The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

• In 1908, Austria-Hungary controlled Bosnia, causing discontent among Bosnians who desired freedom, with Serbia offering support.

Assassination Plot

• A secret Serbian society aimed to unite Bosnia and Serbia, leading to a plot to assassinate the Archduke of Austria-Hungary.
• On June 28th at 9:30 a.m., Archduke Francis Ferdinand and his wife visited Sarajevo.
• A conspirator threw a bomb at the Archduke's car, it missed and exploded near another car, injuring several people.
• Gavrillo Princip, a Bosnian Serb, shot and killed the Archduke and his wife, subsequently attempting suicide by poison before being arrested
• By 10:15 a.m., Francis Ferdinand was dead
• Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia for the assassination and invaded, leading to the "great powers" being at war by August 1914.

Germany's Two-Front War and the Schlieffen Plan

• Russia mobilized its army to support Serbia, fearing Austria-Hungary would undermine Serbian independence.
• Russia drafted 6 million men to move toward the Austrian border rapidly.
• Germany gave neutral Belgium an ultimatum as it feared an attack from France and devised the Schlieffen Plan to swiftly defeat France before turning to Russia.
• Germany aimed to enter France through Belgium, planning to take Paris within 6 weeks.
• Britain supported Belgium due to its neutrality and a written treaty.
• Germany mobilized after Russia, with the German ambassador declaring war on Russia on August 1st.
• On August 2nd, German troops crossed into France, following Belgium's refusal of Germany's ultimatum for free passage.
• Germany declared war on France and Britain declared war on Germany, generating widespread initial optimism for a short war.
• Expectations were that the war would conclude by Christmas.
• Austria-Hungary declared war on Russia and Serbia declared war on Germany on August 6th.

Comparing Accounts of the Archduke's Assassination

• Both accounts agree that both the Archduke and his wife were shot.
• The second account includes more dialogue being from the Archduke's bodyguard who would have been present at the scene.
• The first account states the wife died instantly, the second states how the Archduke spoke his wife's name after being shot.
• The first account says the Archduke died almost immediately while the second account says he lingered longer.

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand triggered World War I. A Bosnian Serb, Gavrilo Princip, killed the Archduke and his wife in Sarajevo. This event led to Austria-Hungary's invasion of Serbia and the subsequent involvement of major European powers.