Leslie Massey
Austria-Hungary's desire to control Serbia stemmed from complex geopolitical tensions and historical factors. The two nations had a fraught relationship, with Serbia seeking territory that Austria-Hungary had annexed and a significant Serb population within Austria-Hungary's borders. The Bosnian Crisis of 1908-09, triggered by Austria-Hungary's annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, heightened regional tensions and solidified beliefs in the inevitability of war. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by a Bosnian Serb nationalist in 1914 provided the catalyst for Austria-Hungary's declaration of war on Serbia, marking the start of World War I. This conflict culminated in the occupation of Serbia by Austria-Hungary and its allies from 1915 until the end of the war.
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What You'll Learn
Austria-Hungary's declaration of war against Serbia
Austria-Hungary had long been convinced that war with Serbia was inevitable, and had twice threatened Serbia with an ultimatum during the Balkan Wars of 1912-13 in an attempt to force Serbia to withdraw from positions gained. In 1913, Austria-Hungary contemplated military action against Serbia but was unable to secure the support of Italy or Germany. By supporting Bulgaria's claims against Serbia, Austria-Hungary also alienated Romania, which joined Italy and Serbia in supporting irredentist movements against the Habsburg monarchy.
In the aftermath of the assassination, Austria-Hungary presented Serbia with an ultimatum on 23 July 1914, demanding that all anti-Austrian propaganda within Serbia be suppressed, and that Austria-Hungary be allowed to conduct its own investigation into the archduke's killing. Serbia accepted all but one of the demands, but Austria-Hungary broke off diplomatic relations on 25 July and began preparing for war. On 28 July, Austria-Hungary declared war, despite attempts by other European powers to find a diplomatic solution.
The first campaign, dubbed a "punitive expedition" by the Austro-Hungarian leadership, was a series of invasions that ultimately failed to defeat the Serbians and their Montenegrin allies. Bulgaria, which had gained territory in Macedonia and Southern Serbia in 1913 after attacking Serbia and Greece, joined the Austro-Hungarian and German forces in a second campaign in October 1915, successfully invading Serbia from the east. By January 1916, all of Serbia had been occupied, and the country was divided into two occupation zones, governed by Austria-Hungary and Bulgaria under military administration.
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The Bosnian crisis
The Treaty of Berlin of 1878 had given Austria-Hungary the right to occupy and administer Bosnia and Herzegovina temporarily, but the provinces officially remained possessions of the Ottoman Empire. The Austrian administration tried to improve the region economically and to link it closely with Austria-Hungary. When the Young Turks staged a revolution in Constantinople in July 1908, establishing a constitutional government, the Austrian foreign minister, Alois Lexa von Aehrenthal, feared that the revolution might spread to Bosnia and Herzegovina, which had significant support from Bosnian Muslims and Serbs who supported 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 territories.
The annexation was met with outrage from Serbia, which was closely related to Bosnia and Herzegovina geographically and ethnically. Serbia demanded that Austria cede a portion of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Serbia, and Russia, pressed by anti-Austrian opinion at home, was forced to support the Serbian claims. Austria, firmly supported by Germany, threatened to invade Serbia if it persisted in its demands. Russia, unable to secure strong support from France, could not risk a war against both Austria-Hungary and Germany, and so in March 1909, Russia accepted the annexation. The crisis was resolved without immediate warfare, but the resulting embittered relations between Serbia and Austria-Hungary contributed to the outbreak of World War I.
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Serbian ambition in the Balkans
During the Balkan Wars of 1912-1913, Serbia, along with Montenegro, Bulgaria, and Greece, formed the Balkan League and jointly attacked the Ottoman Empire, partitioning Ottoman territories inhabited by Albanians and committing numerous war crimes against the Albanian population. Serbia's campaign on Albanian territory aimed to secure access to the Adriatic Sea, which was deemed crucial for the country's economic independence.
Serbia's growing influence in the Balkans was a significant concern for Austria-Hungary, which sought to prevent Russia from establishing itself as the protector of the orthodox Balkan Slavs. The rise of Serbia as a regional power thwarted Austria-Hungary's plans for expansion into Bosnian territory, despite official denials of such intentions.
Additionally, Serbia's irredentist claims and alliances with other Balkan states, such as Romania and Italy, further alienated Austria-Hungary and contributed to increasing tensions in the region. Serbia's pursuit of its ambitions in the Balkans ultimately played a significant role in the lead-up to World War I, with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by a Bosnian Serb nationalist serving as a catalyst for the conflict.
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Austria-Hungary's ultimatum to Serbia
Austria-Hungary had long been convinced that war with Serbia was inevitable. This belief was strengthened when Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir of Franz Joseph, was assassinated by Bosnian Serb nationalist Gavrilo Princip in June 1914. Austria-Hungary then sought to inflict a military blow on Serbia, to demonstrate its strength and to dampen Serbian support for Yugoslav nationalism, which it saw as a threat to its multinational empire.
- Prevent information from being spread that speaks of Austria-Hungary or its Emperor negatively.
- Remove all Serbian nationalist organisations.
- Allow Austro-Hungarian representatives to enter Serbia and investigate the assassination of Franz Ferdinand.
- Remove and arrest individuals in the Serbian government that Austria-Hungary considered responsible for anti-Austrian actions.
- Suppress any publication that incites hatred and contempt of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy.
- Take judicial proceedings against accessories to the plot of Franz Ferdinand's assassination on Serbian territory.
Serbia was angered by the ultimatum and sought assistance from Russia and its leader, Tsar Nicholas II. The member nations of the Triple Entente (Britain, France and Russia) all openly recognised that the terms of the ultimatum were harsh. Serbia was particularly insulted by the demand that Austro-Hungarian representatives be allowed to enter Serbia to investigate the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, as they viewed themselves as a sovereign nation and did not want their sovereignty undermined.
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The occupation of Serbia
The Austro-Hungarian Armed Forces occupied Serbia from late 1915 until the end of World War I. Austria-Hungary's declaration of war against Serbia on 28 July 1914 marked the beginning of the First World War.
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Habsburg throne, on 28 June 1914 was the catalyst for this declaration of war. The Bosnian Serb student Gavrilo Princip shot Franz Ferdinand and his wife in Sarajevo. The Austro-Hungarian foreign office decided to use this opportunity to take action against the "Serbian danger", encouraged by Germany. An ultimatum was drafted, putting the responsibility for the assassination on the Serbian government. This was opposed by the Hungarian Prime Minister, who did not want a military move against Serbia to result in territorial acquisitions. However, Austria-Hungary was determined to make war on Serbia, and after Serbia's reply to the ultimatum was deemed insufficient, diplomatic relations were severed.
The Austro-Hungarian Army invaded Serbia on 8 September 1914, but they were pushed back by the Serbian forces. In October 1915, a combined Austro-Hungarian and German offensive breached the Serbian front from the north and west, while Bulgaria, allied with Austria-Hungary, attacked from the east. By January 1916, all of Serbia had been occupied. Serbia was divided into two separate occupation zones, an Austro-Hungarian and a Bulgarian zone, both governed under a military administration. The Austro-Hungarian zone covered the northern three-quarters of Serbia, including Belgrade.
During the occupation, the Austro-Hungarian Army imposed martial law, practised hostage-taking, burned villages, and responded to uprisings with public hangings and summary executions. Between 150,000 and 200,000 people were deported to internment and concentration camps in Austria-Hungary. In September 1918, Allied forces, led by the Serbian Second Army, broke through the Salonica front, leading to the liberation of Serbia and the retreat of all remaining Austro-Hungarian troops by the end of October.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria-Hungary wanted to control Serbia because it was threatened by Serbian ambition in the tumultuous Balkans region of Europe. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by a Serbian nationalist in 1914 was the tipping point that led to Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia.
Austria-Hungary's declaration of war on Serbia marked the beginning of World War I. After three unsuccessful invasions, Austria-Hungary, with the help of Germany and Bulgaria, occupied Serbia by January 1916. Serbia was divided into two separate occupation zones, with a military administration in each territory.
Germany supported Austria-Hungary in its conflict with Serbia. Germany advised Austria-Hungary to go ahead with its plans to invade Serbia and also took control of Serbia's railways, mines, and agricultural resources.
