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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.
He was employed as a messenger at the Massachusetts State House, where in 1908 he would be fatally injured in an accident that trapped his leg in an elevator.
When Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia. You're welcome.
The ruthless general who ruled Venezuela in 1908 that boasted all of Venequela is a cattle ranch was Juan Vicente Gomez. Gomez did not rule for 30 years, however. He served one six year term from 1908 to 1913 and served another term from 1922 to 1929.
Danish ironclad Tordenskjold ended on 1908-05-14.
Franz Ferdinand was called the new oppressor of Serbia because he was heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary. Emperor Franz Joseph had promised limited autonomy to Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Congress of Berlin in 1878 but reneged in 1908 and decided to annex them instead. Radicals decided to assassinate the heir to prompt a fight with Austria-Hungary.
Franz Dübbers was born in 1908.
Franz Leydig died in 1908.
Franz Pfnür was born in 1908.
Franz Zingerle was born in 1908.
Franz Meyers was born in 1908.
Ferdinand Stone was born in 1908.
Franz San Galli died in 1908.
Franz Stangl was born on March 26, 1908.
Franz Stangl was born on March 26, 1908.
Franz von Bodmann was born in 1908.
Franz Bücheler died on 1908-05-03.