1914 Balkan Crisis

The 1914 Balkan Crisis refers to escalating tensions in Southeast Europe before World War I, particularly involving Serbia, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire. Nationalism in the Balkans fueled rivalries, especially after Serbia’s ambition to expand at the expense of Austria-Hungary. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria by a Bosnian Serb in June 1914 triggered a series of alliance-based conflicts. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, leading to a domino effect of alliances pulling various countries into what became a global war. This crisis highlighted the underlying instability and nationalistic fervor in the Balkans.