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The Powder Keg Explodes!!!!. Archduke Franz Ferdinand. heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. wife Sophie & 3 children. Very unpopular because he had made it clear that once he became Emperor he would make changes. Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1914.
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Archduke Franz Ferdinand • heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. • wife Sophie & 3 children. • Very unpopular because he had made it clear that once he became Emperor he would make changes.
Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1914 Austria had annexed (taken by force) Bosnia in 1908, a move that was not popular with the Bosnian people.
Archduke Franz Ferdinand and Duchess Sophie at Sarajevo, Bosnia, on June 28th, 1914.
ASSASSINATION AT SARAJEVO 28TH June 1914
The Plot • Serbian terrorist group “The Black Hand” • 3 members were to assassinate the Archduke during his trip to Bosnia and then commit suicide • 1st Attempt Failed
The Assassins Locations: 28th June, 1914 1 MuhamedMehmedbasic 2 NedjelkoCabrinovic3 VasoCubrilovic 4 CvijetkoPopovic5 GavriloPrincip (morning) 6 GavriloPrincip (afternoon) 7 TrifkoGrabez 8 DaniloIlic
Assassination at Sarajevo GavriloPrincip after shooting Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
Franz Ferdinand and Sophie shot by GavriloPrincip of the Black Hand • Austria issues ultimatum to Serbia • Serbia agrees to most demands but wants to discuss others at international peace conference • A-H refused, declares war on Serbia • Russia declares war on A-H on same day
Nations take sides Central Powers Allied Powers Great Britain France Russia Japan Italy Serbia • Germany • Austria-Hungary • Bulgaria • Ottoman Empire
The Schlieffen Plan • In 1914, Germany believes war with Russia was extremely likely. • Germany assumes France will also attack since they are ally of Russia and want revenge • Germany would then face war on 2 fronts • Must avoid this at all costs. • Germany plans to defeat France rapidly and then turn to the eastern front for a major offensive on Russia. • This was the basis for the Schlieffen Plan.
Background • The German Army Chief of Staff, Alfred von Schlieffen was asked to plan a way of preventing a war on two fronts. • Initial plan produced in 1905. • Priority is to defeat France quickly, forcing them to surrender before Russia had a chance to mobilize.
The Schlieffen Plan • Schlieffen proposed attacking France through Holland, Belgium & Luxembourg • Would use 90% of German military to deliver a knock out blow to France. • Remaining 10% would defend the eastern border of Germany against Russian attack.
Assumptions • Russia would take at least 6 weeks to mobilize. • France would be easily defeated in 6 weeks. • Belgium wouldn’t resist any German attack. • Britain would be neutral.
Reality • On Aug. 2, 1914 Germany invaded Luxembourg and Belgium. • They were held up by the Belgian army, who were reinforced by the British. • Russia mobilized in just 10 days • Germany forced to withdraw troops from western front to defend eastern border. • Germany attacks east of Paris instead. • They were met by French at the battle of the Marne (5-11 Sept) which halted the German advance. • Results in bloody stalemate on W. front Schlieffen plan fails