Leslie Massey
The capture of Belgrade by Austria-Hungary in the winter of 1914 was a pivotal moment in the early stages of World War I. It marked the culmination of a series of events that began with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary by a Serbian nationalist in June 1914. This assassination sparked a diplomatic crisis, with Austria-Hungary issuing an ultimatum to Serbia, which was largely rejected, leading to a declaration of war on July 28, 1914, and the first of three Austrian offensives. Despite initial setbacks, the Austrians eventually captured Belgrade, only to be driven back by a Serbian counterattack less than two weeks later. This back-and-forth nature of the Serbian Campaign highlighted the complex web of alliances and hostilities that characterised the early months of World War I.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Austria-Hungary's declaration of war on Serbia | 28 July 1914 |
| Reason for declaration of war | Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria by a Serbian nationalist |
| Date Belgrade was captured by Austria-Hungary | 1 December 1914 |
| Date Belgrade was retaken by Serbia | 15 December 1914 |
| Outcome of the Serbian Campaign | Serbian victory, considered one of the great upsets of modern military history |
| Number of men in the Austro-Hungarian Army | 3,350,000 men of all ranks |
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What You'll Learn
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia
On 28 June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife were assassinated by a Serbian-backed assassin in Sarajevo, Bosnia. This event sparked a diplomatic crisis in Europe, with Austria-Hungary seeking to punish Serbia and quash support for Serbian nationalism. On 23 July 1914, Austria-Hungary presented Serbia with an ultimatum, demanding, among other things, the suppression of anti-Austrian propaganda and the involvement of Austro-Hungarian officials in the investigation of the Archduke's assassination.
Serbia accepted all demands except for the involvement of Austro-Hungarian officials in the inquiry, which would compromise its sovereignty. On 25 July, Austria broke off diplomatic relations with Serbia and began preparing for military action. On 28 July 1914, encouraged by its powerful ally Germany, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, effectively beginning World War I. The same night, Austrian artillery divisions initiated a brief bombardment of Belgrade across the Danube River.
Austria-Hungary's declaration of war on Serbia triggered a series of diplomatic and military escalations among the major powers of Europe, known as the July Crisis. Within six days, several European countries had declared war on one another, and by early August, hostilities had broken out among most of the major European states. The complex web of alliances and hostilities swept up the conflict in the Balkans into a wider European war.
The German government played a significant role in encouraging Austria-Hungary to take swift and decisive action against Serbia. Germany wanted to present a fait accompli to the world and believed that a swift war against Serbia would be the best way to start a general war. Germany assured Austria-Hungary of its unconditional support, even advising them to reject peaceful resolutions. On the other hand, Britain, France, and Russia, Serbia's supporters, looked on with trepidation, fearing the outbreak of a Balkans conflict that could explode into a general European war. Despite attempts at mediation by France and England, Austria-Hungary persisted with its plans for war, encouraged by Germany's refusal to curb its ally.
The Austrian occupation of Belgrade was short-lived, and by December 1914, they were in full retreat under Serbian pressure. The Serbian Campaign is often cited as a microcosmic example of the complexities and challenges faced by the Austro-Hungarian forces during World War I.
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Serbian Campaign
The Serbian Campaign was a series of military expeditions launched in 1914 and 1915 by the Central Powers against the Kingdom of Serbia during World War I. The conflict began when Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on 28 July 1914, marking the start of the First World War. The Serbian Campaign was a significant military operation and the first major confrontation between the Central Powers, led by Austria-Hungary, and the Allied Powers, led by the Kingdom of Serbia.
First Invasion
The first invasion of Serbia was launched by the Austrians in July 1914, with the objective of achieving a total defeat of Serbia. The Austro-Hungarian forces, known as Balkanstreitkräfte, consisted of the 5th and 6th Armies and attacked Serbia from the west and north. The Serbian army, commanded by General Radomir Putnik, utilised their knowledge of the rugged terrain and the strategic advantage of the rivers to defeat the 5th Army at the Battle of Cer, repelling the Austro-Hungarian forces out of Serbia. This victory is considered the first Allied victory of World War I.
Second Invasion
After the failure of the first invasion, Austria-Hungary regrouped and launched a second invasion in September 1914. At the Battle of the Drina, the Serbs pushed the 5th Army back into Bosnia and forced the remains of the Balkanstreitkräfte to retreat to avoid encirclement. On 24 October, the Valjevo Offensive marked the start of the third invasion, with Potiorek's forces reaching deep into northern Serbia. Despite their efforts, the Austro-Hungarian forces were unable to achieve a decisive victory and suffered heavy casualties, with 28,000 dead and 122,000 wounded.
Fall of Belgrade
On 29 November 1914, the Serbian High Command evacuated Belgrade, and by 1 December, Austrian troops had captured the city. The fall of Belgrade had been the primary war objective in the Austrian declaration of war. The Austrian army paraded through Belgrade on 3 December, while other units fought the Serbian army at Arandelovac. The Serbians had received fresh ammunition from the French and were able to inflict a decisive defeat on the Austrians, forcing them to retreat.
Liberation of Serbia
The Serbian Campaign of 1915 saw the Central Powers return with a massive offensive, combining the armies of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Bulgaria. Despite their numerical superiority, the Central Powers were unable to achieve a decisive victory, and the Serbian forces, with support from the Allies, were able to liberate Serbia, Albania, and Montenegro in September 1918. Serbian forces entered Belgrade on 1 November 1918, marking the end of the Serbian Campaign.
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Serbian forces evacuate Belgrade
The Serbian forces evacuated Belgrade on 29 November 1914, with Austrian troops taking the city by 1 December. The seizure of Belgrade was the only war objective in the Austrian declaration of war in July. The Austrian invasion of Serbia was launched with numerical inferiority, and the Serbian forces, led by Radomir Putnik, halted the Austrian advance at the Battle of Kolubara. However, Belgrade remained dangerously close to the front lines, and the Serbian High Command decided to evacuate.
The Austrian-Hungarian leadership dubbed their campaign a "punitive expedition" and it was under the command of Austrian General Oskar Potiorek. The campaign began after Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on 28 July 1914, one month after Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife were assassinated by a Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo. Austria-Hungary presented Serbia with an ultimatum on 23 July 1914, demanding, among other things, that all anti-Austrian propaganda within Serbia be suppressed. Although Serbia accepted all of Austria's demands except for one, Austria broke diplomatic relations with Serbia on 25 July and began military preparedness.
The Serbian forces, led by Radomir Putnik, were able to halt the Austrian advance at the Battle of Kolubara, but Belgrade remained vulnerable. The Serbian High Command decided to evacuate, and the Serbian troops marched through the countryside on 29 November 1914. The Austrian troops entered Belgrade on 1 December and celebrated in Vienna, believing they had achieved an impending victory. However, the Serbians had received fresh ammunition from the French and were able to launch a counterattack, inflicting a decisive defeat on the Austrians.
The Austrian forces, in their rush to take Belgrade, had become overextended, and by 4 December they were in full retreat under Serbian pressure. The Serbians retook Belgrade and forced the Austrians to retreat, resulting in a long spell of freedom from Austrian advances. The Serbian Campaign demonstrated the tenacity and resilience of the Serbian forces, who were able to hold off the Austrians despite their numerical inferiority and the exhaustion of their troops from previous conflicts.
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Austria-Hungary's ultimatum to Serbia
On June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife were assassinated in Sarajevo by a Serbian nationalist. This assassination was a significant catalyst for World War One. Austria-Hungary, threatened by Serbian ambition in the Balkans, decided to prepare for a possible military invasion of Serbia.
On July 23, 1914, Austria-Hungary presented Serbia with an ultimatum, a set of demands to be met within 48 hours. These included the suppression of all anti-Austrian propaganda in Serbia, the dissolution of certain Serbian societies, and the participation of Austrian officials in the investigation of the assassination on Serbian territory. The ultimatum was designed to be rejected, as a pretext for war. Serbia accepted all demands except the final point, which infringed upon its sovereignty.
On July 25, 1914, Austria broke off diplomatic relations with Serbia and began military preparedness measures. Russia, a major supporter of Serbia, ordered a partial mobilisation of its forces, and Germany urged Austria-Hungary to attack quickly to localise the war and avoid drawing in Russia. On July 28, 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, beginning World War One.
Austria-Hungary's invasion of Serbia was short-lived. The Serbian High Command evacuated Belgrade on November 29, and Austrian troops took the city by December 1. However, the Serbians, with fresh ammunition from the French, inflicted a decisive defeat on the Austrians. By December 4, the Austrian forces were in full retreat.
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The July Crisis
In response to the assassination, Austria-Hungary, with the support of its ally Germany, sought to inflict a military blow on Serbia and presented an ultimatum on July 23, 1914. This ultimatum demanded the suppression of the Pan-Serbian movement and punishment for those involved in the murder of the Archduke. The ultimatum was deliberately made harsh and provocative, with the intention of initiating military action or humiliating Serbia. Serbia's response, which surprisingly met almost all the demands, was not deemed satisfactory by Austria-Hungary, and they broke off diplomatic relations on July 25.
On July 28, 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, effectively beginning World War I. Russia, a supporter of Serbia in the Balkans, began its initial steps towards military mobilization against Austria-Hungary. This prompted Germany to declare war on Russia on August 1, followed by France and Germany declaring war on each other on August 3. Britain's declaration of war on Germany on August 4 further escalated the conflict into a full-scale European war.
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Frequently asked questions
Austrian troops captured Belgrade on 1 December 1914.
The Serbians had inflicted heavy losses on the Austrians at the Battle of Kolubara and halted their advance. However, Belgrade was dangerously close to the front lines. The Serbian High Command decided to evacuate Belgrade on 29 November 1914.
While Austrian troops paraded through Belgrade on 3 December, the Serbian army fought back at Arandelovac with fresh ammunition from the French and inflicted a decisive defeat on the Austrians. By 4 December, the Austrian forces were in full retreat under Serbian pressure.
The capture of Belgrade was a significant victory for the Austrians as it was their only war objective in the declaration of war against Serbia.
