The socio-political climate of early-20th century Europe was strikingly intense. From the rise of Pan-Slavism to the imperial ambitions of Superpowers, tensions were simmering under the surface. The rise of Serbia’s aspirations for a greater Serbia and the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s fears of disintegration crafted a powder keg about to explode.
Austria-Hungary’s occupation of Bosnia-Herzegovina under the Treaty of Berlin (1878) created tensions with the Serbian Nationalists, who saw the territory as a part of “Greater Serbia.” The appearance of ethnic Nationalism in Bosnian politics and the overthrow of Serbia’s pro-Habsburg king, Aleksander Obrenović further exacerbated the difficulties for Austria-Hungary. In October 1908, seeking to prevent the revolution from spreading northwards while asserting dominance over Serbia, Vienna took advantage of the political turmoil within the Ottoman Empire and the diminished military capabilities of Russia, following the 1905 Russo-Japanese War, announced that it would be formally annexing Bosnia-Herzegovina. Despite the initial diplomatic backlash, Austria-Hungary’s actions were ostensibly successful. By 1909, Russia and Serbia had officially acknowledged Bosnia-Herzegovina’s transfer of sovereignty.
Disgruntled by the annexation, multiple high-ranking Serbian ministers, officials, and generals, convened at City Hall in Belgrade. They founded the Narodna Odbrana (National Defense), a semi-secret nationalist society. Its goal was to recruit and train partisans for a potential war between Serbia and Austria-Hungary. It carried out anti-Austrian propaganda while sending spies and saboteurs to work within the seized regions of the empire. On May 9 1911, Narodna Odbrana formed the Black Hand — sometimes referred to as “Unification or Death.” The Black Hand was a secret Serbian nationalist group primarily comprised of the Serbian military. The group planned guerrilla acts and assassinated targets from the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empires so that they would have the Greater Serbia they envisioned.
The Austro-Hungarian Empire was also home to many Slavic citizens, including Slovaks, Czechs, Croats, Ukrainians, and Poles. However, these citizens did not enjoy the same representation as the German Austrians. Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir apparent to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, was a strong supporter of the Slavs. He wanted to give the Slavs greater autonomy and the opportunity to rule themselves. However, the notion threatened the Serbian nationalist cause since it would effectively pull the plug on the rising Serbian Empire.
To thwart the potential threat, Dragutin Dimitrijević (Nickname: Apis) a key figure in the Black Hand organization decided to assassinate Franz Ferdinand in 1914. To carry out the assassination, Apis recruited and trained three young Bosnian Serbs — Gavrilo Princip, Nedeljko Čabrinović, and Trifko Grabež in marksmanship and bomb-throwing. They were transported across the Serbian border into Bosnia through a network of underground contacts where they would meet other conspirators recruited locally.
It is believed that, after being warned of the presence of Bosnian terrorists, Serbian Prime Minister Nikola Pašić gave instructions for the arrest of young Bosnians who attempted to cross back into Bosnia. However, his orders were not implemented, and the three men arrived in what was then known as the “Condominium of Bosnia and Herzegovina”, where they joined forces with fellow conspirators recruited by Princip's former roommate Danilo Ilić, Veljko, Vaso Čubrilović, and Muhamed Mehmedbašić.
The Archduke arrived in Sarajevo on 25 June 1914. Reuniting with his wife, Sophie, Archduchess of Austria, he spent the next two days attending to his official duties as well as sightseeing. On the morning of 28 June 1914, six assassins took their positions along the Apple Quay, a narrow boulevard along the Miljacka River. Franz Ferdinand and his party proceeded by train from Ilidža Spa to Sarajevo. They were met by Governer Potiorek at the railway station who downplayed the threats of assassination plots.
Just after 10 am, the Archduke’s motorcade, comprising six open-top cars, turned onto Appel Quay towards Sarajevo’s city hall. The procession initially passed Mehmedbašić and Čubrilović, but neither reacted. Mehmedbašić later claimed that they had been deterred by the presence of a nearby police officer. As the motorcade approached the third operative, Vaso Čubrilović threw a hand grenade that missed its target and instead struck the car behind the Archduke's limousine, causing injuries to over 20 people. The royal motorcade sped away and safely reached the city hall without any further incidents. At the City Hall however, Franz Ferdinand insisted on visiting the hospital where the injured were being treated. This decision proved fatal; the Archduke’s chauffeur, was unaware of the revised schedule and, following the original procession route, turned right at the famous Latin Bridge.
As he attempted to reverse back out onto the thoroughfare, the car stalled in front of a popular delicatessen where Princip happened to be loitering. Drawing his pistol, Gavrilo Princip fired twice at point blank range, hitting the Archduke in the throat, and his wife Sophie in the abdomen. Sophie was dead on arrival at the Governor's residence, and Franz Ferdinand died ten minutes later. It is believed that Franz Ferdinand's last words were "Sophie, Sophie! Don't die! Live for our children!". Princip tried to shoot himself but was immediately seized and arrested. At his sentencing, Princip revealed that his intention had been to kill Governer Potiorek, rather than Sophie.
As such, the assassination did not seem to be a major, world-changing event. However, Austria-Hungary had been looking for an excuse to attack Serbia, and this incident provided them with the cause they needed. Blaming Serbia for the assassination, Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum. When the Serbian Government refused two of the demands, Vienna considered the ultimatum rejected and declared war on Serbia on July 28. The tangle of national alliances swiftly pulled the rest of Europe into the conflict and within days, the First World War had commenced.
It is safe to say that on June 28, 1914, a wrong turn initiated one of the bloodiest wars in the history of humanity.
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