NationStates Jolt Archive

Population: 4,835,100 (closest approximation)
Peacetime Army size: 100,000
Wartime Army size: 250,000

Serbian Aviation: (attached to artillery units, not a seperate Air Force)

3 Henri Farman HF-20
4 Bleriot XI-2
2 Deperdussin Monocoque Type T
2 R.E.P. Type K
1 DUKS Biplane

- Balonsko odeljenje (Balloon Section)
2 Riedinger 540 cubic meter observation balloons (Germany, 1909)
- Vodonicna centrala (Hydrogen station)

- Golubija posta (Pigeon Postal Service)

Economy: Serbia has always had a very agrarian economy, relying heavily on agricultural exports to sustain itself monetarily. However, this is slowly being changed with rising tensions. Serbia's pittance of a manufacturing base is being slowly expanded and the focus is being shifted to military production in preparation for what is seen as an imminent Austro-Hungarian invasion.

History: The history of Serbia is a long and rich one. The people who now occupy Serbia migrated there in the 7th century AD. It enjoyed a long period of national unity in the Middle Ages, rising to fame throughout Europe. But then it was conquered by the Ottoman Empire, where it was subjugated to harsh rule for many centuries.

In 1804 and 1815, Serbia lead two wars which saw its heightened autonomy from the Ottomans, who nonetheless continued to garrison troops in the Capital until 1867.

Meanwhile, in 1848, the Serbs in the Austrian Empire fought a war in which they also gained their autonomy, but not completely, from the Austrians.

In 1877, however, Serbia joined the war against the Ottomans and Russians, gaining its independance in the struggle. The Kingdom of Serbia was proclaimed in 1882.

In 1908, the Austro-Hungarian Empire sought to annex Bosnia and Herzegovenia, which the Kingdom of Serbia outrightly opposed. German and Austrian pressure, however, moved Russia to intercede and silence the Serbs. The caveat of this was that Russia promised to defend Serbia's sovereignty completely in the future.

In 1912, Serbia invaded Ottoman-held Macedonia with the assistance of her Balkan neighbors and claimed the state for herself, liberating the people there. Later that year and into the next, Bulgaria prosecuted a war against Serbia to take Macedonia, but the attempt failed.

Serbian nationalists in the Austro-Hungarian-held Bosnia have assassinated the Archduke Franz Ferdinand, sparking rumors of war. Already the Serbian Army is mobilising in defense of the country.

Thursday July 23rd, 1914

An Austro-Hungarian Messenger rides to Belgrade.

He is ushered into the Palace and gives the long list of demands to King Alexander I himself. He tells the king he has two days for a response. He then returns to his homeland, whom in the aftermath of the tragic assassination, is both mourning and mobilizing. The king glances at the list, skipping through the boring pre-amble (OOC: because its boring) and got right to the demands laid before him.

The Royal Serbian Government shall further undertake:

(1) To suppress any publication which incites to hatred and contempt of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and the general tendency of which is directed against its territorial integrity;

(2) To dissolve immediately the society styled "Narodna Odbrana," to confiscate all its means of propaganda, and to proceed in the same manner against other societies and their branches in Serbia which engage in propaganda against the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. The Royal Government shall take the necessary measures to prevent the societies dissolved from continuing their activity under another name and form;

(3) To eliminate without delay from public instruction in Serbia, both as regards the teaching body and also as regards the methods of instruction, everything that serves, or might serve, to foment the propaganda against Austria-Hungary;

(4) To remove from the military service, and from the administration in general, all officers and functionaries guilty of propaganda against the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy whose names and deeds the Austro-Hungarian Government reserve to themselves the right of communicating to the Royal Government;

(5) To accept the collaboration in Serbia of representatives of the Austro-Hungarian Government for the suppression of the subversive movement directed against the territorial integrity of the Monarchy;

(6) To take judicial proceedings against accessories to the plot of the 28th of June who are on Serbian territory; delegates of the Austro-Hungarian Government will take part in the investigation relating thereto;

(7) To proceed without delay to the arrest of Major Voija Tankositch and of the individual named Milan Ciganovitch, a Serbian State employee, who have been compromised by the results of the magisterial inquiry at Serajevo;

(8) To prevent by effective measures the cooperation of the Serbian authorities in the illicit traffic in arms and explosives across the frontier, to dismiss and punish severely the officials of the frontier service at Shabatz Loznica guilty of having assisted the perpetrators of the Serajevo crime by facilitating their passage across the frontier;

(9) To furnish the Imperial and Royal Government with explanations regarding the unjustifiable utterances of high Serbian officials, both in Serbia and abroad, who, notwithstanding their official position, have not hesitated since the crime of the 28th of June to express themselves in interviews in terms of hostility to the Austro-Hungarian Government; and, finally,

(10) To notify the Imperial and Royal Government without delay of the execution of the measures comprised under the preceding heads.
The Austro-Hungarian Government expect the reply of the Royal Government at the latest by 5 o'clock on Saturday evening the 25th of July.

(OOC: Acual list of demands, figured i'd start out historicly accurate, and slowly move towards my own thing.)

Far away, The Emperor Franz Josef I, sat in his throne, awaiting for a response..and possibly, awaiting war.

OOC: For clarity, I will reply to all the demands with quotations to them, seperately.

IC-

Alexander I had been shocked by the preceeding weeks, just as shocked as anyone in Serbija and the world proper. He knew that the ultimatum on his desk was absolute, that unless he capitulated fully, there would be war unlike any other. Russia would come to his defense, undoubtedly, bringing the German ire against them. This, in turn, would bring France against Germany, and who knew what else would unfold after that.

But Alexander was also a man of his principles; of his people. And besides, his capitulation to the demands would surely mean a coup d'etat, which would result in all the more bloodshed. So, with laboured thoughts, he responded to the demands.


[I]The Royal Serbian Government shall further undertake:

(1) To suppress any publication which incites to hatred and contempt of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and the general tendency of which is directed against its territorial integrity;

This I cannot do in good conscience, lest I be seen as merely a puppet to your throne. In which case, I would have no power to govern my people. I have to deny this demand.

(2) To dissolve immediately the society styled "Narodna Odbrana," to confiscate all its means of propaganda, and to proceed in the same manner against other societies and their branches in Serbia which engage in propaganda against the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. The Royal Government shall take the necessary measures to prevent the societies dissolved from continuing their activity under another name and form;

This seems fair, and shall be undertaken immediately.

(3) To eliminate without delay from public instruction in Serbia, both as regards the teaching body and also as regards the methods of instruction, everything that serves, or might serve, to foment the propaganda against Austria-Hungary;

This, also, is acceptable.

(4) To remove from the military service, and from the administration in general, all officers and functionaries guilty of propaganda against the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy whose names and deeds the Austro-Hungarian Government reserve to themselves the right of communicating to the Royal Government;

This I shall, begrudgingly, oblidge to do.

(5) To accept the collaboration in Serbia of representatives of the Austro-Hungarian Government for the suppression of the subversive movement directed against the territorial integrity of the Monarchy;

Absolutely not.

(6) To take judicial proceedings against accessories to the plot of the 28th of June who are on Serbian territory; delegates of the Austro-Hungarian Government will take part in the investigation relating thereto;

This is already happening, I assure you.

(7) To proceed without delay to the arrest of Major Voija Tankositch and of the individual named Milan Ciganovitch, a Serbian State employee, who have been compromised by the results of the magisterial inquiry at Serajevo;

As I write this, this is being done.

(8) To prevent by effective measures the cooperation of the Serbian authorities in the illicit traffic in arms and explosives across the frontier, to dismiss and punish severely the officials of the frontier service at Shabatz Loznica guilty of having assisted the perpetrators of the Serajevo crime by facilitating their passage across the frontier;

Absolutely.

(9) To furnish the Imperial and Royal Government with explanations regarding the unjustifiable utterances of high Serbian officials, both in Serbia and abroad, who, notwithstanding their official position, have not hesitated since the crime of the 28th of June to express themselves in interviews in terms of hostility to the Austro-Hungarian Government; and, finally,

This, I cannot do.

(10) To notify the Imperial and Royal Government without delay of the execution of the measures comprised under the preceding heads.
The Austro-Hungarian Government expect the reply of the Royal Government at the latest by 5 o'clock on Saturday evening the 25th of July.

I have aquiesced to measures 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8. I hope to God that this is enough.

OOC: The real-life Serbija agreed to much more, all but ONE of the demands (I believe), and Austria STILL (obviously) invaded them.

Bump for Austria-Hungary's reply.

Emperor Franz Josef looked over the reply of the Serbian government with a malevolent smile. They had refused, as he knew they would, and now he had the chance to do what he had hoped for. Sitting down behind a thick desk, he drew a deep breath and began to compose his reply.

King Alexander,

I have received your nations reply to our requests and your failure to comply disgusts me. My people grieve over the loss of the Archuduke and we have no course of action other than to declare war. You have made yourself an enemy in Austria-Hungary that you may not live to regret.

Emperor Franz Josef

It was done. War would come.

Communique from Nicholas the II

Dear Sir,

We see the travesty against you caused by the derelict Austrian government, and will aid you in all ways possible. We have sworn an oath to protect all those of Slavic blood, and shall not back down despite cloaked German threats. Your Allies are behind you, may you make them pay in blood for their arrogance, all Russia asks is that you hold on.

Respectivally Your Ally.