Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, 1914
Two bullets fired on a Sarajevo street on a sunny June morning in 1914 set in motion a series
of events that shaped the world we live in today. World War One, World War Two, the Cold
War and its conclusion all trace their origins to the gunshots that interrupted that summer
day.
The victims, Archduke Franz Ferdinand - heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire,
and his wife Sophie, were in the Bosnian city in conjunction with Austrian troop exercises
nearby. The couple was returning from an official visit to City Hall. The assassin, 19-year-old
Gavrilo Princip burned with the fire of Slavic nationalism. He envisioned the death of the
Archduke as the key that would unlock the shackles binding his people to the Austro-
Hungarian Empire.
A third party, Serbia, figured prominently in the plot. Independent Serbia provided the guns,
ammunition and training that made the assassination possible.
The Balkan Region of Europe entered the twentieth century much as she left it: a cauldron of
seething political intrigue needing only the slightest increase of heat to boil over into open
conflict. The shots that day in Sarajevo pushed the caldron to the boiling point and beyond.
A Royal Murder
Seven conspirators joined the crowd lining the Archduke's route to City Hall. Each took a
different position, ready to attack the royal car if the opportunity presented itself. The six-car
procession approached one conspirator, Gabrinovic (or Cabrinovic), who threw his bomb only to
see it bounce off the Archduke's car and explode near the following car.
Unhurt, the Archduke and his wife sped to the reception at City Hall. The ceremonies finished,
the royal procession amazingly retraced its steps bringing the Archduke into the range of the
leader of the conspiracy, Gavrilo Princip. More amazingly, the royal car stopped right in front
of Princip providing him the opportunity to fire two shots. Both bullets hit home.
Borijove Jevtic, one of the conspirators, gave this eyewitness account:
"When Francis Ferdinand and his retinue drove from the station they were allowed to pass
the first two conspirators. The motor cars were driving too fast to make an attempt feasible
and in the crowd were many Serbians; throwing a grenade would have killed many innocent
people.
When the car passed Gabrinovic, he threw his grenade. It hit the side of the car, but Francis
Ferdinand with presence of mind threw himself back and was uninjured. Several officers
riding in his attendance were injured.
The cars sped to the Town Hall and the rest of the conspirators did not interfere with them.
After the reception in the Town Hall General Potiorek, the Austrian Commander, pleaded
with Francis Ferdinand to leave the city, as it was seething with rebellion. The Archduke was
persuaded to drive the shortest way out of the city and to go quickly.
