Lyla Lindsey
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand on 28 June 1914 was the catalyst for Austria-Hungary's declaration of war on Serbia on 28 July 1914, marking the beginning of World War I. The decision to go to war was influenced by several factors, including growing nationalism, increased militarism, imperial rivalry, and competition for power and influence. Austria-Hungary's annexation of Bosnia in 1908 and Serbia's ambitions to unify Southeast Europe's Slavic people had already strained relations between the two nations. The assassination of the Archduke by a Serbian nationalist provided the confirmation Austria-Hungary needed to assert its dominance and punish Serbia, encouraged by its powerful ally, Germany.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of declaration of war | 28 July 1914 |
| Country Austria-Hungary declared war on | Serbia |
| Reason | Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by a Serbian-backed terrorist |
| Support | Germany |
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What You'll Learn
Austria-Hungary's annexation of Bosnia
The annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina by Austria-Hungary in 1908 was a significant event that upset the fragile balance of power in the Balkans and contributed to the outbreak of World War I. The annexation sparked outrage and protestations from Serbia, Russia, and other Balkan neighbours, leading to a diplomatic crisis known as the Bosnian Crisis or the First Balkan Crisis.
At the Congress of Berlin in 1878, which ended the Russo-Turkish War, Austria-Hungary was granted the right to occupy and administer Bosnia and Herzegovina, while sovereignty remained with the Ottoman Empire. This occupation was intended to be temporary, but in 1881, both Germany and Russia endorsed Austria's right to annex the provinces under the Three Emperors' League treaty. Despite this endorsement, Austria-Hungary's control over the provinces faced opposition from various factions. The largely Slavic population of Bosnia and Herzegovina had their own nationalist ambitions, which were aligned with their fellow Slavs in nearby Serbia, who also aspired to annex the provinces to further their pan-Slavic ambitions.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, several factors led to a deterioration of relations between Austria-Hungary and Serbia. Russia's ability to support Serbia was weakened after the 1905 Russo-Japanese War, and by 1907, Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister Alois Aehrenthal began formulating plans to solidify Austria-Hungary's position towards Serbia through the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 1908, when the Young Turks staged a revolution in Constantinople, Aehrenthal seized the opportunity to resolve to annex the provinces before the new Turkish regime could regain control. On October 6, 1908, the Dual Monarchy of Austria-Hungary officially announced its annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, asserting its dominance over the strategically valuable region.
The annexation caused outrage in Serbia, which had close geographical and ethnic ties to the annexed provinces. Serbia demanded that Austria cede a portion of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Serbia, and Russia, despite initially agreeing to the annexation, was forced to support Serbia due to strong popular opposition at home. The crisis was eventually resolved without immediate warfare, but it permanently damaged relations between Austria-Hungary and its neighbours, particularly Serbia, Italy, and Russia. The resentment and embittered relations contributed to the outbreak of World War I, as the struggle for power in the Balkans escalated into a devastating international conflict.
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Serbian nationalism
Austria-Hungary had long been concerned about the rise of Serbian power in the Balkans. Serbia's ambitions to unite all Southern Slavs under its rule clashed with Austria-Hungary's dominance in the region, particularly after its annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1908, which violated the Berlin Treaty and upset the fragile balance of power. The Balkan Wars of 1912-1913 further strengthened Serbia's position, making it a more formidable challenger to Austria-Hungary's influence in the region.
The assassination of the Archduke provided Austria-Hungary with a pretext to confront Serbia decisively. Encouraged by its ally Germany, Austria-Hungary presented Serbia with an ultimatum, demanding the suppression of anti-Austrian propaganda and the right to conduct its investigation into the Archduke's killing. Serbia accepted all demands except one, but this was enough for Austria-Hungary to break diplomatic relations and prepare for war.
The conflict between Austria-Hungary and Serbia was also influenced by the broader context of growing nationalism and imperial rivalry across Europe. Russia's support for Serbia, and its subsequent mobilisation, brought other powers into the conflict, including Germany, France, and eventually Britain, thus escalating the crisis into World War I.
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German encouragement
The decision to go to war against Serbia was influenced by German encouragement in several ways. Firstly, the German Emperor informed Austro-Hungarian Ambassador Count Ladislaus de Szögyény-Marich that Austria-Hungary could count on Germany's full support, even if "grave European complications" arose. This assurance of unconditional support was a significant factor in Austria-Hungary's declaration of war.
Secondly, Germany actively encouraged Austria-Hungary to take swift and aggressive action against Serbia. On July 4, 1914, German Emperor Wilhelm II declared his support for "settling accounts with Serbia" and instructed Count Heinrich von Tschirschky, the German ambassador in Vienna, to convey this message to the Austro-Hungarian government. Tschirschky assured Austria-Hungary of Germany's unwavering support, stating that Germany would stand by the monarchy "through thick and thin".
Thirdly, Germany's military preparedness and eagerness for war influenced Austria-Hungary's decision to go to war. The Saxon Ambassador in Berlin reported that the German General Staff "would be pleased if war were to come about now", indicating that Germany was ready and willing to engage in military conflict. This sentiment was echoed by German officials, who stated that Germany was ready for a war against Russia and France.
Lastly, Germany's influence over Austria-Hungary's policies and military leadership played a role in encouraging Austria-Hungary to go to war. By 1914, leading government circles in Vienna were convinced that offensive action against Serbia was necessary for the integrity of the empire. British officials, such as Lord Grey, acknowledged Germany's influence over Austria's policies and military, stating that "Germany dictates her policies, changes her Cabinet and commands her armies." This German encouragement and influence provided the confirmation Austria-Hungary needed to declare war on Serbia.
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Russian support of Serbia
Austria-Hungary's declaration of war on Serbia on July 28, 1914, was a significant factor in the outbreak of World War I. This declaration of war triggered a chain reaction of events, including Russia's entry into the conflict. While there was no formal alliance between Russia and Serbia, they shared close bilateral ties, and Russia had a vested interest in supporting Serbia due to the rise of Pan-Slavism.
Russia's support for Serbia can be attributed to several factors, including historical context, strategic interests, and the desire to maintain influence in the Balkans. Firstly, Russia had a history of supporting Serbia's aspirations for independence and self-governance, dating back to the Serbian Revolution in the early 19th century. Encouraged by the Russian Empire, Serbia's revolt against Ottoman rule in 1804 evolved into a war for independence by 1807, with Russia justifying its intervention on the grounds of "fraternal allegiance" under Pan-Slavism.
Secondly, Russia viewed Serbia as a strategic ally in its competition with Austria-Hungary and Germany for influence in the Balkans. Russia sought to counter France's support for uprisings and independence movements in the region, such as the one in the Balkans, by promoting the Pan-Slavic ideal—the belief that all Slavs should be united under Russian leadership. Serbia's position as a champion of this ideal brought it closer to Russia and made it a crucial ally in Russia's geopolitical ambitions.
Additionally, Russia had secured French support and feared that failing to defend Serbia would damage its credibility and undermine its influence in the Balkans. Tsar Nicholas II faced pressure from his advisors and the Russian public to support Serbia, as abandoning Serbia to the ultimatum of Austria-Hungary could lead to a revolution and threaten his throne.
In response to Austria-Hungary's declaration of war on Serbia, Russia issued an ultimatum to Vienna, warning against attacking Serbia. As the conflict escalated, Russia began mobilizing its reserve army along the border with Austria-Hungary. This mobilization, ordered by Tsar Nicholas II on July 30, 1914, was seen as a critical decision in the July Crisis and led to military action by German forces, who declared war on Russia on August 1, followed by Austria-Hungary on August 6.
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Austria-Hungary's ultimatum to Serbia
On 28 June 1914, the Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated by a young Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo, Bosnia. This assassination was the catalyst for a series of events that would lead to World War I. In the aftermath of the assassination, Austria-Hungary, with the support of its allies in Berlin, pursued a hard-line policy towards Serbia. On 23 July 1914, nearly one month after the assassination, Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia.
The ultimatum was delivered by Baron Giesl von Gieslingen, the ambassador of the Austro-Hungarian Empire to Serbia, to the Serbian foreign ministry. It demanded that Austrian officials be allowed to participate in the investigation of the assassination and in the hunting down and prosecution of the ringleaders on Serbian territory. This demand infringed upon Serbia's state sovereignty. Serbia was given 48 hours to respond to the ultimatum.
Serbia's response, delivered by Prime Minister Nicola Pasic on 25 July, accepted most of the demands but rejected the participation of Austrian officials in investigations on Serbian sovereign territory. This rejection was seen as a surprise, as it was expected that Serbia would not accept the ultimatum. However, Austria's refusal to consider further negotiations made it clear that they were not interested in a diplomatic solution.
The ultimatum was part of Austria-Hungary's plan to force a military conflict with Serbia, with the hope that it would end quickly and decisively with an Austrian victory before Serbia's powerful ally, Russia, had time to react. Despite Germany's efforts to contain the effects of the ultimatum, the possibility of Russian intervention loomed large. Russia's partial mobilisation of its armed forces increased Serbia's willingness to defy the Austro-Hungarian threat and alarmed the German leadership, who had not anticipated the potential conflict with Russia.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria-Hungary decided to go to war to eliminate Serbia as a state and prevent the disintegration of the Dual Monarchy.
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by a Serbian nationalist was the immediate cause of Austria-Hungary's decision to go to war.
Germany encouraged Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia and assured them of their full support.
Austria-Hungary's declaration of war on Serbia led to the First World War as it stirred up old tensions and anxieties across Europe, bringing Russia, France, and Britain into the conflict.
