The Bombardment of Belgrade

• Most of Europe, including Germany, thought Serbia’s response to the ultimatum would be accepted

  • Despite this Serbia had started mobilisation in case of an Austrian attack
• Austria-Hungary and Russia opened talks to prevent the slide into war but they broke down on the 17th July
• Austria-Hungary’s declaration of war on Serbia was made on 28th July 1914

  • It stated that Serbian government had not answered in a satisfactory manner
• Since Serbia had already started mobilising, all men of military service age had been conscripted
• In the early hours of 29th July Serbians under the order of Black Hand member Major Tankosic, destroyed a bridge over the River Sava connecting Serbian territory to the Habsburg Empire
• The Austrian assault come a week later and the city was finally taken on the 30th November by soldiers under the command of General Potiorek