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Assassination at Sarajevo

Arguably, the assassination of just two people early in the 1900s was responsible for the most deaths in the 20th century. It all began on a sunny pleasant day on Sunday, June 28, 1914. Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his pregnant wife Sophie traveled to the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo in an open car with very little security to inspect the imperial armed forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which had been annexed by Austro-Hungry in 1908. The annexation angered the Serbian nationalists who felt that the territories should be part of Serbia.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand and Duchess Sophie

Two Serbian assassins, Gavrilo Princip and Nedjelko Cabrinovic--along with four other terrorists who were trained by the Serb-sponsored Black Hand--were sent to assassinate Franz Ferdinand who was heir to the Austrian throne. All were armed and each carried a vial of cyanide to commit suicide after killing the Archduke. As the royal car was passing by, Cabrinovic hurled a grenade at the Archduke’s vehicle, but it bounced off the back of the car and rolled beneath the next vehicle where it exploded wounding several officers in the car and also a small number of bystanders. The driver of the Archduke’s car swiftly took evasive action and sped from the scene. Cabrinovic quickly swallowed his capsule (it didn’t kill him) and he was promptly captured and arrested.

Later in the day when Franz Ferdinand was on his way to visit the wounded officers at the city hospital, his chauffeur took a wrong turn and drove onto a street where 19-year-old Princip just happened to be loitering. Princip, who was taken by surprise, quickly seized his opportunity and fired twice from his pistol--a Browning semiautomatic Model 1910--at Franz Ferdinand and his wife. Bystanders and police quickly grabbed the triggerman and the authorities hauled him away. Franz Ferdinand and his wife who were seriously wounded died shortly afterward.

The Spark at Sarajevo

It was one of those small bizarre incidents, which was not only responsible for the most deaths in all of history, but it also that changed the course of history. What if the driver had not turned down the wrong street in Sarajevo?

All of the other assassins and the group of conspirators who plotted the killing were charged with treason and found guilty. Since Austro-Hungarian law for capital punishment did not apply to anyone under age 20, Cabrinovic and Princip received a maximum sentence of 20 years since they were underage. Others received penalties ranging from light sentences to life in prison: three others were executed.

Later, Princip said that he did not intend to kill Sophie. At his trial, he said, “I am a Yugoslav nationalist, aiming for the unification of all Yugoslavs, and I do not care what form of state, but it must be freed from Austria.” Princip died while in prison. He was only 23 years old—and yet his action changed the world. (“Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria,” Wikipedia n.a.n.d.)

Shenandoah Evening Herald Articles

The Evening Herald only cost one cent in 1914, and in May 1917, the price doubled to two cents. Since there was no radio, TV, computers or Internet, the daily newspaper was the main source of news. As you now begin to read all those newspaper articles from the Evening Herald, think of them as small segments of the past—but remember, they once were the present and the main source of news at the time. Sometimes, the past and the present aren’t always separated.

Evening Herald

Shenandoah, PA. Thursday, July 2, 1914

ANARCHISTS IN MURDER PLOT

Special by United Press Trent, Austria, July 2, -- Admission that anarchists plotted the death of the assassinated Archduke Francis Ferdinand was squeezed out of an Italian named Anessandrini, who recently returned from Patterson, N. J., and who was arrested here for conspiracy in the double murder at Sarajevo.

Evening Herald

Shenandoah, PA. Friday, July 24, 1914

A “WORLD WAR” IS THREATENED

Special by United Press Berlin, July 21, -- Unless Serbia backs down from the expressed intention of refusing to comply with demands of Austria, Europe will see the beginning of a “world war.” This is the opinion freely expressed today in governmental, military and diplomatic circles.

Evening Herald

Shenandoah, PA. Monday, July 27, 1914

THINK WAR IS SURE -- MOBILIZING TROOPS

Special by United Press London, Eng. July 27 – England took the initiative today in an effort to prevent a war inviting all Europe.Although upon Kaiser Wilhelm, of Germany, rests the greatest responsibility for peace, diplomats here today regarded the situation as more hopeful because of the action of Sir Edward Grey, British Foreign Minister, in suggesting mediation to France, Germany and Italy