Anzac Day talk 2014
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Transcript of Anzac Day talk 2014
WPCC Breakfast and talk
ANZAC Day 2014
The Serbian Background
Kingdom of Serbia - 14th Century CE
Domination by Hapsburgs and Ottomans
Revolution in 1804
Independence in 1867
Recognised in 1878 – but without Bosnia
Assassination of Alexander 1 and Queen Draga, involving Dragutin
Alexander 1 and Queen
Draga of Serbia
Dragutin Dimitrijevic
Serbia grows
Balkan Wars of 1912 and 1913
Continued agitation to reclaim Bosnia
Links between Serbian Intelligence and
revolutionary groups
This is questioned by some, and remains a
point of nationalist difference in the region.
The Black Hand Gang
To reunite the Serbian speakers of
Europe
Government and royal patronage
Built on the work of earlier organisations
The Assassination
28 June 1914
6 conspirators of the Black Hand Gang
Evidence that Military Intelligence involved
People and weapons smuggled from Serbia into Bosnia
Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir apparent to the Austrian throne, chosen as target
The first attempt
Assassins one and two did nothing
Assassin three threw his bomb but
missed
The second car was hit with around 20
injured
He took a cyanide pill and threw himself
into the river
The car with Franz Ferdinand sped on
The second attempt
Gavrilo Princip repositions himself
near Latin Bridge
Shoots both Franz Ferdinand and
Sophie
Arrested
Anti-Serb riots and pogroms break out in
Bosnia and Croatia
The immediate aftermath
Austro-Hungary took three weeks to act
Spent time ensuring Germany would support them in destroying Serbia 5th July: Germany provides blank cheque
7th July: AH Council decide war is best option
9th July: AH Foreign Minister Berchtold states AH will deliver ultimatum that cannot be fulfilled
13th July: AH investigators find no evidence Serbia was involved
21st July: Germany upset at timid AH, encourages action and discourages diplomacy
23rd July: Ultimatum issued
The Ultimatum1. Suppress any published dissent against Austro-
Hungary
2. To dissolve immediately any society that acts against
Austro-Hungary
3. To cease teaching anti-Austro-Hungarian material in
schools
4. To remove from the military and administration all as
determined by Austro-Hungary
5. To accept the collaboration in Serbia of agents of
Austro-Hungary in the suppression of the subversive
movements directed against Austro-Hungary
The Ultimatum
6. To take judicial proceedings against the accessories to the plot of 28 June who are on Serbian territory. Officers delegated by Austro-Hungary will take part in the investigations
7. To proceed without delay to the arrest of two named agents
8. To prevent the illicit traffic in arms and explosives across the frontier
9. To furnish explanations regarding the unjustifiable utterances of high Serbian officials who expressed themselves in terms of hostility towards Austro-Hungary
10. To notify Austro-Hungary without delay of the execution of these measures .
The world awakens
Western Europe tired of Balkan violence
France convinced situation not as bad
as in early 1900s
But knew it was no match for German army
Russia unsettled by socialist risings
Confident that it would outstrip Germany in a
few years
Allies with France for protection
England caught up with Ulster problems
German dismay
Newspapers decry wars of aggression
and ‘adolescent posturing’ by Austro-
Hungary
Street protests break out, swiftly put
down by police
Right wing newspapers describe
protestors as traitors, the elite are
unmoved
War
28th July: Austria declares war on Serbia
28th July: Russia begins mobilisation,
Germany complains and Russia halts
29th July: Austria bombards Belgrade
31st July: Russia and Germany mobilise
in force
1st August: Russia declares war on
Germany
The Tipping Point
Russia’s declaration against Germany
set in motion a series of linked events
Germany had estimated it would take
Russia 6 weeks to properly mobilise
This gave Germany 6 weeks to defeat
France or it would have to fight a two-
front war
The easiest, quickest way into France
was through Belgium
War
1st August: France begins mobilisation
3rd August: Germany declares war on
France
4th August: Germany invades Belgium
Britain allied via treaty to Belgium
Demanded German withdrawal
4th August: Britain declares war on
Germany. As a result, Australia is at war
A war with enemies
Austrian troops in Serbia
A rejection of guerrilla warfare
Numerous atrocities and mass killings
A war without enemies
The Christmas Truce of 1914
Cigars and food exchanged
Carols sung
Football played (though possibly not)
Battle of the Marne
Rapid advance of
Germans (Schlieffen
Plan) through Belgium
into France
Sept 1914
Halted German
advance
Last ‘mobile’ battle of the war
Hitler, The Courtyard of the Old Residency in Munich.