Povij. pril.

3 0 1 - 3 1 7

Z a g r e b , 1995.

U D K 949.75 1914
Izvorni znanstveni rad
Primljeno: 5. VI. 1995.

Civil Croatia on the Eve of the First World War

(The Echo of the Assassination and Ultimatum)
DAMIR AGII
Filozofski fakultet, Zagreb, Republika Hrvatska

Introduction
T h e assassination of the heir to the A u s t r o - H u n g a r i a n t h r o n e Francis Ferdi
n a n d a n d his wife S o p h i a H o h e n b e r g i n S a r a j e v o o n 2 8 t h J u n e 1 9 1 4 w a s a n e v e n t
of w o r l d i m p o r t a n c e . It was n o t only a usual assassination of a c r o w n e d h e a d
s i m i l a r t o m a n y i n h i s t o r y , b u t i t g a v e casus belli for t h e first g r e a t w a r o f t h e t w e n
tieth century which engulfed almost the entire world. At the turn of the century the
g r e a t p o w e r s o f E u r o p e w e r e d i v i d e d i n t o t w o m a i n o p p o s i n g a l l i a n c e s l o o k i n g for
a m o t i v e f o r w a r . S e v e r a l t i m e s t h e y s u c c e e d e d i n a v o i d i n g w a r , b u t a f t e r t h e assas
sination a t Sarajevo, w a r c a m e a n d s o o n b e c a m e t h e biggest h u m a n slaughter
h o u s e ever seen in world history up to then.
W h a t was being p r e p a r e d in the political kitchens during t h e m o n t h b e t w e e n
t h e a s s a s s i n a t i o n a n d t h e b e g i n n i n g o f w a r i s m o r e o r less c l e a r . H i s t o r i a n s h a v e
d e a l t w i t h t h i s q u e s t i o n e v e n f r o m t h e t i m e o f w a r . I n t h i s a r t i c l e w e will p r e s e n t t h e
s i t u a t i o n i n Civil C r o a t i a after t h e a s s a s s i n a t i o n u p t o t h e first d a y s o f t h e w a r , t h a t
i s h o w t h e e v e n t s o f J u n e a n d J u l y 1914 affected t h e C r o a t i a n p u b l i c .
I n t h e elections for t h e C r o a t i a n P a r l i a m e n t o f 16th D e c e m b e r 1913 t h e
C r o a t i a n - S e r b i a n Coalition b e c a m e the most powerful party in the Sabor (the
C r o a t i a n p a r l i a m e n t ) . T h e s e e l e c t i o n s w e r e n o t b a s e d o n u n i v e r s a l suffrage. O f a
t o t a l o f 8 8 s e a t s i n p a r l i a m e n t t h e C r o a t i a n - S e r b i a n C o a l i t i o n o b t a i n e d 4 8 . To
g e t h e r with t h e Unionists (Magyrones)J it took possession of t h e right wing of the
Sabor. In the centre there were the representatives of the Frank Party of Rights
(Frankovci), three representatives of the Croatian People's Peasant Party and

They were p r o - H u n g a r i a n and firmly supported connections with Budapest.

301

D. A G I I , Civil Croatia..

Povij. pril. 14, 301-317 (1995)

t h r e e i n d e p e n d e n t r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s . T h e left w i n g c o n s i s t e d o f r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f
t h e Starevi Party of Rights (Milinovci or Starevianci).2
T h e C r o a t i a n - S e r b i a n Coalition h a d an absolute majority in the Sabor a n d
could, w i t h o u t any p r o b l e m s , control C r o a t i a n politics. B u t t h e o p p o s i t i o n was
v e r y forceful a n d o b s t r u c t e d t h e S a b o r ' s first s e s s i o n . D u r i n g t h e w i n t e r a n d s p r i n g
o f 1914 t h e S a b o r d e b a t e d , a m o n g o t h e r things, t h e King's address, t h e a g r e e m e n t
b e t w e e n T i s z a a n d t h e C o a l i t i o n , a n d issues t o d o w i t h t h e N a g o d b a ( A g r e e m e n t
o r C o m p r o m i s e ) , i n d e m n i t y , t h e b u d g e t for 1914/1915, e t c 3

The Assassination at Sarajevo and its Repercussions for Croatia

I n t h e s u m m e r o f 1914 t h e A u s t r o - H u n g a r i a n a r m y h e l d m a n o e u v r e s i n B o s
nia u n d e r the supervision of A r c h d u k e Francis F e r d i n a n d , the heir to t h e t h r o n e
a n d I n s p e c t o r g e n e r a l o f t h e a r m y . A t t h e e n d o f t h e m a n o e u v r e s h e a n d h i s wife
S o p h i a H o h e n b e r g w e n t t o S a r a j e v o . A n awful f a t e a w a i t e d t h e m i n t h e B o s n i a n
capital: t h e A u s t r o - H u n g a r i a n royal c o u p l e was killed t h e r e by a y o u n g S e r b i a n
nationalist.
T h e first a t t e m p t t o a s s a s s i n a t e F r a n z F e r d i n a n d i n S a r a j e v o , b y N e d e l j k o
a b r i n o v i , w a s n o t successful. a b r i n o v i t h r e w a b o m b i n t o t h e A r c h d u k e ' s c a r ,
b u t i t did n o t explode immediately a n d F e r d i n a n d m a n a g e d t o t h r o w t h e b o m b
o u t . H o w e v e r , h e did n o t avoid d e a t h . T h e s e c o n d assailant, 19-year old Gavrilo
P r i n c i p , s u c c e e d e d i n killing h i m a n d his wife.
B o t h a b r i n o v i a n d P r i n c i p , a l o n g w i t h a t h i r d c o n s p i r a t o r , Trifko G r a b e ,
w e r e m e m b e r s of t h e secret society Young Bosnia a n d fanatical s t u d e n t revolu
t i o n a r i e s . T h e r e w e r e r e v o l u t i o n a r y y o u n g p e o p l e like t h e m i n e v e r y b a c k w a r d
E u r o p e a n c o u n t r y i n t h o s e days, a n d i n w e s t e r n E u r o p e s e v e r a l d e c a d e s e a r l i e r . I t
w o u l d n o t h a v e b e e n difficult t o p e r s u a d e t h e m t o c a r r y o u t a n a s s a s s i n a t i o n .
I t i s t r u e t h a t t h e full s t o r y o f t h e S a r a j e v o a s s a s s i n a t i o n h a s y e t t o b e t o l d
a n d , i n s p i t e o f m u c h l e a r n e d r e s e a r c h , m a n y vital p o i n t s r e m a i n o b s c u r e . 4 W h a t
is well k n o w n is t h a t t h e assassination was o r g a n i z e d by t h e S e r b i a n secret organi
zation U n i o n or D e a t h ( m o r e widely k n o w n as the Black H a n d ) . This organi
zation was f o u n d e d on 3rd M a r c h 1911, to achieve a G r e a t e r Serbia by m e a n s of
violence, conspiracy and terrorism. T h e head of the organization was Colonel
D r a g u t i n Dimitrijevi Apis, Chief of the Intelligence B u r e a u of the Serb G e n e r a l
Staff, w h o h a d a s s a s s i n a t e d K i n g A l e k s a n d a r O b r e n o v i i n 1 9 0 3 .

Bogdan Krizman, Hrvatska

greb, 1989) p. 27.

u prvom svjetskom ratu.

Hrvatsko-srpskipolitiki odnosi

For m o r e details see: Krizman, Hrvatska, pp. 29-50.

L. C. F. Turner, Origins of the First World War (London, 1970) p. 78.

302

(Za

D. A G I C I C , Civil Croatia..

Povij. pril. 14, 301-317 (1995)

The Croatian Press on the Assassination

T h e n e w s a b o u t t h e a s s a s s i n a t i o n c a m e t o Z a g r e b v e r y quickly a n d c a u s e d exc i t e m e n t a n d confusion. S o m e h o u r s later special editions of t h e local n e w s p a p e r s
a p p e a r e d . A j o u r n a l i s t of Ilustrovani list d e s c r i b e d t h e e v e n t s like this: R e a l p a n i c
b r o k e out in Z a g r e b w h e n p e o p l e h e a r d about the assassination. They gathered on
t h e s t r e e t s , b e s i e g e d t h e n e w s p a p e r offices. W h e n s p e c i a l e d i t i o n s w e r e p u b l i s h e d ,
they were snatched up immediately. S o m e of the colporters were protected by the
p o l i c e . U p t o 5 0 , 0 0 0 c o p i e s o f a single n e w s p a p e r w e r e p r i n t e d .
5

T h e headlines a b o u t the assassination show w h a t individual newspapers

s t r e s s e d , w h a t w a s t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t a n g l e i n t h e i r view. W h i l e s o m e n e w s p a p e r s
d i d n o t i n c l u d e i n t h e i r h e a d l i n e s w h o t h e assassins w e r e , o t h e r s clearly s t r e s s e d
t h a t t h e y w e r e S e r b s , d e p e n d i n g o n t h e n e w s p a p e r ' s politics. T h u s t h e official
n e w s p a p e r Narodne novine b r o u g h t t h e n e w s f r o m S a r a j e v o u n d e r t h e h e a d i n g :
The assassination of His Royal Highness the Serene Lord A r c h d u k e - the heir
a p p a r e n t t o t h e t h r o n e F r a n c i s F e r d i n a n d a n d his wife D u c h e s s S o p h i a H o h e n b e r g . I n t h e a r t i c l e i t n o t e d t h a t t h e assassins w e r e S e r b s , b u t i t d i d n o t s t r e s s
strongly their connections with Serbia.
6

S t a r c e v i c ' s f o l l o w e r s ' n e w s p a p e r Hrvat h a d a v e r y s h o r t a n d s i m p l e h e a d l i n e :

t A r c h d u k e F r a n z F e r d i n a n d a n d his wife S o p h i a . T h e g r e a t e r p a r t o f t h e first
p a g e o f Hrvat w a s d e v o t e d t o t h e d e a t h n o t i c e , a n d o n l y o n t h e s e c o n d p a g e w e r e
t h e r e s o m e w o r d s a b o u t the assassins - that b o t h of t h e m w e r e Serbs.
8

T h e r e w a s a similarly s h o r t h e a d l i n e i n Hrvatskipokret, t h e o r g a n o f t h e C r o a t i a n I n d e p e n d e n t P a r t y : A s s a s s i n a t i o n i n S a r a j e v o . F r a n c i s F e r d i n a n d a n d his

wife H o h e n b e r g a r e m u r d e r e d . I n this n e w s p a p e r , w h i c h s u p p o r t e d S o u t h Slav
unification, t h e r e was confused information a b o u t the assassins, such as: While
s o m e say C a b r u n o v i c i s M u s l i m a n d P r i n c i p i s O r t h o d o x , a c c o r d i n g t o o t h e r s t h e
f o r m e r i s M u s l i m a n d t h e l a t t e r i s C a t h o l i c . A c c o r d i n g t o official r e p o r t s o n e c a n n o t say anything a b o u t the religion of t h e assassins. B o t h Princip a n d Cabrunovic,
a s H e r z e g o v i n a n s , a r e C a t h o l i c s ( s i c ! ) . O n l y this n e w s p a p e r d i d n o t m e n t i o n t h e
n a t i o n a l i t y b u t t h e r e l i g i o u s affilation o f t h e assassins. I t e v e n s t r o n g l y a s s e r t e d
that b o t h of t h e m were Catholics.
9

T h e r e w a s a c o m p l e t e l y d i f f e r e n t h e a d l i n e i n F r a n k o v c i ' s n e w s p a p e r Hrvatska. I n b o l d p r i n t i t said: T h e m u r d e r o f t h e h e i r a p p a r e n t t o t h e t h r o n e a n d his

wife i n S a r a j e v o , a n d i m m e d i a t e l y after this i n s m a l l e r p r i n t t h e s u b t i t l e s : B o t h
a s s a s s i n s a r e sly S e r b s . B o m b s f r o m B e l g r a d e . D e m o n s t r a t i o n s i n Z a g r e b . B i t t e r ness against Serbs in the provinces. Protests against Serbs in Vienna. M a s s arrests
5

Ilustrovani list 27 (Zagreb, 4.VII.1914.) nr. 632.

T h e n a m e of Cubrilovic was written by mistake as Gavrilovic.

Narodne novine 80 (Zagreb, 29.VI.1914) nr. 146.

Hrvat (Zagreb, 30.VI.1914) nr. 300.

Hrvatskipokret (Zagreb, 28.VI.1914) nr. 176. T h e n a m e of Cabrinovic was written by mistake as Cabrunovic.
303

D. A G I C I C , Civil Croatia..

Povij. pril. 14, 301-317 (1995)

in Sarajevo. Impressions from the world. This n e w s p a p e r stressed several times

o n t h e title p a g e t h a t t h e a s s a s s i n s w e r e S e r b s .
1 0

I n its o b i t u a r i e s e v e r y n e w s p a p e r d e s c r i b e d t h e a s s a s s i n a t i o n a s a n awful
c r i m e a n d p r e s e n t e d t h e a s s a s s i n s a s c r i m i n a l s . S o m e n e w s p a p e r s u s e d less v i o l e n t
w o r d s a n d d i d n o t a c c u s e all S e r b s . O t h e r s , o n t h e c o n t r a r y , u s e d v e r y s t r o n g w o r d s
a g a i n s t t h e S e r b s , i m p l y i n g t h a t t h e y w e r e all guilty for t h e c r i m e i n S a r a j e v o .
T h e official Narodne novine n o t i f i e d t h a t t h e n e w s of t h e h e a r t l e s s c r i m e
h a d d e e p r e p e r c u s s i o n s t h r o u g h o u t t h e e n t i r e c o u n t r y . B e c a u s e o f t h e lack o f r e l i a b l e n e w s Narodne novine d i d n o t give a n y o p i n i o n on t h e v i c i o u s c r i m e . It
h o p e d t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n w o u l d s h o w all c i r c u m s t a n c e s i n r e l a t i o n t o t h e a s s a s s i n a tion.
11

T h e s e m i - o f f i c i a l n e w s p a p e r Jidamji list p u b l i s h e d its o b i t u a r y t w o d a y s after

t h e l o a t h s o m e , even unscrupulous act and asserted that the entire nation of
B o s n i a a n d H e r z e g o v i n a c o u l d n o t b e b l a m e d for t h i s c r i m e . T h e n e w s p a p e r expressed regret regarding demonstrations which were out of control. It was stressed
t h a t i t w a s t h e C r o a t s w h o h a d t o b e s o r r y for t h e d e a t h o f F r a n c i s F e r d i n a n d , a
sincere friend of our p e o p l e .
1 2

Similarly, t h e m o u t h p i e c e o f t h e S t a r c e v i c P a r t y o f R i g h t s , Hrvat, d e s c r i b e d
C r o a t i a n grief a n d p a i n a f t e r t h e d e p l o r a b l e e v e n t i n S a r a j e v o . I t m o u r n e d for
t h e A r c h d u k e a n d h i s wife a s s e r t i n g t h a t t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e m m a n y C r o a t i a n h o p e s
had died.
1 3

Hrvatski pokret, t h e m o u t h p i e c e o f t h e C r o a t i a n I n d e p e n d e n t P a r t y , n o t e d
that the unexpected and terrible news would m a k e a d e e p impression on the
Croats, Serbs and Slovenes, w h o w e r e very s a d d e n e d by the terrible event which
t o o k p l a c e i n t h e c e n t r e o f S a r a j e v o . ' " T h e p o l i t i c a l o r i e n t a t i o n o f this n e w s p a p e r
was directed not only to a u n i t e d a n d i n d e p e n d e n t Croatia, but also to a unified
S o u t h Slav s t a t e .
T h e m o s t v i o l e n t o b i t u a r y w a s t o b e f o u n d i n F r a n k o v c i ' s n e w s p a p e r Hrvatska. I t s t r e s s e d t h a t t h e C r o a t s , m o r e t h a n o t h e r n a t i o n s , r e g r e t e d t h e b l o o d y
c r i m e o f S a r a j e v o w h i c h w a s c o m m i t t e d b y f a n a t i c a l c r i m i n a l s . I n its n o t i c e
Hrvatska w r o t e e m p h a t i c a l l y : B o t h o f t h e c r i m i n a l s a r e f a n a t i c a l S e r b s , s o n s o f
this cursed tribe which everywhere spreads hatred, slaughter a n d m u r d e r , which,
s e e k i n g p o w e r , i n f a m o u s l y d e m o l i s h e s e v e r y t h i n g b e f o r e it, i m a g i n i n g t h a t i n this
w a y i t will i n t i m i d a t e t h e C r o a t i a n n a t i o n .
1 5

T h e n o t i c e o f d e a t h w r i t t e n i n Srbobran, t h e m a i n S e r b i a n n e w s p a p e r i n C r o a tia, s t r e s s e d t h a t t h e a s s a s s i n a t i o n w a s a p u n i s h a b l e a c t o f i n d i v i d u a l s w h o d i d n o t
w

Hrvatska (Zagreb, 29.VI.1914) nr. 794.

11

Narodne novine 80 (Zagreb, 29.VI.1914) nr. 146.

Jutarnji list 3 (Zagreb, 1.VII.1914) nr. 702

13

Hrvat (Zagreb, 30.VI.1914) nr. 300.

14

Hrvatski pokret (Zagreb, 28.VI.1914) nr. 176

15

Hn>atska (Zagreb, 29.VI.1914) nr. 794.

304

D. A G I I , Civil Croatia..

Povij. pril. 14, 301-317 (1995)

h a v e a n y c o n n e c t i o n s w i t h t h e social life o f t h e n e i g h b o u r h o o d i n w h i c h t h e y w e r e
living, a n d a n i s o l a t e d a c t o f o n e a n a r c h i s t , t h a t i s o f o n e f i g h t e r a g a i n s t i m p e r i
a l i s m . A l s o Srbobran a s s e r t e d t h a t t h e S e r b i a n p e o p l e d i d n o t h a v e a n y c o m m o n
l i n k s w i t h t h e a s s a s s i n a t i o n , a n d S e r b s w e r e loyal a n d faithful t o t h e H a b s b u r g dy
n a s t y a n d d e e p l y m o u r n e d for t h e A r c h d u k e . 1 6
W h i l e all o t h e r n e w s p a p e r s e x p r e s s e d t h e i r r e g r e t for w h a t h a p p e n e d t o t h e
A r c h d u k e a n d his wife, t h e socialist n e w s p a p e r Slobodna rije w r o t e s o m e t h i n g
c o m p l e t e l y d i f f e r e n t . I n its o p i n i o n A u s t r o - H u n g a r i a n p o l i t i c s w e r e t h e r e a s o n for
t h e assassination: A u s t r o - H u n g a r y is a very reactionary state. Francis F e r d i n a n d
w a s a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f r e a c t i o n a n d c l e r i c a l i s m , a n d for this r e a s o n t h e c l e r i c a l
e l e m e n t s a r e n o w frustrated a n d furious - n o t from sincere causes, b u t from politi
cal s p e c u l a t i o n . W h o c o u l d e v e n i m a g i n e t h a t A u s t r o - H u n g a r y w o u l d b e c o m e a
progressive s t a t e of liberty a n d equality m e r e l y b e c a u s e Francis F e r d i n a n d has
b e e n k i l l e d ? R e a l l y n o b o d y ! N o t c h a n g e s i n t h e h i g h e s t p l a c e s , b u t c h a n g e s i n so
cial a n d n a t i o n a l r e l a t i o n s w i t h i n this s t a t e a l o n e c o u l d c a u s e a c h a n g e i n t h e
course of the g o v e r n m e n t s 1 7

Demonstrations in Croatia
A l r e a d y i n t h e e v e n i n g o f 2 8 t h J u n e 1914 d e m o n s t r a t i o n s t o o k p l a c e i n Z a
greb a n d o t h e r C r o a t i a n towns. They b e g a n as mournful processions, but soon
t u r n e d i n t o a n t i - S e r b i a n d e m o n s t r a t i o n s led b y t h e Frankovci. H o w e v e r , t h e d e m
o n s t r a t i o n s i n C r o a t i a w e r e n o t s o forceful a s s i m i l a r o n e s i n S a r a j e v o a n d B o s n i a
a n d H e r z e g o v i n a , w h e r e s o m e p e o p l e w e r e killed o r b a d l y i n j u r e d .
A mournful procession started in Z a g r e b in the early evening of 28th J u n e .
After a while s o m e p e o p l e began to shout anti-Serbian slogans. T h a t evening the
situation was k e p t u n d e r control a n d p e o p l e soon dispersed. T h e majority of news
p a p e r s c o n d e m n e d t h e d e m o n s t r a t i o n s . O n l y Hrvatska h a d v e r y p o s i t i v e w o r d s
about them, which is quite understandable as the Frankovci were the loudest dem
onstrators.18
T h e n e x t day, 2 9 t h J u n e 1914 t h e s i t u a t i o n w a s d i f f e r e n t . T h e F r a n k o v c i w e r e
o n c e again at the head of the mournful procession. They carried a picture of Fran
cis F e r d i n a n d a n d t h e C r o a t i a n flag w i t h a b l a c k r i b b o n . A f t e r s o m e b o d y o u t s i d e
the procession had thrown a stone at the picture, the demonstrators demolished
t h e P e o p l e ' s c o f f e e - h o u s e o n J e l a i s q u a r e , a n d s m a s h e d w i n d o w s i n t h e flat o f
the Serbian m e r c h a n t Dui, and the house of Zagreb's mayor, J a n k o Holjac, a n d
several o t h e r houses. T h e demonstrations died down about midnight.
As political polarization in Z a g r e b h a d c o m e to a h e a d , a n d t h e r e was a real
p o s s i b i l i t y o f l a r g e r - s c a l e conflicts, t h e m u n i c i p a l a u t h o r i t i e s p r o h i b i t e d all m e e t 16

Srbobran (Zagreb, 29.VI.1914) nr. 131.

"Slobodna rije ( Z a g r e b , 30.VI.1914) nr. 145.

18

Hrvatska (Zagreb, 29.VI.1914) nr. 794.

305

D. A G I I , Civil Croatia..

Povij. pril. 14, 301-317 (1995)

ings w i t h o u t special permission.19 N e i t h e r t h e Frankovci n o r t h e Coalitionists

w e r e satisfied w i t h t h e activity o f t h e Z a g r e b p o l i c e . W h i l s t t h e f o r m e r a s s e r t e d
that the police was persecuting them, the latter complained that the police were
p a s s i v e . 2 0 T h e socialist n e w s p a p e r Slobodna r i j e a l s o r e m a r k e d t h a t t h e p o l i c e
w e r e p a s s i v e , e v e n saying t h a t t h e d e m o n s t r a t o r s w e r e u n d e r t h e i r p a t r o n a g e . I t
asserted that individual policemen e n c o u r a g e d the d e m o n s t r a t o r s a n d that
everything t h a t h a p p e n e d in Z a g r e b was very similar to a n t i - S e r b i a n d e m o n s t r a
t i o n s i n S e p t e m b e r 1902. 2 1
T h e S o c i a l i s t s o r g a n i z e d a p u b l i c rally a g a i n s t a n t i - S e r b i a n d e m o n s t r a t i o n s
o n S u n d a y , 5 t h J u l y 1914. S i n c e t h e p o l i c e d i d n o t p e r m i t t h i s rally o n t h e m a i n
s q u a r e , i t w a s h e l d a t t h e A l e k s i ' i n n i n F r a n k o p a n s k a s t r e e t . A b o u t 1,000 p e o p l e
acclaimed the resolution passed by the Social-Democratic Party of Croatia and
S l a v o n i a o n t h e a s s a s s i n a t i o n a n d its c o n s e q u e n c e s . T h e d e m o n s t r a t i o n s a g a i n s t
S e r b s a n d t h e p o l i c e - s y s t e m i n Civil C r o a t i a w e r e c o n d e m n e d : (...) p o l i c e a b s o
l u t i s m i s t h e p e o p l e ' s g r e a t e s t e n e m y . All a b s o l u t i s t i c p o l i c e - i n s t i t u t i o n s m u s t b e
s u s p e n d e d a n d p o l i t i c a l r i g h t s o f t h e p e o p l e e s t a b l i s h e d , e s p e c i a l l y u n i v e r s a l suf
frages22
D e m o n s t r a t i o n s against Serbs took place t h r o u g h o u t Croatia. T h e y were
m o r e p r o m i n e n t i n E a s t e r n Slavonia a n d Srijem w h e r e G r e a t e r Serbian p r o p a
g a n d a was m o r e powerful a n d m o r e d a n g e r o u s than in o t h e r parts of Croatia. In
this way d e m o n s t r a t i o n s in Z e m u n , Vukovar, Vinkovci, a k o v o , a n d Slavonski
B r o d c h a l l e n g e d t h e w i d e r i n t e r e s t s o f b o t h t h e C r o a t i a n a n d t h e local a u t h o r i t i e s .
It was necessary to stop t h e m a n d to p r e v e n t destruction. F o r this r e a s o n t h e local
a u t h o r i t i e s i n t h e s e a r e a s , a s well a s i n Z a g r e b , b a n n e d p u b l i c g a t h e r i n g s .
T h e Croatian press reacted to the demonstrations in the same way it had re
a c t e d t o t h e a s s a s s i n a t i o n , t h a t i s t h e v a r i o u s n e w s p a p e r s d e s c r i b e d t h e m v e r y dif
f e r e n t l y . T h e m a j o r i t y o f n e w s p a p e r s , b o t h official a n d o p p o s i t i o n , c o n d e m n e d
t h e d e m o n s t r a t i o n s a s v e r y h a r m f u l for C r o a t i a , a n d c a l l e d for d i g n i f i e d b e h a v
i o u r . Hrvatski pokret w r o t e t h a t t h e c r i m e o f S a r a j e v o h a d a l r e a d y p r o d u c e d evil
fruit - t h e h a t r e d o f s o m e o f t h e C r o a t i a n p e o p l e for t h e S e r b s . I t a s s e r t e d t h a t t h e
a s s a s s i n a t i o n w a s a n a c t o f i n d i v i d u a l s a n d w a s n o t t o b e i d e n t i f i e d w i t h all S e r b s
i n t h e M o n a r c h y . 2 3 Narodno jedinstvo p l e a d e d for a p p e a s e m e n t o f t h e s i t u a t i o n i n
Croatia. It asserted that the Croats c a n n o t p e r m i t the identification of 'Serbism'
with high treason a n d m u r d e r , just as the Serbs c a n n o t p e r m i t t h e identification of
' C r o a t i s m ' with servitude. In this way the C r o a t s have to be with t h e Serbs, a n d t h e
Serbs with the Croats, and they have to protect each other from defamation and
profanation, from power and poison.24

19

Obzor 55 (Zagreb, 2.VII.1914) nr. 180.

20

Hrvat (Zagreb, 30.VI.1914) nr. 300.

21

Slobodna rije (Zagreb, 30.VI.1914) nr. 145.

"Slobodna rije (Zagreb, 6.VII.1914) nr. 150.

23

Hrvatski pokret (Zagreb, 1.VII.1914) nr. 178.

24

Narodno jedinstvo (Zagreb, 4.VII.1914) nr. 25

306

D. A G I C I C , Civil Croatia...

Povij. pril. 14, 301-317 (1995)

O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , s o m e n e w s p a p e r s , e s p e c i a l l y Hrvatska, a p p r o v e d t h e
d e m o n s t r a t i o n s with strong words against the Serbs. However, anti-Serbian d e m o n s t r a t i o n s did not only take place in Croatia b u t t r o u g h o u t the M o n a r c h y . L a r g e
demonstrations took place in Vienna, Budapest, and other Austro-Hungarian
c e n t r e s . I n t h e e v e n i n g o f 2 n d July, s e v e r a l t h o u s a n d s o f p e o p l e g a t h e r e d i n V i e n n a a n d d e m o n s t r a t e d a g a i n s t t h e S e r b s a n d t h e K i n g d o m o f S e r b i a . N e a r St.
P a u l ' s C h u r c h t h e y b u r n e d t h e S e r b i a n flag, a n d t h e y w a n t e d t o t a k e d o w n t h e flag
from t h e Serbian embassy. M a n y Serbs of V i e n n a , mostly citizens of the K i n g d o m
o f S e r b i a , lost t h e i r j o b s a n d m o v e d t o S e r b i a .
25

The Storm in the Sabor

T h e assassination in Sarajevo caused a major row in the Croatian Sabor. D u r ing the session of 30th J u n e , p r e s i d e d over by B o g d a n M e d a k o v i c , the Frankovci
o f f e n d e d a n d i n s u l t e d r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f t h e C o a l i t i o n . N a m e l y , t h e y h a d exp e c t e d t h a t F r a n c i s F e r d i n a n d w o u l d i n t r o d u c e Trialism t o t h e M o n a r c h y a n d his
d e a t h v e r y m u c h a f f e c t e d t h e m . W h e n M e d a k o v i c w a s still o p e n i n g t h e s e s s i o n ,
o n e could hear the exclamations: Stop! T h e Croatian-Serbian Coalition cannot
m a k e a d e c l a r a t i o n o f loyalty! D o w n w i t h t h e killers a n d a c c o m p l i c e s ! O u t w i t h
P r i b i c e v i c , o u t w i t h all V l a c h s ! . T h e F r a n k o v c i m a d e a d e a f e n i n g n o i s e w h i l e
M e d a k o v i c w a s r e a d i n g t h e m i n u t e s . T h e i r l e a d e r Ivo F r a n k s u m m o n e d all C r o a t s
t o l e a v e t h e C o a l i t i o n s h o u t i n g : O u t w i t h K a r a d j o r d j e v i c a n d his c u r s e d dynasty!.
2 6

27

28

M e d a k o v i c t r i e d t o r e a d his c o m m e m o r a t i v e s p e e c h b u t h e w a s t h w a r t e d b y
t h e s e e x c l a m a t i o n s a n d t h e s e s s i o n w a s i n t e r r u p t e d for a w h i l e . H o w e v e r t h e s a m e
situation was r e p e a t e d w h e n it continued. T h e Frankovci m a d e noise, clattered
a n d s h o u t e d . H e r e a r e o n l y a few e x a m p l e s o f w h a t t h e y t h o u g h t o f t h e C r o a t i a n - S e r b i a n C o a l i t i o n a n d its politics, a b o u t t h e S e r b s a n d t h e S e r b i a n q u e s t i o n :
O u t with the Serbs! D o w n with Karadjordjevic! Glory to Ferdinand! D o w n with
S e r b i a n p r o p a g a n d a ! Sir B a n , d i s m i s s t h e C r o a t i a n S a b o r - w e t a k e o v e r r e s p o n sibility b e f o r e t h e n a t i o n ! N o S e r b , n o C o a l i t i o n i s t shall s p e a k ! I f y o u s e a r c h t h e i r
p o c k e t s , y o u will find b o m b s ! W e m u s t s q u a r e a c c o u n t s w i t h t h e S e r b s i n C r o a t i a !
D o w n with Serbia!.
29

M e d a k o v i c again i n t e r r u p t e d t h e session. After that he s u c c e e d e d in saying a

short c o m m e m o r a t i o n . Of course, the Frankovci w e r e not passive, but they
shouted as before. Every now and then one of them shouted and offended either
25

Narodne novine 80 (Zagreb, 4.VII.1914) nr. 151.

26

Bogdan Medakovic, President of the Croatian Sabor and President of the Serbian People's I n d e p e n d e n t Party.
27

S v e t o z a r Pribicevic, the main political figure among the Serbs in Croatia. - Quoted from:
Krizman, Hrvatska, p. 72.
28

Krizman, Hrvatska, p. 72.

29

I b i d , p . 73.
307

D. A G I I , Civil Croatia..

Povij. pril. 14, 301-317 (1995)

t h e C o a l i t i o n i s t s o r all S e r b s . D u r i n g t h e w h o l e s e s s i o n t h e C o a l i t i o n i s t s k e p t t h e i r
t e m p e r a n d did n o t o p p o s e t h e outrages. Only u r o u r m i n tried t o h e l p Presi
d e n t M e d a k o v i a n d a s k e d for p e a c e i n t h e p a r l i a m e n t b u i l d i n g .
T h e n e x t s e s s i o n w a s h e l d o n 6 t h J u l y 1914. I t w a s l e d b y P e r o M a g d i , t h e first
vice-president a n d m a y o r of Varadin. At t h e beginning of t h e session Ivo F r a n k
accused M a g d i of being a m u r d e r e r a n d having organized a plot against Josip
Frank, the founder of the P u r e Party of Rights. A l t h o u g h t M a g d i led t h e session
v e r y v i g o r o u s l y a n d t h r e a t e n e d t h e F r a n k o v c i , h e h a d t o i n t e r r u p t it. A f t e r a p a u s e
C o u n t Miroslav K u l m e r suggested a way to punish the Frankovci. T h e repre
s e n t a t i v e s I . F r a n k , A . H o r v a t a n d I . Z a t l u k a w e r e e x c l u d e d f r o m t h e n e x t 6 0 ses
s i o n s , S . V u e t i a n d V . P r e b e g f r o m t h e n e x t 3 0 s e s s i o n s , a n d F . N o v a k , V . Ki, J .
Milkovi, S. Pavuni a n d T. Jalabeti (a m e m b e r of the C r o a t i a n People's P e a s a n t
Party) were punished with rigorous censure.
Just as during the J u n e 30th session the Frankovci a i m e d angry w o r d s at t h e
Coalitionists, b u t this time t h e Coalitionists did n o t refuse to answer. F r o m b o t h
s i d e s t h e r e w e r e h e a r d w o r d s s u c h as: H u n g a r i a n r a k e s , p i g s i n a p i g - s t y ,
k i k e ' s b a s t a r d (for I v o F r a n k ) , c o u n t e r f e i t e r s , d o g c a t c h e r s , o l d s o w . 3 u
W h e n t h e S a b o r a d o p t e d t h e suggested penalties by a majority, t h e r e p r e
s e n t a t i v e s o f t h e F r a n k P a r t y o f R i g h t s d e m o n s t r a t i v e l y left t h e s e s s i o n . S o m e m i n
u t e s l a t e r M a g d i t o o k t h e floor f r o m V i n k o L o v r e k o v i , a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e
C r o a t i a n P e o p l e ' s P e a s a n t P a r t y , a n d L o v r e k o v i a n d J a l a b e t i a l s o left t h e p a r
liament building.
A f t e r t h a t t h e S a b o r c o n t i n u e d its w o r k a n d d e b a t e d t h e b u d g e t . S v e t o z a r
Pribievi explained why it was i m p o r t a n t to accept t h e b u d g e t : It is in C r o a t i a n
interests to preserve t h e p r e s e n t political situation, that it m a y n o t b e c o m e
worse.31 Also, he dealt with the Frankovci's obstruction of the Sabor's session
c o n s i d e r i n g t h a t t h e i r b e h a v i o r w a s e v e n h u m i l i a t i n g for t h e d i g n i t y o f t h e S a b o r
a n d the nation, at precesely o n e of the most serious m o m e n t s in recent time.32
T h e S a b o r ' s s e s s i o n w a s c o n c l u d e d o n 1 3 t h J u l y 1914, a n d t h e n e x t o p e n e d e l e v e n
m o n t h s later, o n 14th J u n e 1915.

Behind Closed Doors

O n 1 1 t h J u l y 1914 t h e C r o a t i a n g o v e r n m e n t a s k e d for t h e r e p o r t s o n f e e l i n g s
a b o u t t h e newly arisen situation after t h e assassination a n d a b o u t t h e activities of
the N a r o d n a o d b r a n a (Society of N a t i o n a l Defence) in Croatia.33 T h e N a r o d n a
o d b r a n a w a s a legal s o c i e t y first f o r m e d i n B o s n i a a n d H e r z e g o v i n a d u r i n g t h e a n iu

Ibid., p. 82.

31

Ibid., p. 86.

32

Ibid., p. 87.

33

Hrvatski dravni arhiv u Zagrebu, Predsjednitvo zemaljske vlade (to be referred to here
after by the initials H D A , P r Z V ) , b. 800, nr. 3899.

308

D. A G I I , Civil Croatia.

Povij. pril. 14, 301-317 (1995)

n e x a t i o n - c r i s i s i n 1 9 0 8 - 1 9 0 9 . A l t h o u g h i t h a d official c o n n e c t i o n s w i t h t h e S e r
b i a n g o v e r n m e n t in Belgrade, t h e A u s t r o - H u n g a r i a n authority did not p r o h i b i t e d
its a c t i v i t i e s .
S o o n a f t e r t h e r e q u e s t for r e p o r t s , t h e s e b e g a n t o a r r i v e i n Z a g r e b f r o m t h e
v a r i o u s d i s t r i c t s . M a n y o f t h e m s h o w e d t h e a s s a s s i n a t i o n h a d a n p a i n f u l effect o n
the p o p u l a t i o n of Croatia, even w h e r e the majority of the inhabitants w e r e Serbs,
a n d t h a t t h e N a r o d n a o d b r a n a d i d n o t f u n c t i o n i n C r o a t i a . R a r e w e r e r e p o r t s like
t h i s o n e f r o m Osijek, w h e r e i t w a s a s s e r t e d : I c a n n o t r e l i a b l y c o n c l u d e t h a t t h e
d e p l o r a b l e e v e n t w a s p a i n f u l t o t h e S e r b s , a l t h o u g h t h e y t o o k p a r t i n all m o u r n f u l
manifestations in r e m e m b r a n c e of the deceased couple. T h e s e are strong bold
w o r d s , a n d d a m n i n g for o n e n a t i o n , b u t this n a t i o n e v e r y d a y offers i r r e f u t a b l e
p r o o f for this serious a c c u s a t i o n . 3 4
T h e r e p o r t s a b o u t t h e g e n e r a l s i t u a t i o n i n t h e d i s t r i c t s a n d t h e activities o f t h e
N a r o d n a o d b r a n a w e r e n o t in a c c o r d a n c e with m a n y individual police r e p o r t s
which showed how a certain section of the Serbian population in Croatia approved
t h e a s s a s s i n a t i o n . P e o p l e f r o m e v e r y social s t r a t u m a n d o f d i f f e r e n t a g e s , b o t h
m e n a n d w o m e n , from the whole of Croatia, expressed their approval of the mur
d e r of F r a n c i s F e r d i n a n d . Often they used very s t r o n g w o r d s expressing their im
p r e s s i o n o f it. H e r e a r e s o m e e x a m p l e s o f h o w S e r b s f r o m C r o a t i a a p p r o v e d o f t h e
assassination at Sarajevo.
N i k o l a U t v i f r o m J a m e n a , a village i n S r i j e m , a s s e r t e d t h a t t h e a s s a s s i n s :
h a d t o kill t h a t o l d b a l d E m p e r o r , m e a n i n g i t w a s n e c e s s a r y t o kill F r a n c i s
J o s e p h . 3 5 S p e a k i n g a b o u t t h e a s s a s s i n a t i o n M i l e v a P o p o v i f r o m P o d r a v s k a Slat
i n a s a i d : it's a p i t y t h e y d i d n ' t kill h i m ( F r a n c i s F e r d i n a n d ) e a r l i e r . 3 6 E v e n p r i s
o n e r s c o u l d n ' t k e e p c a l m a n d a p p r o v e d o f t h e a s s a s s i n a t i o n , for e x a m p l e M i c o
Pilipovi, a p r i s o n e r at Lepoglava. After he h a d h e a r d a b o u t t h e d e a t h of Francis
F e r d i n a n d , h e j u m p e d a n d s h o u t e d : L o n g live t h e m a n w h o killed h i m . M a y G o d
b l e s s his h a n d . L o n g live K i n g P e t a r a n d S e r b i a . 3 7 A t e a c h e r f r o m Veliki G r d e v a c
t o l d his p u p i l s t h a t h e w h o kills a m e m b e r o f a d y n a s t y b e c o m e s f a m o u s a n d his
n a m e goes d o w n in history.38 Milka ukovi from Slavonski B r o d a p p r o v e d of the
a s s a s s i n a t i o n a n d e v e n said: If I h a d m y way, I w o u l d c u t all C r o a t s a n d M a g y a r s
i n t o p i e c e s for s t e w e d m e a t . 3 9
S o m e p e o p l e w e r e n o t c o n t e n t w i t h w o r d s a l o n e b u t a l s o s h o w e d t h e i r satis
faction with Francis Ferdinand's m u r d e r by shooting guns. T h u s a certain
i n n - k e e p e r M i c a K r a n j e v i fired f r o m h e r h o u s e i n B r l o g n e a r O t o a c . T h e p o
lice f o u n d s e v e r a l g u n s a n d five S e r b i a n flags t h e r e . S h e d i d n ' t a d m i t s h e h a d fired
34

H D A , PrZV, b. 800. nr. 58 Res./1914.

35

H D A , PrZV, b. 800, nr. 4692.

36

H D A , PrZV, b. 800, nr. 74 Res./1914.

37

H D A , PrZV, b. 818, nr. 5035.

38

H D A , PrZV, b. 800, nr. 4660.

39

H D A , PrZV, b. 822, nr. 5381.

309

D. A G I I , Civil Croatia..

Povij. pril. 14, 301-317 (1995)

a s h o t , b u t s o m e w i t n e s s e s a s s e r t e d s h e d i d , a n d a c o u r t o f law c o n d e m n e d h e r t o
3 0 d a y s o f p r i s o n a n d 100 c r o w n s fine. 4 "
T h e assassination accelerated the disintegration of s o m e mixed marriages. A
c e r t a i n B a r a Kljaic, a C r o a t f e m a l e f r o m S r i j e m s k a M i t r o v i c a c a m e t o t h e t o w n ' s
police-station a n d d e n o u n c e d h e r husband Stojan (a Serb) w h o a p p r o v e d of t h e
assassination, carrying a picture of the Serbian King P e t a r Karadjordjevic, a n d
s a y i n g : D o y o u k n o w t o w h o m i t ( C r o a t i a ) will b e l o n g i n a few y e a r s , t o K i n g P e t a r
o r t o o u r K i n g ? A f t e r t h i s d e n u n c i a t i o n S t o j a n Kljaic w a s a r r e s t e d . 4 1

Peace of Mind
After several days of excitement a n d d e m o n s t r a t i o n s t h e political situation in
C r o a t i a a p p e a s e d a n d life r e t u r n e d t o n o r m a l . O f c o u r s e , a s i s visible f r o m t h e p r e
v i o u s s e c t i o n , t h e effects o f t h e a s s a s s i n a t i o n w e r e felt i n e v e r y d a y life d u r i n g t h e
e n t i r e p e r i o d u p t o t h e b e g i n n i n g o f w a r . H o w e v e r , l a t e r t h e y w e r e n o t felt s o
s t r o n g l y a s i n t h e first d a y s o f J u l y . T h e n e w s p a p e r s r e g u l a r l y r e p o r t e d o n t h e in
vestigations in Sarajevo and showed the complicity of the K i n g d o m of Serbia in t h e
a s s a s s i n a t i o n . Slowly t h e a t m o s p h e r e for a w a r o p t i o n w a s c r e a t e d . N e v e r t h e l e s s ,
o n e c a n n o t say t h a t t h e p r e s s i n g e n e r a l l o u d l y p r o p a g a t e d w a r .
Very s o o n after t h e assassination o n e b r o c h u r e a b o u t Francis F e r d i n a n d was
p u b l i s h e d , a s well a s p o s t c a r d s s h o w i n g s c e n e s f r o m his life. 4 2 A t t h e s a m e t i m e t h e
process of r e n a m i n g streets after Francis F e r d i n a n d b e g a n in certain s e t t l e m e n t s
such as Virovitica, Osijek a n d o t h e r s . 4 3

The Austro-Hungarian Ultimatum and the Beginning of War

D u r i n g t h e n e x t five w e e k s after t h e a s s a s s i n a t i o n i n v e s t i g a t i o n s t o o k p l a c e i n
S a r a j e v o . T h e y s h o w e d t h a t S e r b i a w a s i n v o l v e d i n t h i s act, n o t o n l y i n d i r e c t l y b u t
also directly: the b o m b s a n d guns h a d c o m e from the Serbian military arsenal a n d
t h e assassins w e r e t r a i n e d in Serbia.
O n e can observe two m a i n reactions to the assassination a n d further Aus
t r o - H u n g a r i a n policy t o w a r d Serbia. W h i l e Francis J o s e p h a n d t h e H u n g a r i a n
P r i m e M i n i s t e r T i s z a w e r e o p p o s e d t o w a r w i t h S e r b i a , t h e C h i e f o f Staff C o n r a d
v o n H o t z e n d o r f w a s a l e a d i n g figure o f t h e w a r f a c t i o n . I n t h e a s s a s s i n a t i o n
H o t z e n d o r f s a w sufficient r e a s o n f o r a p r o c l a m a t i o n o f a p r e v e n t i v e w a r a g a i n s t
Serbia. After V i e n n a o b t a i n e d the G e r m a n promise of support in case of a war, t h e

4U

H D A , PrZV, b. 813, nrs. 4252 and 4869.

41

H D A , PrZV, b. 800, nr. 3929.

42

V. Rudolf-Rucovi, Nadvojvoda Franjo Ferdinand 18.XII. 1863.-28. VI. 1914 (Sisak, 1914).
See also: Narodne novine 80 (Zagreb, 4. VII. 1914) nr. 151.

43

Obzor 55 (Zagreb, 3.VII.1914) nr. 181. H D A , PrZV, b. 801, nr. 4863.

310

D. A G I C I C , Civil Croatia..

Povij. pril. 14, 301-317(1995)

w a r faction w o n a n d T i s z a c h a n g e d his opinion. I t w a s only n e c e s s a r y t o find t h e

right form in which to proclaim war.
A n u n a c c e p t i b l e u l t i m a t u m s e e m e d t h e b e s t way, a n d i t w a s g i v e n t o t h e S e r b i a n g o v e r n m e n t o n 2 3 r d July. I t c o n s i s t e d o f t e n p o i n t s . A m o n g s t o t h e r s , V i e n n a
d e m a n d e d t h a t S e r b i a s u p p r e s s e v e r y p u b l i c a t i o n a n d activity a g a i n s t A u s t r o - H u n g a r y , t o dissolve t h e s o c i e t y N a r o d n a o d b r a n a , t o r e m o v e f r o m m i l i t a r y
s e r v i c e a n d f r o m t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n all officers a n d officials w h o w e r e guilty o f
having t a k e n p a r t in p r o p a g a n d a against A u s t r o - H u n g a r y and to accept Aust r o - H u n g a r i a n assistance in Serbia in the suppression of the subversive m o v e m e n t
d i r e c t e d against t h e territorial integrity of the M o n a r c h y . A l t h o u g h Foreign Mini s t e r B e r c h t o l d f e a r e d t h a t S e r b i a w o u l d a c c e p t all t h e s e c l a i m s , i t w a s c o m p l e t e l y
i m p o s s i b l e for i t t o a c c e p t t h e o n e w h i c h d e m a n d e d a c o m m o n j u d i c i a l e n q u i r y
a g a i n s t all t h o s e w h o h a d t a k e n p a r t i n t h e p l o t , i f t h e y w e r e t o b e f o u n d o n S e r b i a n
t e r r i t o r y . I n this c a s e t h e V i e n n e s e a u t h o r i t i e s w a n t e d t o s e n d d e l e g a t e s w h o
w o u l d take an active p a r t in the investigation. T h e Serbian g o v e r n m e n t could not
agree to such an a n n u l m e n t of Serbian i n d e p e n d e n c e and to permit a foreign judicial i n v e s t i g a t i o n o n its t e r r i t o r y . T h e r e f o r e t h e S e r b i a n r e p l y o n 2 5 t h J u l y w a s
n e g a t i v e . S e r b i a a c c e p t e d all p o i n t s o f t h e u l t i m a t u m a p a r t f r o m this o n e . T h e
A u s t r o - H u n g a r i a n a m b a s s a d o r in Belgrade Wladimir Giesl obtained the Serbian
r e s p o n s e a n d , f i n d i n g i t u n s a t i s f a c t o r y , b r o k e d i p l o m a t i c r e l a t i o n s a n d left t h e S e r bian capital. It was t h e beginning of the First World War.

The Croatian Press on the Ultimatum

A c c o r d i n g to Neue Freie Presse, on 2 2 n d J u l y 1914 Narodne novine d e s c r i b e d
what the d e m a r c h e to Serbia prepared by the A u s t r o - H u n g a r i a n government
m i g h t c o n t a i n . T h e j o u r n a l i s t justified t h e n e c e s s i t y o f s u c h a n act: (...) b u t i t i s
also so n a t u r a l that o u r M o n a r c h y must d e m a n d that Serbia u n d e r t a k e everything
necessary to stop the p e r m a n e n t unrest in our s o u t h e r n regions which is a result of
t h e r u t h l e s s p r o p a g a n d a c o n t i n u o u s l y l e d f r o m B e l g r a d e . Simply, h e c o n c l u d e d ,
t h i s p r o p a g a n d a m u s t b e r e m o v e d , a n d A u s t r o - H u n g a r y w a s p l e a d i n g for p e a c e .
I n t h e text O n t h e e v e o f t h e d e m a r c h e i n B e l g r a d e , p u b l i s h e d o n 2 3 r d J u l y 1914,
Narodne novine p u b l i s h e d f o r e i g n p r e s s - r e p o r t s on t h e f u t u r e d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e
crisis. T h e r e w a s d i s c u s s i o n a s t o w h e t h e r w a r w a s i n e v i t a b l e o r w a s i t p o s s i b l e t o
a v o i d it, a n d w h i c h o f t h e g r e a t p o w e r s w o u l d r a n g e t h e m s e l v e s w i t h t h e conflicting states, A u s t r o - H u n g a r y a n d Serbia.
4 4

45

O v e r t h e following d a y s i t b e c a m e c l e a r t h a t w a r c o u l d n o t b e a v o i d e d . A f t e r
t h e u l t i m a t u m o f 2 3 r d J u l y all t h e p r e s s i n C r o a t i a e x p r e s s e d full s u p p o r t for t h e
decision of the Viennese government. Certain newspapers w e r e forbidden: the socialist n e w s p a p e r s Slobodna rijec, Oslobodjenje, Pravo naroda a n d Volksrecht, t h e

44

Narodne novine 80 (Zagreb, 22.VII.1914) nr. 166.

45

Ibid. (Zagreb, 23.VII.1914) nr. 167.

311

D. A G I I , Civil Croatia..

Povij. pril. 14, 301-317 (1995)

S e r b i a n n e w s p a p e r s Srbsko kolo, Privrednik a n d Sloboda,

s u c h as Narodno jedinstvo,
Vihor, Svjedost a n d Hrvatski

and other newspapers

branik.46

Narodne novine w r o t e t h a t t h e u l t i m a t u m c a u s e d a v e r y s t r o n g i m p r e s s i o n in
C r o a t i a , as well as a m o n g o t h e r p e o p l e s of t h e M o n a r c h y . It a s s e r t e d t h a t u n breakable connections* joined these peoples together and the Monarchy was not
a r o t t e n a r t i f a c t a s t h e S e r b i a n p r e s s s t a t e d . 4 7 D u r i n g t h e f o l l o w i n g d a y s t h i s of
ficial n e w s p a p e r c h a n g e d its e x t e r i o r a p p e a r a n c e , t h a t i s i t w a s t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o a
k i n d o f b u l l e t i n i n w h i c h p r o c l a m a t i o n s a n d o r d e r s w e r e p u b l i s h e d . Narodne
novine w e r e e v e n p u b l i s h e d s e v e r a l t i m e s p e r day. I n s o m e p l a c e s i t c o n t i n u e d t o
p u b l i s h n o r m a l j o u r n a l i s t i c texts, b u t t h e m a j o r i t y o f i t c o n s i s t e d o f official t e x t s .
T h u s t h e s p e c i a l e d i t i o n o f 2 6 t h J u l y 1914 b r o u g h t o n l y t w o i t e m s o f n e w s
p r i n t e d in very large letters. O n e was a b o u t the partial mobilization of t h e a r m y
a n d t h e s e c o n d a b o u t t h e w a r collection.48 A l r e a d y o n t h e next day, o n 27th July,
Narodne novine p u b l i s h e d a s p e c i a l e d i t i o n w i t h E x c e p t i o n a l m e a s u r e s in a c a s e
of war a n d m a n y of the Ban's orders. T h e n it was completely clear that war would
be declared. A m o n g others, the Ban prohibited the emigration of conscripts as
well as t h e distribution of p a s s p o r t s to t h e m , limited t h e right to travel across s t a t e
b o r d e r s , i n t r o d u c e d p o l i c e s u p e r v i s i o n o f t h e p r e s s , a n d a b o l i s h e d t h e law o f 1875
on rights of congregating.49 On t h e s a m e day an article was published: B e t w e e n
w a r a n d p e a c e . T h e journalist justified t h e A u s t r o - H u n g a r i a n step t o w a r d s war,
a s s e r t i n g t h a t t h e M o n a r c h y h a d for a l o n g t i m e p a t i e n t l y e n d u r e d S e r b i a n p r o p a
g a n d a . Twice t h e M o n a r c h y h a d b e e n c l o s e t o w a r , b u t a v o i d e d it. I n s p i t e o f this,
S e r b i a c o n t i n u e d its p r o p a g a n d a w h i c h c u l m i n a t e d i n t h e a s s a s s i n a t i o n i n S a r a
jevo. N o w t h e r e was going to be a war and the peoples of the M o n a r c h y were ent h u s t i a s t i c a b o u t t h e d e c i s i o n o f t h e i r r u l e r a n d t h e g o v e r n m e n t . Narodne novine
w r o t e : The w a r which a p p r o a c h e s is n o t aggressive in n a t u r e , b u t r a t h e r it is d e
fensive in c h a r a c t e r against t h e disruptive t e n d e n c i e s w h i c h have a p p e a r e d in Ser
bia against the M o n a r c h y ; it has the c h a r a c t e r of a punitive expedition against
p l o t t e r s w h o t h r e a t e n o u r p e a c e a n d m a y b e also o f r e t a l i a t i o n a g a i n s t t h e p e r p e
t r a t o r s o f a d i s p i c a b l e m u r d e r w h i c h d e s t r o y e d t h e life o f t w o n o b l e a n d a m b i t i o u s
p e o p l e . so
O n t h e day after this article A u s t r o - H u n g a r y d e c l a r e d w a r against Serbia a n d
b e g a n m i l i t a r y activities. Narodne novine c a r r i e d t h e m a n i f e s t o o f F r a n c i s J o s e p h
(To m y p e o p l e s ) a n d t h e F r e n c h o r i g i n a l a s well a s t h e C r o a t i a n t r a n s l a t i o n o f
the war-proclamation. It again repeated that the M o n a r c h y was doing everything
p o s s i b l e t o a v o i d w a r . N o w this w a s n o l o n g e r p o s s i b l e a n d w a r w o u l d s h o w t h e
p o w e r a n d r i g h t e o u s n e s s of A u s t r o - H u n g a r y , Narodne novine a s s e r t e d . 5 1

Ibid. (Zagreb, 27.VII.1914) nr. 170. Hrvat (Zagreb, 27.VII.1914) nr. 323.
Narodne novine 80 (Zagreb, 25.VII.1914) nr. 169.
Ibid. (Zagreb, 26.VII.1914) Special edition.
Ibid. (Zagreb, 27.VII. 1914) nr. 170 Special edition.
Ibid. (Zagreb, 27.VII.1914) nr. 171.
Ibid. (Zagreb, 28.VII.1914) nr. 175.
312

D. A G I C I C , Civil Croatia..

Povij. pril. 14, 301-317 (1995)

A journalist of Obzor described how the situation in Zagreb was when the
p e o p l e w e r e w a i t i n g for t h e S e r b i a n reply. H e w r o t e a b o u t t h e r u m o u r s t h a t S e r b i a
fully a d o p t e d all c o n d i t i o n s o f t h e u l t i m a t u m , t h a t i s t h a t t h e S e r b i a n a n s w e r w a s
negative: The impression was very vigoruous. M a n y p e o p l e g a t h e r e d on the
s t r e e t s a n d d i s c u s s e d v i g o r o u s l y t h e p o s s i b l e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f t h e S e r b i a n reply.
A f t e r n i n e o ' c l o c k p r o - w a r d e m o n s t r a t i o n s b e g a n . H e also w r o t e h o w t h e p e o p l e
s n a t c h e d up the special edition of the n e w s p a p e r with the latest news from Belgrade and Zemun.
5 2

D e s c r i b i n g t h e s i t u a t i o n after t h e U l t i m a t u m , Srbobran a s s e r t e d t h a t this w a s

t h e g r e a t e s t E u r o p e a n crisis e v e r , a n d t h a t w a r w a s a m o r e p r o b a b l e possibility
t h a n a p e a c e f u l s o l u t i o n . I t t o o k i n t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n e v e r y difficulty w h i c h c o u l d
t r a p t h e S e r b i a n p e o p l e , a n d u r g e d t h e S e r b s t o k e e p t h e i r t e m p e r : To p e r f o r m
h o n o u r a b l y a n d c o n s c i e n t i o u s l y all o u r civic d u t i e s a n d firmly a c c e p t d a n g e r s - this
h a s b e e n a q u a l i t y o f o u r p e o p l e t h r o u g h o u t history, a n d i t also will b e n o w . A l t h o u g h Srbobran w a s t h e m a i n S e r b i a n n e w s p a p e r i n C r o a t i a a n d i t w a s loyal t o t h e
g o v e r n m e n t , s o o n after t h e b e g i n n i n g o f w a r i t r e d u c e d its n u m b e r o f p a g e s a n d
s o m e weeks later ceased to be published.
5 3

The Beginning of War and the Organization of wartime Croatia

Francis Joseph o r d e r e d a partial mobilization of the A u s t r o - H u n g a r i a n army
o n 2 5 t h J u l y 1914. Two fifths o f t h e M o n a r c h y ' s f o r c e s w e r e c a l l e d t o d u t y . A t t h e
s a m e d a y R u s s i a m o b i l i z e d its t r o o p s . C o n f u s i n g i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t R u s s i a n milit a r y activity p u s h e d V i e n n a i n t o a d e c l a r a t i o n o f w a r . O n 2 8 t h J u l y w a r w a s d e clared. T h e Foreign Minister Berchtold sent a short telegram to Belgrade: Aust r o - H u n g a r y considers herself from now on to be in a state of war with Serbia. A l r e a d y d u r i n g t h e n i g h t b e t w e e n 2 8 t h a n d 2 9 t h J u l y t h e A u s t r o - H u n g a r i a n fleet
a n d artillery from Z e m u n shelled Belgrade. Events b e g a n to succeed each o t h e r
v e r y q u i c k l y a n d after s o m e d a y s t h e w h o l e o f E u r o p e w a s i n a s t a t e o f w a r .
A l r e a d y o n 2 7 t h J u l y c o n s c r i p t o r s b e g a n t o arive a t t h e Z a g r e b b a r r a c k s . T h e
p e o p l e m e t t h e m w i t h v i g o r o u s e n t h u s i a s m , s a l u t i n g a n d c h e e r i n g : L o n g live t h e
C r o a t s ! , L o n g live t h e C r o a t i a n a r m y ! . T h e c o n s c r i p t o r s g r e e t e d i n r e t u r n :
L o n g live t h e C r o a t i a n K i n g ! , L o n g live C r o a t i a ! . A t t h e s a m e t i m e t h e B a n
l i m i t e d t h e activities o f all p u b l i c s o c i e t i e s i n C r o a t i a . M a n y o f t h e m i m m e d i a t e l y
r e a c t e d t o this o r d e r a n d a s k e d for p e r m i s s i o n t o c o n t i n u e t h e i r activities. A m o n g
t h o s e w h o o b t a i n e d p e r m i s s i o n w e r e t h e C r o a t i a n S o c i e t y for t h e P r o t e c t i o n o f
P u b l i c H e a l t h , all f i r e - b r i g a d e s , t h e L e a g u e for t h e P r o t e c t i o n o f C h i l d r e n i n Z a greb, a n d s o m e o t h e r providential and h u m a n i t a r i a n societies. T h e y obtained perm i s s i o n for t h e i r activities, b u t w e r e l i m i t e d i n t h a t t h e y w e r e n o t a b l e t o h o l d a n 54

55

52

Obzor 55 (Zagreb, 26.VII.1914) nr. 204.

"Srbobran (Zagreb, 12(25).VII.1914) nr. 154.

54

Obzor 55 (Zagreb, 28.VII.1914) nr. 206.

55

H D A , PrZV, b. 816, nr. 4232.

313

D. A G I I , Civil Croatia..

Povij. pril. 14, 301-317 (1995)

n u a l m e e t i n g s without a special p e r m i t . 5 6 On the o t h e r h a n d , sporting clubs such

a s t h e C r o a t i a n F a l c o n , t h e S e r b i a n F a l c o n a n d similar, d i d n o t o b t a i n p e r m i s
sion.57
Very s o o n a f t e r t h e o u t b r e a k o f w a r t h e g o v e r n m e n t o r g a n i z e d h u m a n i t a r i a n
a i d . O n 1st A u g u s t 1914 C o u n t M i r o s l a v K u l m e r w a s a p p o i n t e d m a i n o r g a n i z e r o f
h u m a n i t a r i a n a i d . S o m e days l a t e r , o n 5 t h A u g u s t , C o u n t M a r k o P e j a c e v i c b e
c a m e h i s d e p u t y . 5 8 A l s o , a C o m m i t t e e for t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f v o l u n t a r y m i l i t a r y
hospital service was f o u n d e d . This C o m m i t t e e sought nurses, t h a t is w o m e n be
t w e e n 2 0 a n d 4 5 y e a r s o f a g e w h o h a d a t l e a s t f i n i s h e d e l e m e n t a r y s c h o o l , a n d as
s i s t a n t s w h o k n e w h o w t o r e a d a n d w r i t e . 5 9 H e a l t h a n d auxiliary s e r v i c e s w e r e o r
g a n i z e d i n m a n y w a y s . T h e S i s t e r s o f M e r c y n u n s f o u n d e d a h o m e i n Z a g r e b for
children whose parents were mobilized.60 At the same time, w o m e n from the up
p e r a n d m i d d l e c l a s s e s w e r e r e s p o n d i n g t h e m s e l v e s t o t h e call t o h o s p i t a l s e r v i c e .
I n Z a g r e b a l o n e 4 8 o f t h e m w e r e r e g i s t e r e d for this d u t y . 6 1 T h e office o f t h e R e d
C r o s s i n V u k o v a r o r g a n i z e d facilities for w o u n d e d s o l d i e r s . 6 2 S i m i l a r facilities
w e r e o r g a n i z e d b y o t h e r s o c i e t i e s , for i n s t a n c e b y t h e M e r c h a n t - A r t i s a n C h a m b e r
of Z a g r e b . 6 3
D u r i n g t h e w h o l e p e r i o d after the assassination r u m o u r s w e r e c o m m o n . T h e y
b e c a m e m o r e f r e q u e n t a f t e r t h e u l t i m a t u m a n d i n t h e first d a y s o f w a r . F o r in
stance a r u m o u r that Zagreb's water-supply was poisoned spread throughout the
t o w n o n 2 7 t h J u l y 1914. I m m e d i a t e l y t h e following d a y i t w a s d e n i e d a n d t h e n e w s
p a p e r s carried a report by the municipal health-office that the water-supply could
n o t b e p o i s o n e d . 6 4 A l s o , o n 2 8 t h J u l y 1914 o n e r u m o u r s p r e a d t h r o u g h J a s e n o v a c ,
a v i l l a g e o n t h e m o u t h o f r i v e r U n a , w h e r e i t flowes i n t o t h e r i v e r Sava, t h a t t w o u n
k n o w n persons wanted to demolish the bridges in Jasenovac and Dubica.65 Be
c a u s e o f s u c h r u m o u r s t h e B a n strictly f o r b a d e t h e s p r e a d i n g o f r u m o u r s a n d o r
d e r e d t h a t p e o p l e w h o s p r e a d t h e m s h o u l d b e p u n i s h e d e i t h e r b y p r i s o n o r fines.
T h i s a c t u a l l y h a p p e n e d a n d s o m e p e o p l e p a i d fines. T h e m o n e y w a s p a i d t o a f u n d
for w a r - o r p h a n s . 6 6

56

H D A , PrZV, b. 816, nr. 4544 and following.

57

H D A , PrZV, b. 816, nr. 5284.

58

H D A , PrZV, b. 821, nrs. 4641 and 4814.

59

H D A , PrZV, b. 821, nr. 5367.

611

Obzor 55 (Zagreb, 28.VII.1914) nr. 206.

61

Obzor 55 (Zagreb, 29.VII.1914) nr. 207.

62

H D A , PrZV, b. 821, nr. 4815.

63

H D A , P r Z V . b . 821.

"Obzor 55 (Zagreb, 28.VII.1914) nr. 206.

65
66

H D A , PrZV, b. 818, nr. 4508.

H D A , PrZV, b. 822, nr. 5470.

314

D. A G I I , Civil Croatia..

Povij. pril. 14, 301-317(1995)

Whilst t h e C r o a t s accepted t h e declaration of war with vigorous enthusiasm,

in s o m e of the Serbian population in Croatia there was an a t m o s p h e r e of rebellion
after w a r against t h e K i n g d o m of Serbia h a d b e e n declared.67 E v e n t h e Magyars
from Daruvar sent a m e m o r a n d u m to the Croatian government about the danger
t h r e a t e n i n g t h e M a g y a r p o p u l a t i o n a r o u n d this s e t t l e m e n t f r o m t h e S e r b s . T h e y
w r o t e t h a t t h e r e a r e m a y signs t h a t t h e y ( S e r b s f r o m i n a n d a r o u n d D a r u v a r ) a r e
v e r y well o r g a n i z e d e n e m i e s o f H u n g a r y , w h o a r e w a i t i n g for a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o b e
g i n t h e i r r e v o l u t i o n a r y activity. 6 8 T h i s a t m o s p h e r e w a s t h e r e a s o n for t h e a r r e s t s
o f m a n y S e r b s t h r o u g h o u t C r o a t i a , a s well a s i n S o u t h e r n H u n g a r y . S e r b i a n d e
s e r t e r s w h o h a d e s c a p e d f r o m t h e S e r b i a n a r m y d u r i n g t h e B a l k a n W a r s w e r e ar
r e s t e d a l o n g w i t h n u m e r o u s l o c a l S e r b s . T h e y w e r e s e n t t o c a m p s f o u n d e d far f r o m
t h e b o r d e r s w i t h S e r b i a . S o o n a f t e r t h i s m a n y p e o p l e - wives, p a r e n t s , c h i l d r e n s ,
r e l a t i v e s , a n d e v e n n e i g h b o u r s , a s k e d e i t h e r for t h e s e p r i s o n e r s t o b e r e l e a s e d o r
moved to nearer settlements.69
As soon as the war broke out problems with the foodsupply b e c a m e a p p a r e n t .
D u r i n g J u l y f o o d - p r i c e s w e r e s t a b l e , 7 " b u t i n t h e first d a y s o f t h e w a r t h e y r o s e
quickly. T h e g r o w t h of food-prices was g r e a t e r in the region n e a r t h e front, such
a s Osijek. 7 1 T h e m u n i c i p a l a u t h o r i t i e s o f t h i s S l a v o n i a n c a p i t a l t h e r e f o r e f r o z e
food-prices.72

Conclusion
T h e conflict b e t w e e n A u s t r o - H u n g a r y a n d S e r b i a a f t e r t h e a s s a s s i n a t i o n o f
A r c h d u k e F r a n c i s F e r d i n a n d i n S a r a j e v o i n t h e e a r l y s u m m e r o f 1914 s o o n l e d t o
t h e F i r s t W o r l d W a r . A l t h o u g h its c a u s e s w e r e m a n y a n d p r o f o u n d , i t w a s a c t u a l l y
t r i g g e r e d off b y t h e S e r b i a n i n v o l v e m e n t i n t h e a s s a s s i n a t i o n . T h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n
carried out into the perpetrators of the crime and their collaborators proved that
t h e c o n s p i r a c y a n d t h e m u r d e r itself w e r e p l o t t e d i n B e l g r a d e p o l i t i c a l circles.
I m m e d i a t e l y after t h e news of the assassination c a m e to Z a g r e b a n d o t h e r
C r o a t i a n s e t t l e m e n t s d e m o n s t r a t i o n s against t h e Serbs t o o k place. T h e excite
m e n t c o n t i n u e d for s e v e r a l d a y s a n d w a s s u p p o r t e d b y s o m e p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s , p r i
marily by the Frankovci a n d their press. On the other hand, the S o c i a l - D e m o
c r a t i c P a r t y a n d t h e p a r t i e s w h i c h c a m p a i g n e d for w h a t t h e y c a l l e d a U n i o n o f t h e
Serbian, C r o a t i a n a n d Slovene nation o p p o s e d the d e m o n s t r a t i o n s a n d even or
ganized their m e m b e r s against the demonstrators.

H D A , PrZV, b. 817, nrs. 4348, 4727 and following.

68

H D A , PrZV, b. 817, nr. 4999.

69

H D A , PrZV, b. 812, 814 and 815.

70

Narodne novine 80 (Zagreb, 4.VII.1914) nr. 151. Ibid. (Zagreb, 17.VII.1914) nr. 162.
Srieniske novine (Vukovar, July 1914).
71

Table of food-prices in Osijek, July-August 1914. H D A , PrZV, b. 820 nr. 5239.

72

H D A , PrZV, b. 820, nr. 5239.

315

D. A G I I , Civil Croatia..

Povij. pril. 14, 301-317 (1995)

T h e demonstrations which covered the whole of Croatia were not directed

o n l y a g a i n s t t h e S e r b i a n p o p u l a t i o n o r f o l l o w e r s o f t h e i d e a o f a S o u t h Slav unifi
cation, b u t also against m e m b e r s of t h e ruling C r o a t i a n - S e r b i a n Coalition. T h e r e
fore it is n o t clear why t h e police w e r e passive a n d didn't p r o t e c t t h e m e n o u g h .
T h e Frankovci's representatives o b s t r u c t e d t h e session o f t h e C r o a t i a n S a b o r
h e l d in t h e days after t h e assassination. T h e y m a d e noises, clattered a n d s h o u t e d
a n d i n this w a y m a d e t h e s e s s i o n i m p o s s i b l e . B e c a u s e o f t h i s t h e y w e r e p u n i s h e d
a n d excluded from the Sabor's next sessions.
After s o m e days of excitement a n d d e m o n s t r a t i o n s t h e political situation in
C r o a t i a c a l m e d d o w n . Life slowly r e t u r n e d b a c k t o n o r m a l . H o w e v e r , t h e A u s t r o - H u n g a r i a n u l t i m a t u m t o t h e S e r b i a n g o v e r n m e n t o n 2 3 r d J u l y 1914 p r o v o k e d
n e w e x c i t e m e n t . A l m o s t all t h e p r e s s i n C r o a t i a justified this s t e p t a k e n b y t h e Vi
e n n e s e g o v e r n m e n t . It b e c a m e clear that there was going to be a war a n d that a
p e a c e f u l s o l u t i o n t o t h e crisis w a s n o t p o s s i b l e . W h e n S e r b i a g a v e a n e g a t i v e r e p l y
to the ultimatum, Austro-Hungary broke diplomatic relations and her ambassa
d o r left B e l g r a d e . Two d a y s l a t e r w a r w a s d e c l a r e d .
At the same time the Croatian government took the necessary steps to organ
ize a s t a t e o f w a r . T h e B a n i s s u e d m a n y o r d e r s l i m i t i n g d e m o c r a c y , h u m a n i t a r i a n
a n d auxiliary services w e r e f o u n d e d , f o o d - p r i c e s w e r e f r o z e n . W h i l e t h e C r o a t s
a c c e p t e d t h e n e w s o f t h e w a r w i t h visible e n t h u s i a s m , a m o n g a g r e a t e r p a r t o f t h e
S e r b i a n p o p u l a t i o n i n C r o a t i a t h e r e w a s a n a n t i - A u s t r i a n f e e l i n g . F o r this r e a s o n
t h e authorities didn't trust t h e m a n d arrested m a n y t h e m a n d sent t h e m to prisoncamps.

SAETAK
G R A A N S K A HRVATSKA U O I P R V O G A S V J E T S K O G RATA
( O D J E K ATENTATA I U L T I M A T U M A )
Autor prikazuje stanje u Graanskoj Hrvatskoj n e p o s r e d n o nakon a t e n t a t a na austro-ugarskog prijestolonasljednika Franju Ferdinanda u Sarajevu 28. lipnja 1914. godine,
pisanje hrvatskog tiska u svezi s ultimatumom Austro-Ugarske Srbiji te poetka Prvoga
svjetskog rata i prelazak s mirnodopskih na r a t n e uvjete ivota. U svojem je tekstu analizi
rao najvanije hrvatske novine onoga doba (Narodne novine, Obzor, Jutarnji list, Ilustrovani
list, Hn'atska, Hrvat, Hrvatski pokret, Srbobran, Slobodna rije i dr.) i njihovo izvjetavanje
o atentatu: to su naglaavale u naslovima vijesti i izvjea o tom dogaaju, kakve su nekrologe (in m e m o r i a m ) donosile na svojim stranicama te kako su izvjetavale o alobnim
manifestacijama i antisrpskim demonstracijama u Hrvatskoj? P o t o m je prikazao dogaaje
u Hrvatskom saboru i pokuaje nekih oporbenjaka da onemogue komemorativnu sje
dnicu. Demonstracije i opstrukcije u Saboru vodili su frankovci, a njihove su novine prednja-ile u osuivanju atentata. Autor govori i o izvjeima koja nisu bila dostupna oima
javnosti - o tajnim izvjeima o djelatnosti udruge N a r o d n a odbrana koja su dolazila u Z e
maljsku vladu u Zagrebu, a pokazivala su reakcije puanstva, uglavnom srpske narodnosti,
po cijeloj Hrvatskoj. Mnogi su Srbi povlaivali atentatorima i podravali njihvo in
316

D. A G I I , Civil Croatia..

Povij. pril. 14, 301-317 (1995)

izjavljujui ak da su trebali to uiniti i ranije, da treba ubiti i starog elavog cara ili pak
da je na moje, ja bih sve Hrvate i M a d a r e sasjekla na paprika. N a k o n mjesec d a n a Aus t r o - U g a r s k a je uputila ultimatum Kraljevini Srbiji. Autor je analizirao reakcije nekih
hrvatskih novina na ultimatum, a p o t o m je prikazao kako je u Hrvatskoj doivljen poetak
Prvoga svjetskog rata. Vrlo se brzo prelazilo s uobiajenog naina ivljenja na r a t n e uvjete.
Zabranjena je djelatnost mnogim udrugama, mnoge su novine prestale izlaziti, organizi
r a n a je h u m a n i t a r n a p o m o . U poetku su se esto pojavljivale glasine, primjerice, da je
otrovana voda u zagrebakom vodovodu, ili pak d a j e sruen most izmeu Jasenovca i Dubice i si. D o k su Hrvati prihvatili vijest o izbijanju rata s oduevljenjem, meu srpskim je
puanstvom u Hrvatskoj zavladalo ustaniko raspoloenje.

317