Ruqayyah Snyder
Austria captured Belgrade, the capital of modern-day Serbia, multiple times throughout history. One notable capture occurred during the winter of 1914, when Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28, 1914, marking the beginning of World War I. After suffering heavy losses, the Serbians evacuated Belgrade, and Austrian troops occupied the city in early December 1914. However, they were forced to retreat by December 4 due to intense Serbian resistance. Another instance of Austrian capture was in 1739, when the Ottoman Empire, which had previously controlled Belgrade, ceded the city to Austria during peace talks.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Austria-Hungary's declaration of war on Serbia | 28 July 1914 |
| Date Belgrade was captured by Austrian troops | 1 December 1914 |
| Reason for Austria-Hungary's declaration of war on Serbia | The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria by a Serbian nationalist in June/July 1914 |
| Result | Austria-Hungary's defeat and loss of Belgrade |
| Previous capture of Belgrade | By the Ottoman Empire in 1521 |
| Belgrade ceded to | The Ottoman Empire in 1739 |
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What You'll Learn
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia, 28 July 1914
On 28 July 1914, a month after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. The assassination triggered a series of diplomatic manoeuvrings among European powers, with Austria-Hungary seeking to suppress Serbian nationalism and maintain the unity of its multi-national empire.
The Austro-Hungarian government communicated a list of demands to Serbia, which agreed to comply wholly or in part with most of the ultimatum. However, after obtaining guarantees of support from Russia, Serbia rejected the final demand, which would have resulted in a major infringement of its sovereignty. This rejection led to Austria-Hungary's declaration of war.
The declaration of war was printed in the Wiener Zeitung, the official newspaper of the Austrian government, announcing that a state of war existed with Serbia. The newspaper was printed in both German and French, and a similar announcement was published on 6 August 1914, when war was declared on Russia. The complex web of alliances and rivalries among European powers meant that most major European states were drawn into the conflict within weeks, marking the outbreak of World War I.
Austria-Hungary's declaration of war on Serbia was influenced by its desire to demonstrate its strength and suppress Serbian support for Yugoslav nationalism. Additionally, Germany played a role in encouraging Austria-Hungary to take swift and decisive action against Serbia, believing that 1914 presented a "singularly favourable situation" for war due to the alleged superiority of German military capabilities and the recent changes in the French Army's service period.
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Austria-Hungary's ultimatum to Serbia
Following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by Serbian assassin Gavrilo Princip in June 1914, Austria-Hungary sought to inflict a military blow on Serbia. The country's leaders wanted to demonstrate their strength and dampen Serbian support for Yugoslav nationalism, which they saw as a threat to the unity of their multi-national empire. However, Austria-Hungary was wary of Russia, a major supporter of Serbia, and sought guarantees from its ally Germany that it would support them in any conflict. Germany guaranteed its support, 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, some three weeks after the assassination. The ultimatum included harsh demands, such as suppressing publications that incited hatred or contempt of the Monarchy, proceeding with the dissolution of the Narodna Odbrana and confiscating its means of propaganda, and removing from military and administrative service any officers who had been proven guilty of actions against the territorial integrity of the Monarchy. Serbia was given 48 hours to react.
The initial consequence of Serbia not accepting the demands was to be the breaking off of diplomatic relations. While there was no explicit threat of war, it was clear that this would be the next step. Serbia's answer arrived within the 48-hour period on 25 July, accepting most of the demands but rejecting the final point concerning the participation of Austrian officials in investigations on Serbian sovereign territory. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia the following month.
The capture of Belgrade by Austrian troops in December 1914 was short-lived, as the Serbian army, having received fresh ammunition from the French, inflicted a decisive defeat on the Austrians.
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The Serbian Campaign
The first campaign involved three unsuccessful Austro-Hungarian invasion attempts that were repelled by the Serbians and their Montenegrin allies. The victory of the Royal Serbian Army at the Battle of Cer is considered the first Allied victory in World War I. Despite their initial successes, the Serbians suffered heavy losses, with their army declining from about 420,000 at its peak to around 100,000 by the time of liberation.
Belgrade, the Serbian capital, was a key objective for the Austro-Hungarian forces. By November 1914, the Serbian High Command decided to evacuate Belgrade due to its proximity to the front lines. On December 1, 1914, Austrian troops occupied Belgrade, and they celebrated their impending victory in Vienna. However, the Serbians, bolstered by fresh ammunition from the French, were able to inflict a decisive defeat on the Austrians at Arandelovac on December 3, forcing them to retreat.
The second campaign was launched under German command in October 1915, with Bulgarian, Austro-Hungarian, and German forces led by Field Marshal August von Mackensen. This campaign successfully invaded Serbia, and the Central Powers occupied the country until the Serbian army, supported by other Entente forces, liberated it in November 1918.
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The capture of Belgrade by the Ottoman Empire in 1739
As a result, the Ottoman Empire engaged in a war against Russia, and Austria, being an ally of Russia, also declared war on the Ottomans in 1737. The Austrian army suffered defeats in two major battles: the Battle of Banja Luka and the Battle of Grocka, forcing them to retreat to Belgrade. Despite their efforts, the Austrians were unable to hold off the Ottoman advance, and Belgrade was captured by the Ottoman Empire in 1739.
The capture of Belgrade was a significant victory for the Ottoman Empire, as it had been a strategic target for them since their first capture of the city in 1521 during the campaign of Suleyman I. However, the peace negotiations following the capture of Belgrade in 1739 were complex and protracted. Austria initially offered to keep Belgrade in exchange for ceding other territories to the Ottoman Empire, but this proposal was rejected by the Ottoman representatives. A second offer to cede Belgrade on the condition that the fortifications were demolished was also refused.
Finally, a compromise was proposed by the French ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Louis Sauveur Villeneuve, suggesting that only the former Ottoman fortifications be kept. Both sides agreed to this proposal, and a treaty was signed on 18 September 1739, bringing an end to the conflict over Belgrade, at least temporarily. The capture of Belgrade by the Ottoman Empire in 1739 highlighted the complex power dynamics and alliances of the time, and the city's strategic importance in the region.
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Belgrade's peace talks in 1739
The Belgrade Peace Talks in 1739, also known as the Treaty of Belgrade, were a result of the Austrian army's defeat at the hands of the Ottoman Empire in two major battles: the Battle of Banja Luka and the Battle of Grocka. The Austrians had declared war on the Ottomans in 1737 due to their alliance with Russia, which the Ottomans viewed as a violation of the Treaty of Pruth (1711).
The peace talks took place in Belgrade, with Wilhelm Reinhard von Neipperg representing Austria and Mektupçu Ragıp (future grand vizier Koca Ragıp) among the Ottoman delegates. The negotiations centred around territorial changes, with Austria agreeing to cede territories to the Ottoman side. The main point of contention was the future of Belgrade. Austria initially offered to keep Belgrade in exchange for the ceded territories, but this was refused by the Ottomans. A second offer to cede Belgrade on the condition that its fortifications were demolished was also rejected.
The French ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Louis Sauveur Villeneuve, proposed a compromise where only the former Ottoman fortifications would remain. Both sides agreed, and the treaty was signed on 18 September 1739. This treaty marked the end of the Austro-Turkish War (1737-1739) and resulted in substantial territorial changes, including the cession of northern Serbia (with Belgrade) and Little Walachia (in southern Romania) to the Ottomans. The treaty was formally ratified, and diplomatic instruments were exchanged in Constantinople on 28 December 1739, concluding the war.
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Frequently asked questions
The Austrian army captured Belgrade in 1717, led by Eugene of Savoy.
Austrian troops took Belgrade in December 1914. However, the Serbian army inflicted heavy losses on the Austrians, and the occupation was short-lived.
No, except for a brief occupation during the Austro-Turkish War from 1787 to 1791, the Austrians never captured Belgrade after the First World War.
