World War I Fueling Point

Exactly a hundred year earlier than today, an assassination on the streets of Sarajevo, became the fueling point of World War I. 

Back then, Sarajevo was a part of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire. Today, it is a capital of modern day Bosnia and Herzegovina.

On 28th June 1914, by a twist of fate, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian empire was assassinated along with his wife Sophie by Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb in front of a museum in downtown Sarajevo.

This happened at the very spot as seen in the picture below. The picture below is today's replica of the event a century ago which changed the course of history. 

World War I Fueling Point

One thing led to another, and Europe was in the throes of war. The World was in the throes of war. It was a war which would change the world.

The assassination resulted in anti-Serbs riots in Sarajevo. Austria-Hungary wanted to end the Serbian influence in Bosnia. The Serbians didn't accept the ultimatum served by Austria-Hungary, which resulted in the later declaring a war with Serbia.

Russia sided with Serbia and mobilized its troops. Fearing the Russian presence in Central Europe, Germany opposed the mobilization and declared war against the Russians.

World War I Europe Map

Germany wanted France to be neutral in this entire conflict. When France refused to do so, it declared war on France. 

With Belgium located between Germany and France, and the Belgians not allowing the Germans easy access to France through its land, the Germans declared war on Belgium. 

Irked by the war against Belgium, Britain jumped into the fray and declared war against the Germans.

So it was Germany, Austria-Hungary + others on one side, the Central Powers, against France, Russia, Britain + others, the Allied Powers.

Political and Military positioning led to a confluence of power and conflict of interest. 

The rest, as we all know, is World War I !

It resulted in 9.9+ Million military deaths, 21+ Million wounded people, and 7.7+ Million people missing. Did we need all of this??

In hindsight, it will be worthwhile to read the comments by Hew Strachan, a military historian. He said, "Whether an equivocal and early response by Serbia (to the ultimatums) would have made any difference to Austria-Hungary's behavior must be doubtful. Franz Ferdinand was not the sort of personality who commanded popularity, and his demise did not cast the empire into deepest mourning."

Need I say more?

P.S. Think twice, before overreacting.