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On June 28, 1914, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Archduke Francis Ferdinand, was assassinated along with his wife while touring the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo. The assassin was a student radical associated with a Slav nationalist terrorist group known as the Black Hand, which was fighting for independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire for the empire's Slavic minorities. From the beginning, the Austrians suspected that Serbia, an independent and radically pan-Slavic nation bordering the Austro-Hungarian Empire, was behind the killing (they were right as it happened — the Serbian chief of staff had helped plan the crime). World Response Initial world opinion also believed Serbia was behind the assassination, and the initial world response condemned the act — a factor which reassured Austria that it could move to get revenge. But the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy never operated quickly, especially since Austria could do nothing without being sure of German support. In the end, the Austro-Hungarian government waited too long — by the time they attacked Serbia, public opinion about the killing had already cooled. The Entangling Alliance Domino Effect Austro-Hungarian Empire: desperately wanted to get rid of Serbia, which had been behind most of their largest Slavic problems (Serbia had been a leader in the two Balkans wars, both of which had threatened Austro-Hungarian holdings). Biggest Fear: Russia (a Slavic country which might help their minorities if pressed). Needed: the Hungarians and the Germans to promise military support against Russia. Germany: promised the Austrians support in the event of a Russian attack: a "blank check" which allowed A.H. to move confidently against Serbia. Both Austria-Hungary and Germany believed they could do this in a limited way, and that Russia would stay out of it, as it had before. They were not looking to start a fight with Russia or any other major European power. Biggest Fear: That Austria-Hungary, their most important ally, would be seen as a useless, "paper tiger" if they didn’t act against the Serbians, and that the A.H.’s disintegration would leave them standing alone against France and Russia. Needed: A strong ally, a united front with that ally, a passive Russia, and a neutral Britain. Russia: The Austrians and Germans were counting on a repeat performance of Russia’s p... ... middle of paper ... ...marked Europe after it helped set the stage for W.W.II. W.W.I was truly global in scope; it was devastating in terms of casualties. The old methods of fighting had met new technologies, and caught the military leaders off-guard. The scale of "The Great War" was truly unprecedented, as Europeans dragged their respective colonies around the world into it. New Weaponry: tanks, submarines, airplanes were all new in W.W.I — would become staples of war by W.W.II. One of most infamous weapons of W.W.I was banned afterwards: poison gas. Proof of the Failure of the Peace: W.W.II. The peace created by the Versailles Treaty did not last, and the world created by settlement quickly broke apart. Pro-nationalist statements made by European leaders, like the 14 Points, were taken seriously by various colonials, who looked forward to self-determination; they were disappointed that the treaty still left Britain, France, the US and Japan firmly in control of their own colonial regions. Tensions between European powers and their colonials were one source of instability in the interwar period; the domestic unrest and hostility between European nations sparked by the Treaty was another.
The group the black hands is often and quite accurately called responsible for the assassination of archduke ferdinand, though the group had been influenced by Nationalism. The members of this said terrorist group, had been influenced by nationalism through policy that had been inflicted on them by the Austrian-Hungarian empire. The assassination was why Austrian-Hungarian had to go to war against Serbia because it’s an act of breaking their treaty of 1990 with the Austrian-Hungarian empire, but first Austria-Hungary had given them an ultimatum. Which was basically a statement of demands made to Serbia, that if they didn’t abae then Austria-Hungary would attack them. Then all the allied countries with either side joined in as to prove how willing they were to die for their countries, this was true for them a few weeks or so after the beginning of the war when it actually had become more than just allies to either Serbia or Austria-Hungary. Altogether the Nationalism was the cause for the Black hands to essentially commit their crime, and later on to keep the war ongoing....
From Baron von Giesl’s point of view, the only way to make things turn in favor of Austria-Hungary was to attack Serbia while they were too busy putting Austria down. The letter that Giesl wrote to Berchtold provides an important look into what Austrian officials were thinking right before the start of World War I. Whether or not the assumption that Serbia was a threat that only war could eliminate was a widespread belief throughout Austria-Hungary, it ultimately led the Austrian officials to decide it was the correct
The people residing in Serbia did not want to be controlled by Austria which led to the assassination of Austria’s Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Document 5 states, “...the disaster began only at that disastrous moment when the successor of Austria-Hungary fell a victim to murderous hands.” The war was ignited because of nationalism and due to this assassination, an ultimatum was delivered to Serbia from Austria. Document 3 is the ultimatum that was given to Serbia. It reads, “The Royal Government see themselves compelled to demand from the Royal Serbian Government a formal assurance that they condemn this dangerous propaganda against the Monarchy… To accept the collaboration in Serbia of representatives of the Austrian-Hungarian Government.” Serbia agreed to only some of the terms which gave Austria the push it needed to declare war. The instant war was declared, the allies of both Austria and
"Firstworldwar.com." First World War.com. Ed. Michael Duffy. N.p., 22 Aug. 2009. Web. 19 Feb. 2014. .
and Serbia in 1914. It was transformed into a general European struggle by declaration of
...s it liable and unique. It is descriptive and provides a lot of information but in the same time it is also analytical because it presents different aspects and primary sources of the Serb’s history. The parts of the book which relate to the origins of the First World War and the Balkan crisis are focused on the conflict between Serbia and Austria-Hungary, so it does not analyze all origins of the War, but it does analyze in depth the influence of Balkan nationalism for the outbreak and provides a large number of evidences for his arguments. The book compares and contrasts political and cultural history of Serbs and it is credible and objective. Relating to the First World War he also provides many primary sources and perspectives of different scholars. The book is authoritative and it is easy to notice that Corovic is an acknowledged expert on the subject.
Firstly, according to source E, actions taken by Austria-Hungary were difficult to resolve; for example, “… it made it difficult to eliminate those [Serbian] activities by rapid and resolute action.”
Italians felt overshadowed by Britain and France, especially when attempting to colonize. These disagreeable sentiments against Great Britain and France motivated the two jealous nations to increase the size of their military and devise battle plans against the prosperous countries. Germany and Italy wanted to exercise their power against Britain and France and prove their superiority, and this lead to the German and Italian rivalry against France and Britain. Secondly, the formation of alliances occurred as a result of nationalism, since it motivated nations with similar goals and beliefs to collaborate to prove their nation's’ power and superiority over other European nations. Austria-Hungary chose to ally with Germany and Italy for two primary reasons. Foremost, slavic people in Bosnia and Herzegovina wanted to leave the Austro-Hungarian Empire and become part of Serbia. Furthermore, Russia was attempting to expand into Austria-Hungary. These issues motivated the country to ally with Germany and Italy, since Austria-Hungary wanted to overcome the issues they faced within their country, as they did not want the groups advocating for independence to be successful, and they wished to counter Russian interests in
The ignition, or rather start of these events occurred on June 28th, 1914, when the Archduke of Austria – Hungary, Frances Ferdinand and his wife, were assassinated by a young Serbian militant, Gavrilo Princep. Austria – Hungary was ensured of support from the German government if the declared war against Yugoslavia, who had a defensive treaty with Russia. On July 25th, Austria – Hungary extended a ten point ultimatum to the Serbian government, along with a forty – eight hour deadline to enforce the ultimatum. July 28th marked the official declaration of war between Austria and Yugoslavia. The conflict was begun with the intentions of seizing a portion of Serbian territory and utilizing that as a leverage tool to gain their demands. The Russian military began its mobilization efforts to protect Yugoslavia. Trying to still maintain peace the Russians said they would not attack if peace talks would begin. The Germans then issued a twelve hour deadline for the demobilization of the Russian build up, and the Germans declared war on the Russians on August 1st, 1914.
Then, offensively, I suggest that the Allies pursue a two pronged attack on Austria in order to
After years of hostility and aggression between the European superpowers and large states, the balance of power began to be challenged. The Serbians in 1914 assassinated the Arch-duke, Franz Ferdinand, of Austria-Hungary. The country counteracted and “issued an ultimatum to Serbia, which would bring the assassins to justice. And with that action Serbia’s sovereignty was nullified” (Duffy Michael, 2009). Since Serbia did not succumb to the harsh demands of Austria-Hungary, “preventative” war was declared on Serbia on July 28,...
Specifically, France had never gotten over the loss to Germany in the Franco-Prussian War. Austria-Hungary and Russia both tried to dominate in the Balkans. Serbs, Bulgarians, Romanians, and other ethnic groups led to demands for independence. The Great Powers established their powerful military system, the great war broke out.
It was the middle of the 19th century and Europe had been experiencing a long period of peace. Industrialization was at its peak; new horizons were being explored; countries were being rebuilt, and everything seemed to be falling into place. However, this peace would be forever lost after Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary got assassinated by Serbian, Gavrilo Princip. Tension between these two European countries were rising by the day, and soon enough every country would be dragged into four gruesome years of fatality and utter destruction. Even with Europe holding a long lasting peace, the catastrophe was inevitable. An imbalance caused by an unstable alliance system, nationalism, and imperialism would throw Europe into the
There was a long-standing rivalry between Austria-Hungary and Russia due to their interests in the Balkans. Russia saw her role as leading and supporting her fellow Slav peoples in the Balkans. This Pan-Slav concept provided an ideal excuse to interfere in the Balkans and to extend Russia's influence towards the Eastern Mediterranean. Ideally Russia wished to open the Dardenelles straits to its warships. Austria-Hungary was concerned that this Russian encouragement of nationalism may threaten her borders and inspire nationalism within her own empire. In turn, Germany recognised that as Austria's closest ally her fate was linked with that of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Austria-Hungary was anxious to prevent Russian encroachment in the Balkans. This aim would be best served by the elimination of Serbia, Russia's Balkan ally. In 1878, Russia was humiliated at the Congress of Berlin when her proposal for a Greater Bulgarian state was rejected and Austria-Hungary occupied Bosnia to maintain order amongst the nationalist revolts.
One if the Serbian leaders had more closely guarded the car that carried Archduke Ferdinad. If the assassin had not been able to get near the car perhaps the