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Serbia's regent AlexanderVintage Video: Serbia's Regent Alexander, 1914
 Updated - Saturday, 29 November, 2003

Following the assassination on 28 June 1914 of the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Austria-Hungary issued a humiliating ultimatum to the Serbian government, whom Vienna held responsible for allowing (or authorising) Serbian terrorists to murder Ferdinand.

Although King Peter I nominally held power in Serbia, permanent illness meant Alexander, his son and regent, wielded effective power.  Although Alexander ceded virtually all of Austria-Hungary's demands it proved insufficient to prevent the latter from declaring war at the close of July 1914.

Click here to view film footage of Alexander in 1914 (Windows Media, 13 seconds, 167KB).

The "Blue Max" was a reference to the prestigious German Pour le Merite medal.

Original Material © Michael Duffy 2000-07, SafeSurf Rated