demands of the ultimatum was that Serbia take steps to root out and eliminate terrorist organisations within its borders. This demand was directly related to the assassination of the Archduke, as it was believed that Princip and his cohorts had received support from a secret organisation called the Black Hand, which operated within Serbia. The Black Hand was believed to have provided weapons and safe passage to the assassins, enabling them to carry out the attack in Sarajevo.

By making this demand, Austria-Hungary was seeking to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure that had facilitated the assassination and to prevent future attacks on its interests. Specifically, they wanted Serbia to take decisive action against extremist groups operating within its territory and to cut off their access to weapons and other resources. This demand was also intended to weaken Serbia's ability to carry out subversive activities against Austria-Hungary and to reduce its potential threat to the stability of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

The ultimatum gave Serbia just 48 hours to respond, and it was anticipated that Serbia would refuse to comply with all the demands. Indeed, while Serbia's response accepted most of the terms, it rejected the demand for Austrian participation in internal investigations, citing violations of its Constitution and criminal procedure laws. This rejection was enough for Austria-Hungary to break off diplomatic relations and, on July 28, 1914, declare war on Serbia, marking the beginning of World War I.

To prevent an escalation of conflict

On 23 July 1914, the Austro-Hungarian government issued an ultimatum to Serbia to prevent an escalation of conflict. The ultimatum was composed of six concrete demands, which were:

• The Serbian government was required to officially distance itself from the political campaign to unite the southern Slav peoples under Serbian leadership, which was a challenge to the territorial integrity of Austria-Hungary.
• The purging of the Serbian army and civil service of anti-Austrian agitators.
• The suppression of anti-Austrian propaganda in the Serbian press.
• The Serbian government was called upon to track down and take legal proceedings against extremist secret organisations operating against Austria.
• Austrian officials were to be involved in the investigation and prosecution of the ringleaders on Serbian territory.
• The provision of "explanations" to the Austro-Hungarian government regarding "Serbian officials" who had expressed themselves in interviews "in terms of hostility to the Austro-Hungarian Government".

The ultimatum was to be responded to within 48 hours. While Serbia accepted the majority of the demands, it rejected the final point concerning the participation of Austrian officials in investigations on Serbian sovereign territory. This rejection, along with the Austrian foreign minister's refusal to consider further negotiations, made it clear that Vienna was not interested in a diplomatic solution.

• The Austro-Hungarian government could have engaged in diplomatic negotiations with Serbia prior to issuing the ultimatum, seeking a peaceful resolution to the tensions between the two countries.
• The ultimatum could have been drafted with more flexible and acceptable terms for Serbia, allowing for a face-saving solution that addressed the concerns of both parties.
• The Austro-Hungarian government could have accepted Serbia's response to the ultimatum, which accepted the majority of the demands. Further negotiations could have been held to reach a compromise on the involvement of Austrian officials in the investigations.
• External powers, such as Germany, could have exerted pressure on Austria-Hungary to pursue a more diplomatic approach and avoid an escalation of conflict.
• A mediation process could have been facilitated by neutral parties, such as Switzerland or the Ottoman Empire, to help resolve the differences between Austria-Hungary and Serbia.
• A regional security mechanism or organisation could have been established to address conflicts and tensions in the Balkans, providing a platform for dialogue and negotiation.

To demonstrate its own strength

Austria-Hungary's ultimatum to Serbia was designed to be rejected. The harsh demands of the ultimatum were intended to provoke Serbia into refusing, which would justify Austria-Hungary's subsequent military action. The ultimatum was issued on 23 July 1914, nearly a month after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by a Serbian nationalist. The ultimatum included the following demands:

• Serbia must accept an Austro-Hungarian inquiry into the assassination, despite already conducting its own internal investigation.
• Serbia must suppress all anti-Austrian propaganda.
• Serbia must take steps to root out and eliminate terrorist organisations within its borders, including the Black Hand, which was believed to have aided Franz Ferdinand's killer, Gavrilo Princip.
• Austria-Hungary must be allowed to participate in any internal inquiry, which would violate Serbian sovereignty.

Austria-Hungary's plan, developed in coordination with Germany, was to force a military conflict that would end quickly and decisively with a crushing Austrian victory before Serbia's powerful ally, Russia, had time to react. However, Russia ordered a partial mobilisation of its armed forces before Serbia's response to the ultimatum, increasing Serbia's willingness to defy Austria-Hungary and alarming the Germans.

Austria-Hungary's ultimatum to Serbia was part of a series of interrelated diplomatic and military escalations among the major powers of Europe in the summer of 1914, known as the July Crisis, which ultimately led to the outbreak of World War I.

Frequently asked questions