“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.
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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 in the conflict, and the justifications provided for that involvement, we will utilize the provided source materials while also integrating general historical knowledge.
Causes of World War I:
Nationalism: Nationalistic fervor in Europe, particularly in the Balkans, played a significant role in escalating tensions. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, a direct result of nationalist sentiments fueled by groups like the Black Hand, underscored the volatility in the region (Source 1). The desire of Slavic peoples to assert independence and solidify their national identities against the Austro-Hungarian Empire was a major catalyst.
Imperialism: Competition for colonies and influence around the world heightened rivalries among European powers. Nations strived to expand their empires, and conflicts often arose from this competition.
Militarism: An arms race among the major European powers led to increased military readiness and ultimately contributed to the outbreak of hostilities. Countries were not only expanding their armies but also adopting aggressive strategies that made war seem inevitable.
Alliance Systems: The complex web of alliances—such as the Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy) and the Triple Entente (France, Russia, and Britain)—meant that local conflicts had the potential to escalate into a full-scale war, drawing in multiple nations.
Factors Leading to U.S. Involvement:
Unrestricted Submarine Warfare: The German decision to implement unrestricted submarine warfare on February 3, 1917, which targeted ships of all nations—including neutral ones—ultimately pushed the United States toward war (Source 3). This policy was framed as a blatant disregard for neutral rights and safety, impacting American lives and shipping interests.
Zimmermann Telegram: Germany’s attempt to forge an alliance with Mexico, as detailed in the Zimmermann Telegram, further inflamed U.S. suspicions of German intentions (Source 2). The proposal to Mexico included the promise of regaining lost territories, which was perceived as a direct threat to American sovereignty.
Economic Interests: The U.S. had strong economic ties with the Allies, and American banks had significant investments in the war effort. As the Allies began to struggle, there was concern that their failure could lead to economic instability in the U.S.
Ideological Factors: President Woodrow Wilson’s vision that the world must be made “safe for democracy” encapsulated a broader ideological motive (Source 3). He framed U.S. involvement as a means to champion democratic values against autocratic regimes, aligning moral imperatives with national interest.
Justifications for U.S. Involvement:
Humanitarian and Moral Reasons: In his speech to Congress, Wilson emphasized that German submarine warfare posed a threat not only to America but also to human rights and the principles of neutrality and freedom of the seas (Source 3). This moral high ground was central to the justification of entering the war.
Collective Security: By advocating that the safety of democracy is intertwined with collective security, Wilson framed U.S. intervention as necessary not just for American interest, but for global stability (Source 3). The idea that American participation was a duty to ensure a balance of power further justified the decision.
Response to Aggression: The U.S. characterized its involvement as a response to German aggression against not just America but also various nations viewed as allies. This framing positioned the U.S. as a defender of peace and oppressed nations rather than an aggressor (Sources 2 and 3).
In conclusion, the complex interplay of nationalism, militarism, imperial ambitions, and intertwined alliances set the stage for World War I. The subsequent U.S. involvement stemmed from a blend of economic interests, direct threats to national security, and ideological imperatives framed in moral terms, ultimately leading to a turning point in both American and world history.
