Today in 1914 Franz Ferdinand was murdered in Sarajevo.




Today in 1914 Franz Ferdinand was murdered in Sarajevo. 
Five years later, to the day, the Treaty of Versailles was signed, ending the First World War. (11 November 1918 was only a cessation of violence. Versailles marked the official finish)

As well as providing the spark which caused the First World War, the death of Franz Ferdinand removed what had been the most powerful Austrian voice against war. 'I shall never lead a war against Russia. 

I shall make sacrifices to avoid it. A war between Austria & Russia would end either with the overthrow of the Romanovs or…of the Habsburgs – or perhaps…of both..... it would be unforgivable, insane, to start something that would pit us against Russia.’ 

The car in which Franz Ferdinand was shot and his blood stained tunic are in the wonderful Viennese Museum of Military

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