Between Austria-Hungary and Serbia, there was a long-standing contradiction, and a war between the two countries was already doomed. Austria-Hungary has always wanted to expand into the Balkans, and the Russians also want to expand like the Balkans and gain access to the Mediterranean.

Originally, the Balkans were the territory of the Ottoman Turkish Empire. However, with the support of the European powers, the peoples of the Balkans won the war against Turkish colonial rule.

The European powers, unwilling to allow the Balkan people to take control of their own destiny, intervened with aggressive and expansionist ambitions, further complicating the Balkan problem. Germany, in order to safeguard its own interests in Turkey, supported Turkey together with Austria-Hungary and tried to thwart the national liberation movements of the Balkan countries. Russia, out of its own strategic interests, actively promoted the establishment of the Balkan League, in an attempt to strengthen its position in the Balkans and make the Balkan League a tool against Austria-Hungary and Germany. Because in Russia's view, the formation of this alliance would open up a third front against the German-Austrian alliance in addition to the two fronts of France and Russia, which would mean that the forces of Austria-Hungary would be withdrawn from the Russian front and the pressure on Russia would be weakened. At the same time, the establishment of such an alliance would also cut off German-Austrian ties with Turkey.

The First Balkan War ended with the defeat of the Ottoman Turkish Empire, which ceded all the territory west of the line from Inos to Mytuya to the Balkan states, leaving only a small area near Istanbul.

However, the victorious Balkan League was unevenly divided, and a second Balkan War broke out. In the Second Balkan War, Bulgaria was defeated, Romania gained Southern Dobroga, Serbia gained most of Macedonia, and Greece gained Southern Macedonia, Western Thrace, and the island of Richt. Turkey took advantage of the infighting in the Balkan countries. Recapture of Adrianople.

The two Balkan wars gave impetus to the national movement of the Slavs in Bosnia and Herzegovina under Austro-Hungarian rule, who demanded merger with Serbia to form a greater Serbian state. Austria-Hungary was categorically opposed to the expansion of Serbia and decided to annex Serbia. The conflict in Austria and Serbia was bound to give rise to a conflict between Austria and Russia and between the Central and Entente powers. The Balkans have become the focal point of contradictions among the European powers and the powder keg of Europe.

Serbia, freed from the rule of the Ottoman Turkish Empire, grew stronger in the Balkans and became the core of the Yugoslavs' struggle against foreign domination and national unity. The Yugoslavs of Bosnia and Herzegovina strongly demanded freedom from Austro-Hungarian rule. Merge with Serbia to create a united Yugoslav state. The development of the movement for national unity in Yugoslavia, centered on Serbia, made the Habsburg rulers extremely uneasy. Therefore, the Austro-Hungarian Empire stepped up preparations for war with the goal of destroying Serbia, and it was the Archduke Ferdinand and the Chief of the Austro-Hungarian General Staff who presided over the formulation of the war plan for the invasion of Serbia. Hertzendorf. At that time, anti-Austrian propaganda and patriotic groups were already emerging in Serbia. In 1908, the "National Defense Association" was established, and in 1911, the "Black Coat Society" was established. These two organizations were influenced by anarchist currents in Europe represented by Bagunin and Kropotkin. The "National Defense Society" advocated guerrilla warfare to prevent the Austro-Hungarian Empire from annexing Serbia and recruiting and training volunteers. The "Black Hand" advocated terrorist acts, and its goal was "to realize the idea of the nation." to unify all Serbian nationalities". The Black Hand Society's way of activity is one-line contact, secret activities, absolute obedience, and the courage to sacrifice. Leading this organization is the head of intelligence of the Serbian General Staff Headquarters, Draguddin. Colonel Timitleyevich. At the beginning of the 20th century, there were numerous assassinations in the Balkans, and many young patriots committed these terrorist acts with dedication.

When Austria-Hungary decided to use Serbia as an imaginary enemy, after holding military exercises in Sarajevo. This provocative action greatly angered the Serbian patriots. The "Mafia" and the local Bosnian secret nationalist group "Young Bosnia" drew up a plan to assassinate Ferdinand. The Serbian government had already discovered the assassination of Ferdinand and opposed it, fearing that the incident might lead to dire consequences, because Serbia could not resist the Austro-Hungarian attack, and Russia had not yet completed the reorganization of the army, and it was impossible to provide Serbia with strong assistance. The Serbian government tried to prevent the "mafia" from leaving the country. But the border guards linked to the "mafia" allowed them to cross the border into Bosnia without any problems. The Government of Serbia, through its Minister to Austria-Hungary, also alerted the Austro-Hungarian Government to the danger of Ferdinand's life if he went to Bosnia. But the Austro-Hungarian government ignored this warning.

In the early morning of June 28, 4612 A.D., the Young Bosnian Order placed seven Assassins on the street where Archduke Ferdinand was passing. At around 10 a.m., the Ferdinands were on the outskirts of the city after reviewing military exercises. Ride proudly into the city of Sarajevo in an open-top car. A long line of royal cars slowly drove through the crowded streets, with only a sparse line of gendarmes and police on both sides of the road. Ferdinand sat in the second car and Sofia sat to his right. Bosnian military junta chief Oskar. General Potiorek sat on the left, and next to the chauffeur was the attendant, Count Harahi.

When the convoy crossed the Chumurya Bridge over the Milyatska River in the center of the city and entered the Appel Pier, the first assassin who was ambushed there failed to make a move because a policeman came up and stood in front of him. Another assassin, Chabrinovich, not far away, suddenly burst out of the crowd and threw a bomb at the car in which the Ferdinands were traveling, but it was bounced to the ground by the canopy and exploded in front of the third car, injuring General Potiocray's deputy and Sofia's maid with fragments. Ferdinand pretended to be calm and got out of the car, inspected the scene, glanced at Chabrinovic, who was caught by the guards, then boarded the car and waved his hand: "Gentlemen, this man is crazy, let's go as planned." The convoy quickly drove into the town hall, where the Ferdinands attended the welcoming ceremony and then took a short break to the hospital to see their injured entourage.

Ferdinand was careless. Death awaited him. It was supposed to go to the hospital, but the driver deflected in the wrong direction and happened to bump into Princip, who was waiting at the corner of the street. The opportunity for assassination came. Princip drew his pistol and was about to raise his gun to shoot when a policeman not far from him spotted him and rushed up to grab him by the arm. What a coincidence. At this moment, a man named Mihailo. The "Young Bosnia" member of Psala, waving his hand like a bolt of lightning, punched the policeman in the neck, and the policeman stumbled coldly. At this time, Princip's gunshots rang out, and the Austrian crown prince and his wife were killed.

The assassination of Archduke Ferdinand and his wife in Sarajevo caused an uproar around the world. And this made the war inevitably break out. On the afternoon of Sunday, June 28, the Kaiser was informed of Franz on his yacht off the coast of Kiel. Ferdinand was assassinated and immediately stopped browsing. He lived like a gambler who had placed a bet, and kept shouting: "1914 is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!" ”

By the time the news reached China, it was already the evening of June 28. Emperor Wu Haoxuan ordered an emergency imperial council to be convened. The meeting was attended by Imperial Cabinet ministers and senior military officials.

"Ladies and gentlemen, war is inevitable. The crown prince of Austria-Hungary was assassinated in Sarajevo, and Austria-Hungary would definitely go to war against Serbia. And the Entente will certainly not sit idly by and watch Serbia be destroyed by Austria-Hungary. A large-scale war would break out between the Entente and the Central Powers as a result. This is the Empire's chance to soar, and the Empire must be prepared. Wu Haoxuan said with a smile on his face.

The European powers will commit a collective suicide, and the traditional powers will pay heavy losses for it. The Chinese Empire, an emerging power that has redeveloped, will be able to take advantage of this war to gain opportunities for rapid development.

The development of events is exactly the same as the history that Wu Haoxuan is familiar with. After the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, the elderly Austrian Emperor Franz. Joseph I was in great sorrow. Subsequently, the Austro-Hungarian government issued an ultimatum to Serbia, demanding that Serbia must agree to a series of conditions of Austria-Hungary, otherwise war would break out. first, the seizure of any publication that aroused hatred and contempt for the Austro-Hungarian royal family; secondly, to immediately ban the national self-defense organizations and other organizations engaged in anti-Austro-Hungarian propaganda; (3) to remove immediately from educational groups and teaching methods any teaching content that would or might incite anti-Austro-Hungarian propaganda; (4) the dismissal of officials in the military or administrative departments accused of anti-Austro-Hungarian propaganda, the list of which is provided by the Austro-Hungarian Government; fifth, to accept cooperation with the relevant departments of the Austro-Hungarian government to suppress in Serbia attempts to subvert the territorial integrity of the Austro-Hungarian Empire; Sixth, to take legal action with the assistance and direction of the relevant authorities designated by the Austrian Government to punish those who planned or carried out the assassination of June 28; Seventh, the immediate arrest of the two named persons revealed by the preliminary Austro-Hungarian investigation; Eighth, maintain cooperation and take effective measures to curb arms smuggling within its borders; ninth, to explain to Austria-Hungary the statements made by high-ranking Serbian officials who are hostile to them and who are in or outside Serbia; Tenth, take the above measures at once and inform Austria-Hungary.

In the end, however, the Government of Serbia accepted the other provisions except those of articles V and VI.

On July 28, 4612 (14), the Austro-Hungarian Empire declared war on Serbia. The First World War officially broke out. (To be continued.) )

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