The Road to World War 1

Problems in the Balkans (1906 – 1912) Many different ethnicities in the Balkans Wars to get Ottoman Empire out of Balkans Conflicts over land disputes Country borders do not take in Ethnic boundaries Serbia wants 1) economic independence from A.H. 2) Greater Serbia Nation A.H. treats minority groups poorly

Franz Ferdinand Current leader of A.H. not sympathetic to Serbia: Serbs in A.H and Serbs in Bosnia. His nephew, Franz Ferdinand in line for the throne Ferdinand wants to give minorities more say and autonomy, but still under A.H. rule

Sarajevo Crisis – Assassination of Franz Ferdinand June 28 th, 1914 June 28 th, 1914 Franz Ferdinand and wife visit Sarajevo to better the relations with Bosnian Serbs Franz Ferdinand and wife visit Sarajevo to better the relations with Bosnian Serbs Serbian Nationalist group The Black Hand, saw as opportunity to assassinate Franz Ferdinand Serbian Nationalist group The Black Hand, saw as opportunity to assassinate Franz Ferdinand 19 yr old, Princip, was successful in assassinating the couple during an accidental wrong turn by the driver. 19 yr old, Princip, was successful in assassinating the couple during an accidental wrong turn by the driver.

DAY’S THAT SHOOK THE WORLD: THE ASSASSINATION OF FRANZ FERDINAND

July Crisis 1914 A.H. suspected Serbian government to be behind the assassination A.H. suspected Serbian government to be behind the assassination A.H. knowing war is looming looked to get support from major ally, Germany A.H. knowing war is looming looked to get support from major ally, Germany

Germany’s Blank Check Kaiser WilhelmPrime Minister Berchtold

July Crisis, 1914 Germany’s Blank Check A.H. Prime Minister Berechtold meets the Kaiser about backing A.H. in a potential war against Serbia A.H. Prime Minister Berechtold meets the Kaiser about backing A.H. in a potential war against Serbia Kaiser Wilhelm gives A.H. a “BLANK CHECK” on July 5 th Kaiser Wilhelm gives A.H. a “BLANK CHECK” on July 5 th Germany willing to risk war Germany willing to risk war now, because afraid after now, because afraid after 1916, Russia would be too 1916, Russia would be too strong strong

July Crisis, 1914 A.H. Ultimatum to Serbia Sent an Ultimatum to Serbia on July 19 th, delivered July 23 rd Sent an Ultimatum to Serbia on July 19 th, delivered July 23 rd Serbs given 48 hours to respond Serbs given 48 hours to respond Austria demands a lot of Serbia Austria demands a lot of Serbia Serbia agrees to ALL except 1 key element: Serbia agrees to ALL except 1 key element: Serbia will allow the involvement of A.H. in the investigation of the assassination within Serbia Serbia will allow the involvement of A.H. in the investigation of the assassination within Serbia Did not agree to above, b/c it’s a threat to Serbia’s sovereignty Did not agree to above, b/c it’s a threat to Serbia’s sovereignty

Escalation to War July 25 th Austria breaks off relations with Serbia Austria breaks off relations with Serbia July 28 th A.H. declares war on Serbia A.H. declares war on Serbia July 30 th Czar issues mobilization order Czar issues mobilization order August 1 st Germans mobilize, declare war on Russia Germans mobilize, declare war on Russia August 3 rd France declares war on Germany France declares war on Germany Germany invades Belgium Germany invades Belgium August 4 th Great Britain declares war on Germany Great Britain declares war on Germany

By August 4 th, 1914, all Great European Powers are involved and World War 1 has begun