Nationalism and Imperialism
Nationalism and extreme patriotism were significant contributing factors to the outbreak of World War I. As you should remember, nationalism is an excessive belief in one’s own cultural, economic and military supremacy. Every one of Europe’s Great Powers had a strong sense of nationalism. This over-confidence gave birth to a fatal misconception: that if a war in Europe broke out, one’s own country would be victorious inside a few months. This arrogance was fuelled by the propaganda spread by the press. The pages of newspapers, even usually sedate broadsheets, were often packed with stories and editorials filled with nationalist rhetoric and ‘sabre-rattling’. Heightened nationalism could also be found in other cultural expressions, like literature, music and theatre. European populations became convinced of two things: that their nations and governments were right and that their military would win any conflict. As these attitudes hardened, the likelihood of war increased. Royals, politicians and diplomats did little to defuse the public appetite for war, and some actively contributed to it with provocative commentary or belligerent policy.
The two most notable nationalist leaders were the German Kaiser Wilhelm and Franz Joseph I, the emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Both held strong nationalist views and believed that they could quickly and easily defeat the other European nations. To this day, most people blame these two leaders for the starting of WWI.
The two most notable nationalist leaders were the German Kaiser Wilhelm and Franz Joseph I, the emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Both held strong nationalist views and believed that they could quickly and easily defeat the other European nations. To this day, most people blame these two leaders for the starting of WWI.
Assassination of Franz Ferdinand
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian
throne, on 28 June 1914, set in motion a series of diplomatic events that led to
the outbreak of war in Europe at the end of July 1914.
Ferdinand - and his wife Sophie - were killed by Serb nationalist, Gavrilo Princip, while on a formal visit to Sarajevo. Princip shot Ferdinand at point blank range. Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sofie were travelling in his car from a town hall reception, he had already survived one assassination attempt earlier that day. Standing on the car's sideboard was Count Franz von Harrach. A witness to Ferdinand's assassination he subsequently recounted the events of the day. A portion of his translated memoir is reproduced below. Memoir of Count Franz von Harrach: "As the car quickly reversed, a thin stream of blood spurted from His Highness's mouth onto my right check. As I was pulling out my handkerchief to wipe the blood away from his mouth, the Duchess cried out to him, "For God's sake! What has happened to you?" At that she slid off the seat and lay on the floor of the car, with her face between his knees. I had no idea that she too was hit and thought she had simply fainted with fright. Then I heard His Imperial Highness say, "Sophie, Sophie, don't die. Stay alive for the children!" At that, I seized the Archduke by the collar of his uniform, to stop his head dropping forward and asked him if he was in great pain. He answered me quite distinctly, "It is nothing!" His face began to twist somewhat but he went on repeating, six or seven times, ever more faintly as he gradually lost consciousness, "It's nothing!" Then came a brief pause followed by a convulsive rattle in his throat, caused by a loss of blood. This ceased on arrival at the governor's residence. The two unconscious bodies were carried into the building where their death was soon established." |
Austrian Response
Austria-Hungary's reaction to the death of their heir (who was in any case not greatly beloved by the Emperor, Franz Josef, or his government) was three weeks in coming. Arguing that the Serbian government was implicated in the running of the Black Hand (whether she was or not remains unclear, but it appears unlikely), the Austro-Hungarians opted to take the opportunity to stamp its authority upon the Serbians, crushing the nationalist movement there and cementing Austria-Hungary's influence in the Balkans.
It did so by issuing an ultimatum to Serbia which, in the extent of its demand that the assassins be brought to justice effectively nullified Serbia's sovereignty. Sir Edward Grey, the British Foreign Secretary, was moved to comment that he had "never before seen one State address to another independent State a document of so formidable a character." Meaning that the demands could not possibly be met by Serbia. Austria-Hungary's expectation was that Serbia would reject the remarkably severe terms of the ultimatum, thereby giving her a pretext for launching a limited war against Serbia. However, Serbia had long had Slavic ties with Russia, an altogether different proposition for Austria-Hungary. The Austria-Hungary government did not really expect that Russia would be drawn into the dispute to any great extent other than through words of diplomatic protest, the Austro-Hungarian government sought assurances from her ally, Germany, that she would come to her aid should the unthinkable happen and Russia declared war on Austria-Hungary. Germany readily agreed, even encouraged Austria-Hungary's warlike stance. Why? Well, we will come back to that later. When Serbia of course did not comply, the Austria-Hungary Empire declared war and many soon followed. |