Issue: 1/2019

DID THE RUSSIANS WANT WAR? RUSSIAN SOCIATY AND THE SERBIAN‐AUSTRIAN CONFLICT OF 1912‐1913.

Authors:
Nikita S. Gusev

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The First Balkan War, in which Serbia sought access to the Adriatic Sea, be‐ gan in the autumn of 1912. However, Belgrade's claims were disputed in Vienna, w‐ hich advocated the creation of Albania within its borders, thus putting an end to S‐ erbian plans. None of the parties were willing to concede, with the Austro‐Hunga‐ rian government making threats. This article deals with the attitude of different strata of Russian society to the possibility of war in the defense of Serbia and analyzes the reasons for their positions. It is stated that the society became more and more ready for war, but not because of the protection of Serbia, but because of the preservation of a sense of dignity before the aggressive actions of Austria‐Hungary.