Lyla Lindsey
The conflict between Serbia and Austria-Hungary was a series of military expeditions launched in 1914 and 1915 by the Central Powers against the Kingdom of Serbia during World War I. On July 28, 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, marking the beginning of the war and the occupation of Serbia. The Austro-Hungarian Armed Forces occupied Serbia from late 1915 until the end of World War I, committing numerous atrocities against Serbian civilians. In September 1918, Allied forces, led by the Serbian Second Army, broke through and liberated Serbia, forcing the retreat of Austro-Hungarian troops by the end of October.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of surrender | Serbia was occupied by Austria-Hungary from late 1915 until the end of World War I |
| Reason for conflict | Austria-Hungary suspected Serbian backing for the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife by a Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo, Bosnia |
| Austria-Hungary's declaration of war | 28 July 1914 |
| Serbian response | Serbia accepted all terms of the ultimatum except for one: it would not accept Austria-Hungary's participation in any internal inquiry |
| Outcome | Serbia was divided into two separate occupation zones, an Austro-Hungarian and a Bulgarian zone, both governed under a military administration |
| Casualties | Serbia lost more than 1,200,000 inhabitants during the war, including both military and civilian losses |
| Atrocities | The Austro-Hungarian army committed countless massacres, rape, and torture against Serbian civilians |
| Liberation | Serbia was liberated by Allied forces in September 1918 |
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What You'll Learn
The Bosnian Crisis of 1908-1909
The Bosnian Crisis of 1908–1909 was a period of heightened international tension caused by the annexation of the Balkan provinces of Bosnia and Herzegovina by Austria-Hungary. The crisis played out against a backdrop of complex geopolitical manoeuvring and shifting power dynamics in the region.
The roots of the crisis can be traced back to the Congress of Berlin in 1878, which granted Austria-Hungary the right to occupy and administer Bosnia and Herzegovina, albeit temporarily, with the legal title remaining under Turkish control. Over the years, the Austrian administration invested significant efforts and resources into developing the region economically and forging closer ties with Austria-Hungary.
In July 1908, when the Young Turks revolutionised Constantinople (now Istanbul), establishing a constitutional government, the Austrian foreign minister, Graf (Count) Lexa von Aehrenthal, seized the opportunity to annex Bosnia and Herzegovina before the new Turkish regime could reassert control. On 2 July 1908, Russian Foreign Minister Alexander Izvolsky proposed discussions with Aehrenthal regarding reciprocal changes to the Treaty of Berlin, including Austro-Hungarian interests in annexing Bosnia and Herzegovina. After internal deliberations, Aehrenthal responded with guarded acceptance, proposing a friendly Russian attitude towards the annexation in exchange for withdrawing troops from the Sanjak.
On 6 October 1908, the Dual Monarchy of Austria-Hungary officially announced its annexation of the dual provinces, sparking outrage among its Balkan neighbours, particularly Serbia, which shared geographic and ethnic connections with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Serbia demanded that Austria cede a portion of the annexed territory to Serbia. Izvolsky, pressured by anti-Austrian sentiment in Russia, was compelled to support Serbia's claims. Austria, backed by its ally Germany, responded by threatening to invade Serbia if it persisted with its demands.
The crisis escalated tensions between Austria-Hungary and its neighbours, especially Serbia, Italy, and Russia. It also contributed to Italy's decision to break its alliance with Austria-Hungary in 1915. The crisis ultimately concluded in March 1909 when Izvolsky notified Germany that Russia accepted Austria's annexation, marking a diplomatic victory for Austria-Hungary, albeit one that damaged its relations with neighbouring countries.
Serbia's surrender to Austria-Hungary in the Bosnian Crisis of 1908-1909 set a precedent for the two countries' future interactions. It is important to note that the Bosnian Crisis was not the only event that shaped their relationship. Years later, on 28 July 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by a Serbian nationalist. This declaration of war marked the beginning of World War I, during which Austria-Hungary occupied Serbia from late 1915 until the end of the war.
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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 campaign began after Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28, 1914, one month after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, by a Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo. This declaration of war effectively began World War I, drawing in Russia, Germany, France, and the British Empire.
The Austro-Hungarian military leadership was determined to quash Serbia's independence, which it viewed as a threat to the future of the empire given its sizeable South Slavic population. Austria-Hungary presented Serbia with an ultimatum on July 23, 1914, demanding, among other things, the suppression of anti-Austrian propaganda in Serbia and the right to conduct its own investigation into the archduke's killing. Although Serbia accepted almost all of the demands, Austria-Hungary broke diplomatic relations and moved forward with military preparedness measures.
The first Serbian Campaign, under the command of Austrian General Oskar Potiorek, ended after three unsuccessful Austro-Hungarian invasion attempts 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 of World War I. The second campaign was launched under German command on October 6, 1915, when Bulgarian, Austro-Hungarian, and German forces successfully invaded.
The Serbian army suffered severe casualties during the conflict, with its troops falling from 420,000 to 100,000. Hundreds of thousands of Serbian civilians were also victims of the war, with estimates of total Serbian casualties, including both military and civilian losses, exceeding 1,200,000 people. The Austro-Hungarian army committed numerous atrocities against Serbian civilians, including massacres, deportations to concentration camps, and the destruction of towns and cultural sites.
The Serbian Campaign ended in 1918 with the liberation of Serbia and the retreat of all remaining Austro-Hungarian troops. This was achieved with the help of Allied forces, including the Serbian Second Army and the Yugoslav Volunteer Division, who broke through the Salonica front, leading to the surrender of Bulgaria and ultimately, the victory of the Allies in World War I.
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Austria-Hungary's ultimatum to Serbia
On the evening of July 23, 1914, nearly a month after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife by a Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo, Bosnia, Austria-Hungary presented Serbia with an ultimatum. The ultimatum was delivered by the ambassador of the Austro-Hungarian Empire to Serbia, Baron Giesl von Gieslingen, to the Serbian finance minister Lazar Paču. The ultimatum was designed to be rejected, with some calling it the "most insolent document of its kind ever devised".
The ultimatum included ten demands, the most significant being that Serbia accept "representatives of the Austro-Hungarian government for the suppression of subversive movements" and that Serbia "bring to trial all accessories to the Archduke's assassination and allow Austro-Hungarian delegates to take part in the investigation". Other demands included the suppression of all anti-Austrian propaganda within Serbia and that Austria-Hungary be allowed to conduct its own investigation into the archduke's killing.
Serbia's response, delivered by Serbian Prime Minister Nicola Pasic just before the 6 pm deadline on July 25, effectively accepted all terms of the ultimatum except one: it would not accept Austria-Hungary's participation in any internal inquiry. While Serbia's response was being formulated, Russia ordered a secret partial mobilisation of its armed forces, increasing Serbia's willingness to defy the threat of an Austro-Hungarian attack.
On July 28, 1914, exactly one month after Franz Ferdinand's assassination, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, effectively beginning World War I. The Serbian campaign, dubbed a "punitive expedition" by the Austro-Hungarian leadership, was commanded by Austrian General Oskar Potiorek.
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Serbian surrender and liberation
On 28 June 1914, the heir to the Habsburg throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, was assassinated by a Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo. Austria-Hungary, with encouragement from Germany, declared war on Serbia on 28 July 1914, marking the start of World War I.
Austria-Hungary had long seen Serbia as a threat to the stability of its multi-ethnic empire, and the assassination provided a justification for an attack on Serbia. The Austro-Hungarian military leadership was determined to quash Serbia's independence, which it viewed as an unacceptable threat to the future of the empire given its sizable South Slavic population.
On 23 July 1914, nearly one month after the assassination, Austria-Hungary presented Serbia with an ultimatum, a series of ten demands intentionally made unacceptable to provoke a war with Serbia. The demands included the suppression of all anti-Austrian propaganda within Serbia and the allowance of an Austro-Hungarian investigation into the archduke's killing. Serbia's response accepted all terms except the latter, which it stated would violate its constitution and the law of criminal procedure.
The Serbian campaign, a series of military expeditions launched in 1914 and 1915 by the Central Powers against the Kingdom of Serbia, began after Austria-Hungary declared war. The campaign, dubbed a "'punitive expedition'" by the Austro-Hungarian leadership, resulted in countless atrocities committed against Serbian civilians, including deportations, massacres, and internment in concentration camps.
In September 1918, Allied forces, led by the Serbian Second Army and the Yugoslav Volunteer Division, broke through the Salonica front, leading to the quick liberation of Serbia and the retreat of all remaining Austro-Hungarian troops by the end of October. By 1 November 1918, all of pre-war Serbia had been liberated, bringing the occupation to an end.
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Serbian concentration camps
On July 28, 1914, one month after Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife were assassinated by a Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, marking the beginning of World War I. This declaration came after Serbia accepted all but one of the demands in an ultimatum presented by Austria-Hungary. The Austro-Hungarian Armed Forces occupied Serbia from late 1915 until the end of World War I. During this occupation, the Austro-Hungarian Army committed numerous atrocities, including massacres, rapes, and the destruction of villages. Between 150,000 and 200,000 Serbian civilians were deported to purpose-built internment and concentration camps in Austria-Hungary, including Mauthausen in Austria, Doboj in Bosnia, and Nagymegyer, Arad, and Kecskemét in Hungary.
During World War II, the Germans established concentration camps in Serbia, such as the Banjica concentration camp, to crush the resistance and exterminate Jews. The Banjica concentration camp was run by the German Gestapo and held Serbs, Jews, and Roma, with most inmates affiliated with the Communist Party of Yugoslavia or participating in the anti-fascist uprising. Another notorious concentration camp in World War II was Jasenovac, established by the Croatian authorities in occupied Yugoslavia. Jasenovac was known for its barbaric practices and large number of victims, with Serbs comprising more than 56% of the victims.
In the Bosnian conflict of the 1990s, the Serbian forces were found to be operating concentration camps as well. The existence of these camps was brought to light by British journalist Ed Vulliamy, who visited one such camp and witnessed the detainees' poor physical condition and terrifying demeanor. The detainees suffered from malnutrition and diseases due to contaminated water, and hundreds were slaughtered in these concentration camps. The Serb authorities documents from Prijedor revealed that there were 3,334 prisoners held in one of the camps from May 27 to August 16, 1992, with 3,197 of them being Bosnian Muslims.
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Frequently asked questions
Serbia was occupied by the Austro-Hungarian Armed Forces from late 1915 until the end of World War I.
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife on June 28, 1914, by a Serbian nationalist.
Austria-Hungary presented Serbia with an ultimatum on July 23, 1914, demanding the suppression of all anti-Austrian propaganda and the right to conduct their own investigation into the assassination.
Serbia accepted all demands except for one, refusing to allow Austria-Hungary to participate in any internal inquiry, stating that it would violate their constitution and criminal procedure.
Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28, 1914, marking the beginning of World War I.
