Summer 1914′

On Sunday 28 June, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife, the Duchess of Hohenberg, were assassinated in Sarajevo, Bosnia. The couple was in Sarajevo for their annual trip to the annexed provinces of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Two assassination attempts were made. After surviving a bomb attempt, the couple was shot by Gavro Prinzip, an 18-year-old Bosnian-Serb student, as they travelled by car. The couple died later that day. Immediately, there was international concern that the assassination would further strain the relationship between Austria and Servia. Newspapers in the Waterloo Region, including the Berlin Daily Telegraph, the Ayr News and the Elmira Signet, covered this story. The region, along with other communities around the world waited to see what would result from this assassination.

(“Assassinated by Student,” Ayr News, 2 July 1914; “Archduke Ferdinand of Austria and his Wife Assassinated by Student” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 29 June 1914; “Heir to Austria Throne and Wife Assassinated,” Elmira Signet, 2 July 1914; Photo Origin: London Free Press, 3 July 1914.)

On 23 July, three weeks after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Austria served an ultimatum to Servia in response to the assassination. The Austrian government was primarily concerned with the punishment of the assassins and the elimination of pan-Serbian agitation towards the Austro-Hungarian government, including propaganda, publications and actions that were anti-Austrian in sentiment. The Berlin Daily Telegraph reprinted this article from London, England on 25 July, which explained that if the controversy between Austria and Servia was not handled with delicacy Europe could be pulled into a war. With this news, Canada and the rest of the British Empire were notified that a European war could occur.

(“Austria Warlike,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 25 July 1914.)

On 25 July, Servia responded to Austria’s ultimatum, which had been issued two days earlier on 23 July 1914. Across Waterloo Region, newspapers published articles that explained the demands that Austria had placed on Servia and the Serbian response. The Elmira Signet published this article on July 30 1914, to inform their readership what Servia’s response to Austria was.

Servia agreed to comply with all of Austria’s demands, but had reservations in regards to one point. Austria wanted to be involved in the judicial proceedings against the accessories to the plot that resulted in the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand on 28 June 1914. Servia objected to this demand because it was not customary in international law to allow this type of intervention. The world was unsure how Austria would respond to this reservation.

(“The Troubled East,” Elmira Signet, July 30.)

On 28 July 1914, Austria declared war on Servia. On 23 July, Austria had issued an ultimatum to Servia. On 25 July, Austria received Servia’s response to the ultimatum. Although Servia agreed to comply completely with all but one demand, Austria was dissatisfied. Austria announced that they did not believe that the Serbian Government was sincere in their response to the ultimatum. Austria did not believe that the Serbian government was determined to put an end to the anti-Austrian sentiments being carried out against the Austro-Hungarian monarchy in Servia and the provinces of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Dissatisfied, Austria declared war on Servia and engaged the Serbian army along the Danube, a river in central and Eastern Europe. In the following days, hostilities between the two armies increased. The world waited anxiously to see if other nations would be pulled into the conflict.

(“Mediation is Urged,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 28 July 1914; “The Troubled East,” Elmira Signet, July 30.)

On 28 July, Russia, allied with Servia, began partial mobilization of her armed forces. The following day, there were great patriotic demonstrations in St. Petersburg and Moscow to celebrate the mobilization of Russian Forces in the southern and southwestern districts of Russia. This action diminished the chances of maintaining peace in Europe. Germany, allied with Austria-Hungary, immediately warned Russia to stop mobilizing.

By 29 July, officials across Europe still hoped that the war could be localized and contained to an Austro-Serbian engagement. Although Russia stated her mobilization was not directed against Austria, this action was interpreted as a threatening by Austria and her allies, Germany and Italy. At this point, it seemed as though the Austro-Serbian battlefield would continue to expand.

(“Germany Keeps Out,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 28 July 1914; “Mobilization of Russian Troops Diminishes Chances of Maintaining Peace,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 29 July 1914.)

By 30 July, the Austrian army had advanced almost twenty miles (roughly 32 kilometers) into Servia, and was making its way to Belgrade, the capital city of Servia. Artillery battles were underway between the two forces. At this point, the hope that mediation between Austria and Servia would prevent an Austro-Serbian war was gone.

It was evident that the war between Austria and Servia would continue, although it was not known for how long. Delegates turned their attention to Germany, waiting for her decision on whether or not she would enter the war, or guide Austria towards peace. The gravest fear was that all of Europe would be pulled into a general war. Internationally, it was known that the full mobilization of Germany or Russia would cause a ripple effect through Europe. If Germany came to the aid of Austria, then France would help her Russian ally. Next, Italy would provide assistance to Germany and Austria because of their Triple Alliance. Great Britain would then be forced to join the conflict, as she was the third member of the Triple Entente, her alliance with Russia and France. This would result in a war that involved the six most powerful nations in Europe.

(“Serbian Troops Along Danube Put up Stubborn Defence Against Invaders,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 29 July 1914; “The European War Cloud,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 31 July 1914; Photo Origin: London Free Press, 28 July 1914.)

On 1 August, Germany issued an ultimatum to Russia to stop mobilizing within twelve hours. Russia did not stop her mobilization and instead ordered complete mobilization. As a result, Germany declared war on Russia. Germany had not yet mobilized but had declared martial law, the suspension of ordinary law during military operations, which indicated that mobilization would occur soon. Although some mediation talks were still being held, Russia’s mobilization and Germany’s declaration of war and of martial law left little hope that a general European war could be avoided.

Since peace seemed unlikely, countries around Europe began to mobilize their armies for defence purposes. Great Britain mobilized her regular army and ordered her navy to be ready in case of emergency. The neutral nations of Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, mobilized for their general defence and to prevent their territories from being used as military routes by belligerent countries.

Germany declared war on France on 3 August. Germany demanded that Belgium allow the German forces passage through their borders towards France. Despite the fact that Belgium refused the Germans passage, the German Forces crossed Belgian borders on the morning of 4 August. This action resulted in an ultimatum from Britain, demanding that Germany retreat out of Belgium.

(“Parleys Resumed,” Berlin Daily- Telegraph, 1 August 1914; Photo Origin: London Free Press, 31 July 1914.)