On July 25, 1894, a man was born who played a fatal role in world history. Gavrilo Princip in 1914 shot the heir to the Austrian throne Franz Ferdinand, which was the reason for the outbreak of the First World War. Who was the most famous terrorist of the twentieth century, and what was driving him at that moment?
Gavrilo Principle
Photo: pravda.rs
Gavrilo Princip was born in Bosnia to a peasant family. There are many blank spots in his biography, but it is known that he had a sharp mind and talent in learning languages, his peers considered him brave and honest. He dreamed of the liberation of Bosnia since the age of 13, when he was sent to study in Sarajevo. During his student years, he became a member of a revolutionary circle - radical views were at that time very common among the youth. In 1908, Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbian nationalists fought to make these lands, with the Serb population living on them, part of Greater Serbia. The leading role in the terrorist struggle against Austria-Hungary was played by the revolutionary organization Mlada Bosna (Young Bosnia), of which 17-year-old Gavrilo Princip became a member in 1912.
Archduke Franz Ferdinand with his wife a few minutes before the assassination attempt
Photo: oldpicz.com
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Mlada Bosna and the Black Hand, a secret society of Serbian nationalists influencing it, considered terror to be the most effective method of struggle. Their targets were Austro-Hungarian officials and politicians. In January 1914, a decision was made to attempt on the life of the heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, Archduke Franz Ferdinand. This was supposed to happen on June 28, during the visit of the Archduke to Sarajevo. Gavrilo Princip was one of the six potential executors of the "sentence". It was a matter of honor for each of them to die for their beliefs.
Gavrilo Principle shoots the Archduke
Photo: rubsev.ru
All terrorist performers, besides bombs and revolvers, had ampoules of cyanide, which they were supposed to take after the assassination of the Archduke. The militants were not professional saboteurs, the first three of them simply did not dare to throw the bomb. The fourth did so, but Franz Ferdinand was not hurt. Gavrilo Princip considered the mission a failure and went to a cafe for a sandwich and coffee. When he got out, he saw the Archduke's car in front of him, stuck in a crowd of people. While the driver was trying to turn the car around, Gavrilo took out a revolver and shot at the Archduke and his wife. The case was brought to an end - both died. The terrorist could not commit suicide; in October 1914 he was tried and sentenced to 20 years in prison - minors were not sentenced to death. After 4 years, he died in prison from tuberculosis.
Arrest of Gavrila Princip
Photo: fakti.org
Austria-Hungary presented an ultimatum to Serbia, the head of the Serbian government asked for protection from the Russian Emperor Nicholas II. Following this, Franz Joseph declared war on Serbia, Russia began a general mobilization, Germany demanded to stop it and, receiving no response, declared war on August 1, 1914. Following Russia, Great Britain, France and other countries entered the war. World War I cost 20 million lives.
Arrest of Gavrila Princip
Photo: mtdata.ru
In Serbia, Gavrilo Princip became a national hero, streets in the cities of Serbia, Bosnia and Montenegro were named after him, a monument to Princip was erected in Belgrade. For Serbs, he became a symbol of the idea of liberation and a fighter for independence. For world history - a fatal figure.
Gavrilo Princip and other participants in the assassination attempt on Archduke Ferdinand in the courtroom
Photo: funlib.ru