Lexi Webster
On July 28, 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, marking a significant escalation of tensions in Europe and setting off a chain of events that would lead to the First World War. This declaration came in the aftermath of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, by a Serbian-backed assassin, Gavrilo Princip, on June 28, 1914. The assassination heightened existing tensions between Austria-Hungary and Serbia, with Austria-Hungary presenting Serbia with a rigid ultimatum, which Serbia largely accepted, but Austria-Hungary nevertheless proceeded with military preparations and ultimately declared war. This conflict would draw in other European powers, including Germany, Russia, France, and Britain, leading to a global conflict.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 28 July 1914 |
| Time | 11:00 a.m. |
| Reason | Austria-Hungary suspected Serbian backing for the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand |
| Support | Germany |
| Opposition | Russia, France |
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What You'll Learn
Austria-Hungary's motivations
The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand:
The immediate spark that led to the declaration of war was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, on 28 June 1914. The assassination was carried out by Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb nationalist and member of a Serbian-backed secret paramilitary organisation. This assassination heightened existing tensions between Austria-Hungary and Serbia, which had already been strained due to Austria-Hungary's annexation of Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1908.
Suppression of Serbian Ambition and Nationalism:
Austria-Hungary felt threatened by Serbian ambition and nationalism in the Balkans region. They sought to inflict a military blow on Serbia 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.
Ultimatum and Rejection:
After securing the unconditional support of Germany, Austria-Hungary presented Serbia with a harsh and provocative ultimatum on 23 July 1914. This ultimatum included demands such as the suppression of anti-Austrian propaganda in Serbia and the allowance for Austria-Hungary to conduct its own investigation into the assassination of the Archduke. While Serbia accepted most of the demands, it rejected a few that infringed upon its sovereignty. This rejection gave Austria-Hungary the justification it was seeking to wage war on Serbia.
Complex Web of Alliances:
The complex network of alliances among European powers played a significant role in escalating tensions. Russia, a major supporter of Serbia, began its initial steps towards military mobilisation against Austria-Hungary. This, in turn, increased Serbia's willingness to defy the threat of an Austro-Hungarian attack. Additionally, France and Britain, through the Triple Entente, were also indirectly involved, further complicating the diplomatic situation.
Desire for a Swift Victory:
Austrian officials believed that Serbia would reject their ultimatum, providing them with an opportunity to wage a swift and victorious war against their neighbour. They underestimated the scale of the conflict that would ensue, which ultimately led to the First World War and the end of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
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Serbian response
On July 28, 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, with the backing of Germany. This declaration came in response to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the presumptive heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, on June 28, 1914. The assassin, Gavrilo Princip, was a member of a Serbian-backed secret paramilitary organization.
The Serbian response to the assassination was to agree to comply wholly or in part with most of the demands presented by Austria-Hungary, which included suppressing all anti-Austrian propaganda within Serbia and allowing Austria-Hungary to conduct its own investigation into the archduke's killing. However, Serbia rejected the demands that infringed upon its sovereignty, which included allowing Austria-Hungary to conduct its own investigation into Serbian soil and making Serbia a vassal of Austria-Hungary.
On July 25, 1914, Serbia's answer to the Austro-Hungarian ultimatum was sent, conceding all demands except for those that infringed upon its rights as a sovereign state. Serbia offered to submit these two demands to arbitration. Despite Serbia's willingness to negotiate, the Austro-Hungarian government broke off diplomatic relations on July 25 and continued with its military preparedness measures.
The Serbian government's response to the declaration of war is not explicitly stated in the sources. However, given that Russia—Serbia's ally—began its own military mobilization against Austria-Hungary, it can be assumed that Serbia also took steps to defend itself militarily. On July 29, 1914, Serbian sappers blew up the railway bridge over the River Sava, which linked Serbia and Austria-Hungary, in response to the bombardment of Belgrade by Austrian artillery divisions.
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The role of Germany
On July 28, 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. This decision was made the day before, influenced by pressure from Germany for swift action. Germany, a powerful ally of Austria-Hungary, supported the invasion of Serbia, which was viewed as a response to Serbian ambition in the Balkans and the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Germany's role in the events leading up to the declaration of war was significant.
Firstly, Germany encouraged and supported Austria-Hungary's aggressive stance towards Serbia. Germany provided unconditional backing to Austria-Hungary, which emboldened them to present Serbia with a rigid ultimatum on July 23, 1914. This ultimatum included demands such as the suppression of anti-Austrian propaganda in Serbia and the conduction of an investigation into the archduke's killing by Austria-Hungary. Serbia's rejection of one of the demands, which infringed upon its sovereignty, led to Austria-Hungary breaking diplomatic relations and moving forward with military preparations.
Secondly, Germany played a role in the failure of diplomatic efforts to prevent war. On July 24, Germany sent a dispatch to its ambassadors, excluding Austria-Hungary, denying prior knowledge of the ultimatum. Germany's ambassador, Friedrich von Pourtalès, advised Russia's Sazonov to reject a proposed summit in London, suggesting direct negotiations with Austria-Hungary instead. Pourtalès reported that Sazonov was becoming more conciliatory and willing to meet Austrian demands, which ultimately hindered mediation attempts.
Thirdly, Germany exerted influence over Austria-Hungary's decision-making. While Kaiser Wilhelm II initially favoured a peaceful resolution, he was outmaneuvered by the more hawkish military and governmental leadership in Germany, who pushed for war. Germany's pressure for quick action contributed to the timing of Austria-Hungary's declaration of war.
Finally, Germany's response to the declaration of war was notable. Bethmann Hollweg, sent the Kaiser's 'pledge plan' to Vienna, urging the German ambassador in Vienna to express himself "emphatically." When a reply was not immediately forthcoming, Hollweg sent urgent telegrams demanding an "immediate" answer and expressing severe disapproval of Austria-Hungary.
In conclusion, Germany's role in the events leading up to and following Austria-Hungary's declaration of war on Serbia in July 1914 was significant. Germany's support for Austria-Hungary, interference in diplomatic efforts, influence over decision-making, and response to the declaration of war all contributed to the escalation of tensions and the eventual outbreak of World War I.
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The July Crisis
In response to the assassination, Austria-Hungary, with the encouragement and unconditional support of its ally Germany, sought to inflict a military blow on Serbia. On July 23, 1914, Austria-Hungary presented Serbia with an ultimatum, demanding, among other things, the suppression of anti-Austrian propaganda and the allowance for Austria-Hungary to conduct its own investigation into the archduke's killing. Serbia accepted all demands except for one, which infringed upon its sovereignty. On July 25, Austria-Hungary broke off diplomatic relations with Serbia and continued with military preparedness measures.
Alerted to the impending crisis, Russia, Serbia's powerful ally, began its initial steps towards military mobilisation against Austria-Hungary. On July 28, 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, initiating a chain reaction of events that led to the outbreak of World War I. That night, Austrian artillery divisions bombarded Belgrade, and Russia formally ordered mobilisation along its common front with the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Germany declared war on Russia, and France and Germany began general mobilisation.
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The start of WWI
World War I, also known as the Great War, started in 1914 after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria. On June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the presumptive heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, were assassinated in Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb and member of a Serbian-backed secret paramilitary organisation. This assassination followed several years of rising tensions between Austria-Hungary and Serbia, particularly after the former's annexation of Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1908.
Austria-Hungary, with the support of its powerful ally Germany, responded to the assassination by presenting Serbia with an ultimatum on July 23, 1914. This ultimatum included a list of ten demands, such as the suppression of all anti-Austrian propaganda in Serbia and the allowance for Austrian officials to be involved in investigating the archduke's killing. The demands were intentionally provocative and unacceptable, designed to provide a justification for war. Serbia accepted all demands except for one, which infringed upon its sovereignty.
On July 25, 1914, Austria-Hungary broke off diplomatic relations with Serbia and began implementing military preparedness measures. Russia, a supporter of Serbia, initiated its own mobilisation in response to the growing threat from Austria-Hungary. On July 28, 1914, Austria-Hungary officially declared war on Serbia, marking the start of World War I. That night, Austrian artillery divisions bombarded Belgrade across the Danube River.
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and the subsequent events leading to the declaration of war on Serbia catalysed a wider conflict across Europe. The Central Powers, including Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire, fought against the Allied Powers, comprising Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Romania, Canada, Japan, and the United States. The war lasted from 1914 until 1918 and resulted in unprecedented carnage and destruction due to new military technologies and the horrors of trench warfare. By the war's end, over 16 million people, including soldiers and civilians, had lost their lives, and four imperial dynasties had collapsed, forever altering the political landscape of Europe.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia.
Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28, 1914.
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife on June 28, 1914, by a Serbian-backed terrorist.
Russia, who supported Serbia, began to mobilise its military against Austria-Hungary. This was followed by Germany declaring war on Russia on August 1, 1914, and France on August 3, 1914.
The declaration of war was a significant event that led to the outbreak of World War I, which was fought on three continents and across the world's major oceans. Four empires fell as a result: the German, Austro-Hungarian, Russian, and Ottoman.
