The Black Hand

The Black Hand was a secret Serbian nationalist organization active in the early 20th century, particularly known for its role in the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in 1914. Founded in 1911, its members aimed to create a greater Serbia and believed in the use of violence to achieve this goal. The assassination sparked World War I, leading to a major reshaping of Europe. The group’s activities highlighted the tensions between national identities and empires at the time, illustrating how secret societies can influence significant historical events.