Istorija 20. Veka (Aug 2014)
Od atentata do rata. Konstruisanje rata Austro-Ugarske sa Srbijom 28. jun - 28. jul 1914.
Abstract
The author reviews the political events between the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand in Sarajevo on 28th June 1914 until the dispatch of the Austro-Hungarian ultimatum to Serbia on 25th July 1914. In this period a military action against Serbia was prepared. After the assassination, special editions of Viennese newspapers were released on the afternoon of 28th June 1914. The titles emphasized that the assassins were Serbs; Moreover, the journalist claims were such that the impression was created that the assassins were from Serbia. The whole event was explained as the plot with the Kingdom of Serbia behind it. Two circumstances were emphasized: (1) both of the assassins visited Belgrade earlier, and (2) the Serbian origin of the bombs. Aside from small exceptions the whole press in the AustroHungarian Empire asked immediate declaration of the war on Serbia. The idea of "construction a war against Serbia" appeared immediately in Vienna already on 29th June 1914. This idea prevailed in official circles and became fully created on following day, on charges that "widely ramified conspiracy” was hatched in Belgrade. Having received the support for military action from the Germany on 5th July, the Austro-Hungary decided to send an ultimatum to Serbia already on 7th July 1914. It was "formulated with sufficient clarity that must be rejected." At a meeting of the Viennese political and military leadership on 14th July, it was decided that the Council of Ministers review and approve the draft of the ultimatum on 19th July, but to deliver it to the Belgrade government on the 23rd July. The schedule of delivery was planned to follow the end of the visit of French President to Russia. The Austro-Hungarian plan was to organize the local war on Serbia, without entering of other European Great Powers. It proved that this expectation was a fatal mistake. Despite the absence of the evidences, which were needed to prove involvement of the Serbian government in the assassination, and conciliatory gestures and statements by the Serbian government, the Austro-Hungary declared war on Serbia. A couple days after, after the reactions of the other European great powers the planned local war turned into European and worldwide. The article was based on documents and literature.
