Chris Anderson Randolph-Henry High School

Problems arising in the Balkans will lead to the beginnings of World War I Nationalistic ideas will culminate into an explosion of bloodshed The Balkans were know as the “powder keg” of Europe

Early 1900s, a myriad of ethnic groups existed in the Balkans The largest group were the Slavs The Slavs were the majority of the Austria- Hungarian population Although the largest group in Austria-Hungary, the Slavs did not share equal rights with the Austrians or the Hungarians

In the areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina, nationalism among the Slavs ran very high These Austria-Hungarian Slavs living in Bosnia and Herzegovina wanted to join with the Slavic nation of Serbia These A-H Slavs did have some support from Czar Nicholas II of Russia Nicholas II supported the Slavs’ idea but was not prepared to militarily help the A-H Slavs against the Triple Alliance Nicholas tells the Slavs and Serbians to accept the status-quo

Serbian radicals do not heed the Russian Czar’s advice Many nationalistic groups begin to arise all over Serbia and Slavic regions of Austria-Hungary

June 28, 1914: the Austria-Hungarian emperor’s nephew (also heir to the throne)-- Archduke Franz Ferdinand--traveled to Sarajevo, Bosnia

Ferdinand had planned on giving the Slavs in Bosnia and other regions voice—equal to that of the Austrians and Hungarians—in the A-H government The Archduke and his wife had come to Sarajevo to deliver the news to the people A large parade was held in the Archduke’s honor Seven (7) assassins were stationed along the parade route to assassinate the Archduke These assassins were part of a Serbian nationalist group called the Black Hand (aka. The Union of Death)

The first assassin fired and missed The car with the Archduke will take a wrong turn and the Archduke and his wife will be killed by 19 year old Gavrillo Princip

Princip used a weapon modeled after the American Model 1911 semi-automatic pistol