WWI

MYSTERY ACTIVITY
PACKET

Using the primary documents and guiding questions

provided, work with your group to figure out the mystery of
what plunged Europe into the most destructive war it had ever seen.

The ethnic distribution of Austria-Hungary

German

24%

Hungarian

20%

Czech

13%

Polish

10%

Ruthenian

8%

Romanian

6%

Croat

5%

Slovak

4%

Serb

4%

Slovene

3%

Italian

3%

Crown Prince Wilhelm on the Prospect of War

Today, indeed, we live in a time which points with special satisfaction to the proud
height of its culture, which is only too willing to boast of its international
cosmopolitanism, and flatters itself with visionary dreams of the possibility of an
everlasting peace throughout the world.
This view of life is un-German and does not suit us. The German who loves his
people, who believes in the greatness and the future of our homeland, and who is
unwilling to see its position diminished, dare not close his eyes in the indulgence of
dreams such as these, he dare not allow himself to be lulled into indolent sleep by
the lullabies of peace sung by the Utopians
Certainly diplomatic dexterity can, and should, postpone the conflict for a time, and
at times disentangle the difficulties. Certainly all those in authority must and will be
fully conscious of their enormous responsibility in the grave hour of decision. They
must make it clear to their own minds that the gigantic conflagration, once
enkindled, cannot be so easily or so quickly extinguished.
As, however, lightning is an adjustment of the tension between two differently
charged strata of the atmosphere, so the sword will always be and remain until the
end of the world the decisive factor.
Therefore every one, to whom his country is dear, and who believes in a great future
for our nation, must joyfully do his part in the task of seeing that the old military
spirit of our fathers is not lost, and that it is not sicklied o'er with the pale cast of
thought. For the sword alone is not decisive, but the arm steeled in exercise which
bears the sword.
Each of us must keep himself fit for arms and also prepared in his mind for the great
solemn hour when the Emperor calls us to the standard - the hour when we no
longer belong to ourselves, but to the Fatherland with all the forces of our mind and
our body; for all these faculties must be brought to the highest exertion, to that "will
to victory" which has never been without success in history.
[Later comes this passage:] Our country is obliged more than any other country to
place all its confidence in its good weapons. Set in the centre of Europe, it is badly
protected by its unfavourable geographic frontiers, and is regarded by many nations
without affection.
Upon the German Empire, therefore, is imposed more emphatically than upon any
other peoples of the earth the sacred duty of watching carefully that its army and its
navy be always prepared to, meet any attack from the outside. It is only by reliance
upon our brave sword that we shall be able to maintain that place in the sun which
belongs to us, and which the world does not seem very willing to accord us...

The Official Austrian Report

Record of the District Court at Serajevo, touching the proceedings there instituted
against Gavrilo Princip and confederates on account of the crime of assassination
perpetrated on June 28, 1914, on His Imperial and Royal Highness the Archduke
Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Este and Her Highness the Duchess Sophie of Hohenberg.
The accused have made the following declarations, which are essentially consistent,
before the examining magistrate:In April, 1914, Princip, during his stay at Belgrade, where he associated with a
number of Serbian students in the cafes of the town, conceived the plan for the
execution of an attempt on the life of the late Archduke Franz Ferdinand. He
communicated this intention to his acquaintance, Cabrinovic, who also was in
Belgrade at the time. The latter had already conceived a similar idea and was ready
at once to participate in the attempt.
The execution of an attempt on the Archduke's life was a frequent topic of
conversation in the circle in which Princip and Cabrinovic moved, because the
Archduke was considered to be a dangerous enemy of the Serbian people.
Princip and Cabrinovic desired at first to procure the bombs and weapons necessary
for the execution of the deed from the Serbian Major Milan Pribicevic or from the
Narodna Odbrana, (see Note 1) as they themselves did not possess the means for
their purchase. As, however, Major Pribicevic and the authoritative member of the
said association, Zivojin Dacic, were absent from Belgrade at that time, they decided
to try to obtain the weapons from their acquaintance Milan Ciganovic, who had
formerly been a Komitadji and was at that time in the employment of the State
railways.
Princip, through the instrumentality of an intimate friend of Ciganovic, now got into
communication with the latter. Thereupon Ciganovic called on Princip and discussed
the planned attempt with him. He entirely approved it, and thereupon declared that
he would like to consider further whether he should provide the weapons for the
attempt. Cabrinovic also talked with Ciganovic on the subject of the weapons
Only one of the bombs was made use of in the execution of the attempt. The
remaining five bombs came later into the possession of the police at Serajevo.
In the opinion of the judicial experts these bombs are Serbian hand-grenades which
were factory-made and intended for military purposes. They are identical with the
21 bombs which were found in the Save at Brcko in the year 1913 and which were
partly in their original packing, which proved without a doubt that they came from
the Serbian arsenal of Kragujevatz.
It is thus proved that the grenades which were used in the attempt against the
Archduke Franz Ferdinand also came from the stores of the Army Depot at
Kragujevatz. Grabez quite spontaneously calls the grenades which were handed over
to him and his accomplices "Kragujevatz bombs."

It is clear how far the criminal agitation of the Narodna Odbrana and those who
shared in its views, has of late been primarily directed against the person of the
hereditary Archduke. From these facts, the conclusion may be drawn that the
Narodna Odbrana, as well as the associations hostile to the Monarchy in Serbia,
which were grouped round it, recently decided that the hour had struck to translate
theory into practice.
It is noteworthy, however, that the Narodna limits itself in this way to inciting, and
where the incitement has fallen on fertile soil to providing means of material
assistance for the realization of its plans, but that it has confided the only dangerous
part of this propaganda of action to the youth of the Monarchy, which it has excited
and corrupted, and which alone has to bear the burden of this miserable "heroism."
(Note 1) The chief Serbian society devoted to the cause of freedom for the Slavs in
every land.
Source: Source Records of the Great War, Vol. I, ed. Charles F. Horne, National
Alumni 1923
Germanys Blank Check to Austria
Confidential - For Your Excellency's personal information and guidance
Berlin
6 July 1914
In the meantime His Majesty desires to say that he is not blind to the danger which
threatens Austria-Hungary and thus the Triple Alliance as a result of the Russian and
Serbian Pan-Slavic agitation.
Even though His Majesty is known to feel no unqualified confidence in Bulgaria and
her ruler, and naturally inclines more to ward our old ally Rumania and her
Hohenzollern prince, yet he quite understands that the Emperor Francis Joseph, in
view of the attitude of Rumania and of the danger of a new Balkan alliance aimed
directly at the Danube Monarchy, is anxious to bring about an understanding
between Bulgaria and the Triple alliance.
[...]
His Majesty will, further more, make an effort at Bucharest, according to the wishes
of the Emperor Francis Joseph, to influence King Carol to the fulfilment of the duties
of his alliance, to the renunciation of Serbia, and to the suppression of the Rumanian
agitations directed against Austria-Hungary.
Finally, as far as concerns Serbia, His Majesty, of course, cannot interfere in the
dispute now going on between Austria-Hungary and that country, as it is a matter
not within his competence.
The Emperor Francis Joseph may, however, rest assured that His Majesty will
faithfully stand by Austria-Hungary, as is required by the obligations of his alliance
and of his ancient friendship.

Bethmann-Hollweg

Austrian Declaration of War on Serbia

The following telegram sent by Count Leopold von Berchtold (AustroHungarian Foreign Minister) at 11.10 am to M. N. Pashitch (Serbian Prime
Minister and Foreign Minister), who received it at 12.30 pm
Sent by telegram (the first such declaration of war)
Vienna
28 July 1914
The Royal Serbian Government not having answered in a satisfactory manner the
note of July 23, 1914, presented by the Austro-Hungarian Minister at Belgrade, the
Imperial and Royal Government are themselves compelled to see to the safeguarding
of their rights and interests, and, with this object, to have recourse to force of arms.
Austria-Hungary consequently considers herself henceforward in state of war with
Serbia.
Count Berchtold