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Professor Christopher Clark unpicks the complex sequence of events during the July Crisis, leading to outbreak of the First World War, from the perspective of the key centres of decision-making. In 1914, Vienna was the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, ruled by the ancient Hapsburg dynasty. Archduke Franz Ferdinand was the heir to the throne and, after his assassination in Sarajevo on the 28th June 1914, the Austro-Hungarian decision-makers met in Vienna to consider what course of action to take against Serbia. In this programme, Professor Christopher Clark explores the mind-set inside the Austrian administration during the tense days of July 1914, where he says, a 'militant group think' seized hold of the decision-makers, bent on settling their old scores with Serbia. Producer: Melissa FitzGerald A Blakeway production for ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio 4
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