Austria-Hungary:
In the thirty days before the declaration of war, the leaders in Vienna took a series of steps to cause war. The most important being, to assure the support of Germany as their ally (Tunstall, 112). In July 1914 Austria-Hungary’s leaders were the first to opt for war, and they did so with a single plan which was to grow in power and become the nation they once were. In the seventieth and eighteenth century Austria was a leading power of Central Europe, but in 1805 they experienced a humiliating defeat by the hands of Napoleon Bonaparte which resulted in an occupation. Therefore, in the current period of developing nationalism, the multiethnic empire was highly vulnerable. In addition, the compromise of 1867 produced a peculiar and complicated system of government (Tunstall, 113). The emperor ruled over the whole country but the state was now split into two - Austria and Hungary with capitals in Vienna and Budapest, each with its own constitution, government and parliament (4). The Dual Monarchy was governed by a common ministerial council, and their common task was to oversee the monarchy’s dualistic governing arrangement, the council was not regulated by any constitution or law (5). Many of the key government officials were located either in the foreign ministry or in the war ministry and had spent their adult lives within one of these organizations, allowing for their decisions to be driven by somewhat different concerns, with the diplomatic and military necessities not always converging (12).
Moreover, the belief that Austria-Hungary had imperialist ambitions in the Balkans was widely shared, most critically seen with the Russian leaders who saw the annexation of Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1908 as an attempt to ex...
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...ivani to St. Petersburg had ended and when the French leaders would literally be at sea (29). Vienna’s leaders at this point were engaged in a policy of deception. Their aim was to suggest that no measures would be taken against Serbia, the local press was even asked to reduce its comments about Serbia (30). Serbia commenced full mobilization three hours after receiving Austria-Hungary’s note (32). The Austrian decision for war was the result of a careful well thought out and rational process (33). Austria-Hungary’s leaders sought a limited war, one in which they hoped the Dual Monarchy would eliminate Serbia. Their intention, may have been a Third Balkan war, but, these leaders knew Russia was very likely to intervene, in which case the war would be much larger (35). The price of mobilizing was paid by hundred’s of thousands of Austrian and Hungarian soldiers (38).
The people of Austria were rightfully upset in the summer of 1914. Archduke Franz Ferdinand had been shot and killed on June 28th, supposedly by a Serbian, and the Austrian government was livid. Three weeks after the assassination, on July 21st, Austria’s ambassador to Serbia, Baron von Giesl, wrote to foreign minister Leopold von Berchtold expressing that Serbia could no longer be avoided. Serbia had been seen as a threat long before the assassination, but now things seemed to have gotten out of hand. Giesl used his fears and beliefs to form an opinion that, in his opinion, should represent the entity of Austrian officials and influence the country to wage war on Serbia.
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
Wolfsgrüber, Cölestin. “The Austro-Hungarian Monarchy.” The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 2. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 18 December 2011
The final request Austria would make before they disclose the fact they are going to war with Serbia, is the ultimatum they gave to Serbia one month after the death of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, this is why they are responsible for the war. “The Austro-Hungarian government waited three weeks following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand - heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne currently held by Franz Josef - before issuing its formal response” (Duffy, Michael, Austria Ultimatum to Serbia, 23, July 23 1914). Austria waited before taking their chance when Archduke Franz Ferdinand died. After that they made their move Serbia, the ultimatum was impossible to agree to all the demands issued and thus they responded. “(Preamble)... [Serbia] cannot be held responsible for manifestations of a private character, such as articles in the press and the peaceable work of societies ... [The Serbian government] have been pained a...
The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary led to the July Crisis. A crisis in which, Austria sent an Ultimatum to Serbia, with requirement to be followed. Serbia accepted most but not all of Austria’s demands. Serbia’s decline of the Ultimatum led to Austria-Hungary declaring war on the Serbs. Another key event in the July Crisis was Austria-Hungary sending a “blank cheque” to Germany. This cheque meant to ask if Germany would help Austria-Hungary if they went to war. Germany agreed to the “blank cheque”. As Austria-Hungary went to war against Serbia; Serbia had alliances with France, Russia, Italy, and the Ottoman Empire to join the war on their side. Germany knowing that Russia was mobilizing its army, Kaiser Wilhelm II, sent a letter to Russia’s leader. Tsar Nicholas II ignored the letter and kept on mobilizing its army. Therefore, Germany put forth the Schlieffen plan, written in 1904 by Alfred von Schlieffen. This plan’s principle was getting German troops through Belgium and then the troops into France....
...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.
It had to adopt a aggressive stance. Conrad von Hötzendorf, the Chief of Staff of the Austrian military at the outbreak of war, wrote that the decision to fight Serbia came not out of a desire for vengeance, but because “highly practical importance of the prestige of a Great Power” demanded it. The Hapsburg monarchy he believed had been “seized by the throat and had to choose between allowing itself to be strangled and making a last effort to prevent its destruction.” (Stoessinger, 8). Austria-Hungary was desperate to defend its status as a “Great Power” and its leaders believed that in at least this occasion the best defense was a good
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.”
Hall, Richard C.. The Balkan Wars, 1912-1913 prelude to the First World War. London: Routledge, 2000.
He was always hostile to the Magyars, and there was no secret about his association with the so-called policy of Trialism, which aims ostensibly at adding to the Dual Monarchy a third great Slav State. Yet there were limitations to the Archduke’s leanings towards the Southern. He had a good deal to do with the capture of Bosnia and the Herzegovina in 1908, and could he have had his way the change would have been made earlier.
One of the most prevalent and influential emotions that caused the war was none other than anger. While anger was prominent all throughout the war, it was surely at its zenith between Austria-Hungary and Serbia. In 1908 tension between Austria-Hungary and Serbia sparked as Austria Hungary taking advantage of Turkish revolution annexed the Turkish province of Bosnia. This was a deliberate blow at their neighbor Serbia, who hoped to take Bosnia as it contained about three million Serbs. With the feeble Russia still recovering from their loss against Japan, there was no Serbian support. Hence, Austria-Hungary took Bosnia, which marked the start of a long spell of Serbian tension and anger against Austria-Hungary. Then again, in 1912 tensions increased as Austria prevented Serbia from receiving Albania, which would give them access to the Sea. This again was a deliberate move to prevent Serbia from becoming powerful, which only increased Serbian anger and worsened their relationship with Austria. The power keg containing all these emotions was finally lit, when Serbian terrorist Gavrilo Princip assassinated Aust...
In 2007 Gregory Diaz was arrested in Ventura County, California, after he sold ecstasy to a police informant. After being detained and brought to the police station, where he was interrogated, Gregory Diaz’s phone was searched by deputy Fazio without a warrant. The phones text messages were found to have incriminating evidence. Upon being confronted with the evidence Mr. Diaz confessed and was charged with transportation of a controlled substance (Health & Saf. Code, § 11379, subd. (a)). The defendant pled guilty but later moved to suppress the evidence and his confession. The defendant’s motion was on the grounds that searching his phone without a warrant violated his constitutional rights, set by the fourth amendment, against unlawful search and seizure. The trial court found the search to be lawful because the object was in his possession upon arrest, therefore subject to search incident to arrest, rejecting his motion.
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,...
The Ottoman was the ideal external enemy for the rulers of the Habsburgs in the 15th and 16th century. Ferdinand I, the second grandson of Maximilian I, was the founder of the Austrian Empire, a multiethnic political union. However, because the region was composed of various ethnic and political systems, it was necessary to have a political ideology or a goal that can unite such diversity in order to achieve long-term and continuous achievement of integration. In this situation, the Türkenschrift functioned as a means of propaganda for strengthening the internal bond in the place with diverse cultures; it was an important driving force for the political and military unity of the region. Ferdinand I, as a justification for regional integration and solidarity, sought to build an integrated defense network connecting the areas facing the Ottoman border.
In the July Crisis Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia for the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (the heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire) despite not having conclusive proof. Austria-Hungary asked for German support to "eliminate Serbia as a power factor in the Balkans". Germany agreed, offering her full support for Austria- Hungary to start a war with Serbia, and this became known as the "blank cheque". Austria-Hungary and Germany could not have failed to realise the possibility of Russian intervention and a European war, suggesting to me that war was their objective. Austria-Hungary issued an impossible ultimatum to Serbia, which was likely to provoke a war. Serbia was given only 48 hours to reply, so was forced to think quickly, or other countries would be mobilized and ready to attack. Serbia accepted all but one point of the ultimatum. Consequently war was announced. If given more time Serbia could have discussed the issue further in a conference. The British foreign minister, Grey suggested a conference, but this was rejected by Germany and Austria-Hungary, suggesting that they had deliberate aims for war during the Balkan Crisis, rather than the Balkan Crisis being mismanaged.