who assassinated franz ferdinand in 1914

WHO ASSASSINATED FRANZ FERDINAND IN 1914 DRIVER
WHO ASSASSINATED FRANZ FERDINAND IN 1914 TRIAL

The attack wasn't handled as what it really was, namely an incident which weighed on diplomatic relations between Austria-Hungary and Serbia and which could potentially lead to domestic conflicts with several minority groups. French troops in the trenches in Verdun during World War I Image: picture-alliance/dpa As many Slavs lived in the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy, the heir to the Austrian throne had long been identified as a potential assassination victim. With the support of Russia, this organization aimed for national unity for all Slavic people.

WHO ASSASSINATED FRANZ FERDINAND IN 1914 TRIAL

While the second attacker was held by passersby, Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie died in their car from their injuries.Īt the trial of the two attackers, they admitted to being followers of the 'Pan-Slavist' movement. Their attacker also swallowed a cyanide pill, which also failed to work.

Franz Ferdinand was shot in the neck Sophie in the abdomen. He seized his opportunity, and fired his pistol twice into the car. Meanwhile, a second conspirator had taken up position.

WHO ASSASSINATED FRANZ FERDINAND IN 1914 DRIVER

Not long after starting off for the grounds, the driver of one of the cars leading the procession noticed that they were going the wrong way. There, it was decided that they would take a different route to the grounds of the military parade. The archduke's procession sped quickly to City Hall. He was stopped by people on the street and arrested. The perpetrator tried to commit suicide by swallowing a cyanide pill, but as the pill was old, the poison failed to work and only made him sick. It landed on the car behind him, injuring two of that car's passengers. Out of the corner of his eye, Franz Ferdinand saw something black flying towards him and raised his hand in a protective gesture, thus knocking the hand grenade out of the car. The first assassination attempt failed due to the quick reaction of the Austrian heir-apparent. On the way into the city, their procession of cars had to drive relatively slowly, which played into the hands of the attackers that lay in wait.įirst attempt fails The young assassin whose shots set off World War I is taken by police to the police station in Sarajevo Image: AP They were invited to watch the maneuvers of the Austrian troops in Bosnia. Archduke Franz Ferdinand (1863 – 1914) and his wife, Sophie (1868 – 1914) had just arrived in Sarajevo after a visit with German Emperor William II (1859 – 1941).

Who assassinated franz ferdinand in 1914