An “Epic” Conspiracy!

Abstract

Abstract This chapter considers the responsibility question: what group or individual initiated/organized the Sarajevo conspiracy; what motivated them? It breaks the issue into two parts: plot “from above” (Unification or Death, i.e., the Black Hand) or “from below” (Young Bosnians). The chapter argues that the Belgrade “troika” (Princip, Grabež, Čabrinović), driven by their hatred of Habsburg rule, initiated the plot and obtained weapons via an intermediary to the Black Hand. First, however, it situates the conspiracy historically—the alleged belligerency of German Kaiser Wilhelm II and the Balkan Wars (preceded by the Italo-Turkish War). Against arguments that the Black Hand organized the plot for fear of Franz Ferdinand’s federal reforms, this chapter suggests that the weapons handover was motivated by Serbia’s civil-military struggle. Major Vojislav Tankosić, who had close ties to Black Hand leader “Apis,” assisted the Young Bosnians to further the Serb nationalist agenda by overturning the Pašić government.