The Balkan Wars and after

"The Sick Old Man" was nearly dead in Europe. In 1912, a group of countries formed the Balkan League (Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece and Montenegro). The Balkan League attacked Turkey and conquered its remaining European territories. Turkey was left with just the little toe-hold in Europe that can be seen on a modern map.

These victories led to a Second Balkan War in 1913 when the League fought amongst itself for the rewards just won. Serbia came out of this second war feeling particularly triumphant and aggressive. It was determined to win Bosnia from Austro-Hungary. However, the Austro-Hungarian Empire (supported by Germany) was in no mood to be intimidated by Serbia. On the contrary, it wanted to teach this troublesome little country a lesson. It hoped, in fact, to crush it completely if possible as punishment for stirring up Slav nationalist feelings on its frontiers.

Against this background the Austrian Crown Prince, Franz Ferdinand, was assassinated on 28th June 1914 in the streets of Sarajevo, Bosnia, by a Bosnian Serb student. Within six weeks the entire continent would be at war.

• The Eastern Question
• Map of the Balkans in 1871
• Map of the Balkans in 1878
• Map of the Balkans in 1914
• Big Power Ambitions in the Balkans
• The Treaty of Berlin 1878
• The Balkans and the Alliance System
• The Bosnian Crisis
• Top of Page

©  Shirley Burchill, Nigel Hughes, Richard Gale, Peter Price and Keith Woodall 2007

Footnote : As far as the Open Door team can ascertain the images shown on this page are in the Public Domain.