Why did Serbia join the WAR?

Militarism Alliances: King, Peter had served with the French during the unsuccessful Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71 and, in 1875, joined the Bosnian insurrection against the Ottomans. So, he view the Ottomans as an enemy and will be prepared to fight them. Serbia also views the Austro-Hungarian Empire as an enemy as they had taken Bosnia from them during the Balkan Wars. They went to War to reunite with their ‘Slav” bothers the Bosnians.

Alliance System Alliances: King, Peter had served with the French during the unsuccessful Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71 and, in 1875, joined the Bosnian insurrection against the Ottomans. So, he joins the Allies in support of the French. Serbia and Russia were Slavic brothers, so they too formed an alliance. Serbian felt confident with Russia at their BACK.

Nationalism With the outbreak of war in Europe only a month away, and with Serbia in civil turmoil following the successful outcome of the Balkan Wars. In June, 1914 Peter passed executive control of government to his second son Alexander (who became Regent) on grounds of increasing ill health. . War became a War for the new ruler to prove himself and unite his nation. Serbia and Russia were of the same ethnicity “Slav”, so Russian felt the need to protect them and Serbia to see them as friends.

Imperialism Serbs settled the Balkan Peninsula and 1166, a Serbian warrior and chief, founded the first Serbian state. By the 14th century, it became the most powerful state in the Balkans. After Serbia was defeated in the Battle of Kosovo in 1389, it was absorbed into the Ottoman Empire. Throughout the 19th century its struggle against Ottoman rule intensified, and in 1878 Serbia gained independence after Russia defeated the Ottoman Turks in the Russo-Turkish war of 1877–1878. In the Balkan wars (1912–1913), Serbia and other Balkan states seized hold of more former Ottoman lands on the peninsula. War became a way for the Serbians to regain land they had lost and join with their Serb brothers the Bosnians.

Assassination/Spark Serbians wanted unite with their Bosnian Serb brothers and unofficially helped the “Black Hand” assassinated the next ruler of Austria Hungary. When found out and issued an ultimatum by A/H, they had no choice but to go to war.