In October 1908, Austria-Hungary annexed neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina, putting Europe on the brink of a major war. For several months, the entire Old World waited with bated breath for a denouement. Everyone followed the attempts of diplomats and politicians to avoid disaster. These events became known as the Bosnian Crisis. As a result, the great powers managed to agree, and the conflict was smoothed out. However, time has shown that it is the Balkans that are the explosive point of Europe. Today, the Bosnian crisis is seen as one of the preludes to World War I.
Background
After the end of the Russian-Turkish war of 1877 - 1878. An international congress was held in Berlin, which formalized the new alignment of forces in the Balkans. According to the 25th article of the treaty signed in the capital of Germany, Bosnia, which previously belonged to the Ottoman Empire, was occupied by Austria-Hungary. However, this decision was challenged by the delegation from Serbia. This country itself had just liberated itself from Turkish rule, and its government was afraid that concessions to the Habsburg empire would lead to the Austrians eventually taking Belgrade.
These fears had their own ground. The Habsburgs have long built an imagecollectors of Slavic lands (Slavs made up 60% of the population of Austria-Hungary). This was due to the fact that the emperors in Vienna could not unite Germany under their scepter (Prussia did this), as a result, they turned their gaze to the east. Austria already controlled Bohemia, Slovenia, Croatia, Slovakia, Bukovina, Galicia, Krakow and didn't want to stop there.
Temporary calm
After 1878, Bosnia remained under the occupation of Austria, although its legal status was never finally determined. This issue has been put on hold for some time. Serbia's main partner in international politics was Russia (also a Slavic and Orthodox country). Belgrade's interests were systematically defended in St. Petersburg. The empire could put pressure on the Habsburgs, but did not do so. This was due to the signing of a tripartite agreement between Russia, Germany and Austria. Countries gave each other guarantees of non-aggression in the event of a war.
This system of relations suited Alexander II and Alexander III, so the Bosnian crisis was briefly forgotten. The "Union of Three Emperors" finally collapsed in 1887 due to contradictions between Austria and Russia related to Bulgaria and Serbia. After this break in Vienna, they ceased to be bound by any obligations to the Romanovs. Gradually, militaristic and predatory sentiments towards Bosnia grew more and more in Austria.
Interests of Serbia and Turkey
The Balkans have always been a huge cauldron with a motley ethnic population. The peoples weremixed with each other, and it was often difficult to determine which land was by majority right. So it was with Bosnia. In the second half of the 19th century, 50% of its population were Serbs. They were Orthodox, while the Bosnians were Muslims. But even their internal contradictions paled before the Austrian threat.
Another side of the conflict was the Ottoman Empire. The Turkish state has been in a political crisis for many decades. Previously, all the Balkans and even Hungary belonged to this empire, and its troops besieged Vienna twice. But at the beginning of the 20th century, there was no trace of the former splendor and grandeur. The Ottoman Empire owned a small piece of land in Thrace and was surrounded by hostile Slavic states in Europe.
Shortly before the Bosnian crisis occurred, in the summer of 1908, the Young Turk Revolution broke out in Turkey. The power of the sultans was limited, and the new government again began to loudly declare its claims to the former Balkan provinces.
Actions of Austrian diplomacy
The Austrians, in order to finally annex Bosnia, had to be opposed not only by the Turks, but also by many European powers: Russia, France, Great Britain, Italy and Serbia. The Habsburg government, as usual, decided first to negotiate with the powers of the Old World. Negotiations with the diplomats of these countries were led by Alois von Ehrenthal, who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Italians were the first to compromise. They succeededconvince to support Austria-Hungary in exchange for the fact that Vienna will not interfere in their war with Turkey for the possession of Libya. The Sultan agreed to cede Bosnia definitively after being promised compensation of 2.5 million pounds. Traditionally Austria was supported by Germany. Wilhelm II personally put pressure on the Sultan, over whom he had great influence.
Negotiations between Russia and Austria-Hungary
The Bosnian crisis of 1908 could have ended in disaster if Russia opposed annexation. Therefore, the negotiations between Erenthal and Alexander Izvolsky (also Minister of Foreign Affairs) were especially long and stubborn. In September, the parties came to a preliminary agreement. Russia agreed to the annexation of Bosnia, while Austria promised to recognize the right of Russian warships to freely pass through the Black Sea straits controlled by Turkey.
In fact, this meant the rejection of the previous Berlin agreements of 1878. The situation was complicated by the fact that Izvolsky negotiated without a sanction from above, and Erental played a double game. The diplomats agreed that the annexation would take place a little later, when a convenient, agreed-upon moment would come. However, just a few days after Izvolsky's departure, the Bosnian crisis began. The international conflict was provoked by Austria, which on October 5 announced the annexation of the disputed province. After that, Izvolsky refused to honor the agreements.
Reaction to annexation
Dissatisfaction with ViennaThe decision was expressed by the authorities of Russia, Great Britain and France. These countries have already created the Entente - an alliance directed against the growing Germany and its faithful ally Austria. Notes of protest poured into Vienna.
However, Britain and France did not take other decisive action. The Bosnian issue was treated much more indifferently in London and Paris than the problem of ownership of the Black Sea straits.
Mobilization in Serbia and Montenegro
If in the West the annexation was "swallowed", then in Serbia the news from Vienna led to popular unrest. On October 6 (the day after the annexation), the country's authorities announced the mobilization.
The same was done in neighboring Montenegro. In both Slavic countries, it was believed that it was necessary to go to the rescue of the Serbs living in Bosnia, who faced the threat of Austrian rule.
Climax
On October 8, the German government informed Vienna that in the event of an armed conflict, the empire could count on the support of its northern neighbor. This gesture was important to the militarists in the Habsburg monarchy. The leader of the "militant" party was the chief of the general staff, Konrad von Hetzendorf. Upon learning of German support, he suggested to Emperor Franz Joseph that he speak to the Serbs from a position of strength. Thus, the Bosnian crisis of 1908 became a serious threat to peace. Both great powers and small states began to prepare for war.
The Austrian troops began to pull togetherto the border. The only reason for the lack of an attack order was the understanding of the authorities that Russia would stand up for Serbia, which would lead to much more problems than one "small victory".
Bosnian Crisis 1908 - 1909 briefly described in this article. Undoubtedly, he touched too many interests in the political arena.
Results and consequences
In Russia, the government stated that the country is not ready for a war on two fronts against Germany and Austria, if it still supports the Serbs to the end. Prime Minister Pyotr Stolypin was the principal. He did not want war, fearing that it would lead to another revolution (in the future this happened). In addition, just a few years ago, the country was defeated by the Japanese, which spoke of the deplorable state of the army.
Negotiations remained in limbo for several months. Germany's move was decisive. The ambassador of this country in Russia, Friedrich von Pourtales, delivered an ultimatum to St. Petersburg: either Russia recognizes the annexation, or a war will begin against Serbia. There was only one way to end the Bosnian Crisis of 1908-1909, the results of which reverberated throughout the Balkans for a long time to come.
Russia put pressure on Serbia, and the latter recognized the annexation. The Bosnian Crisis of 1908 ended without bloodshed. Its political results showed up later. Although outwardly everything ended well, the contradictions between the Serbs and the Austrians only intensified. The Slavs did not want to live under the rule of the Habsburgs. As a result, in 1914 in SarajevoSerbian terrorist Gavrilo Princip killed the heir to the Austrian monarchy, Franz Ferdinand, with a pistol shot. This event was the reason for the start of the First World War.
