ASSASSINATION OF FRANZ FERDINAND
Franz Ferdinand, aged 51, was heir to the AustroHungarian Empire.
He was married to Sophie Chotek vonChotvoka and had three children. Franz Ferdinand
was, however, very unpopular because he had made it clear that once he became
Emperor he would make changes.
This map, of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1914, shows that
BosniaHerzegovnia was controlled by Austria. Austria had annexed (taken by
force) Bosnia in 1908, a move that was not popular with the Bosnian people.
Franz Ferdinand decided to visit Sarajevo, the capital of
Bosnia and Herzegovnia, to make an inspection of the Austro-Hungarian
troops there. The inspection was scheduled for 28th June 1914. It was planned
that Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie would be met at the station and taken
by car to the City Hall where they would have lunch before going to inspect the
roops.
A Serbian terrorist group, called The Black Hand, had
decided that the Archduke should be assassinated and the planned visit
provided the ideal opportunity. Seven young men who had been trained in bomb
throwing and marksmanship were stationed along the route that Franz Ferdinand's
car would follow from the City Hall to the inspection.
The first two terrorists were unable to throw their grenades
because the streets were too crowded and the car was travelling quite fast. The
third terrorist, a young man called Cabrinovic, threw a grenade which exploded under
the car following that of the Archduke. Although the Archduke and his wife were
unhurt, some of his attendants were injured and had to be taken to hospital.
After lunch at the City Hall, Franz Ferdinand insisted on
visiting the injured attendants in hospital. However, on the way to the
hospital the driver took a wrong turn. Realising his mistake he stopped the car
and began to reverse. Another terrorist, named Gavrilo Princip, stepped forward
and fired two shots.
The first hit the pregnant Sophia in the stomach, she died
almost instantly. The second shot hit the Archduke in the neck. He died a short
while later.
Gavrilo Princip was not executed because he was under 20
years, but was sentenced to twenty years in prison. He died of TB in 1918.
