Question

Why was Archduke Francis Ferdinand assassinated? How did Austria-Hungary react?

Answer 1

Hint: In Europe, Africa, and Asia, the war erupted on several fronts. The Western Front, where the Germans fought Britain, France, and, after 1917, the Americans, was the key scenario. The Eastern Front, where the Russians fought against Germans and Austro-Hungarians, was the second front.

Complete answer:
Archduke Francis Ferdinand –
The heir presumptive to the throne of Austria-Hungary was Archduke Franz Ferdinand Carl Ludwig Joseph Maria of Austria (18 December 1863 – 28 June 1914). His assassination in Sarajevo is widely regarded as the catalyst for World War I.

Archduke Francis Ferdinand assassinated and Austria-Hungary reaction -
Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Austria-successor Hungary's to the throne, was assassinated in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, in June 1914. He was assassinated by a Serbian who believed that Serbia could rule Bosnia rather than Austria. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia after its leader was assassinated. As a result of its alliance with Serbia, Russia became involved.
i) The assassination set off a chain of events, with Austria-Hungary blaming the Serbian government for the assassination right away. Due to Russia's strong and influential support for Serbia, Austria requested assurances that Germany would intervene on its behalf against Russia and its allies, which included France and probably the United Kingdom. The fragile peace between Europe's great powers collapsed on July 28, 1914, when Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, starting the destructive conflict known as the First World War.
ii) Since Germany had an alliance with Austria-Hungary, Germany declared war on Russia.
Because of Germany's invasion of neutral Belgium, the United Kingdom declared war on Germany; the United Kingdom had agreed to defend both Belgium and France.
iii) They wanted revenge, so they declared war on Serbia.
iv) Because Germany was a backing ally of Austria and also in Berlin, Kaiser William II was horrified at the assassination of the royal heir Francis Ferdinand.

Note:
i) The assassinations, as well as the arms race, nationalism, imperialism, Imperial Germany's militarism, and the alliance scheme, all led to the outbreak of World War I, which began a month after Franz Ferdinand's death with Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia. The assassination of Ferdinand is widely regarded as the primary cause of World War I.
ii) Archduke Karl succeeded to the throne of Austria-Hungary after his death.
iii) In Austria's Artstetten Castle, Franz Ferdinand is buried with his wife Sophie.