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In January 1909, the chief of staff of the Austrian army approached his German counterpart and asked what Germany would do if Austria next invaded Serbia and caused Russia to intervene on behalf of Serbia.  Despite the original defensive nature of the Austria-German alliance, the Germany army officer said Germany would back Austria and Germany would also invade France because it was Russia’s ally.  This is how it played out a few years later in the summer of 1914, as the struggle in the Balkans exploded into the First World War.

In January 1909, the chief of staff of the Austrian army approached his German counterpart and asked what Germany would do if Austria next invaded Serbia and caused Russia to intervene on behalf of Serbia.  Despite the original defensive nature of the Austria-German alliance, the Germany army officer said Germany would back Austria and Germany would also invade France because it was Russia’s ally.  This is how it played out a few years later in the summer of 1914, as the struggle in the Balkans exploded into the First World War.

The War itself ignited on June 28, 1914, when the heir to the Austrian throne (Archduke Franz Ferdinand) was visiting the Bosnian capital city of Sarajevo along with his wife Sophie.  It was an official visit, not a vacation, and crowds gathered to greet the couple.  But a 19-year-old member of a youthful Bosnian resistance movement, Gavrilo Princip, shot the couple to death as they rode in an open automobile through the streets of Sarajevo.  The killer was part of a large conspiracy and a bit earlier that day another member of the conspiracy had thrown a hand grenade at the Archduke.  Princip was quickly captured and imprisoned, where he died of pneumonia a few years later.

The War itself ignited on June 28, 1914, when the heir to the Austrian throne (Archduke Franz Ferdinand) was visiting the Bosnian capital city of Sarajevo along with his wife Sophie.  It was an official visit, not a vacation, and crowds gathered to greet the couple.  But a 19-year-old member of a youthful Bosnian resistance movement, Gavrilo Princip, shot the couple to death as they rode in an open automobile through the streets of Sarajevo.  The killer was part of a large conspiracy and a bit earlier that day another member of the conspiracy had thrown a hand grenade at the Archduke.  Princip was quickly captured and imprisoned, where he died of tuberculosis a few years later.

Austria was obviously furious about the assassination and, with Germany’s support, demanded that Serbia end all resistance to Austria.  Serbia agreed to some of the demands and offered to submit other demands to arbitration (decision) by an impartial international panel.  But Austria would not wait; on July 28, 1914, it declared war against Serbia.  Russian responded by mobilizing its army towards Austria and Germany.

Austria was obviously furious about the assassination and, with Germany’s support, demanded that Serbia end all resistance to Austria.  Serbia agreed to some of the demands and offered to submit other demands to arbitration (decision) by an impartial international panel.  But Austria would not wait; on July 28, 1914, it declared war against Serbia.  Russian responded by mobilizing its army towards Austria and Germany.