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The Road to War

July 15, 2014

A fatal mix of misinterpretations, deceptions and constructed facts led to the first major catastrophe of the 20th century. Our report reviews and analyzes the momentous events of the summer of 1914.

https://p.dw.com/p/1C7gM

A chain of coincidences and misfortunes led to the assassination of the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, in Sarajevo. The assailant, 19-year-old Gavrilo Princip, was a member of "Mlada Bosna" ("Young Bosnia"), a revolutionary movement whose goals included the liberation of the Austro-Hungarian province of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Bosnia had been part of the Ottoman empire until it was occupied by Austria-Hungary in 1878, and then formally annexed in 1908. Nationalist tensions were already running high in the region, and the major powers were competing for influence there. Serbia had allied itself with Russia, and also enjoyed good relations with France. After the annexation, Franz Joseph angered Serbia by imposing a boycott on Serbian goods in Bosnia-Herzegovina - a serious tactical error. At the same time, the Ottoman Empire slapped a boycott on Austro-Hungarian goods, which caused huge economic losses.


The Dual Monarchy could ill-afford the boycott. It's economy lagged far behind that of Germany and Britain. Austro-Hungary continued to increase its influence in the region, mostly to counter the growing power of Serbia - the strongest Slavic state in the region. The monarchy held military maneuvers in Bosnia-Herzegovina in June 1914 - part of an effort to intimidate Serbia - and Franz Joseph ordered Franz Ferdinand to attend.


The assassination of Franz Ferdinand prompted the "hawks" in Austria-Hungary's government to demand a tough response against Serbia. They believed that a quick military victory would increase the Dual Monarchy's presence in the region. But it was also clear that military action could lead to a larger conflict. World War I brought about drastic changes in Europe's political landscape. The Habsburg monarchy collapsed, leaving only the rump state of Austria.



And Serbian nationalists achieved their goal of creating a South Slav state - Yugoslavia - dominated by Serbia. Our film explores the events leading up to the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, and the four weeks that followed - until Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 26, 1914. We also review the efforts of those who tried to provoke a conflict, and those who tried to prevent it - in Vienna, Berlin, Paris, London, Belgrade and Moscow.

23.06.2014 DW DOKUMENTATIOEN UND REPORTAGEN Franz Ferdinand
Archduke Franz Ferdinand: the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne was ambitious and strong-willed, but his political views were often contradictory.
23.06.2014 DW DOKUMENTATIOEN UND REPORTAGEN Enkelin
"My great-grandfather had been warned, but he refused to back down!" Anita Hohenberg, Franz Ferdinand's great-granddaughter, reflects on the events in Sarajevo and their place in her family's history.
23.06.2014 DW DOKUMENTATIOEN UND REPORTAGEN Serbien
"Serbia must die!" This was the first time that a sovereign state had been held responsible for a political assassination.





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