Lexi Webster
On 28 June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife were assassinated by a Serbian nationalist. This assassination was the catalyst for a series of political, diplomatic and military decisions that would turn a localised conflict in southeast Europe into World War I. On 28 July 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. This declaration was encouraged by its ally, Germany, which was eager for war and had assured Austria-Hungary of its support. Serbia's reply to the ultimatum was deemed insufficient, and Austria-Hungary was determined to take decisive action against Serbia, despite the risk of war with Russia, Serbia's supporter.
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What You'll Learn
Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, on 28 June 1914, was the most immediate cause of World War I. The assassination was carried out by 19-year-old Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb nationalist and member of Young Bosnia, a secret revolutionary society of peasant students.
Archduke Franz Ferdinand was a prominent and influential supporter of the Austro-Hungarian Navy at a time when sea power was not a priority in Austrian foreign policy. He was deeply in love with Sophie Chotek, whom he married in 1900 despite opposition from his uncle, the sitting Emperor Franz Josef, as Sophie's family, although nobility, was not from a reigning dynasty in Europe. As a result, their children were declared ineligible for the throne, and Sophie was subjected to petty slights at court.
In June 1914, the Archduke and his wife visited Sarajevo, the capital of the Austro-Hungarian province of Bosnia and Herzegovina, to attend a series of military exercises. Austria-Hungary had annexed these provinces a few years earlier against the wishes of neighbouring Serbia, which also coveted them. The Archduke himself believed the Serbs to be "scoundrels", "thieves", and "pigs", but he had opposed the annexation, fearing it would worsen the already turbulent political situation. Upon learning of the Archduke's visit, the Young Bosnians, including Princip, began plotting to assassinate him. They received weapons and support from members of the Black Hand, a terrorist group with close ties to the Serbian army.
On the day of the assassination, the Archduke and his wife's motorcade passed by, and Nedeljko Cabrinovic, a Young Bosnia conspirator, threw a bomb at their car. The bomb detonated behind them, injuring the occupants of the following car. Later, as the motorcade passed by again, Gavrilo Princip shot and killed the Archduke and his wife.
The assassination led to the July Crisis and precipitated Austria-Hungary's declaration of war against Serbia a month later, on 28 July 1914. Austria-Hungary, encouraged by its ally Germany, sought to punish Serbia and quash support for Serbian nationalism. This act of war stirred up old tensions and anxieties across Europe, drawing in supporters and allies on both sides and eventually leading to the outbreak of World War I.
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Serbian nationalism
The origins of Serbian nationalism can be traced back to the 19th century, with the 1804 uprisings against Ottoman rule, which eventually led to the establishment of an independent Serbian state in 1878. Serbian nationalism, however, considers the Battle of Kosovo in 1389 as the true origin of their movement. After gaining independence, Serbia, sandwiched between Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and other Balkan states, occupied a strategically important position. Serbian nationalism, along with the country's proximity to both Europe and Asia, made it a target for invaders.
Serbia's first king, Milan Obrenovic, was pro-Austrian and aligned his country with Vienna, fostering trade and investment. However, after his abdication in 1889, his son Alexander took the throne and asserted autocratic rule over Serbia, leading to his unpopularity. In 1903, Alexander was overthrown, and the Serbian throne was handed to Peter, a prince from the rival Karageorgevic dynasty. King Peter was more Westernised and liberal, setting out to transform Serbia into a constitutional, democratic, and modern state. His efforts were well-received by native Serbians and other Slavic peoples in the Balkans, who viewed Serbia as a safe haven for Slavic identity and culture.
The Greater Serbia movement emerged, advocating for the reclamation of Serbian territory from the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian empires. Serbian nationalists supported a centralized Yugoslav state that guaranteed Serbian unity and resisted decentralization efforts. This centralist vision of Yugoslavia, in contrast to the confederal or federal state advocated by non-Serbs, led to antagonism and unstable governance during the interwar period. Serbian nationalism was a significant factor in the Balkan Wars, contributing to the decline of the Ottoman Empire and the eventual dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
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German support for Austria-Hungary
Germany's support for Austria-Hungary was a key factor in the latter's decision to declare war on Serbia on 28 July 1914. Germany provided unconditional support to Austria-Hungary, assuring its ally that it would back them in any conflict with Serbia. This assurance, known as a "blank cheque", was crucial in giving Austria-Hungary the confidence to pursue military action against Serbia.
The German government actively encouraged Austria-Hungary to take a hard-line stance towards Serbia and to force a military conflict. Germany urged its ally to act quickly, hoping to prevent the conflict from escalating into a wider European war. However, this ultimately backfired, as the rapid mobilisation and escalation triggered a chain reaction of alliances and counter-alliances that drew in other major powers, including Russia, France, and eventually Britain.
The German-Austrian alliance was a significant factor in the lead-up to World War I. Germany's support for Austria-Hungary was not just diplomatic but also included the promise of military backing. This assurance gave Austria-Hungary the courage to issue an ultimatum to Serbia and, when Serbia accepted almost all of the demands, to break diplomatic relations and prepare for military action.
The specific motivations behind Germany's support for Austria-Hungary are multifaceted. Firstly, Germany shared Austria-Hungary's concerns about Serbian ambition in the Balkans and wanted to curb Serbian nationalism. Secondly, Germany sought to demonstrate its own strength and power in the region. Finally, Germany may have viewed the crisis as an opportunity to defend its interests and assert its influence, with some suggesting that Germany used the crisis as a pretext for starting a preventive war.
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Austria-Hungary's ultimatum to Serbia
- Prevent the spread of information that speaks negatively of Austria-Hungary or its Emperor.
- Remove all Serbian nationalist organisations, including the "Narodna Odbrana".
- Allow Austro-Hungarian representatives to enter Serbia to investigate the assassination of Franz Ferdinand.
- Remove and arrest individuals in the Serbian government deemed responsible for anti-Austria actions.
- Suppress publications that incite hatred and contempt for the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy.
- Eliminate teachings in public instruction that serve to foment propaganda against Austria-Hungary.
- Remove from military service all officers guilty of propaganda against the Monarchy.
- Accept the collaboration of Austro-Hungarian representatives in suppressing subversive movements against the Monarchy.
- Take judicial proceedings against accessories to the plot of the 28th of June on Serbian territory.
Serbia was given 48 hours to respond to the ultimatum, and while they agreed to most demands, they refused to allow Austro-Hungarian officials to investigate on Serbian soil, citing this as an infringement of their sovereignty. This rejection was used as a justification for Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia, with the conflict quickly escalating into World War I as other European powers became involved.
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Serbian sovereignty
The history of Serbia is long and complex, with Serbian habitation and rule varying much through the ages. Belgrade alone is believed to have been torn by 140 wars since Roman times. The first Serbian Principality was established in the 8th century by the Vlastimirovići dynasty, ruling over modern-day Montenegro, Bosnia, Dalmatia, and Serbia. It evolved into a Grand Principality by the 11th century, and in 1217 the Kingdom and national church (Serbian Orthodox Church) were established under the Nemanjić dynasty.
Serbia's sovereignty has been contested throughout history. The Romans occupied the region in the 2nd century BC, and no less than 17 Roman emperors, including Constantine the Great, were born on Serbian soil. The early Slavs first appeared in the Balkans in the 6th and 7th centuries, mixing with local Byzantine subjects and descendants of Paleo-Balkan tribes. The Serbian people have a long and rich history, but Serbia itself did not become an independent nation until the late 19th century. For centuries, Serbia's proximity to both Europe and Asia made it a target for invaders.
The powerful Ottoman Empire made inroads into Serbia during the 14th century and eventually conquered it in 1459. The region remained under Ottoman control for three and a half centuries, until the successful Serbian Revolution of the early 1800s. Serbia became a self-governing principality in 1830 and an independent and internationally recognised nation-state in 1878. However, the newly independent Serbia was subject to many external pressures and influences, including from its neighbour Austria, its Slavic cousins in Russia, and its own intense nationalism.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Serbia's growing nationalism and desire for independence clashed with Austria-Hungary's attempts to shape Serbian policy. Serbia's victory in the Balkan Wars of 1912-1913 further fuelled Serbian nationalism and ambitions in the tumultuous Balkans region. On June 28, 1914, when Serbian-backed terrorists assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Austria-Hungary saw it as a justification for war. Serbia's refusal to accept all the terms of Austria-Hungary's ultimatum led to war being declared on July 28, 1914, marking the beginning of World War I.
Despite suffering immense casualties during the war, Serbia emerged victorious and expanded its territories. With the defeat of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Serbia united with other provinces to form the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes in 1918. Serbia's current borders were achieved at the end of World War II when it became a federal unit within the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia. Today, Serbia is a full member of CERN and has a growing information technology sector, excelling in maths and computer sciences.
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Frequently asked questions
On 28 June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife were assassinated by a Serbian-backed terrorist. In response, Austria-Hungary, with German encouragement, declared war on Serbia on 28 July.
Germany encouraged Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia and offered its unconditional support. Germany wanted to destroy Serbia and present a fait accompli to the world.
The declaration of war stirred up old tensions and anxieties across Europe, drawing in supporters and allies on both sides. Russia came in to back Serbia, which led to Germany declaring war on Russia. This, in turn, brought France into the war on Russia's side.
