Black Hand

The Black Hand was a secret society in the early 20th century, primarily known for its role in the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in 1914. This act triggered World War I. The group was composed mainly of Serbian nationalists seeking to free Slavic peoples from Austro-Hungarian rule. They employed covert tactics, including terrorism and assassination, to achieve their goals. The term "Black Hand" also refers more broadly to various criminal organizations that use extortion and violence, but in this historical context, it specifically relates to the political and nationalist motivations leading to a major global conflict.