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The spark was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary. In 1908, Austria-Hungary had annexed the largely Slavic province of Bosnia. Serbia had wanted Bosnia to create a Slavic (Eastern European ethnic group) empire. In 1914, Ferdinand was invited by Bosnia's governor to see the army run through maneuvers. A Serbian nationalist group, the Black Hand, made multiple attempts on his life. Gavrilo Princip's was a success.
After the assassination, Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia. If the smaller nation didn't comply, there would be war. Russia stepped in to aid its fellow Slavic country. It sent troops to its border with Germany, Austria's ally, as a precaution, but Germany took it as a threat and went to war. Events continued to spiral, dragging Belgium, England, France, Bulgaria, the Ottoman Empire, Italy, Japan and all of those countries colonies into a world-wide conflict.
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What region was described as the powder keg of Europe prior to world war 1?
the balkansThe "Powder keg of Europe", sometimes alternately known as the "BalkanPowder Keg", refers to the Balkans in the early part of the 20th century preceding World War I.
Which area of the world has considered the powder keg of Europe prior to World War 1?
The powder keg of Europe refers to the Balkans, and various European powers that laid claim to the territory. Those countries primarily included Russia, Germany, and Austria-Hungary.
Why were the Balkans known as the powder keg of Europe in the early 1900?
The tensions in the area were rather high, as there were two major conflicting powers (Austro-Hungary and Russia), were heavily involved in the conflict of the region. Austro-Hungary held power over Bosnia, which the Serbian nationalists claimed as part of their country. Russia sided with Serbia, promising to protect them in the event of war. Tensions rose, like a powder keg, just waiting for the spark that would ignite and bring about conflict. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie was the event that led Austria to declare war. This led to a chain reaction of war declarations that began World War I, much like the devastating effects of a powder keg.
What were the Balkans called during World War 1?
The Balkans were called the "Powder Keg of Europe" because they were responsible for World War I starting.
What was the Powder Keg in World War 1?
It was the country of Serbia because there the assassination of archduke Franz Ferdinand took place, therefore igniting the war to start
