Essay On The July Crisis

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In June of 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the Heir to the Austrian throne, and his wife Sophie visited the territory of Bosnia-Herzegovina to observe routine Austrian military maneuvers. It was in the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo where both the Archduke and his wife lost their lives at the hands of a group of young Bosnian nationalists, who sought to liberate Bosnia from Austrian subjugation. The murder of the Archduke precipitated the July Crisis, where over the course of the month the great powers of Europe attempted to arrest the threat of war which loomed over the world. However, It was all for naught, for on August 1, 1914, Germany declared war on the Franco-Russian entente, sparking the First World War.
In the years following the outbreak of the First World War, historians have argued over how and why the death of the Archduke triggered a crisis that coalesced into the defining war of the 20th century. Many place the blame on Germany for their role in enabling Austria to declare war on Serbia so as to justify a war with Serbia’s neighbor and strongest ally Russia. While Germany did have a role in enabling Austria’s declaration of war upon the Serbs, their role is eclipsed by the Austrian leader’s willingness to go to war with Serbia which would have happened even without Germany’s backing. To illustrate how Austria’s desire for war with Serbia mad the outcome of the July Crisis inevitable, I must examine first why Austria and Serbia held animosity towards one another prior to the July Crisis; Second, the mood within the Austrian government following the Archduke’s death, and how the majority of Austrian leaders sought no diplomatic solution to the crisis; and finally, Austria’s ultimatum to the Serb government and how the terms of which were designed to be rejected by the Serbs, therefore allowing Austria to declare war. The history of Austro-Serbian relations prior to the July Crisis of 1914 begins with first Balkan Crisis of 1909.
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Austria’s then foreign minister, Baron Alois Lexa, famously tricked his Russian counterpart, Alexander Lzvolsky, into accepting Austria’s annexation of the territory of Bosnia-Herzegovina, in exchange for Austrian endorsement of Russia’s claim to Naval access in the Ottoman Straits, before reneging on his promise. Lzvolsky then reneged in turn, or would have, had it not been for Germany’s implied threat of war with Russia. The result of the First Balkan Crisis of 1909 and Austria’s annexation of Bosnia-Herzegovina was not only an increase of tension between the Austro-German alliance and Russia, but an increase of tension between the Austrian’s and their new subjects. The citizens living in Bosnia during this time viewed Austria’s annexation of their home as “Subjugation”, and in the years following the First Bosnian Crisis a large number of nationalist groups formed to overthrow the Austro-Hungarian monarchy’s rule in the Balkans. The most fervent supporter of theses nationalist terrorist groups was the Nation of Serbia. Having never accepted Austria’s annexation of Bosnia, the Serbian government quickly established their own groups to support Bosnian liberation. The most prominent of these Serbian groups was Narodna Odbrana (National Defense). Narodna Odbrana was responsible for multiple bombings, the establishment of underground smuggling rings, the assassination of Austrian officials as well as many other crimes against the Austrian Monarchy. Austria on multiple attempts tried to appease the Serb government

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