What if…? Can one event change the course of history? Can you think of any other ‘turning points’?

The Assassination of Franz Ferdinand Learning objectives: To describe the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. To evaluate how his assassination led to World War One.

The situation so far… The countries in Europe had taken sides. Britain, France and Russia formed one group and Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy formed another group. Alliances. The People in Serbia became very passionate about their nation. They thought Serbia was important and powerful and should be independent from Austria-Hungary. Nationalism Many countries in Europe began to build their armed forces. Germany and Great Britain began a race to produce dreadnoughts- the most feared battleship on the water. Arms Race Germany decided that they wanted to build an empire. They wanted Germany to have colonies with whom to trade, as well as power all over the world. Imperialism

Archduke Franz Ferdinand What should the Archduke do? In June 1914 the heir to the Austrian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, decided to visit Sarajevo to inspect the army. Sarajevo was the capital of Bosnia, in the very south-east corner of the Austrian empire and some people there wanted to be independent from Austria and set up their own state which could run itself. Bosnia was a small state which had been part of Serbia until Austria took it away. The Serbian people that lived in Bosnia were very angry about this. Franz Ferdinand had been warned that his visit could provoke trouble but he ignored this advice and visited Sarajevo regardless. However, Franz Ferdinand wanted to demonstrate that his family was in control of Sarajevo and to have stopped the tour would have been seen as a sign of weakness by those who did not want Bosnia and Sarajevo ruled by the Austrians. What should the Archduke do? Key terms: Assassination Archduke Franz Ferdinand Gavrilo Princip

*Questions* Who assassinated the Archduke? Where did this happen? Franz Ferdinand arrived in Sarajevo on 28 June 1914, a Sunday, and was met at the railway station by General Potiorek, to be taken on to the City Hall for the reception and speeches. Seven members of the Black Hand lined the route due to be taken by the Archduke's cavalcade along Appel Quay. One of the men, Nedjelko Cabrinovic, threw a grenade at the Archduke's car. The driver took evasive action and quickly sped from the scene. The grenade bounced off the back of the Archduke's car and rolled underneath the next car, exploding seconds later; two of its occupants were severely wounded. Cabrinovic swallowed his cyanide capsule as instructed, and jumped into the River Miljacka. He did not die however, but was captured and arrested. Ferdinand attended the reception at the city hall and complained about his treatment in the city. Following the reception the Archduke decided to visit those injured in the grenade explosion at the city hospital. General Potiorek decided that the motorcade should take an alternate route to the hospital, avoiding the city centre altogether. However the driver of Ferdinand's car, Franz Urban was not informed of the change of plan and so took the original route. Turning into Franz Josef Street General Potiorek, who was a passenger in Ferdinand's car, noticed that the altered route had not been taken. He argued with the driver who in turn slowed the car and then began to reverse out of the street. Gavrilo Princip who happened to be in Franz Joseph Street, buying a sandwich at a cafe, seized his opportunity, and took aim at Ferdinand from a distance of five feet. His bullets struck the Archduke in the neck and his wife, Sophie, who was travelling with him, in the abdomen. *Questions* Who assassinated the Archduke? Where did this happen? Was this part of the plan? Come up with some ‘what if’s’ Key terms: Assassination Archduke Franz Ferdinand Gavrilo Princip

Do you think that the assassination was enough to start a world war? Key terms: Assassination Archduke Franz Ferdinand Gavrilo Princip

This plan involved an attack on France via Belgium. Serbia was blamed by Austria for this murder. Serbia was near to Bosnia and it had encouraged the Black Hand Gang and given the gang weapons. Serbia hoped that both herself and Bosnia would unite to form a new state. Austria decided that Serbia must be punished and planned to invade her. Serbia called on her old friend Russia to help her. Serbia would have been easy for Austria to crush. Russia was a different issue. She had a huge army and Austria would not have coped with a Austro-Russian war. Austria called on Germany for help. The German government agreed to this and their response upset the French government. However, unknown to anybody other than the German government, the German army had created a plan to defeat France in 6 weeks before fighting Russia. This plan involved an attack on France via Belgium. Britain had given Belgium a guarantee in 1839 that if anybody attacked her, Britain would attack the attacker. Key terms: Assassination Archduke Franz Ferdinand Gavrilo Princip

How accurate this this statement? Go back to your table from last lesson and add more evidence… “The first world war broke out because of Germany’s acquisition of overseas colonies and the development of a large navy.” Key terms: Assassination Archduke Franz Ferdinand Gavrilo Princip