First World War Tours
Sarajevo: The Spark Ignites 100th Anniversary Trip Tour Prices: 4 day tour £699 per guest Low Single Rooms Supplements £40 per night Deposit just £150 per person
Next Trip Dates: June 27-30 2014 PLACES AVAILABLE
What’s included: Bed & Breakfast Accommodation All transport from the official overseas start point Accompanied for the trip duration All Museum entrances All Expert Talks & Guidance On 28 June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, heir presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian Low Group Numbers throne, and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, were shot dead in Sarajevo, by Gavrilo
Princip, one of a group of six Bosnian Serb assassins coordinated by Danilo Ilić. The political objective of the assassination was to break off Austria-Hungary’s south-Slav provinces so they “MHT is a very individual military could be combined into a Greater Serbia or a Yugoslavia. history tour company, offering a vast The consequences of the action were that within a few weeks a system of alliances and range of trips and welcomes those of all ages and backgrounds. If you like allegiances would drag the the ‘Great Powers’ into a cataclysmic conflict that would change the small groups and prefer to hear the world forever... stories of locations as opposed to just The murder of the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire and his wife produced widespread shock seeing them, then MHT is for you.” across Europe, and there was initially much sympathy for the Austrian position. Within two days of the assassination, Austria-Hungary and Germany advised Serbia that it should open an investigation, but Secretary General to the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Slavko Gruic, Military History Tours is all about the replied “Nothing had been done so far and the matter did not concern the Serbian Government.” ‘experience’. Naturally we take care of An angry exchange followed between the Austrian Chargé d’Affaires at Belgrade and Gruic. After all local accommodation, transport and entrances but what sets us aside is our conducting a criminal investigation, verifying that Germany would honor its military alliance, on the ground knowledge and contacts, and persuading the skeptical Hungarian Count Tisza, Austria-Hungary issued a formal letter to established over many, many years that enable you to really get under the the government of Serbia. The letter reminded Serbia of its commitment to respect the Great surface of your chosen subject matter.
Powers’ decision regarding Bosnia-Herzegovina, and to maintain good neighborly relations with By guiding guests around these historic Austria-Hungary. The letter contained specific demands aimed at preventing the publication of locations we feel we are contributing greatly towards ‘keeping the spirit alive’ propaganda advocating the violent destruction of Austria-Hungary, removing the people behind of some of the most memorable events in human history. this propaganda from the Serbian Military, arresting the people on Serbian soil who were involved in the assassination plot and preventing the clandestine shipment of arms and explosives from Let their sacrifice not be in vain. Serbia to Austria-Hungary.
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Archduke Franz Ferdinand Emperor Franz Joseph I Kasier Wilhelm II of Germany
King George V of the The Archduke and his wife, Sophie Peter I King of Serbia Tsar Nicholas II of Russia United Kingdom
This letter became known as the July Ultimatum, and Austria- fired into the air to warn them off. The report of this incident Hungary stated that if Serbia did not accept all of the demands was initially sketchy and reported to Emperor Franz-Joseph as “a in total within 48 hours, it would recall its ambassador from considerable skirmish”. Austria-Hungary then declared war and Serbia. After receiving a telegram of support from Russia, Serbia mobilized the portion of its army that would face the (already mobilized its army and responded to the letter by completely mobilized) Serbian Army on 28 July 1914. Under the Secret Treaty accepting point #8 demanding an end to the smuggling of of 1892 Russia and France were obliged to mobilize their armies weapons and punishment of the frontier officers who had if any of the Triple Alliance mobilized. Russia’s mobilization set assisted the assassins and completely accepting point #10 off full Austro-Hungarian and German mobilizations. Soon all the which demanded Serbia report the execution of the required Great Powers except Italy had chosen sides and gone to war. measures as they were completed. Serbia partially accepted, finessed, disingenuously answered or politely rejected elements of the preamble and enumerated demands #1–7 and #9. The shortcomings of Serbia’s response were published by Austria- Hungary and can be seen beginning on page 364 of Origins of the War, Vol. II by Albertini, with the Austrian complaints placed side- by-side against Serbia’s response. Austria-Hungary responded by breaking diplomatic relations.
The next day, Serbian reservists being transported on tramp steamers on the Danube crossed onto the Austro-Hungarian side of the river at Temes-Kubin and Austro-Hungarian soldiers The fateful open top car journey
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The Archduke’s tunic Gavrilo Princip The open top car
En route The bridge The pistol
Day One On this once in a life time trip guests are met by the officers got into the first car with the chief officer of special MHT Team either at Sarajevo Airport Arrivals Lounge at 13:00, security; the special security officers who were supposed to just after when the main daily UK flights land (or slightly later accompany their chief got left behind. The second car carried in the city itself). From the airport we transfer into the centre of the Mayor and the Chief of Police of Sarajevo. The third car in Sarajevo itself and check in to our traditional hotel overlooking the motorcade was a Gräf & Stift open sports car with its top Old Town Sarajevo. From here we explore the Old Town and use it folded down. Franz Ferdinand, Sophie, Governor Potiorek, and and The Museum of Sarajevo 1878-1918 as a backdrop to discuss Lieutenant Colonel Count Franz von Harrach rode in this third car. the alliances and allegiances which divided Europe and the World The motorcade’s first stop on the preannounced programme in two. We trace the roots of Serbian Nationalism over 600 years was for a brief inspection of a military barracks. According to and go into detail about Balkan history in the region. We trace the programme, at 10:00 a.m., the motorcade was to leave the the story of Ottoman rule before explaining the Treaty of Berlin barracks for the town hall by way of the Appel Quay. and the governance by the Habsburg’s of the Austro- Hungarian Empire and the subsequent Balkan Wars of the early 1900’s. We explore all the key characters and the background to the plot and the parties involved.
Day Two On this day, the 100th anniversary, we trace the route of the Archduke and discover the location of the assassins as they lay in wait. We start in Sarajevo where they did, the train station. On the morning of 28 June 1914 Franz Ferdinand and his party proceeded by train from Ilidža Spa to Sarajevo.
Governor Oskar Potiorek met the party at Sarajevo station where The deadly shots are fired six automobiles were waiting. By mistake, three local police
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Various views of the bridge today
his cyanide pill and jumped into the Miljacka river. Čabrinović’s suicide attempt failed as the cyanide only induced vomiting, and the Miljacka was only 13 cm deep. Police dragged Čabrinović out of the river, and he was severely beaten by the crowd before being taken into custody. The procession sped away towards the Town Hall leaving the disabled car behind. Cvjetko Popović, Gavrilo Princip and Trifun Grabež failed to act as the motorcade passed them at high speed.
Arriving at the Town Hall for a scheduled reception, Franz Ferdinand showed understandable signs of stress, interrupting a prepared speech of welcome by Mayor Curčić to protest: “Mr. Mayor, I came here on a visit and I get bombs thrown at me. It is outrageous.” Duchess Sophie then whispered into Franz Ferdinand’s ear, and after a pause, Franz Ferdinand said to the The motorcade passed the first assassin, Mehmedbašić. Danilo mayor: “Now you may speak.” He then became calm and the Ilić had placed him in front of the garden of the Mostar Cafe and mayor gave his speech. Franz Ferdinand had to wait as his own armed him with a bomb. Mehmedbašić failed to act. Ilić placed speech, wet with blood as it had been in the damaged car, was Vaso Čubrilović next to Mehmedbašić, arming him with a pistol brought to him. To the prepared text he added a few remarks and a bomb. He too failed to act. Further along the route, Ilić about the day’s events thanking the people of Sarajevo for their placed Nedeljko Čabrinović on the opposite side of the street near ovations “as I see in them an expression of their joy at the failure the Miljacka River arming him with a bomb. At 10:10 am, Franz of the attempt at assassination.” Ferdinand’s car approached and Čabrinović threw his bomb. Officials and members of the Archduke’s party discussed what The bomb bounced off the folded back convertible cover into the to do next. Franz Ferdinand and Sophie gave up their planned street. The bomb’s timed detonator caused it to explode under programs in favor of visiting the wounded from the bombing at the next car, putting that car out of action, leaving a 1-foot- the hospital. Count Harrach took up a protective position on the diameter (0.30 m), 6.5-inch-deep (170 mm) crater, and wounding lefthand running board of Franz Ferdinand’s car. This is confirmed a total of 20 people according to Reuters. Čabrinović swallowed by photographs of the scene outside the Town Hall.
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The assassins are apprehended Laying in State
The trials begin
At 10:45 a.m., Franz Ferdinand and Sophie got back into the According to Albertini, “the first bullet wounded the Archduke in motorcade, once again in the third car. In order to avoid the city the jugular vein, the second inflicted an abdominal wound on the center, General Oskar Potiorek decided that the royal car should Duchess.” Princip was immediately arrested. At his sentencing, travel straight along the Appel Quay to the Sarajevo Hospital. Princip stated that his intention had been to kill Governor However, the driver, Leopold Lojka, took a right turn into Franz Potiorek, rather than Sophie. Josef Street. The reason for this is that Potiorek’s aide Erich von Both victims remained seated upright, but dying while being Merrizzi was in the hospital, and was therefore unable to give driven to the Governor’s residence for medical treatment. As Lojka the info about the change in plans and the driving route. reported by Count Harrach, Franz Ferdinand’s last words were After learning that the assassination had been unsuccessful “Sophie, Sophie! Don’t die! Live for our children!” followed by six Princip went to a nearby food shop (Schiller’s delicatessen). When or seven utterances of “It is nothing.” in response to Harrach’s Princip emerged, he saw Franz Ferdinand’s open car reversing inquiry as to Franz Ferdinand’s injury. These utterances were after having taken the wrong turn as it drove past, near the Latin followed by a long death rattle. Sophie was dead on arrival at Bridge. After realizing the mistake, the driver put his foot on the the Governor’s residence. Franz Ferdinand died 10 minutes later. brake, and began to back up. In doing so the engine of the car Day Three We discuss the aftermath and the road to the stalled and the gears locked, giving Princip his opportunity. outbreak of the Great War as nations mobilized their forces and Princip stepped forward and fired two shots from a distance set out on the road to Armageddon and the death and maiming of about one and a half metres (5 feet) using a Belgian-made of an entire generation. 9×17mm (.380 ACP) Fabrique Nationale model 1910 semi- automatic pistol. Pistol serial numbers 19074, 19075, 19120 and 19126 were supplied to the assassins; Princip used #19074.
Email [email protected] Phone 0845 835 0644 Web www.militaryhistorytours.co.uk Mobile 07899 083611 For the latest news and tour information follow @MilitaryHistory First World War Tours
Assassination spot plaque The modern day city of Sarajevo
Museum of Sarajevo The Balkan Wars came to Sarajevo in the 1990s Sarajevo was besieged for nearly 4 years
Day Four On our last morning we look at post 1918 Balkan February 1996 during the Bosnian War. Bosnia and Herzegovina history. After World War I Sarajevo became part of the Kingdom declared independence from Yugoslavia and achieved United of Yugoslavia. During World War II the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, Nations recognition. Serbian leaders declared a new Serbian following a German bombing campaign, Sarajevo was captured national state Republika Srpska (RS) from the territory of Bosnia on 15 April 1941 by the 16th Motorized infantry Division. The Axis and Herzegovina and encircled Sarajevo with a siege force powers created the Independent State of Croatia and included of 18,000 stationed in the surrounding hills, from which they Sarajevo in its territory. The city was bombed by the Allies from assaulted the city with weapons that included artillery, mortars, 1943 to 1944 and the Yugoslav Partisan movement was active in tanks, anti-aircraft guns, heavy machine-guns, multiple rocket the city. Following the liberation, Sarajevo was the capital of the launchers, rocket-launched aircraft bombs, and sniper rifles. Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina within the Socialist From 2 May 1992, the Serbs blockaded the city. The Bosnian Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. government defence forces inside the besieged city were poorly equipped and unable to break the siege. During the siege, 11,541 We cannot visit Sarajevo without considering the Bosnian War people lost their lives, including over 1,500 children. An additional for independence which resulted in large-scale destruction and 56,000 people were wounded, including nearly 15,000 children. dramatic population shifts during the Siege of Sarajevo between The 1991 census indicates that before the siege the city and its 1992 and 1995. Thousands of Sarajevans lost their lives under the surrounding areas had a population of 525,980. constant bombardment and sniper shooting at civilians by the Serb forces during the siege. It is the longest siege of a capital After what will have been a truly monumental trip we make our city in the history of modern warfare. Serb forces of the Republika way back to the airport for our late afternoon flights. Srpska and the Yugoslav People’s Army besieged Sarajevo, the We believe this is the most definitive trip of it’s kind and will capital city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, from 5 April 1992 to 29 certainly be a once in a lifetime experience.
For more information on this, or any other MHT tour, or to make a booking please call us on 0845 835 0644. Alternatively you can email us at [email protected] and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Email [email protected] Phone 0845 835 0644 Web www.militaryhistorytours.co.uk Mobile 07899 083611 For the latest news and tour information follow @MilitaryHistory