Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
On June 28th, 1914 in the city of Sarajevo two bullets were fired. World War One, World War Two and the Cold War all trace their origins to the gunshots that interrupted that summer day. Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated. Not only was Franz murdered, but so was his wife Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg. They were assassinated by a young man named Bosnian Serb which set off a chain of events that leaded to the start of World War One. To many people it was known as the Great War and seemed to have come out of the blue. Franz’s assassination was the start to it all.
Franz Ferdinand was the eldest son of Carl Ludwig and the brother of Emperor Franz Josef. Franz was born in Austria in1863. He was educated by private tutors and decided to join the Austro-Hungarian Army in 1883. His military career included service with an infantry regiment in Prague and Hungary. While in the army Franz received several promotions: captain (1885), major (1888), colonel (1890) and general (1896).
In 1889, Crown Prince Rudolf, the son of Franz Josef, shot himself at his hunting lodge. The death of Prince Rudolf passed the crown to Franz Ferdinand's father, Carl Ludwig. When he died in 1896, Franz Ferdinand became the new heir to the throne.
After the death of Franz, Austria/Hungary needed to enforce its authority in the face of such an insolent crime. Austria/Hungary immediately blamed Serbian government for the attack. After hearing that Serbia had asked Russia for help Austria/Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28. However, with the threat of Russia and its army, and Austria having an army unprepared for a large-scale war, it required Germany's help to back up its words with force. Emperor Franz Josef wrote a personal letter to Kaiser Wilhelm asking for support and on July 6, Germany informed that they would give their full support to Austria. On August 1, after hearing news of Russia's general mobilization, Germany declared war on Russia. The German army then launched its
Franz Ferdinand was the eldest son of Carl Ludwig and the brother of Emperor Franz Josef. Franz was born in Austria in1863. He was educated by private tutors and decided to join the Austro-Hungarian Army in 1883. His military career included service with an infantry regiment in Prague and Hungary. While in the army Franz received several promotions: captain (1885), major (1888), colonel (1890) and general (1896).
In 1889, Crown Prince Rudolf, the son of Franz Josef, shot himself at his hunting lodge. The death of Prince Rudolf passed the crown to Franz Ferdinand's father, Carl Ludwig. When he died in 1896, Franz Ferdinand became the new heir to the throne.
After the death of Franz, Austria/Hungary needed to enforce its authority in the face of such an insolent crime. Austria/Hungary immediately blamed Serbian government for the attack. After hearing that Serbia had asked Russia for help Austria/Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28. However, with the threat of Russia and its army, and Austria having an army unprepared for a large-scale war, it required Germany's help to back up its words with force. Emperor Franz Josef wrote a personal letter to Kaiser Wilhelm asking for support and on July 6, Germany informed that they would give their full support to Austria. On August 1, after hearing news of Russia's general mobilization, Germany declared war on Russia. The German army then launched its