short-term causes

• Archduke Franz Ferdinand assassination


  • 28th June 1914
  • Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia Herzegovina
  • Heir to Austro-Hungarian throne
  • Shot by Gavrilo Princip
  • Austria-Hungary to punish Serbia
• 'The Black Hand'


  • A secret Serbian organisation that employed terrorist methods to promote the liberation of Serbs outside of Serbia
  • Bosnia Herzegovina under Austria-Hungary empire (1908)
  • Bosnian Serbs wished to join Serbia's rule
• 'July Crisis'


  • Austria-Hungary sought German support
  • Blank cheque (a promise of unconditional support)
  • Serbia was issued an ultimatum/list of demands
  • Failure to agree = Austria-Hungary declare war
  • 28th July 1914