To my peoples! (
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ger ...
''An Meine Völker!'',
Hungarian ''Népeimhez!'',
Czech
Czech may refer to:
* Anything from or related to the Czech Republic, a country in Europe
** Czech language
** Czechs, the people of the area
** Czech culture
** Czech cuisine
* One of three mythical brothers, Lech, Czech, and Rus'
Places
*Czech, ...
''Mým národům!'',
Slovenian
Slovene or Slovenian may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to Slovenia, a country in Central Europe
* Slovene language, a South Slavic language mainly spoken in Slovenia
* Slovenes
The Slovenes, also known as Slovenians ( sl, Sloven ...
''Mojim narodom!'',
Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom
** Italian language, a Romance language
*** Regional Ita ...
''Ai miei popoli!'') was a
manifesto
A manifesto is a published declaration of the intentions, motives, or views of the issuer, be it an individual, group, political party or government. A manifesto usually accepts a previously published opinion or public consensus or promotes a ...
signed by
Franz Joseph I
Franz Joseph I or Francis Joseph I (german: Franz Joseph Karl, hu, Ferenc József Károly, 18 August 1830 – 21 November 1916) was Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary, and the other states of the Habsburg monarchy from 2 December 1848 until his ...
, Emperor of
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary, often referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire,, the Dual Monarchy, or Austria, was a constitutional monarchy and great power in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. It was formed with the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of ...
in
Bad Ischl
Bad Ischl (Austrian German ) is a spa town in Austria. It lies in the southern part of Upper Austria, at the Traun River in the centre of the Salzkammergut region. The town consists of the Katastralgemeinden ''Ahorn'', ''Bad Ischl'', ''Haiden' ...
on July 28, 1914. The text announced the declaration of war on
Serbia
Serbia (, ; Serbian language, Serbian: , , ), officially the Republic of Serbia (Serbian language, Serbian: , , ), is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe, Southeastern and Central Europe, situated at the crossroads of the Pannonian Bas ...
, starting
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
.
"''To my people''" was a typical headline of war
manifesto
A manifesto is a published declaration of the intentions, motives, or views of the issuer, be it an individual, group, political party or government. A manifesto usually accepts a previously published opinion or public consensus or promotes a ...
es; it was used in the declaration of
war
War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militias. It is generally characterized by extreme violence, destruction, and mortality, using regular o ...
on
Prussia
Prussia, , Old Prussian: ''Prūsa'' or ''Prūsija'' was a German state on the southeast coast of the Baltic Sea. It formed the German Empire under Prussian rule when it united the German states in 1871. It was ''de facto'' dissolved by an em ...
in 1866 and in the announcement of the
Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom
** Italian language, a Romance language
*** Regional Ita ...
entry into World War I (against Austria-Hungary) in 1915. Because Austria-Hungary was a
multi-ethnic
Mixed race people are people of more than one race or ethnicity. A variety of terms have been used both historically and presently for mixed race people in a variety of contexts, including ''multiethnic'', ''polyethnic'', occasionally ''bi-ethn ...
empire, 'people' was made plural.
After the
assassination
Assassination is the murder of a prominent or important person, such as a head of state, head of government, politician, world leader, member of a royal family or CEO. The murder of a celebrity, activist, or artist, though they may not have ...
of
Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria
Archduke Franz Ferdinand Carl Ludwig Joseph Maria of Austria, (18 December 1863 – 28 June 1914) was the heir presumptive to the throne of Austria-Hungary. His assassination in Sarajevo was the most immediate cause of World War I.
F ...
, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife
Sophie
Sophie is a version of the female given name Sophia, meaning "wise".
People with the name Born in the Middle Ages
* Sophie, Countess of Bar (c. 1004 or 1018–1093), sovereign Countess of Bar and lady of Mousson
* Sophie of Thuringia, Duchess o ...
in
Sarajevo
Sarajevo ( ; cyrl, Сарајево, ; ''see Names of European cities in different languages (Q–T)#S, names in other languages'') is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a population of 275,524 in its a ...
on June 28, 1914, diplomatic relations between Austria-Hungary and Serbia became strained. After weeks of discussions, government and army leaders of the Empire decided to risk war with Serbia, hoping for a short and victorious campaign.
Emperor Franz Joseph signed the declaration of war in his Imperial Villa in
Bad Ischl
Bad Ischl (Austrian German ) is a spa town in Austria. It lies in the southern part of Upper Austria, at the Traun River in the centre of the Salzkammergut region. The town consists of the Katastralgemeinden ''Ahorn'', ''Bad Ischl'', ''Haiden' ...
on July 28. The document was distributed all over the empire and was widely published on the morning of the next day. At this time, several European countries had already started to mobilize their armies.
The text presents the aggressiveness of Serbia as the reason for the war, claiming that the Empire had tried all the ways to avoid the conflict. The document was signed by Franz Joseph and
Karl von Stürgkh
Count Karl von Stürgkh (30 October 1859 – 21 October 1916) was an Austrian politician and Minister-President of Cisleithania during the 1914 July Crisis that led to the outbreak of World War I. He was shot and killed by the Social Democratic ...
,
minister-president
A minister-president or minister president is the head of government in a number of European countries or subnational governments with a parliamentary or semi-presidential system of government where they preside over the council of ministers. It ...
of Austria. The belief of some that a peaceful solution could be still reached was quickly dashed - all political parties, including the
Social Democrats
Social democracy is a political, social, and economic philosophy within socialism that supports political and economic democracy. As a policy regime, it is described by academics as advocating economic and social interventions to promote so ...
, expressed their support for the war.
On July 29,
Belgrade
Belgrade ( , ;, ; Names of European cities in different languages: B, names in other languages) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Serbia, largest city in Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers a ...
was bombed for the first time. On July 31, Austria-Hungary announced a general mobilization and, on August 12, the
invasion of Serbia started. Other European powers entered World War I in early August.
English translation
The Imperial Rescript and Manifesto.
Ischl, July 28.
Dear Count Stürgkh:
I have resolved to instruct the Ministers of my Household and
Foreign Affairs to notify the Royal Serbian Government of the
beginning of a state of war between the Monarchy and Serbia. In
this fateful hour I feel the need of turning to my beloved peoples.
I command you, therefore, to publish the inclosed manifesto.
MANIFESTO.
To my peoples! It was my fervent wish to consecrate the years
which, by the grace of God, still remain to me, to the works of
peace and to protect my peoples from the heavy sacrifices and
burdens of war. Providence, in its wisdom, has otherwise decreed.
The intrigues of a malevolent opponent compel me, in the defense of
the honor of my Monarchy, for the protection of its dignity and its
position as a power, for the security of its possessions, to grasp
the sword after long years of peace.
With a quickly forgetful ingratitude, the Kingdom of Serbia, which,
from the first beginnings of its independence as a State until
quite recently, had been supported and assisted by my ancestors,
has for years trodden the path of open hostility to
Austria-Hungary. When, after three decades of fruitful work for
peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, I extended my Sovereign rights to
those lands, my decree called forth in the Kingdom of Serbia, whose
rights were in nowise injured, outbreaks of unrestrained passion
and the bitterest hate. My Government at that time employed the
handsome privileges of the stronger, and with extreme consideration
and leniency only requested Serbia to reduce her army to a peace
footing and to promise that, for the future, she would tread the
path of peace and friendship. Guided by the same spirit of
moderation, my Government, when Serbia, two years ago, was
embroiled in a struggle with the Turkish Empire, restricted its
action to the defense of the most serious and vital interests of
the Monarchy. It was to this attitude that Serbia primarily owed
the attainment of the objects of that war.
The hope that the Serbian Kingdom would appreciate the patience and
love of peace of my Government and would keep its word has not been
fulfilled. The flame of its hatred for myself and my house has
blazed always higher; the design to tear from us by force
inseparable portions of Austria-Hungary has been made manifest with
less and less disguise. A criminal propaganda has extended over the
frontier with the object of destroying the foundations of State
order in the southeastern part of the monarchy; of making
the people, to whom I, in my paternal affection, extended my full
confidence, waver in its loyalty to the ruling house and to the
Fatherland; of leading astray its growing youth and inciting it to
mischievous deeds of madness and high treason. A series of
murderous attacks, an organized, carefully prepared, and well
carried out conspiracy, whose fruitful success wounded me and my
loyal peoples to the heart, forms a visible bloody track of those
secret machinations which were operated and directed in Serbia.
A halt must be called to these intolerable proceedings and an end
must be put to the incessant provocations of Serbia. The honor and
dignity of my monarchy must be preserved unimpaired, and its
political, economic, and military development must be guarded from
these continual shocks. In vain did my Government make a last
attempt to accomplish this object by peaceful means and to induce
Serbia, by means of a serious warning, to desist. Serbia has
rejected the just and moderate demands of my Government and refused
to conform to those obligations the fulfillment of which forms the
natural and necessary foundation of peace in the life of peoples
and States. I must therefore proceed by force of arms to secure
those indispensable pledges which alone can insure tranquillity to
my States within and lasting peace without.
In this solemn hour I am fully conscious of the whole significance
of my resolve and my responsibility before the Almighty. I have
examined and weighed everything, and with a serene conscience I set
out on the path to which my duty points. I trust in my peoples,
who, throughout every storm, have always rallied in unity and
loyalty around my throne, and have always been prepared for the
severest sacrifices for the honor, the greatness, and the might of
the Fatherland. I trust in Austria-Hungary's brave and devoted
forces, and I trust in the Almighty to give the victory to my arms.
FRANZ JOSEPH mppria
External links
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German i
CzechEnglish translationat
Project Gutenberg
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World War 1: Declaration of War in Foreign Lands: Austria-Hungary"Austro-Hungarian Government Has Declared War on Serbia" ''The Ogden Standard''. (Ogden City, Utah), 28 July 1914. ''Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers''. Library of Congress.
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Declarations of war during World War I
1914 in Austria-Hungary
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