Lyla Lindsey
On July 28, 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, marking the beginning of World War I. This declaration came just a month after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, on June 28, 1914, in Sarajevo by a Serbian nationalist. The assassination heightened tensions in the Balkans region, with Austria-Hungary seeking to curb Serbian ambition and influence. After securing Germany's support and presenting an ultimatum to Serbia, Austria-Hungary's rejection of Serbia's response led to the declaration of war and the subsequent escalation of the conflict across Europe.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 28 July 1914 |
| Reason | Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia a month after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, by a Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo |
| Outcome | Initiated World War I |
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What You'll Learn
- Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28, 1914
- The Serbian campaign of 1914 marked the first major confrontation between the Central Powers, primarily Austro-Hungary, and the Allied Powers, led by Serbia
- The Serbian response to Austria-Hungary's ultimatum was conciliatory but did not comply with all demands
- Germany supported Austria-Hungary, declaring war on Russia and France
- The Serbian army defeated the 5th Army at the Battle of Cer, marking the first Allied victory of WWI
Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28, 1914
On July 28, 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, a month after Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife were assassinated by a Serbian-backed terrorist in Sarajevo. The assassination sparked a crisis in which Europe's leaders made a series of political, diplomatic, and military decisions that escalated a localised conflict in southeast Europe into World War I.
Austria-Hungary, with German encouragement, presented Serbia with an ultimatum on July 23, 1914, demanding the suppression of anti-Austrian propaganda and the right to conduct its own investigation into the archduke's assassination. Serbia accepted all demands except the involvement of Austro-Hungarian officials in the inquiry, which would have infringed on its sovereignty. On July 25, Austria-Hungary broke diplomatic relations with Serbia and began military preparedness measures.
The Balkan crisis now threatened a Europe-wide war. Russia, a Slavic ally of Serbia, began mobilising its forces in defence of Serbia, which brought Germany into the conflict. Germany declared war on Russia on August 1, and France, Russia's ally, ordered its own general mobilisation that same day. On August 3, France and Germany declared war on each other. Germany's planned invasion of neutral Belgium prompted Britain, fearing German domination of Europe, to declare war on Germany on August 4.
Thus, within a month of Austria-Hungary's declaration of war on Serbia, the major powers of Europe were embroiled in World War I, a conflict that would last four years and result in unprecedented destruction and loss of life.
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The Serbian campaign of 1914 marked the first major confrontation between the Central Powers, primarily Austro-Hungary, and the Allied Powers, led by Serbia
The Serbian campaign of 1914 was a significant military operation during World War I. It marked the first major confrontation between the Central Powers, primarily Austro-Hungary, and the Allied Powers, led by the Kingdom of Serbia.
On June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife were assassinated by a Serbian-backed terrorist in Sarajevo. In response, Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia on July 19, 1914, demanding, among other things, that all anti-Austrian propaganda within Serbia be suppressed and that Austria-Hungary be allowed to conduct its investigation into the archduke's assassination. Serbia's response, which came on July 25, accepted most of the conditions but rejected the demands that impinged on its sovereignty. Austria-Hungary rejected this reply and broke off diplomatic relations, declaring war on July 28, 1914.
The Serbian campaign began with a brief, ineffectual bombardment of Belgrade by Austrian artillery divisions. The first invasion, led by General Oskar Potiorek, was launched on August 12, 1914, with the 5th and 6th Austro-Hungarian Armies attacking from the west and north. Despite their numerical superiority, the Austro-Hungarians were defeated by the Serbian army, led by General Radomir Putnik, who made effective use of the rugged terrain and strategic rivers. The Serbs successfully repelled all Austro-Hungarian forces, marking the first Allied victory of World War I.
The Austro-Hungarians launched two more invasions in September and October 1914, reaching deep into northern Serbia and capturing Belgrade on December 2, 1914. However, the Serbian Army counter-attacked and expelled the Central Powers' forces from its territory before the end of the year, ending the campaign. Despite their initial victories, the Austro-Hungarians failed to achieve their objective of totally defeating Serbia, and the campaign cost both sides heavy casualties.
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The Serbian response to Austria-Hungary's ultimatum was conciliatory but did not comply with all demands
On June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife were assassinated by a Serbian-backed terrorist in Sarajevo. In response, Austria-Hungary, with German encouragement, presented Serbia with a rigid ultimatum on July 23, 1914. The ultimatum demanded that Serbia suppress all anti-Austrian propaganda, take steps to root out and eliminate terrorist organizations within its borders, and accept an Austro-Hungarian inquiry into the assassination. Serbia was given only 48 hours to comply with the demands.
The Serbian response to the ultimatum was conciliatory, but it did not comply with all the demands. While Serbia effectively accepted all the terms of the ultimatum, it refused to allow Austria-Hungary to participate in any internal inquiry into the assassination. Serbian Prime Minister Nicola Pasic himself delivered the Serbian answer to the ultimatum to Gieslingen at the Austrian embassy just before the 6 p.m. deadline on July 25.
Austria-Hungary rejected the Serbian reply and broke off diplomatic relations with Serbia on July 25, continuing with its military preparedness measures. On July 28, 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, effectively beginning the First World War. The conflict quickly escalated as European countries began declaring war on one another, and within a month, over 21 countries were involved in what became known as the Great War.
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and the subsequent events highlighted the growing nationalism, increased militarism, imperial rivalry, and competition for power and influence among European nations at the time. The decisions for war reflected the fears, anxieties, and ambitions of the European powers, and the conflict soon became the most destructive and widespread the world had ever seen.
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Germany supported Austria-Hungary, declaring war on Russia and France
On 28 June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife were assassinated by a Serbian nationalist. In the aftermath, Austria-Hungary, with the encouragement and support of Germany, presented Serbia with an ultimatum on 23 July. Serbia accepted almost all of the ultimatum's terms, but Austria-Hungary rejected their reply and broke off diplomatic relations on 25 July. On 28 July, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, beginning the First World War.
Austria-Hungary knew that conflict with Serbia would likely bring them into conflict with Russia, which saw itself as Serbia's protector. Thus, before declaring war, Austria-Hungary sought assurances from Germany that it would come to their aid if Russia joined the war on Serbia's side. Germany guaranteed its support, urging Austria-Hungary to attack Serbia quickly to localise the war and avoid drawing in Russia. This support was known as a "blank cheque".
After Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, Russia ordered a secret partial mobilisation of its armed forces. Germany viewed this as a threat and, in response, declared war on Russia on 1 August 1914. Russia's ally, France, ordered its own general mobilisation that same day, and on 3 August, France and Germany declared war on each other.
Thus, Germany's support for Austria-Hungary, and its subsequent declarations of war against Russia and France, played a key role in expanding the conflict beyond the Balkans and turning it into a general European war, pitting the Triple Alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy against the Triple Entente of Russia, France, and Britain.
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The Serbian army defeated the 5th Army at the Battle of Cer, marking the first Allied victory of WWI
On 28 July 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, marking the start of World War I. This declaration came just over a month after Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife were assassinated by a Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo. In the days following the assassination, Austria-Hungary presented Serbia with a list of stringent demands and an ultimatum on July 23, 1914. Although Serbia accepted most of the conditions, it refused to allow Austro-Hungarian officials to be involved in an inquiry into the assassination, which Austria-Hungary considered an act of war.
The Serbian campaign began soon after, with the Austro-Hungarian forces, known as the Balkanstreitkräfte, consisting of the 5th and 6th Armies, attacking Serbia from the west and north. Despite the element of surprise, the Serbian army, commanded by General Radomir Putnik, used their knowledge of the rugged terrain and the strategic advantage of the rivers to defeat the 5th Army at the Battle of Cer. This battle, which lasted from 12 to 20 August, resulted in heavy casualties for both sides, with the Austro-Hungarians suffering approximately 29,000 casualties and the Serbs losing around 16,000 men. The defeat of the 5th Army forced the Austro-Hungarians to retreat across the Drina River back into Bosnia, with many soldiers drowning in the river as they fled in panic.
The Serbian victory at the Battle of Cer marked the first Allied victory of World War I and was considered one of the great upsets of modern military history. The Serbs successfully recaptured the town of Šabac, the largest in Mačva, and pursued the retreating Austro-Hungarians, delaying their transport to the Russian front. This triumph boosted the morale of the Serbian troops and demonstrated their resilience and military prowess. The Battle of Cer also witnessed the first aerial dogfight of the war, with Serbian aviator Miodrag Tomić encountering and escaping from an Austro-Hungarian plane while on a reconnaissance mission.
The Battle of Cer was a significant turning point in the Serbian campaign, as it halted the Austro-Hungarian advance and allowed the Serbs to regroup and continue their resistance. The defeat of the 5th Army forced Austria-Hungary to regroup and launch a second invasion in September 1914, known as the Battle of the Drina, where the Serbs once again demonstrated their determination and fighting spirit. The Serbian campaign became entangled with the broader conflict in Europe, drawing in Russia, Germany, France, and the British Empire, and ultimately contributing to the complex dynamics of World War I.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28, 1914.
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, on June 28, 1914, by a Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo. This led to a series of political, diplomatic, and military decisions that escalated the conflict.
Austria's declaration of war on Serbia triggered a chain reaction of alliances and hostilities that led to the First World War. Within a month, over 21 countries were involved, including all the major powers in Europe.
The Serbian campaign of 1914 marked the first major confrontation between the Central Powers, led by Austria-Hungary, and the Allied Powers, led by Serbia. The Austro-Hungarian forces initiated the conflict with a bombardment of Belgrade and an invasion of Serbia. However, they were defeated by the Serbian army at the Battle of Cer, marking the first Allied victory of World War I.
