“The Murder of Archduke Franz Ferdinand” as Witnessed by Borijove Jevtic
Borijove Jevtic, one of the leaders of the Black Hand Society who was arrested with Gavrillo Princip immediately after the assassination, gave this first hand account of the killing.
Text
A tiny clipping from a newspaper, mailed without comment from a secret band of terrorists in Zagreb, capital of Croatia, to their comrades in Belgrade, Serbia, was the torch which set the world afire with war in 1914. That bit of paper wrecked old, proud empires. It gave birth to new, free nations. I was one of the members of the terrorist band in Belgrade which received it.
The little clipping declared that the Austrian Archduke Francis Ferdinand would visit Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia, June 28th, to direct army maneuvers in the neighboring mountains. It reached our meeting place, the café called Zlatna Moruna, one night the latter part of April, 1914. To understand how great a sensation that little piece of paper caused among us when it was passed from hand to hand almost in silence, and how greatly it inflamed our hearts, it is necessary to explain just why the Black Hand existed, the kind of men that were in it, and the significance of that date, June 28, on which the Archduke dared to enter Sarajevo.
At a small table in a very humble café, beneath a flickering gas jet we sat and read it. There was no advice nor admonition sent with it. Only four letters and two numerals were sufficient to make us unanimous, without discussion, as to what we should do about it.
They were convened in Sarajevo all the twenty-two conspirators were in their allotted positions, armed and ready. They were distributed five hundred yards apart over the whole route along which the Archduke must travel from the railroad station to the town hall. When Francis Ferdinand and his entourage drove from the station they were allowed to pass the first two conspirators. The motor cars were driving too fast to make an attempt feasible and in the crowd were many Serbians; throwing a grenade would have killed many innocent people. When a car passed Gabrinovic, the compositor, he threw his grenade. It hit the side of the car, but Francis Ferdinand with presence of mind threw himself back and was uninjured. Several officers riding in his attendance were injured.
The cars sped to the Town Hall and the rest of the conspirators did not interfere with them. After the reception in the Town Hall General Potiorek, the Austrian Commander, pleaded with Francis Ferdinand to leave the city, as it was seething with rebellion. The Archduke was persuaded to drive the shortest way out of the city and to go quickly. The road to the maneuvers was shaped like the letter V, making a sharp turn at the bridge over the River Milgacka. Francis Ferdinand’s car could go fast enough until it reached this spot but here it was forced to slow down for the turn. Here Princip had taken his stand. As the car came abreast he stepped forward from the curb, drew his automatic pistol from his coat, and fired two shots. The first struck the wife of the Archduke, the Archduchess Sofia, in the abdomen. She was an expectant mother. She died instantly. The second bullet struck the Archduke close to the heart. He uttered, “Sophie, don’t die”- a call to his stricken wife. Then his head fell back and he collapsed. He died almost instantly.
The officers seized Princip. They beat him over the head with the flat of their swords. They knocked him down, they kicked him, scraped the skin from his neck with the edges of their swords, tortured him, all but killed him. The next day they put chains on Princip’s feet, which he wore till his death…I was placed in the cell next to Princip’s, and when Princip was taken out to walk in the prison yard I was taken along as his companion…Awakened in the middle of the night and told that he was to be carried off to another prison, Princip made an appeal to the prison governor:
There is no need to carry me to another prison. My life is already ebbing away. I suggest that you nail me to a cross and burn me alive. My flaming body will be a torch to light my people on their path to freedom.
Source 2
The Zimmerman Telegram
FROM 2nd from London # 5747.
We intend to begin on the first of February unrestricted submarine warfare. We shall endeavor in spite of this to keep the United States of America neutral. In the event of this not succeeding, we make Mexico a proposal or alliance on the following basis: make war together, make peace together, generous financial support and an understanding on our part that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. The settlement in detail is left to you. You will inform the President of the above most secretly as soon as the outbreak of war with the United States of America is certain and add the suggestion that he should, on his own initiative, invite Japan to immediate adherence and at the same time mediate between Japan and ourselves. Please call the President's attention to the fact that the ruthless employment of our submarines now offers the prospect of compelling England in a few months to make peace.
Signed, ZIMMERMANN
Source 3
Excerpt from – Woodrow Wilson’s Speech Before Congress, April 2, 1917
On February 3, 1917, the Imperial German Government announced that German submarines would attack all ships approaching Great Britain, Ireland, and other ports controlled by enemies of Germany. Below are excerpts of President Wilson’s speech before Congress on April 2, 1917.
. . . The new policy [of the Imperial German Government] has swept every restriction aside. Vessels of every kind, whatever their flag, their character, their cargo, their destination, their errand, have been ruthlessly sent to the bottom without warning and without thought of help or mercy for those on
board, the vessels of friendly neutrals along with those of belligerents. . .
. . . The present German submarine warfare against commerce is a warfare against mankind. It is a war against all nations. American ships have been sunk, American lives taken . . . but the ships and people of other neutral and friendly nations have been sunk and overwhelmed in the waters in
the same way. There has been no discrimination. . .
. . . Neutrality is no longer feasible or desirable where the peace of the world is involved and the freedom of its peoples, and the menace to that peace and freedom lies in the existence of autocratic governments backed by organized force which is controlled wholly by their will, not by the will of their people. . .
. . . The world must be made safe for democracy . . . We have no selfish ends to serve. We desire no conquest, no dominion. We seek no indemnities for ourselves, no material compensation for the sacrifices we shall freely make. We are but one of the champions of the rights of mankind. We shall be satisfied when those rights have been made as secure as the faith and the freedom of nations can make them.
Source 4
Constructed Response Question
Using your social studies knowledge and the provided source materials, analyze the causes of World War I, the factors that led to the United States' involvement in the conflict, and the justifications provided for that involvement.
1 answer
To analyze the causes of World War I, the factors that led to the United States' involvement, and the justifications for that involvement, we can draw upon the provided sources and our background knowledge.
Causes of World War I
Nationalism and Political Tensions: The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, as recounted in Source 1, epitomized the culmination of nationalistic fervor in the Balkans. The Black Hand’s motivations, driven by a desire for Serbian independence and entangled in ethnic rivalries, exemplified the intense nationalism that contributed to political instability in Europe. The assassination ignited existing tensions between Austria-Hungary and Serbia, setting off a chain reaction of alliances and hostilities.
Alliance Systems: The intricate system of alliances in Europe also played a crucial role in escalating the conflict. The assassination prompted Austria-Hungary's declaration of war on Serbia, leading Russia to mobilize in defense of Serbia. This series of alliances meant that a regional conflict quickly escalated into a world war.
Militarism and Arms Race: The build-up of armies and the glorification of military power among European nations, particularly between Germany and Britain, created an environment ripe for war. This militarism reinforced the readiness of nations to resort to war when diplomatic tensions arose.
Factors Leading to U.S. Involvement
Unrestricted Submarine Warfare: Source 2, the Zimmermann Telegram, highlights Germany's intention to engage in unrestricted submarine warfare beginning in February 1917. This aggressive military tactic targeted neutral ships and directly threatened American merchant vessels. The sinking of American ships and the loss of American lives enraged public sentiment against Germany, pushing the U.S. closer to war.
Economic Interests: The U.S. had significant economic ties with the Allies. American banks and businesses had extended loans and made investments in Allied nations. A German victory could jeopardize these investments, motivating the U.S. to intervene to ensure the repayment of debts.
Interception of the Zimmermann Telegram: The proposal for Germany to ally with Mexico against the U.S., as detailed in Source 2, was seen as a direct threat to American security. The public revelation of this telegram galvanized American support for entering the war against Germany.
Justifications for U.S. Involvement
Defense of Democracy: In his speech to Congress (Source 3), President Woodrow Wilson articulated a vision of making "the world safe for democracy." Wilson framed U.S. involvement not merely as a response to aggression but as a moral imperative to protect democratic governance against autocratic regimes. He emphasized that neutrality was no longer viable when global peace and freedom were at stake.
Humanitarian Reasons: Wilson described the German submarine warfare as a "warfare against mankind," indicating that the indiscriminate sinking of ships—endangering civilian lives—was morally objectionable. The U.S. vision of protecting human rights and freedoms created a justification for military action.
Commitment to Allies: With strong economic and ideological ties to the Allies, particularly Britain and France, the U.S. positioned itself as a champion of the allied cause. Wilson’s proclamations of solidarity with nations fighting against the central powers reinforced the idea that the U.S. had a responsibility to act.
Conclusion
In summary, the complexities of nationalism, militarism, and entangled alliances laid the groundwork for World War I. The U.S. involvement was precipitated by direct threats to its security through unrestricted submarine warfare and the Zimmermann Telegram, with Wilson's justifications rooted in the defense of democracy, humanitarian principles, and economic interests. Through these lenses, we can better understand both the causes of World War I and the context of U.S. entry into the conflict.
