The Bosnian Crisis 1908
THE BALKANS
 The Balkans is the
name given to a large
area in South-East
Europe.
 As this map shows, it
contains a complex
mixture of cultures
with a long history of
distrust and conflict.
The Balkans in the early 20th century
The Balkans were a
seething mixture of
competing
ambitions between
imperial powers
and increasing
nationalism, as
shown by this map.
Views of the Balkans
 “The whole of the
Balkans is not worth the
bones of a single
Pomeranian grenadier”.
(Bismarck)
 “Some damn thing in the
Balkans will set it (i.e.
the next war) off “
(Bismarck again)
“The whole world is festering
With unhappy souls.
The French hate the Germans,
The Germans hate the Poles;
Italians hate Yugoslavs,
South Africans hate the Dutch,
And I don't like anybody very
much “
Kingston Trio Merry Minuet
Clash of empires - Turkey
 Turkey was referred
to as the “Sick Man of
Europe”.
 Turkey still retained
control of some
territories in the
Balkans area, which
were left over from
conquests centuries
ago.
Clash of Empires - Russia
 Russia had always had an interest in developing
trade through their ice-free Black Sea ports.
 Turkey controlled access between the
Mediterranean and Black Seas.
 Russia supported the interests of fellow
Orthodox Slavs
 Russia’s interest in the Balkans was to have
allies that would support her in her desire to
have open access to the Mediterranean Sea
Clash of Empires – Austria-Hungary
 Austria-Hungary had gained control of some
areas in the northern Balkans which were part
of her multi-cultural empire.
 Austria-Hungary was concerned about
nationalist unrest, especially the growing rise of
Serbia.
 Austria-Hungary feared that other nationalities
under its control would agitate to split from the
empire.
Pan-Slavism
 This historical force was the idea that all those
groups of Slavic origin should combine together
into one large independent state.
 Serbia saw itself as the core of this new Pan-Slavic
state.
 Austria-Hungary saw the desire for Slav
nationalism as a direct threat to its empire.
 Russia’s support for Serbia created tension with
Austria-Hungary.
The Young Turks
In 1908, the Turkish
Sultan Abdul-Hamid
II was forced to
accede to the
demands of the
Young Turks, a
group of army
officers who
demanded that
constitutional rule be
restored in Turkey.
Austria-Hungary’s opportunity
 Austria-Hungary wanted
to prevent these Young
Turks from regaining
control of Bosnia and
Herzegovina.
 Aerenthal, the Austrian
Foreign Minister (right)
arranged a secret
meeting was with his
Russian counterpart
Alexander Isvolsky.
The secret deal
 Aerenthal and Isvolsky (right)
secretly agreed that Austria
would support Russian moves
to gain its warships free
access to the Mediterranean
from the Black Sea.
 In return Austria-Hungary
would annex Bosnia and
Herzegovina.
The deal falls apart
 Isvolsky needed to return to Russia to brief the
Tsar’s government about this deal, and to get
support from Britain and France for the deal.
 However, before this was achieved, the
Austrians went ahead with the annexation of
Bosnia and Herzegovina.
 Austria-Hungary’s action caused international
concern.
Relations worsen
 Serbia was outraged by Austria’s annexation, and
appealed to Russia for help in fighting the
annexation.
 Russia was too weak from its defeat by Japan, and
instead called for an international conference to
settle the issue.
 Austria-Hungary refused, and was backed by
Germany, who promised to mobilise in Austria’s
defence if Russia mobilised.
 Russia could not face both states and had to back
down.
Consequences of the crisis
 Russia was humiliated and embittered by Austria’s
actions. It increased the pace of its rearmament. It
would not back down again.
 Serbia remained furious at Austria-Hungary’s frustration
of its Pan-Slav ambitions and began openly supporting
nationalist terror groups.
 The crisis revealed how desperate Germany was to
retain the loyalty of her only remaining European ally.
Supportive reading: Mills et. al. Pg 20-21
Applying this information to AS 90469
This standard examines how a force or movement
influenced people’s lives. You are required to
cover:
 Causes of an event related to a force/
movement
 Consequences of an event related to a
force/movement
 How the force/movement influenced people’s
lives
A suitable force or movement
 IMPERIALISM, because this crisis is based on competing
imperial ambitions, especially between Austria-Hungary
and Russia
 ALLIANCE SYSTEM, because Germany backed its ally
Austria-Hungary in a dispute with Russia, who did not at
that time have confident backing from France (or
Britain)
 NATIONALISM, because Serbia had ambitions to create
a larger Pan-Slav state in the Balkans
 Of these, IMPERIALISM is the best choice because it
offers more opportunity to examine the influence on
people’s lives
Causes of the crisis
 Long term – Turkish weakness in Bosnia,
Russian aspirations to have access to the
Mediterranean Sea, Austrian desire to frustrate
Serbian nationalist ambitions
 Short term – Austrian actions in annexing
Bosnia before Russia could consult other
powers, German support for Austria, Russian
military weakness
Consequences of the crisis
 Russian humiliation
 Serbian frustration
 German desperation
Influence of Imperialism on people’s lives
 Isvolsky was humiliated by being tricked by Aerenthal.
 The Russian Tsar was forced to disown Isvolsky’s plan for
expanding Russian influence in the Balkans.
 Russian politicians were angry at Austria’s and Germany’s
actions, and were determined not to back down again.
 Serbian politicians were angry at Austria’s frustration of
their nationalist ambitions, annoyed that Russia would not
back them and looked for other ways to reclaim what they
thought was important to their national interests.
 British and French politicians were alarmed at international
tensions caused by Austria’s and Russia’s conflicting
imperial ambitions.