Why were the Balkans so volatile?

1. Why were the Balkans so volatile?

2. Oil from the Middle East. Berlin-Baghdad Railway – this would pass through the Balkans. Interested in seeing Austro-Hungary [ally] extend its influence. The railway would pass through Austro-Hungary and the Balkans on route to the Middle East. German Interests in the Balkans Explain why Germany might support Austro-Hungary’s ambitions in the Balkans.

3. British and French Interests in the Balkans • Suez Canal, Egypt – short cut to India – British Empire – trade • Russian warships entering the Eastern Mediterranean interfering with British trade??? • Russia might threaten India • Russo-Japanese War 1904-05 threat diminishes.

4. Why was the Suez Canal important to Great Britain?

5. The Balkan Wars 1912-1913 • In 1912 the Balkan League of Serbia, Greece and Bulgaria attacked Turkey. Turkey lost all of its land in Europe with the exception of Istanbul. The following year Bulgaria attacked Greece and Serbia as they were unhappy with their share of Turkish territory. They lost to Greece and Serbia. The situation in the Balkans was clearly dangerous. Would the future conflict here involve the Great Powers? The Balkan area has been referred to as the “Powder Keg of Europe”. From what you know, explain why you think the area was called this

7. The Black Hand organisation was responsible for several assassination attempts of prominent Austro-Hungarian leaders. • In 1914 they achieved their greatest success. This success was the spark that began the First World War. • This success was the spark that has shaped the world in which we live today. • This success was responsible not only for WWI, but could be argued to be responsible for WWII and also the Cold War. The Black Hand: (Unification or Death) Aims: • “To realise the national ideal, the unification of all Serbs. This organisation prefers terrorist action to cultural activities; it will therefore remain secret”. Membership: - By 1914 there were 2,500 members of the Black Hand. Mainly made up of junior army officers but also included lawyers, journalists and university professors.

8. Archduke Franz Ferdinand: Invitation of Death! • In 1913 Archduke Franz Ferdinand (heir to the A-H throne) was appointed General of the Austro-Hungarian Army. • In 1914 he was invited by the Governor of the Austrian provinces of Bosnia-Herzegovina to watch his troops on manoeuvre. • A great romantic, the Archduke insisted on taking his beloved wife Duchess Sophie with him. His wish was granted. • F.F knew that the journey would be dangerous. As we know, a large number of people in B.H were unhappy with A.H rule and wanted union with Serbia. • The Black Hand viewed F.F as a serious threat to union between B.H and Serbia being achieved.

9. The arrival of Archduke Franz Ferdinand • 10am, Sunday 28th June 1914, the Archduke and Sophia arrived in Sarajevo by train • Security in Sarajevo for the visit was lax and the route the royal couple were to take had been published so that the crowds could gather to see them. • The car that met them drove to the city hall • 70,000 Austro-Hungarian soldiers were kept in their baracks

10. The Assassins • Muhamed Mehmedbasic (Lost nerve) • Nedjelko Cabrinovic (bomb failed) • Vaso Cubrilovic (car going too fast) • Cvijetko Popovic • Gavrilo Princip (morning) • Gavrilo Princip (afternoon) (successful) • Trifko Grabez • Danilo Llic

11. The Assassination • 7 members of the Black Hand lines the route F.F was to take • Each man had been given a revolver, two bombs and a capsule of cyanide with instructions to kill F.F whatever chance they got • Cabrinovic through his bomb first, it bounced off the runner and exploded harmlessly • Chief of police changed the route The driver was unaware of this change and so continued on the original route until he was instructed to turn around As he was stopping to change direction Gavrilo Princip took his chance He fired several times into the car hitting Sophie in the stomach and Ferdinand in the neck The words of a dying man... - The last words F.F uttered were “Don’t die Sophie... Live for the children...” In your own words and using p. 27 in your Heinemann textbook, write a brief description of the assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand

12. Franz Ferdinand’s dying words were “Don’t die Sophie, live for our children” • The couple died shortly afterwards • Princip immediatley turned the gun on himself • A man behind him saw what he was doing, and seized Princip's right arm. • A couple of policeman joined the struggle and Princip was arrested.