Name: ______Date: ______Period: ______
The Conflict in the Balkans & the Event That Sparked WWI
When you think of a keg of gun powder, what comes to your mind when someone says “the spark that ignited the powder keg”?The Balkans
· Included Serbia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Albania, Greece
o Austria-Hungary had annexed (added) Bosnia in 1908
· Bosnia – was populated by Serbs (slavik people from Serbia)
o Serbs deeply resented Austria-Hungary control
· An Extreme nationalist organization was formed by Serbs
o They were called the Black Hand (a terrorist organization)
o Their purpose: to free Bosnia from Austria-Hungary control
June 28, 1914
· Leader of Austria-Hungary, Archduke Franz Ferdinand (and his wife) visited Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia
· Both were murdered by Black Hand member – Gavrilo Princip
Austria-Hungary’s Response
· Austria-Hungary & their allies were outraged
o Germany promised support to Austria-Hungary
o At Germany’s encouraged Austria-Hungary to give an ultimatum to Serbia (very severe)
1. All anti-Austrian activity to be suppressed
2. All anti-Austrian officials to be fired
3. Allow Austria-Hungary officials were to investigate the assasination
· Serbia refused & Austria-Hungary because of the encourgament of Germany declared war
Chain Reaction
ü June 28: Archduke assassinated
ü July 23: Ultimatum presented to Serbia
ü July 28: Serbia refused, A-H declared war
ü July 30: Russia (ally of Serbia) mobilized troops, moved towards the border of Germany & Austria-Hungary
ü August 1: Germany, feeling threatened, declared war on Russia
ü August 3: Germany declared war on France
ü August 4: Britain declared war on Germany
Conclusion: