Tinderbox Europe - From Balkan Troubles to World War I PRELUDE TO WW1 - Part 2/3

Summary

The video script provides a background on the cultural tensions and nationalism leading to WWI, focusing on the Balkans and Austria-Hungary. It discusses the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slavic dreams of a pan-Slavic nation, and Serbia's intense nationalism. The script also covers the Black Hand, the Moroccan crises, and the Balkan Wars, which contributed to the complex geopolitical landscape culminating in WWI.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand was the immediate cause of World War I, but the cultural hatred and nationalistic fever in Europe, especially in the Balkans, were significant underlying factors.
• 🏰 The annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina by Austria-Hungary in 1908 heightened anti-Austrian sentiments in the Balkans, particularly in Serbia, which was denied an Adriatic port.
• 🤺 Slavic peoples were divided among Austria, Serbia, Montenegro, and Bulgaria, with many aspiring for a unified pan-Slavic nation.
• 🇷🇸 Serbia, a young and nationalistic country, was suspiciously viewed by the rest of Europe due to its aggressive stance and the catchphrase 'where dwells a Serb, there is Serbia'.
• 👥 Serbia's violent repression of its own minorities, such as Muslims, alienated much of Europe and mirrored the oppression faced by Slavs under Austria-Hungary.
• 🔪 The Black Hand, a secret organization within Serbia, was involved in political murders and guerrilla training, further escalating tensions.
• 🇮🇹 Italy's quick victory over the Ottoman Empire in Libya, following the Moroccan crises, demonstrated the Ottomans' vulnerability and emboldened the Balkan states.
• 🤝 The Balkan League, formed by Serbia, Montenegro, Greece, and Bulgaria with Russian influence, successfully expelled the Ottomans from the Balkans in the First Balkan War.
• 💥 The Second Balkan War saw Bulgaria attacking Serbia and Greece over territorial disputes, leading to further instability in the region.
• 📉 Serbia's growth in size and influence after the Balkan Wars alarmed Austria-Hungary and Germany, setting the stage for escalating tensions.
• 🇷🇺 Russia's support for Serbia, following the collapse of the Balkan League, positioned it to back Serbia unconditionally in 1914, further complicating the geopolitical landscape.

Q & A

What was the immediate cause of World War I mentioned in the script?

The immediate cause of World War I was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

What was the cultural and nationalistic atmosphere like in Europe leading up to World War I?

There was a cultural hatred and nationalistic fever prevalent in Europe, particularly in the Balkans, which contributed to the tensions leading up to the war.

Why was the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina by Austria-Hungary significant?

The annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina by Austria-Hungary in 1908 inflamed anti-Austrian sentiments in the Balkans, especially in Serbia, as it denied Serbia an Adriatic port and provided Austria with a base for potential military adventures against Serbia.

What was the dream of the Slavic peoples in the Balkans?

The Slavic peoples in the Balkans dreamed of a pan-Slavic nation, unifying the Slavic people scattered across Austria, Serbia, Montenegro, and Bulgaria.

How did Serbia's independence from the Ottoman Empire affect its nationalism?

Serbia's independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1878 led to intense nationalism, with a catchphrase 'where dwells a Serb, there is Serbia' that was viewed with suspicion by the rest of Europe.

What was the role of the Black Hand in Serbian history?

The Black Hand was a secret organization involved in political murders and training guerrillas. It played a significant role in Serbian history, notably in the assassination of King Alexander and Queen Draga in 1903.

What were the Moroccan crises and their impact on international relations?

The Moroccan crises in 1905 and 1911 were incidents where Kaiser Wilhelm II tried to drive a wedge between England and France. Instead, they strengthened the alliance between France and Britain and deepened the rift between them and Germany.

Why did Italy go to war with the Ottoman Empire?

Italy went to war with the Ottoman Empire after seeing the Moroccan crises and wanting to expand its territories, expecting little resistance from the major powers, which was correct.

What was the outcome of the First Balkan War for the Balkan states?

In the First Balkan War, Serbia, Montenegro, Greece, and Bulgaria, with Russian influence, formed the Balkan League and successfully drove the Ottomans out of the Balkans for the first time in 500 years.

What were the consequences of the Second Balkan War for Serbia?

In the Second Balkan War, Serbia occupied Albania and gained a seaport, but was forced to withdraw by an ultimatum from Austria-Hungary. Serbia's territory nearly doubled, but it would later pay a heavy price with a high number of casualties during the war.

How did the Balkan Wars affect the geopolitical landscape leading up to World War I?

The Balkan Wars led to Serbia's significant growth in size and stature, causing Austria-Hungary and Germany to view Serbia's expansion and Slavic nationalism with concern. It also left Russia with Serbia as its only ally in the region, leading to unconditional support for Serbia.

Outlines

00:00

🌍 Origins of World War I

The script introduces the historical context leading up to World War I, focusing on the cultural and nationalistic tensions in Europe, particularly in the Balkans. It discusses the multi-ethnic tensions within the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina by Austria, and the resulting anti-Austrian sentiment, especially in Serbia. The script highlights the desire for a pan-Slavic nation among Slavic people and the role of secret organizations like the Black Hand in fostering nationalistic goals. It also touches on the Moroccan crises and Italy's actions against the Ottoman Empire, setting the stage for the Balkan Wars.

05:02

🏰 The Balkan Wars and Their Aftermath

This paragraph delves into the consequences of the Balkan Wars, where Serbia, Montenegro, Greece, and Bulgaria formed the Balkan League and expelled the Ottomans from the region. It discusses how Serbia's territorial gains and the subsequent collapse of the Balkan League led to a complex geopolitical situation. The script also mentions the ultimatum from Austria-Hungary regarding Serbian occupation of Albania and the growing concerns of Austria-Hungary and Germany over Serbia's rise. It concludes with the tense atmosphere in June 1914, just before the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which is teased as a separate special episode.

Keywords

💡Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Archduke Franz Ferdinand was the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne. His assassination in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914, is considered the immediate trigger for World War I. The video script mentions that his assassination will be covered in a separate special episode, indicating its central role in the narrative of the Great War.

💡Austria-Hungary

Austria-Hungary was a dual monarchy in Central Europe consisting of two states, Austria and Hungary, and was one of the major powers in the lead-up to World War I. The script discusses its annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1908, which heightened tensions in the Balkans and particularly with Serbia.

💡Balkans

The Balkans is a region in Southeast Europe that was a focal point of ethnic tensions and nationalistic fervor leading up to World War I. The script describes how the Balkan nations had been part of the Ottoman Empire and were seeking to define their own identities and territories, which contributed to the outbreak of war.

💡Slavic peoples

The Slavic peoples are an ethnic group native to Eastern Europe, the Balkans, and Slavic countries of the former Soviet Union. The script mentions that Slavs were split between different nations and had dreams of a pan-Slavic nation, which was a source of tension and a driving force behind the events leading to World War I.

💡Nationalism

Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in terms of nationhood. The script highlights the intense nationalism in Serbia and how it contributed to the cultural hatred and tensions that led to the war.

💡Black Hand

The Black Hand was a secret Serbian nationalist society that sought to unite all southern Slavs into a Greater Serbia. The script describes the organization's involvement in political murders and its influence on Serbian nationalism, including the assassination of the Serbian king and queen in 1903.

💡Balkan Wars

The Balkan Wars were two conflicts that took place in the Balkan Peninsula in 1912 and 1913, primarily caused by the struggle of various Balkan nations to free themselves from the Ottoman Empire. The script notes that these wars significantly increased Serbia's territory and bolstered its nationalistic ambitions.

💡Moroccan crises

The Moroccan crises were two international incidents in 1905 and 1911 that involved Germany's attempts to challenge the French influence in Morocco, which in turn brought France and Britain closer together. The script mentions these crises as precursors to the alliances that would form during World War I.

💡Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman Empire was a state that existed from 1299 to 1922, controlling much of Southeast Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa. The script discusses how the Balkan nations were once part of the Ottoman Empire and how their recent independence fueled their desire for territorial expansion and self-determination.

💡Tsar

The Tsar was the title of the supreme ruler of Russia until the February Revolution of 1917. The script refers to the Tsar's readiness to prevent further loss of face for Russia after the Bosnian annexation and the loss to Japan in 1905, which influenced Russia's stance leading up to World War I.

💡Serbia

Serbia is a Southeast European country that played a significant role in the events leading up to World War I. The script describes Serbia's growth in size and stature after the Balkan Wars, its intense nationalism, and how it became the epicenter of the conflict due to its alliances and territorial ambitions.

Highlights

The immediate cause of World War I was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

Cultural hatred and nationalistic fever were prevalent in Europe, particularly in the Balkans.

Austria-Hungary was being torn apart by tensions within its multi-ethnic states.

Emperor Franz Josef's annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1908 inflamed anti-Austrian sentiment.

Serbia was denied an Adriatic port by Austrian expansion, fueling resentment.

Slavs dreamed of a pan-Slavic nation, which was split between various nations.

Serbia was a young and proud nation with intense nationalism.

Serbia's catchphrase 'where dwells a Serb, there is Serbia' was controversial.

Serbia's population was small, making its ambitions difficult to achieve alone.

Serbia's brutal repression of minority peoples alienated much of Europe.

The Black Hand, a secret organization, was involved in political murders and guerrilla training.

The Balkan Wars of 1912 and 1913 boosted Serbian nationalist goals.

The Moroccan crises of 1905 and 1911 strengthened the alliance between France and Britain.

Italy's war with the Ottoman Empire led to the acquisition of Libya.

The First Balkan War resulted in the Ottomans being driven out of the Balkans.

Bulgaria's dissatisfaction after the First Balkan War led to the Second Balkan War.

Serbia doubled its territory after the Balkan Wars.

Serbia's growth worried Austria-Hungary and Germany.

Russia's pro-Serbian position after the Balkan Wars led to unconditional support for Serbia.

The Tsar of Russia was determined to prevent further loss of face for Russia.

Franz Ferdinand's visit to Sarajevo was a pivotal moment leading up to the war.

Transcripts

My Name is Indy Neidell and

this channel, The Great War, follows World War I week by week exactly 100 years later,

but before we can do that properly, we thought we’d give you a little background on Europe in 1914.

Okay, the immediate cause of World War I was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand,

which we’ll cover in a separate special episode. Today, I’m going to talk a little

bit about the cultural hatred and nationalistic fever that led up to his assassination. This

was something that was happening all over Europe, heck, it was happening all over the world, but especially

in the Balkans. So let’s take a look at the empire of Austria-Hungary and the Balkan nations.

Now, this empire, even as it still grew, was slowly being torn apart by the tensions of its multi-ethnic

states, in particular the Slavic ones. Now, in 1908, Emperor Franz Josef had formally annexed

Bosnia and Herzegovina. Now this annexation

inflamed anti-Austrian hatred throughout the Balkans, but especially in Serbia who were

denied the chance of an Adriatic port by Austrian expansion into 375 miles of predominantly Slavic

territory. This also gave Austria a base that she could use for any military adventures against Serbia.

Now, what you have to realize is that the Slavs were split up between Austria, Serbia,

Montenegro, and Bulgaria and most of them dreamed of a pan-Slavic nation. These nations,

though, except for Austria, had been not only part of the Ottoman Empire for centuries,

but often violently oppressed parts of the Ottoman Empire and only recently were they finally

able to determine their own fates. So, seeing Austria suddenly gobble up new territory with

a sizable Slavic population... well...

not good.

If you look at Serbia in the first decade of the 20th century – here’s what you find:

First and foremost: a young and proud nation. Serbia had only gained its independence from

the Ottoman Empire in 1878, and it was intensely nationalistic. The rest of Europe looked at

Serbia suspiciously, though, and its catchphrase “where dwells a Serb, there is Serbia”...well,

you can see how that didn’t sit well with a lot of people, and let’s face it, the

only way for Serbia to have united the southern Slav peoples would have been to bring down

Austria-Hungary for good, which would’ve taken a war, which is kind of what happened.

Fewer than five million people lived in Serbia, though, so all intentions aside, that wasn’t

going to happen by itself. However, in the search for allies, Serbia alienated a lot

of Europe by the brutal and often violent repression of its own minority peoples, especially Muslims,

in much the same way Serbs and other minorities were repressed by Austria-Hungary, so they

didn’t get a whole lot of sympathy, and also: endless Balkan violence was nothing

new to people. In fact, it was just one of those things that most Europeans were resigned

to reading about in the papers from time to time

another murder, another bombing, in that far off corner of Europe where such things

just seem to happen and regime change was often by murder.

Actually, stereotypes aside, the last did happen – in 1903. King Alexander and Queen

Draga were murdered in their private apartments by a group of young army officers and their

bodies were mutilated. Now, one of the men responsible, Dragutin Dimitrijevic, became a national

hero when he was wounded by Royal Guards. He was also known simply as Apis and had been a founding

member and leader of the Black Hand – who organized the hit on the king and queen.

The Black Hand. You just sort of know from the name that these guys aren’t going to

be devoted to, you know, starting soup kitchens or maintaining city parks.

Anyhow, by the beginning of the first World War there were thousands of members of the

Black Hand, many of them Serbian army officers and even government officials, and this secret

organization did pretty much what you would expect of a terrorist organization-

plan political murders, train and equip guerillas, and so forth,

and they and Serbian nationalist goals in general got a big boost in 1912 and 1913 from

the two Balkan wars, which I’m going to tell you about right now.

Okay, not RIGHT now, because to talk about the Balkan Wars I first have to talk about the Moroccan crises.

Now, there were two of these, one in 1905 and one in 1911, and you can look them up for details,

but what they very basically and very generally involved was the Kaiser trying to drive a

wedge between England and France and hopefully even form an alliance between Germany and

England. But they succeeded in doing the opposite-

and made the alliance between France and Britain stronger than ever and drove a deeper

wedge between them and Germany.

Another result was that France took control of Morocco. Now, at the time, Britain had

Egypt, right? So what happens next is very important.

Italy saw Ottoman land being seemingly handed out, and thought “I

gotta get me some of that!”... So Italy went to war. Now, because of all the Moroccan foolishness,

Italy figured – correctly – that England, France, and Germany would do nothing to

stop her, so she attacked the Ottoman Empire. The war lasted less than a month and Italy

successfully took Libya.

And the dominoes start to fall...

The Balkan states, seeing how easily the weakest of the powers could beat the Ottoman Empire,

got together and attacked in the First Balkan War. Serbia, Montenegro, Greece, and Bulgaria,

with Russian influence, formed the Balkan League and together succeeded in driving

the Ottomans out of the Balkans entirely for the first time in 500 years. It was a big

loss for the Ottomans. However, one month after the war Bulgaria, unsatisfied

with the way the conquered territories were split up, turned around and attacked Serbia and

Greece. A side note here: Serbia occupied Albania in the 2nd Balkan war and finally

had a seaport of her own, but Austria issued an ultimatum to remove all Serbian forces

from Albania within eight days. Serbia complied.

Now, as you may guess, this was all a complete mess, and here are some important results:

Serbia pretty much doubled her territory in the Balkan Wars, even without Albania, and

if you asked a Serb in early 1914 they’d probably say that wars seemed to work out

pretty well for them, but they’d pay a terrible price in the end:

between 1912 and 1918 one out of every six Serbs – men, women, and children – would die violently.

After the collapse of the Balkan League and Russia’s clearly Pro-Serbian position in

the second war, Russia was left with only Serbia as an ally in the entire area,

and Russia really wouldn’t have much choice but to unconditionally support Serbia in 1914.

Both Austria-Hungary and Germany were worried by Serbia’s growth in both size and stature,

and since a lot of German speaking people saw Serbia as a Russian satellite, well, Austria

was ready and willing to put its foot down on Serbian growth and Slavic nationalism.

At the same time, after losing a war to Japan in 1905 and being unable to prevent the Bosnian

annexation in 1908, the Tsar in Russia was willing and ready to put his foot down to prevent any

further loss of face for Russia.

And that’s where we were in June 1914. All of these sides playing off one against the another

and at the epicenter of it all, in the Balkans, an organization that used terrorism and political

murder to try and achieve its goals.

And then Franz Ferdinand went to Sarajevo.

If you missed our Prelude to War Special number 1 you can click here and watch it right now.

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