On June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand – the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne – and his wife were assassinated in Sarajevo. They were gunned down by Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb nationalist. At the time, the great monarchies of Europe were linked not only by economic integration, but also by family ties. Still, in the summer of 1914, they were drawn into a conflict that was to have a devastating impact on Europe. The major powers had developed a complicated system of alliances -- but as it began to unravel, they chose sides and prepared for war.

Our report covers the events leading up to that fateful June day. We follow the Archduke and his wife as they visit Illidza and Sarajevo. We also explore the political conditions that were in force at the time, and the complicated chain of events that led to the assassination. For many people, the city of Sarajevo was merely a place they knew from history books – at least until the 1984 Winter Olympics and, later, the Bosnian War.


June 1914 was a date that signaled the end of Europe as it was. We visit Sarajevo to talk to people about the events that took place there a century ago. Our report also features eyewitness accounts, and expert analysis from historians, as we try to determine whether the Great War could have been prevented.

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