On this day in history, 109 years ago on 28 June 1914, Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand (heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary)

On this day in history, 109 years ago on 28 June 1914, Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand (heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary), and his wife Sophie Chotek Gräfin von Chotova (Duchess von Hohenberg) were assassinated by a member of Serbia's Black Hand gang, Gavrilo Princip.

The assassination led to the July Crisis (a series of interrelated diplomatic and military escalations among the major powers of Europe) in 1914, and precipitated Austria-Hungary's declaration of war against Serbia. This triggered a series of complex events that eventually led to Austria-Hungary's allies and Serbia's allies declaring war on each other, starting WWI. As retaliation, Austria sought to inflict a military blow on Serbia to demonstrate its own strength. However, Vienna, wary of the reaction of the Russian Empire (a major ally of Serbia), sought a guarantee from their German ally that Berlin would support them. The Germans guaranteed their support, but urged Austria-Hungary to attack quickly, while world sympathy for Ferdinand was high, and to avoid drawing in Russia. The Austro-Hungarian Army would not attack before a full mobilisation (which could not be accomplished before 25 July 1914). They gave Serbia a ultimatum on 23 July.

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Just before Serbia replied to the ultimatum, Russia ordered a secret, but noticed, partial mobilization of its armed forces. Russia’s military leadership knew they were not yet strong enough for a big war, but they believed Germany pushed their ally to wage war with Serbia, and that Russia should intervene. Russia’s partial mobilization increased the willingness of Serbia to defy the threat of an Austrian attack. France, through its alliance with Russia, escalated its own military preparations as tensions increased. The UK, aligned with Russia and France, also had relatively friendly diplomatic relations with Germany and offered to mediate. Germany made various promises in an attempt to ensure British neutrality. However, the UK decided that it had a moral obligation to defend Belgium and to aid its formal allies, and thus became the last major country actively involved in the July Crisis. The Ottoman Empire joined the war in November, and so on.

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