In 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and his wife Sophie, were touring the city of Sarajevo in Bosnia. The date, the 28 June, was known as St Vitus' Day and marked the anniversary of the Battle of Kosova, where in 1389 the Ottoman Turks defeated the Serbs, ending the existence of Serbia as a nation. Hoping to further the cause of Serbian nationalism, Gavrilo Princip a member of the secret society the Black Hand, fired two pistol shots that resulted in the death of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife.

To fully understand the reasons for the First World War we need to review the political climate of Europe in the early 20th century. Serbia and Russia had always had close relations due to their common ethnic heritage. Germany and Austria-Hungary were strong allies, each looking to expand and each with powerful militaries. Serbia was being repressed and persecuted by Austria-Hungary and tensions increased when Austria-Hungary forced Serbia to abandon some of the gains it made during the Balkan wars of 1912-1913. France and Germany were historic enemies, with France had a

So it came to be that a note was sent to the Serb government from Austria-Hungary. In it they demanded the suppression of anti-Austrian propaganda in Serbia, the dissolution of the Serbian Nationalist Association (Narodna Odbrana), the purging of officers and officials guilty of propaganda, the arrest of officers guilty of propaganda, and of those guilty of aiding and abetting the assassination, and the tightening up of border controls. In addition to these many strongly worded demands, the Austrian-Hungarians also demanded their own involvement in the investigations. The Serbs were given forty eight hours in which to reply.

At the same time as the part of the French/Russian alliance, France began preparing her forces. This led to Germany issuing France with a warning that a continuation of such movements would lead to the ‘state of imminent danger of war’. At the same time the British Naval fleet were on alert. The German Chancellor then sent a telegram to the Russians warning them that if the mobilisation of troops were not stopped Germany would declare war on them. But at the same time the Kaiser sent a note to the Tsar, pleading with him to sort things out with Austria-Hungary, and find a peaceful solution.

On the 31st of July, Russia ordered the general mobilisation of troops. In turn the Germans warned them that if they did not suspend their actions within 12hrs war would be declared on them. The Russians refused to back down, and Germany declared war. Austria-Hungary declared war on the Russians later, on August 6th.

Each country had its own reason to go to war against their opposing countries. They were all partly to blame for the beginning of World War 1. Franz was against Germany, Britain was against Germany and other countries too. They all looked for power and strength as single empires. They thought that war would bring this to them. In the space of less than a

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