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CRISIS IN THE BALKANS. What was the spark that starts WWI ?. Powder Keg of Europe. Serbia wants to unite Slavic countries in Balkans into one nation. Russia , who was also Slavic speaking supports Serbia.
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CRISIS IN THE BALKANS What was the spark that starts WWI ?
Powder Keg of Europe • Serbia wants to unite Slavic countries in Balkans into one nation • Russia, who was also Slavic speaking supports Serbia • By 1910, most countries in Balkans won their independence from the declining Ottoman Empire • Austria-Hungary opposes Serbia, fearing this could cause revolutions No way!
1908: Austria-Hungary officially annexes Bosnia and Herzegovina, to prevent these areas from joining with Serbia • Serbs vow to take these areas away from A-H • A-H vows to crush any Serbian effort to take this territory • Despite warnings that Bosnia is a “powder keg”, the Austrian Archduke visits Sarajevo • June 28th, 1914: Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sofia are assassinated in Sarajevo, Bosnia • They are killed by a Serbian Nationalist named Gavrilo Princip • Princip was a member of an underground nationalist group called Black Hand
PRINCIP CAUGHT! WAR! • Since the assassin is Serbian, A-H wanted to punish Serbia • A-H presents a list of demands to Serbia, Serbia agrees to most • A-H did not want negotiate further & declares war on Serbia • Russia, an ally of Serbia begins mobilizing troops • Britain, Italy & Germany ask Austria-Hungary & Russia to negotiate • No negotiations! Because of alliance treaties most of Europe will be dragged into the Great War! Black Hand Franz Ferdinand’s Funeral