Nationalism in the Balkans At the turn of

Nationalism in the Balkans • At the turn of the century, European competition between A-H and R focused on turbulent area of SEE (southeastern Europe) known as the Balkan Peninsula • Mountainous region whose difficult terrain resulted in distinct isolated ethnic groups • Ottoman empire ruled BP—Non-European Muslim rule was resented by the largely Slavic (mostly Christian) population • Both A-H and R planned on taking BP from the Turks, so an intense rivalry between A-H and R grew

• A-H annexed Slovenia and Croatia in the 1800’s, occupied Bosnia by 1878. BP wanted independent ethnic regions (Greece, Serbia, Montenegro, Romania, Bulgaria and Albania all became independent) • Violent wars broke out about boundary disputes • In 1908, A-H annexed Bosnia • Bosnia’s population was Slavic Muslims, Serbs and Croats • Serbs wanted independence for the Slavs but not for the Christian Croats

What happened to him? Why?

Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand • 6 -28 -14: Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand wife Sophie planned to visit Bosnian capital of Sarajevo for a tour • 6 -28 was an anniversary for Serbs—lost battle of Kosovo to the Turks in 1389 which resulted in Turkish rule for 500 years • 6 -28 was the 14 th wedding anniversary of Archduke and Sophie—they planned a parade • A Serbian nationalistic society known as the Black Hand planned to assassinate the ADFF – They hired 7 young Serbs to carry out plot

• Morning of 6 -28 -14 conspirators spread along Apple Quay (parade route) • 1 st assassin said a policeman kept him from throwing bomb • 2 nd lobbed his but it was deflected by ADFF, landed in the crowd & exploded, injuring people • ADFF’s car sped away past next 3 assassins and arrived at City Hall • ADFF wanted to go to hospital to see injured people; his car made a wrong turn and got trapped on a street • 19 year old Gavrilo Princip stepped from curb and shot ADFF in the neck and Sophie in the stomach— they died instantly

Gavrilo Princip

Whom do you think will be willing to support Serbia? Why?

Austria-Hungary’s Ultimatum • Outraged, on 7 -23 -14, A-H presented Serbia with an ultimatum concerning the crime and demanded answer within 48 hours • Germany had given A-H a “blank check” guaranteeing its unconditional support no matter what happened • Some Austrians wanted the ultimatum to be so severe that Serbia would never agree to it and then they could go to war and gain all of the BP A. Suppression of all anti A-H activity in Serbia B. Dismissal of all Serbian officials to whom A-H objected C. Right for A-H officials to enter Serbia to investigate Serbian state complicity in the crime and carry out suppression of all anti-A-H organizations • Serbia agreed to A & B but would not compromise independence on C

• Serbia had the full support of Russia in case war broke out • Serbia did NOT accept the full ultimatum • A-H Consulted with Germany, its close Triple Alliance Ally and declared war on Serbia July 28, 1914

• What will be Germany’s response to the Declaration of War? • Why would Germany react this way? • How might this effect a young person? • How would it shape their view of the world?

Alliance system leads to war • Because of the system of Alliances, within one week of Austria’s declaration of war, all of Europe was plunged into action • R supported Serbia (they didn’t want A-H to get BP) • 7 -30 -14: R mobilized its armies and began moving troops toward Germany’s and A-H’s borders • G took this as an act of war and issued two ultimatums to Russia – Demobilization – France must remain neutral • France honored its 1892 Treaty of Mutual Defense with R • G declared war on R on August 1, 1914 and France on August 3, 1914 • GB declared war on G and A-H on Aug 4, 1914