Why did Austria-Hungary go to war during World War 1?

Answer 1

Because Franz Josef I's (the ruler at the time) son was assassinated by Serbians.

TehGrunt's Longer Story

Austria-Hungary entered WW1 because of long withstanding reason to believe Serbia was uniting the Balkans against it. Also, Archduke Franz Ferdinand (Franz Josef I's son) was indeed assassinated, but few of the assassins were Serbians.

An ultimatum was sent to Serbia, but this ultimatum was written so as to be rejected, This ploy worked and Serbia began mobilization. Russia began partial mobilization, and thus the war began

Correction - Franz Ferdinand was not Emperor Franz Josef's son. Franz Josef had one son, Crown Prince Rudolf, who committed suicide in 1889 (however, there are conspiracy theories that he may have been murdered).

Franz Ferdinand was the son of Karl Ludwig, who was Franz Josef's younger brother. After Rudolf's death, Karl Ludwig was the new heir to the throne, however, he quickly abdicated his claim to the throne (he was already around 60 years old, and died of typhoid a few years later). This left Franz Ferdinand, as Karl Ludwig's oldest son, the new heir to the throne.

Franz Ferdinand had three children who you would think would have been in line to take the throne. But the Habsburg family that ruled Austria had a rule that the Emperor had to be married to a woman who was a member of the ruling family in Another Country. Franz Ferdinand fell in love with a countess whose family did not rule a country; Franz Josef refused to accept their marriage, and only eventually did allow it after other emperors and kings convinced him, and Franz Ferdinand had to agree that his children would not be allowed to inherit the throne.

So now it gets even more complicated... after Franz Ferdinand was killed to start World War I and his kids were unable to inherit, the throne should have passed to Karl Ludwig's second son, Otto. However, Otto had already died in 1906. So that meant that Otto's oldest son, Karl, became the new Emperor when Franz Josef finally passed away in 1916- Franz Josef was 86 and had ruled Austria Hungary for nearly 70 years!

Karl ruled for almost 2 years before the Austro-Hungarian Empire dissolved at the end of World War I. Karl did not outlive his Empire for long, and died in 1922. Karl's son, Otto von Habsburg, was considered the "pretender" to the Austrian throne until just a few years ago; the current pretender is Karl von Habsburg, who is now an Austrian businessman. If he were emperor, he'd be Karl II.

Answer 2

Because Franz Josef I's (the ruler at the time) son was assassinated by Serbians.

TehGrunt's Longer Story

Austria-Hungary entered WW1 because of long withstanding reason to believe Serbia was uniting the Balkans against it. Also, Archduke Franz Ferdinand (Franz Josef I's son) was indeed assassinated, but few of the assassins were Serbians.

An ultimatum was sent to Serbia, but this ultimatum was written so as to be rejected, This ploy worked and Serbia began mobilization. Russia began partial mobilization, and thus the war began

Correction - Franz Ferdinand was not Emperor Franz Josef's son. Franz Josef had one son, Crown Prince Rudolf, who committed suicide in 1889 (however, there are conspiracy theories that he may have been murdered).

Franz Ferdinand was the son of Karl Ludwig, who was Franz Josef's younger brother. After Rudolf's death, Karl Ludwig was the new heir to the throne, however, he quickly abdicated his claim to the throne (he was already around 60 years old, and died of typhoid a few years later). This left Franz Ferdinand, as Karl Ludwig's oldest son, the new heir to the throne.

Franz Ferdinand had three children who you would think would have been in line to take the throne. But the Habsburg family that ruled Austria had a rule that the Emperor had to be married to a woman who was a member of the ruling family in Another Country. Franz Ferdinand fell in love with a countess whose family did not rule a country; Franz Josef refused to accept their marriage, and only eventually did allow it after other emperors and kings convinced him, and Franz Ferdinand had to agree that his children would not be allowed to inherit the throne.

So now it gets even more complicated... after Franz Ferdinand was killed to start World War I and his kids were unable to inherit, the throne should have passed to Karl Ludwig's second son, Otto. However, Otto had already died in 1906. So that meant that Otto's oldest son, Karl, became the new Emperor when Franz Josef finally passed away in 1916- Franz Josef was 86 and had ruled Austria Hungary for nearly 70 years!

Karl ruled for almost 2 years before the Austro-Hungarian Empire dissolved at the end of World War I. Karl did not outlive his Empire for long, and died in 1922. Karl's son, Otto von Habsburg, was considered the "pretender" to the Austrian throne until just a few years ago; the current pretender is Karl von Habsburg, who is now an Austrian businessman. If he were emperor, he'd be Karl II.

Answer 3

Short Answer: A group of Bosnian assassins killed the heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary. The assassination took place in Serbia, so Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia and declared war. Serbia got Russia's help, so Austria-Hungary got Germany's help, so France joined. When Germany marched through Belgium to get to France, Britain stepped in to help Belgium. WW1 had started. (Sorry it wasn't that short after all)

Answer 4

Austria-Hungary entered the First World War, aka the "Great War" of 1914-1918 due to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Habsburg throne of Austria-Hungary, by Serbian nationalist Gavrillo Princep. As a result, Austria-Hungary deliverd an ultimatum to Serbia, which was accepted by the Serbians, and should have created a peace. However, due to territorial ambitions, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, and Russia was compelled to assist their ally. The alliance systems brought the other combatants into the war. I hope this helps...sorry if it isn't specific enough though, as I am not a thoroughly learned historian.

Answer 5

One of their top diplomats was visiting a country it had control over and was killed. They declared war on this country causing a cascade of war declarations that engulfed the planet

Answer 6

I believe they were an ally of Germany and they also wanted to take control of other surrounding lands.

Answer 7

Because the Archduke Ferdinand was shot.

Answer 8

They believed Germany would back them.