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World War I was a catastrophic event that claimed millions of lives and plunged Europe into further chaos two decades later. However, its origins were not sudden. As the 100th anniversary of the war's outbreak approaches in August, Erik Sass revisits the series of seemingly minor tensions that built up to the explosion. He will explore these events exactly a century after they unfolded. This marks the 124th entry in the series.
June 24, 1914: The Archduke’s Sense of Impending Doom
Though history and myth often intertwine, multiple sources suggest that Archduke Franz Ferdinand harbored deep apprehensions about his trip to Bosnia. He was set to oversee the empire’s military exercises on June 26 and 27, 1914, and then make an official visit to Sarajevo on June 28.
After departing from his estate at Konopischt, the Archduke and his wife Sophie journeyed together to Vienna, where they would separate. The Archduke proceeded to Trieste to board the new battleship Viribus Unitis (fulfilling his passion for naval affairs, as shown below), while Sophie traveled to Bosnia by train. However, their trip was marked by a few minor setbacks.
On June 24, an axle on their private carriage overheated, forcing them to switch to another carriage. The Archduke, known for his sharp wit, remarked sarcastically: “Well, this is quite the auspicious beginning… First, the carriage overheats, then an assassination attempt in Sarajevo, and if that’s not enough, an explosion on the Viribus.” Later, en route to Trieste, the electric lights in his carriage failed, and servants brought candles. The Archduke quipped to an attendant: “Doesn’t this lighting remind you of a grave?”
These were not his only premonitions. His nephew Karl, who would later become the last emperor of Austria-Hungary in 1916, recalled that in May, Franz Ferdinand had confided: “I know I will soon be killed. In this desk are papers meant for you. When it happens, take them.” A deeply superstitious man, the Archduke also noted that the family crypt at their Arstetten estate had recently been finished.
Despite his forebodings, he refused to live in fear. During an earlier visit to Trieste, he brushed off concerns about Italian assassins, stating: “We are always in God’s hands. A rogue could attack me right now from those bushes. Worrying only paralyzes life.”
Serbian Government Dissolved, King Peter Steps Down
While the plotters finalized their plans in Sarajevo, the Kingdom of Serbia was engulfed in political chaos following a failed military coup. On June 2, Prime Minister Nikola Pašić dissolved his cabinet, and on June 24, he announced new parliamentary elections. He aimed to secure public backing for his policies, particularly his efforts to curb military influence. This decision required him to spend the next two months campaigning in rural areas, a task the seasoned politician felt prepared for (though the elections were ultimately canceled due to the outbreak of war). Meanwhile, only a caretaker government remained to address the impending crisis.
Even the monarchy was in transition: on June 24, King Peter, accused of supporting the military faction during the coup attempt, abdicated (officially citing poor health, but likely under Russian pressure) in favor of his son, Crown Prince Alexander, who assumed the role of regent. However, Peter would later return to lead the Serbian army and countless civilian refugees during their harrowing retreat from the Central Powers in late 1915.
Royal Navy Pays a Friendly Visit to Germany
Between 1913 and 1914, tensions between Britain and Germany, long fueled by Kaiser Wilhelm II’s ambition to rival British naval dominance, appeared to ease. Germany had quietly agreed to acknowledge Britain’s naval superiority, while Britain offered colonial agreements and a deal for Middle Eastern railway construction as gestures of goodwill.
Topical Press Agency, via Gutenberg.org
To showcase the newfound camaraderie, Germany invited the Royal Navy to join the Kiel Regatta (pictured above), an annual maritime event and sailing competition organized by the Kaiser in the northern German port city of Kiel. On June 23, 1914, the British Second Battle Squadron arrived in Kiel’s harbor, marking the start of a week-long celebration where sailors and officers from both navies mingled (sometimes a bit too enthusiastically). Although Winston Churchill, First Lord of the Navy, did not attend, he viewed the regatta as a potential symbolic milestone in improving Anglo-German relations.
However, not everyone shared this optimism. The June 1914 regatta held particular importance as it coincided with the opening of the newly expanded Kiel Canal, located at the base of the Danish peninsula (Jutland). This canal enabled the German High Seas Fleet to move freely between the Baltic and North Seas without the threat of Royal Navy interference. Back in 1908, Admiral Jackie Fisher, the visionary behind the modern Royal Navy, had foreseen that Germany would initiate war with Britain in the summer of 1914, following the canal’s completion.
See the previous installment or all entries.
