WWI
War Breaks Out
Nationalism in the Balkans
At the turn of the century, European competition between Austria-Hungary and Russia
focused on a turbulent area of southeastern Europe: the Balkan Peninsula. The Balkan Peninsula
is a mountainous region whose difficult terrain has created distinct, isolated ethnic groups and has
discouraged much cultural unity. Prior to the 19th century, the Ottoman Empire ruled much of the
Balkans. This non-European, Muslim rule was resented by the largely Slavic, Christian peoples of
the Balkans, and both Austria and Russia planned on taking Balkan territories from the Turks.
Thus, an intense rivalry developed in the area between Austria and Russia. Austria had annexed
Slovenia and Croatia by the 1800s, and in 1878 Austria occupied Bosnia-Herzegovina. But many
of the Balkan ethnicities desired to become independent. Other European powers supported the
idea of small, independent Balkan countries because this would not allow Russia or Austria to
become too powerful. In time, Greece, Serbia, Montenegro, Romania, Bulgaria, and Albania
become independent nations. But their early history was violent; two Balkan wars were fought by
these countries, in 1912 and 1913, and boundary disputes kept tension high amongst them all.
In 1908 Austria-Hungary annexed the region of Bosnia-Herzegovina form the Ottoman
Empire. Bosnia was populated primarily by Slavic Muslims, Serbs, and Croats. The Serbs
especially harbored a strong desire for independence. Serbia, Austria’s tiny neighbor that bordered
Bosnia along its eastern border, resented Austrian control of Bosnia and desired to join the Slavic
Bosnians to its own nation. On Jun 28, 1914, the Austrian Archduke Francis Ferdinand, grandson
of the Hapsburg (Austrian royal family) Emperor Francis Joseph, planned to tour the Bosnian
capital city Sarajevo. June 28 is the anniversary of Serbia’s most important and most ignominious
battle; in 1389, the Ottoman Turks defeated the Serbs at the battle of Kosovo, bringing Serbia
under an Ottoman rule that would last for almost 500 years. Thus, for Serbs, this date fired up
feelings of nationalism and resentment of foreign rule. June 28 was also Francis Ferdinand and his
wife Sophie’s 14th wedding anniversary, and the Archduke had planned a grand parade along the
Apple Quay, an avenue that ran along the Miljacka River. A secret Serbian nationalistic society
known as the Black Hand planned to assassinate the Archduke during this parade, and hired
seven young Serbs to carry out the plot.
The Assassination of the Archduke
On the morning of June 28, the seven conspirators spread out along the Apple Quay. The
first assassin claimed that a policeman prevented him from throwing his bomb. The second
assassin lobbed a bomb that the Archduke deflected into the street, where it exploded. The
Archduke’s car sped past the next three assassins, arriving at the City Hall without further incident.
At this point it was decided that the Archduke should proceed to the hospital to visit the victims of
the previous bombing. On the way, Francis Ferdinand’s car made a wrong turn onto Francis
Joseph Street. When the driver realized his error, he slammed on the brakes and attempted to
make a U-turn. The crowd forced the car to stop for severval fateful seconds, and the final
assassin, 19-year-old Gavrilo Princip, stepped from the curb and fired two shots, hitting the
Archduke in the neck and the Duchess in the stomach. Both died almost instantly, while Princip
was immediately arrested. June 28 now had another reason to be famous in Serbian and Austrian
history.
Austria-Hungary’s Ultimatum
Outraged by this murder, on July 23 Austria-Hungary presented Serbia with an ultimatum
concerning inquiry into the crime, which had to be answered in 48 hours. The Austrian government
had been given a “blank check” from Germany guaranteeing its support no matter what happened.
Some members of the Austrian government then decided to make the ultimatum so severe that
either Serbia would refuse, prompting war and allowing Austria to increase its territory in the
Balkans, or Serbia would accept and Austria would take over Serbia without even fighting. The first
demand called of the suppression of all anti-Austrian activity in Serbia, the second called for the
dismissal of all Serbian officials to whom Austria-Hungary objected, and the third demanded the
right for Austrian officials to enter Serbia to investigate Serbian state complicity in the crime and to
carry out suppression of anti-Austria organizations. Serbia finally agreed to the first two demands.
However, unwilling to compromise its independence by agreeing to the third demand, which would
have been tantamount to relinquishing sovereignty, and knowing Serbia had full Russian support in
case of war, Serbia did not accept the full ultimatum. After consultation with Germany, its close
Triple Alliance ally, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28.
The Alliance System Leads to War
Because of the system of alliances in place in Europe in 1914, within one week of Austria’s
declaration all of Europe plunged into war. Though Russia had given its support to Serbia, it feared
that imperialistic aims on the Balkans would be achieved by Austria unless Russia made a strong
diplomatic showing in the region. On July 30, Russia mobilized its armies, moving Russian troops
toward the German and Austrian frontiers. Germany took this as an act of war and issued two
ultimatums of its own: one to Russia demanding demobilization, and one to France demanding its
neutrality. Russia refused, and France shoes to honor its 1892 treaty with Russia. Germany
therefore chose to declare war on Russia on August 1 and on France on August 3.
Germany decided to attack France through the flat coastal plains of Belgium, as opposed to
through the rugged terrain of the Franco-German border, even though both Britain and Prussia
(Germany) had signed the Treaty of London in 1839, guaranteeing Belgian neutrality. Thus, when
Germany invaded Belgium on August 3, 1914, the German chancellor knew that Britain might be
pulled into the war. Germany gambled that Britain would not enter the fight. Britain, however,
feared having German troops only 50 miles from its soil, and chose to honor the Treaty of London,
as well as its separate Entente agreements with Russia and France, and declared war on Germany
on August 4, 1914.
War Breaks Out Notes
In your notebook, complete the following bullet points. Feel free to add any additional notes
that you feel are important or interesting.
Nationalism in the Balkans
 People with diverse……………
 As Ottoman Empire receded ……………
 Russia and Austria competed for ……………
 Austria-Hungary annexes …………….
The Assassination of the Archduke
 Archduke Francis Ferdinand visited ……………
 7 assassins from the …………..
 19-year-old Gavrilo Princip…………..
Austria-Hungary’s Ultimatum
 Germany gave “blank check” ……………
 Austria-Hungary’s severe ……………
 Serbia refuses to let………………….
 Austria-Hungary declared ……………………
The Alliance System Leads to War
 Russia supported ……………
 Germany supported ……………
 Germany declares war on ……………
 Britain declares war on ……………