Serbian prisoners of war executed by an Austrian firing squad during WWI.
1917.
Stjepan Filipović, a Croatian Partisan who fought against Axis forces during WWII, moments before his own death by hanging.
Before dying, he thrust out his hands in defiance and yelled, ”Death to fascism, freedom to the people!”
Valjevo, Yugoslavia - May 22, 1942.
While travelling by motorcade through the streets of Sarajevo, six Serbian nationalists, members of a group called the Black Hand, were waiting amongst the crowd of onlookers in various spots hoping to kill him.
The first member with a chance failed to go through in trying to kill him.
However when the motorcade passed by the second nationalist, he took his chance and threw a grenade at the Archduke. The driver was able to spot it and sped away before it could explode. He was unharmed, but people in another car were seriously injured.
The man who threw the grenade swallowed poison and jumped into a river. The poison made him sick but didn’t kill him, and the river was only four inches deep - he was soon arrested.
After the grenade failed it seemed like all hope was lost to assassinate the Archduke. However after the injured were taken to a hospital he asked the driver to change course. Not sure of where he was going, he took a wrong turn onto a street where another assassin was positioned.
The assassin, Gavrilo Princip, had all but given up when he suddenly saw the car of Franz Ferdinand making the turn. Once the driver realized he had made a wrong turn he tried to back up but the car stalled.
Princip seized the opportunity and fired two shots, killing both Franz Ferdinand and his wife. He tried to shoot himself but his gun jammed. He also took poison but it only suceeded in making him sick. He would later die in jail at the age of 23.
This action is seen by many as having been the catalyst that started WWI.
Sarajevo - June 28, 1914.
In the picture above, Gavrilo Princip is the man 2nd from right being arrested.
A UN peacekeeper holding his helmet during the early days of the Bosnian war.
Sarajevo - Summer of 1992.
