Assassination of Franz Ferdinand

June 28, 1914

On June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie were on an official visit to Sarajevo, Bosnia. While on their way to the Governor's mansion, Nedeljko Čabrinović, a member of Young Bosnia, threw a grenade at the Archduke’s car. However, the grenade missed and detonated under another car in the motorcade, injuring two. With the assassination attempt failing, the members of Young Bosnia dispersed. After some time at the Governor's mansion, the Archduke and Duchess decided it would be right to go to the hospital to check on the bombing victims. En route to the hospital, they encountered Gavrilo Princip, who opened fire on them. One bullet pierced the neck of the Archduke, and the other landed squarely in the abdomen of the Duchess. Both died from their wounds. A crisis ensued thereafter and ultimately the Kaiser declared war on Serbia, starting the domino collapse of alliances that would lead to World War I.