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On 28 July 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, marking the start of World War I. This declaration came one month after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and his wife by a Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo. Austria-Hungary, encouraged and supported by Germany, presented Serbia with an ultimatum, which was largely accepted but not without conditions. Serbia's partial rejection of the ultimatum gave Austria-Hungary the excuse it needed to declare war, despite attempts at mediation by France and England. This conflict quickly escalated into a wider European war due to the system of opposing alliances that had developed between nations prior to 1914.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 28 July 1914 |
| Reason | Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife by a Serbian nationalist |
| Country declared war on | Serbia |
| Support from | Germany |
| Result | Dissolution of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire |
| Outcome | Beginning of World War I |
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What You'll Learn
Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the royal Prince of Hungary and Bohemia, was the primary reason for Austria-Hungary's declaration of war on Serbia on 28 July 1914, which marked the beginning of World War I. Archduke Franz Ferdinand was the presumptive heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne and the eldest son of Archduke Karl Ludwig of Austria. A rebel group of Serbs plotted to assassinate the Archduke as they believed Bosnia, which was part of Austria-Hungary, should belong to Serbia. The assassination was carried out by a Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo, who killed both the Archduke and his wife.
Tensions between Austria-Hungary and Serbia had been escalating prior to the assassination, with Austrian diplomats convinced that war with Serbia was inevitable since the Bosnian crisis of 1908-09. Following the assassination, Serbia refused to cooperate with Austria-Hungary during the murder investigation, further straining relations between the two countries. Austria-Hungary, with the support of its powerful ally Germany, presented Serbia with an ultimatum on 23 July 1914, demanding the suppression of anti-Austrian propaganda in Serbia and an Austrian-led investigation into the murders. Serbia accepted most of the demands but refused one, leading Austria-Hungary to break diplomatic relations and prepare for a possible military invasion of Serbia.
The decision to declare war was influenced by the belief that military action was necessary to prevent a loss of power and maintain the monarchy's dominance in the region. The Austrian Prime Minister, Stürgkh, warned that inaction would cause Germany to abandon Austria-Hungary as an ally, and that a "policy of hesitation and weakness" would damage their position. Additionally, there was a sense of urgency to take advantage of Germany's readiness for war, as it was believed that Russia, their rival, was not yet prepared for conflict.
The declaration of war by Austria-Hungary set off a chain reaction, with Russia, France, and eventually Britain becoming entangled in the conflict. This series of events ultimately led to the outbreak of World War I, demonstrating how the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand served as a catalyst for significant global upheaval and marked the beginning of a new era in European history.
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Austria-Hungary's ultimatum to Serbia
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife in June 1914 by Bosnian Serb nationalist Gavrilo Princip, set off a chain of events that led to World War I. The Austro-Hungarian foreign office decided to use the opportunity to confront Serbia, which it saw as a threat to the unity of its multi-national empire. Austria-Hungary believed that the Serbian government was complicit in the assassination and wanted to investigate. This led to the July Crisis of 1914, which escalated tensions between the two nations.
Austria-Hungary, with the support of Germany, delivered an ultimatum to Serbia on July 23, 1914, with the intention of going to war. The ultimatum included a list of harsh demands, which, if not met, would result in conflict. The main terms of the ultimatum were:
- Prevent the spread of information that speaks negatively of Austria-Hungary or its Emperor.
- Dissolve all Serbian nationalist organisations, including the "Narodna Odbrana".
- Remove individuals in the Serbian government deemed responsible for anti-Austria actions.
- Allow Austro-Hungarian representatives to enter Serbia to investigate the assassination of Franz Ferdinand and participate in judicial proceedings.
Serbia was angered by the ultimatum, which infringed upon its state sovereignty, and sought assistance from Russia, its closest ally. The ultimatum was also recognised by the Triple Entente (Britain, France, and Russia) as harsh and unreasonable. Serbia responded within the 48-hour deadline, accepting most demands but refusing to allow Austrian officials to investigate on Serbian soil, which would have been an unprecedented infringement of its sovereignty.
Austria-Hungary declared Serbia's response insufficient, and on July 28, 1914, officially declared war on Serbia, marking the start of World War I.
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Serbian nationalism
The Bosnian Crisis of 1908-1909 had already heightened tensions between Austria-Hungary and Serbia, with Austrian diplomats convinced that war was inevitable. Serbia's ambitions in the Balkans, including its claim over Bosnia, which had been made part of Austria-Hungary, further fuelled these tensions. Serbian nationalism posed a significant threat to the stability of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire, and the assassination of the Archduke provided the spark that ignited the conflict.
In the lead-up to the war, Serbian nationalism manifested in several ways. Firstly, there was a strong sense of Serbian nationalism within Serbia itself, which fuelled its ambitions in the Balkans region and its desire to reclaim territories that it felt rightfully belonged to it, such as Bosnia. Secondly, Serbian nationalist groups, such as "The Black Hand," were actively plotting against Austria-Hungary, as evidenced by the assassination plot. Thirdly, Serbia's refusal to fully cooperate with Austria-Hungary during the investigation into the assassination indicated a lack of willingness to de-escalate tensions and a prioritization of national interests over regional stability.
Additionally, Serbian nationalism played a role in the broader diplomatic landscape. The Austro-Hungarian ambassador left Belgrade, severing diplomatic relations, as Serbia's response to the ultimatum was deemed insufficient. While Serbia agreed to most demands, including an Austrian-led investigation and the suppression of anti-Austrian propaganda, its refusal to accept all demands was a result of its nationalist sentiments and a desire to maintain sovereignty. This breakdown in diplomacy contributed to the escalation of tensions and ultimately, the declaration of war.
The impact of Serbian nationalism extended beyond the initial conflict between Austria-Hungary and Serbia. The declaration of war triggered a chain reaction, drawing in other European powers and their allies. Russia, France, and Great Britain, known as the Allies, supported Serbia, while Germany, Italy, and Austria-Hungary formed the Central Powers. This polarization of alliances, influenced by the nationalist agendas of various countries, ultimately led to the widespread conflict of World War I.
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Austria-Hungary's alliance with Germany
The Austro-German Alliance, also known as the Dual Alliance, was formed in 1879 between Austria-Hungary and the German Empire. The pact promised mutual support in the event of an attack by Russia and neutrality if either empire faced aggression from another power. The alliance was significant in preventing Germany's isolation and maintaining peace, as Russia was unlikely to wage war against both empires simultaneously.
Otto von Bismarck, the German Chancellor, played a pivotal role in fostering this alliance. He aimed to position Germany as a peacemaker and preserver of the European status quo while also seeking to increase the country's power and unify the German Empire, which had formed in 1871. The addition of Italy in 1882 transformed the Dual Alliance into the Triple Alliance, further bolstering the collective strength of these nations.
The alliance between Austria-Hungary and Germany was not without its challenges. Despite sharing a language and similar cultures, the two empires were sometimes at odds, notably during the Austro-Prussian War. Additionally, the Habsburg rulers in Austria-Hungary disagreed with Germany's promotion of nationalism, fearing that it would threaten their multinational empire. Nevertheless, their shared distrust of Russia, particularly in the context of Russia's growing influence in the Balkans, provided a strong common cause for unity and cooperation.
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary and his wife in June 1914 by a Serbian nationalist served as a critical test for the alliance. Austria-Hungary, feeling threatened by Serbian ambitions in the Balkans, decided to prepare for a potential military invasion of Serbia. With the backing of its powerful ally, Germany, Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia, which was largely accepted, except for a few demands. Despite Serbia's compliance, Austria-Hungary broke diplomatic relations and declared war on July 28, 1914, marking the beginning of World War I.
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The Bosnian crisis
The annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina by Austria-Hungary was not without opposition. Serbia, which was closely related to Bosnia and Herzegovina geographically and ethnically, was outraged by the annexation and demanded that Austria cede a portion of the annexed land to Serbia. The Russian foreign minister, Aleksandr P. Izvolsky, was forced to support the Serbian claims due to strong popular opposition to the annexation in Russia.
The Austrian-Hungarian authorities feared that the revolution could spread to Bosnia and Herzegovina, as it had gained support from Bosnian Muslims and Serbs, who advocated for the autonomy of Bosnia and Herzegovina within the Ottoman Empire. On 7 September 1908, the SNO and the MNO demanded that Bosnia and Herzegovina accept the constitution as part of the Ottoman Empire. On 5 October, Emperor Franz Joseph announced the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and ordered the composition of a constitution for the region.
The annexation led to an international crisis, which was resolved on 26 February 1909 when the Ottoman Empire recognised the annexation in exchange for material compensation and the withdrawal of Austrian-Hungarian garrisons from the Sanjak of Novi Pazar. Although the crisis ended with an apparent Austro-Hungarian diplomatic victory, it permanently damaged relations between Austria-Hungary and its neighbours, particularly Serbia, Italy and Russia. The Bosnian Crisis thus contributed to the outbreak of World War I.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28, 1914, marking the start of World War I. This was in response to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife by a Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo.
Russia, an ally of Serbia, ordered a general mobilisation in response. This prompted Germany to declare war on Russia on August 1, 1914, followed by France declaring war on Germany on August 3.
Since the Bosnian crisis of 1908-09, Austrian diplomats had been convinced that war with Serbia was bound to happen. Tensions were already high between the two countries, and the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand further escalated the situation.
Germany was an ally of Austria-Hungary and offered its unconditional support. Germany pressured Austria-Hungary to take swift action against Serbia and was opposed to any peaceful resolution. Germany also provided diplomatic and military assistance.
The declaration of war led to a catastrophic chain reaction, resulting in the outbreak of World War I. The war had significant impacts on all the countries involved, including Austria-Hungary, which suffered a major defeat and was ultimately dissolved after the war. Serbia also suffered heavy losses, losing 27% of its population.
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