World War II may be far better known to the average person, but there wouldn't have been a Second World War without a First - and not just in terms of wording.

The First World War was the outcome of Clauswitzian doctrine that "War is a continuation of politics by other means." Vast armies - in the millions - were raised. When Europe one again went to war against herself - despite The Great Peace, it was inevitable - these armies would settle the matter in weeks, if not days.

They marched in formations, with bands. They were supported by enormous wings of cavalry. They were going to conquer Europe and be home before the month was out.

***

Archduke Ferdinand was the heir to the Austro-Hungarian imperial throne.

The Austro-Hungarians ruled over southeastern Europe. Right next door was Serbia.

The city of Sarajevo and other Austro-Hungarian controlled territory was considered to be historically Serbia's. It was in their right to start a rebirth of Greater Serbia.

And so the Serbian government sponsored 9 assassins - 8 Serbian, 1 Muslim - when Archduke Ferdinand decided to tour Sarajevo.

The "Black Hand" lined themselves up along a road that Archduke Ferdinand was to be driving along. All but one lost their nerve, though, and failed to do anything.

Nedjelko Cabrinovic threw a bomb but he'd set it to a timer. It bounced off the Archduke's car and detonated, wounding 14 - but not the Archduke.

The motorcade continued and the 9 ran from the scene. They met in a park when Gavrilo Princep, the leader of the group, announced that he wanted a sandwich.

Meanwhile, Archduke Ferdinand was furiously berating the Sarajevo officials at the City Hall reception. Against all advice, he decided that he wanted to go to the hospital where the bomb victims were being treated.

Franz Urban, the Archduke's driver, accidentally took a wrong turn down a side street. As he tried to back up, the car stalled.

Right in front of the sandwich shop where Gavrilo Princep was just walking out, having eaten his sandwich.

He drew his pistol and fired.

***

Princep and Cabrinovec, in custody, refused to speak. They did not reveal who they were working for, or if there were accomplices.

Then, out of the blue, one of the assassins was arrested on a minor charge. Panicking, he confessed the entire plot.

Austro-Hungary could have easily crushed Serbia. Inexplicably, they asked their ally Germany to aid them.

Serbia was allied with Russia. Russia was allied with France. When Russia mobilized, Germany was forced to counter, and France mobilized. When Germany marched into neutral Belgium, the United Kingdom declared war.

When the declarations of war were announced, people celebrated in the streets.

***

They had no idea what they were getting into.

And it was all because of a sandwich.



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