The Spark

Chapter 27

Section 2

Introduction

• Problems arising in the Balkans will lead to the beginnings of WWI

• nationalistic ideas will culminate into an explosion of bloodshed

• the Balkans were known as the “powder keg” of Europe

Trouble in the Balkans• In the early 1900’s, a myriad of ethnic groups existed in

the Balkans• the largest group--the Slavs--were a majority of the

Austria-Hungarian population• although the largest group within A-H, the slavs did not

share equal rights with the Austrians or Hungarians• in Bosnia and Herzegovina, nationalism among the

Slavs ran very high• these Slavs wanted to join Serbia

• The Austria-Hungarian Slavs did have some support from Czar Nicholas II of Russia

• he supported their idea but was not prepared to militarily help the A-H Slavs against the Triple Alliance

• Nicholas tells the Serbia to accept the status quo• Serbian radicals do not heed Russia’s advice• many nationalistic groups begin to arise all over

Serbia and Slavic regions of A-H

• June 28, 1914: the Austria-Hungarian emperor’s nephew

(also heir to the throne) , Archduke Franz Ferdinand, traveled to Sarajevo, Bosnia

• Archduke Ferdinand had planned on giving the Slavs in Bosnia and other regions voice--equal to that of the Austrians and Hungarians--in the A-H government

• the Archduke and his wife had come to Sarajevo to deliver this news to the people

• part of the ceremony involved a parade • seven assassins were stationed along the parade route to

assassinate the Archduke

• These 7 were part of a Serbian nationalist group called the Black Hand (aka. The Union of Death)

• the 1st assassin fired and missed• the car eventually took a wrong and the Archduke

and his wife were killed• the assassin--Gavrillo Princip (19 yrs. Old)• he used a newly invented American weapon in the

assassination--the Model 1911 semi-automatic pistol

• Austria-Hungary will blame the Serbians for

the assassination even though the killing did not occur in Serbia

• A-H wanted to punish the Serbians

• A-H also wanted to ensure that they had German support if Russia entered on the side of Serbia

• Germany agreed to help A-H

• July 23, 1914: A-H gives Serbia an ultimatum: Serbia should

allow A-H officials into Serbia to suppress all subversive movements and to further investigate Archduke Ferdinand’s killing

• Serbia had 48 hours to reply

• Serbia knew they were not ready for war against A-H

• July 25, 1914: Serbia answered by rejecting A-H’s wish to send officials into Serbia

• A-H did not like the answer

• July 28, 1914: 1 month after Franz Ferdinand’s murder, A-H declared war on Serbia

•Both A-H and Serbia begin to mobilize for

war

European War• Most in Europe wanted to avoid war and believed war could

be avoided• each side pushed the other to the brink of war hoping that the

other side would back down--unfortunately, this did not work

• Russia acted first once A-H declared war• Russia knew they had to help Serbia or face the hatred of the

Balkan Slavs• Russia believed they would also receive some help from

France

• July 30, 1914: Czar Nicholas II began mobilizing

Russian troops against A-H and Germany• July 31, 1914: A-H begins mobilization against Russia

• now that Russian had entered into a war with A-H and Germany, the other Triple Entente members had to make a decision

• July 31, 1914: Germany gives Russia an ultimatum: cancel mobilization or face war with Germany

• Also, Germany issued an ultimatum to France on July 31: Germany gave France 18 hours to decide on French neutrality if Germany and Russia went to war

• Nicholas never replied to Germany, and Germany declared war on Russia (August 1, 1914)

• August 3, 1914: Germany declares war on France

• Great Britain wanted no part of war

• GB believed they could negotiate their way out of war

• August 1, 1914: Germany marched into Luxembourg and demanded that Belgium give Germany free passage into France– Belgium was a neutral nation

– Belgium refused to let Germany pass

– Belgium also asked Great Britain for help in the matter

• August 3, 1914: Germany invaded Belgium– GB sent Germany an ultimatum: pull German troops out of Belgium

or face war with GB

– Germany refused to withdraw troops

• August 4,1914: Great Britain declares war on Germany

• The use of alliances escalated a small conflict between A-H and Serbia into an all out European war and, eventually, into a full scale world war.