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The Road to Sarajevo
The assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914, started the First World War. This cost more than ten million lives, and overthrew the four ancient and imperial dynasties - Hohenzollern, Habsburg, Ottoman and Romanov - which had ruled most of Europe. The world had not yet outlived the violence and the passions released by this fateful murder, which was itself the climax of many long generations of struggle by the Slavs of southern Europe against Austrian and Turkish tyranny.
Here is the complete and exciting story of how and why the desperate deed was done. It is told with important new material from archives opened only by the Second World War. It is a critical and scholarly survey of the enormous historical literature which has been devoted to this subject. Finally, it is told here for the first time in the context of the land and the people of Gavrilo Princip, the Bosnian schoolboy who fired the fatal shots.
Vladimir Dedijer, a Bosnian himself, has put the story together. It took years of research and detective work on official records and documents, many of which had been kept secret because of the long quarrels of scholars and politicians over the problem of guilt for the 1914-1918 war. It involved conversations with the handfuls of men and women still alive who played some part in the murder more than fifty years ago. The author has sorted out all the tangled charges of responsibility for Princip's act, and examined them for the first time against the all-important background of the history of the South Slavs.
He has written a story of political terror and of what it was that led a group of schoolboys to kill the Archduke and his wife. Here are Colonel Apis, head of the mysterious secret society called the Black Hand, and Bolsheviks like Leon Trotsky and Karl Radek, Austrian politicians, Serbian poets, the Russian Tsar, English Freemasons, anarchist émigrés living in New Jersey. All these walked some part of the road to Sarajevo which is mapped and pictured in this book.
Here is the complete and exciting story of how and why the desperate deed was done. It is told with important new material from archives opened only by the Second World War. It is a critical and scholarly survey of the enormous historical literature which has been devoted to this subject. Finally, it is told here for the first time in the context of the land and the people of Gavrilo Princip, the Bosnian schoolboy who fired the fatal shots.
Vladimir Dedijer, a Bosnian himself, has put the story together. It took years of research and detective work on official records and documents, many of which had been kept secret because of the long quarrels of scholars and politicians over the problem of guilt for the 1914-1918 war. It involved conversations with the handfuls of men and women still alive who played some part in the murder more than fifty years ago. The author has sorted out all the tangled charges of responsibility for Princip's act, and examined them for the first time against the all-important background of the history of the South Slavs.
He has written a story of political terror and of what it was that led a group of schoolboys to kill the Archduke and his wife. Here are Colonel Apis, head of the mysterious secret society called the Black Hand, and Bolsheviks like Leon Trotsky and Karl Radek, Austrian politicians, Serbian poets, the Russian Tsar, English Freemasons, anarchist émigrés living in New Jersey. All these walked some part of the road to Sarajevo which is mapped and pictured in this book.
550 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1966
11 people are currently reading
254 people want to read
About the author
Vladimir Dedijer
53 books8 followersVladimir Dedijer was born on February 4. 1914. in Belgrade, where he spent his childhood and youth. He finished elementary school, high school and journalism, and was actively involved in the workers movement. He edited several newspapers in the country.
Although not a member of any Communist Party or Communist Youth League, Dedijer worked in favor of communist propaganda. He knew the director of "Politika", Vladislav Ribnikar with whom he met Tito's arrival in Belgrade in 1941.
At the time of the rebellion he had to organize the political and propaganda work, to teach communists and work at the "Struggle" as an editor, along with Milovan Djilas. There, their great friendship started.
Vladimir Dedijer was appointed political commissar of the Kragujevac NOP Detachment. Participated in the siege of Kraljevo, in mid-October 1941, when he was wounded in the leg.
After that, he went to the Supreme Headquarters and works in agitation and propaganda department of the war.
After the war, he left to witness the founding of the United Nations in San Francisco. Upon his return, as a very educated man, he gets a place of history teaching NOB at Belgrade University. During the war, he carefully writes his diary, which he publishes after the war.
He was a representative of the Yugoslav delegation at the peace conference in Paris 1946. Upon his return, becomes the editor-in-chief of the "Struggle".
During the conflict with Stalin, he was a member of various negotiating missions. There he began to collect data for his famous work, by which he would later become known - "Contributions to the biography of Josip Broz Tito."
He was a member of the Communist Party's Central Committee since 1952, the Socialist Alliance and the federal committee since 1953. As editor of "Struggle", was accused of arranging Đilas's articles, and was brought before a party committee, then before the court in Belgrade in 1954. He was sentenced to a year and a half (suspended). Later, the court overturned that decision.
Dedijer then decided to retire from political life. He resigned his membership in the Communist Party and Socialist Alliance in August 1954.
After his political career, he began to engage in writing. He went to the U.S. the 1955 where he won the title of professor of historical sciences. Occasionally he came from America to the country in which the research for his book was to be done.
Vladimir Dedijer became a member of the Russell Tribunal, and then the president of the same court that investigated war crimes in Vietnam, human rights violations in Latin America and many others.
He actively worked in the Serbian Academy of Sciences in Belgrade. He was one of the coauthors of the textbook "History of Yugoslavia since 1918", published by the Belgrade "Nolit" in 1972.
After Tito's death, he went back to America, to Washington, where he collected materials for a biography of Tito.
In America, he worked on preparing the Russell Tribunal Court of the Jasenovac concentration camp. To this end, he returned again to Yugoslavia in 1989. and in conjunction with senior research associate Antun Miletic worked on writing a book about Jasenovac.
Towards the end of his life he turned blind, and wanted to come back and die in his country, but died suddenly of a severe heart attack on the 30th of November 1990. in Boston, where he was cremated. His urn was, with all military honors, placed besides his two tragically departed sons in Ljubljana.
As a merit in working together, Antun Miletic (after Dedijer's death) published the book "Against oblivion and taboo - Jasenovac (1941-1945), where in addition to his name, entered the name Vladimir Dedijer.
Although not a member of any Communist Party or Communist Youth League, Dedijer worked in favor of communist propaganda. He knew the director of "Politika", Vladislav Ribnikar with whom he met Tito's arrival in Belgrade in 1941.
At the time of the rebellion he had to organize the political and propaganda work, to teach communists and work at the "Struggle" as an editor, along with Milovan Djilas. There, their great friendship started.
Vladimir Dedijer was appointed political commissar of the Kragujevac NOP Detachment. Participated in the siege of Kraljevo, in mid-October 1941, when he was wounded in the leg.
After that, he went to the Supreme Headquarters and works in agitation and propaganda department of the war.
After the war, he left to witness the founding of the United Nations in San Francisco. Upon his return, as a very educated man, he gets a place of history teaching NOB at Belgrade University. During the war, he carefully writes his diary, which he publishes after the war.
He was a representative of the Yugoslav delegation at the peace conference in Paris 1946. Upon his return, becomes the editor-in-chief of the "Struggle".
During the conflict with Stalin, he was a member of various negotiating missions. There he began to collect data for his famous work, by which he would later become known - "Contributions to the biography of Josip Broz Tito."
He was a member of the Communist Party's Central Committee since 1952, the Socialist Alliance and the federal committee since 1953. As editor of "Struggle", was accused of arranging Đilas's articles, and was brought before a party committee, then before the court in Belgrade in 1954. He was sentenced to a year and a half (suspended). Later, the court overturned that decision.
Dedijer then decided to retire from political life. He resigned his membership in the Communist Party and Socialist Alliance in August 1954.
After his political career, he began to engage in writing. He went to the U.S. the 1955 where he won the title of professor of historical sciences. Occasionally he came from America to the country in which the research for his book was to be done.
Vladimir Dedijer became a member of the Russell Tribunal, and then the president of the same court that investigated war crimes in Vietnam, human rights violations in Latin America and many others.
He actively worked in the Serbian Academy of Sciences in Belgrade. He was one of the coauthors of the textbook "History of Yugoslavia since 1918", published by the Belgrade "Nolit" in 1972.
After Tito's death, he went back to America, to Washington, where he collected materials for a biography of Tito.
In America, he worked on preparing the Russell Tribunal Court of the Jasenovac concentration camp. To this end, he returned again to Yugoslavia in 1989. and in conjunction with senior research associate Antun Miletic worked on writing a book about Jasenovac.
Towards the end of his life he turned blind, and wanted to come back and die in his country, but died suddenly of a severe heart attack on the 30th of November 1990. in Boston, where he was cremated. His urn was, with all military honors, placed besides his two tragically departed sons in Ljubljana.
As a merit in working together, Antun Miletic (after Dedijer's death) published the book "Against oblivion and taboo - Jasenovac (1941-1945), where in addition to his name, entered the name Vladimir Dedijer.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 23, 2025
bez preterivanja, na startu, najbolja knjiga o sarajevskom atentatu. Dedijer kao (vrlo verovatno) najbolji Principov biograf.
razlozi i uzroci izbijanja prvog svetskog rata nanizani savršeno. desio bi se on svakako. to smo svi znali. princip i mladobosanci su samo ubrzali taj proces.
na stranu istorija, knjiga je pitka, jasna. savršeno istorijsko delo.
najveći zaključak koji neko može da izvede iz nje jeste da se političko manipulisanje koje se i dan danas sprovodi među velikosrpskim ustremljačima i nedotupavim četnicima koji veličaju kult mladobosanca i crnorukaša - brate mora da prestane. pored mitologizcije kosova i njegovih junaka, mladobosanci su najviše patili od ove demagoške retorike agresivnih nacionalista (da ne kažem nacoša).
ko voli, nek čita. jer mora ovako nešto da se čita. ko neće da čita, nek se jebe.
razlozi i uzroci izbijanja prvog svetskog rata nanizani savršeno. desio bi se on svakako. to smo svi znali. princip i mladobosanci su samo ubrzali taj proces.
na stranu istorija, knjiga je pitka, jasna. savršeno istorijsko delo.
najveći zaključak koji neko može da izvede iz nje jeste da se političko manipulisanje koje se i dan danas sprovodi među velikosrpskim ustremljačima i nedotupavim četnicima koji veličaju kult mladobosanca i crnorukaša - brate mora da prestane. pored mitologizcije kosova i njegovih junaka, mladobosanci su najviše patili od ove demagoške retorike agresivnih nacionalista (da ne kažem nacoša).
ko voli, nek čita. jer mora ovako nešto da se čita. ko neće da čita, nek se jebe.
April 28, 2014
This ranks with Albertini in terms of an amazing World War One origins book. The only problem with this is that it is the translation of the first edition of "Sarajevo 1914" from the original Serbo-Croatian, which appeared in 1966. In 1978 Dedijer published a second edition, this time expanded to two volumes, with substantial amounts of additional info. It's worth learning Serbo-Croatian just to read the second edition. :-)
July 10, 2014
Highly informative book which shows that Princip was worshiping Yugoslavia rather than Great Serbia. Too pity that he is now used for current political games.
June 8, 2014
Young Serbian anarchist shoots Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Austria declares war on Serbia, Russia declares war on Austria, Germany declares war on Russia, England declares war on Germany and voila! a World War!
Well, it's a lot more complicated than that as Dedijer shows. First, Gavrilo Princep was a Bosnian Serb, so technically Austria should have declared war on her own protectorate - Bosnia-Hercegovina. Also, Franz Ferdinand had plenty of enemies and he might have been assassinated even if Princep hadn't done it. Third, there was a "cult" of the murder of tyrants in the Hapsburg Empire(which is why the Serbs celebrate their defeat in the 14 Century - their hero killed the tyrant Sultan of the Ottoman Empire). Fourth, the assassination was actually an "accident." The 6 conspirators that day had failed at their stations along the Apel Quay. Princeps was actually on his way home when he happened to be on the corner where the Archduke's car took a wrong turn and had to stop and go backwards to the correct route. Fifth, the 6 conspirators were not part of a huge conspiracy based in Serbia; they pretty much worked on their own. And more.
The book is fairly academic but not so much as to be a hard read. It covers over 400 pages but covers Princep's life, the Archduke's hatred of almost anyone who disagreed with him or was of a "lesser" race, and the cultural and intellectual background of the resistance.
What I learned (which I basically knew anyway) was that WWI would have happened whether or not the Archduke had been assassinated. Germany was itching for a war and pretty much forced Austria into declaring war on Serbia. As we can now see, the results were disastrous but probably fore-ordained, war or not.
A fascinating book which should be read by anyone interested in the assassination or the beginnings of WWI.
Well, it's a lot more complicated than that as Dedijer shows. First, Gavrilo Princep was a Bosnian Serb, so technically Austria should have declared war on her own protectorate - Bosnia-Hercegovina. Also, Franz Ferdinand had plenty of enemies and he might have been assassinated even if Princep hadn't done it. Third, there was a "cult" of the murder of tyrants in the Hapsburg Empire(which is why the Serbs celebrate their defeat in the 14 Century - their hero killed the tyrant Sultan of the Ottoman Empire). Fourth, the assassination was actually an "accident." The 6 conspirators that day had failed at their stations along the Apel Quay. Princeps was actually on his way home when he happened to be on the corner where the Archduke's car took a wrong turn and had to stop and go backwards to the correct route. Fifth, the 6 conspirators were not part of a huge conspiracy based in Serbia; they pretty much worked on their own. And more.
The book is fairly academic but not so much as to be a hard read. It covers over 400 pages but covers Princep's life, the Archduke's hatred of almost anyone who disagreed with him or was of a "lesser" race, and the cultural and intellectual background of the resistance.
What I learned (which I basically knew anyway) was that WWI would have happened whether or not the Archduke had been assassinated. Germany was itching for a war and pretty much forced Austria into declaring war on Serbia. As we can now see, the results were disastrous but probably fore-ordained, war or not.
A fascinating book which should be read by anyone interested in the assassination or the beginnings of WWI.
September 15, 2009
Very informative book making use of the archival records of the states that made up Yugoslavia as well as Austria-Hungary, and Germany. This book gives a terrific biograpy of Princip and the other conspirators.
February 6, 2024
The definitive book on the assassination of Franz Ferdinand. It's very thorough, at times overwhelming. I'd say it's not worth reading unless you have a considerable interest in the subject.
May 19, 2025
Przeczytana w wersji tłumaczonej przez Jerzego Chmielewskiego, Ewę Radojićić, Joannę Rapacką i Jana Wierzbickiego wydanej nakładem Wydawnictwa Łódzkiego. Zaznaczone jest, że to Tom I, ale informacji o rzekomym Tomie II znalazłem niewiele.
Długo mi zajęło przebrnięcie przez tą książkę, chociaż paradoksalnie czytało się ją bardzo dobrze. Prosto, czytelnie i przystępnie dla laika nie-historyka Dedijer wyjaśnia pobudki kierujące każdą z person i organizacji działających na terenie Austro-Węgier i Bałkanów, które miały ostatecznie wpływ na wybuch I WŚ. Pierwsze rozdziały zajmują się zarysowaniem ogólnego kontekstu historycznego oraz celów politycznych Monarchii, Serbii i Bośni-Hercegowiny, a kolejne opisują szczegółowo życiorysy i ideologie Franciszka Ferdynanda oraz zamachowców z Sarajewa w bardzo wyczerpujący sposób (wystarczy zerknąć na bibliografię). Autor umiejętnie używa cytatu tam, gdzie to potrzebne.
Gdzie haczyk? Zapewne taki był zamiar autora, ale nie można odnieść wrażenia, że w książce panuje chronologiczny chaos. Na jednej stronie mówimy o wydarzeniach z roku 1916, by w kolejnym zdaniu przenieść się do 1907, a następnie zacytować list z 1878. Żeby nie było - w wielu miejscach taki układ treści jest logicznie uzasadniony, ale przerywa on też imersję, zwłaszcza, gdy użyty jest podczas opisywania życiorysów postaci zamachowców - trzeba się czasami cofnąć, żeby poukładać sobie akapity po kolei w celu odtworzenia historii Principa albo Gaćinovicia. Oprócz tego parada różnych nazwisk, z których nieobeznany w temacie czytelnik zapamięta może 25%. Znowu - trudno winić za to autora, w końcu to powieść historyczna, a każda z przytoczonych postaci historycznych odgrywała przecież ważną rolę w wydarzeniach, ale cóż - efekt jest jaki jest.
Czytelnicy posiadający to samo wydanie co ja zauważą też parę błędów w druku (linijki zamienione miejscami), z którymi spotykam się szczerze pierwszy raz, ale to oczywiście nie wpływa na ocenę książki.
Wyczerpujące materiał kompendium historyczne, z którym warto się zapoznać chociażby dla lepszego zrozumienia podłoża I WŚ.
Długo mi zajęło przebrnięcie przez tą książkę, chociaż paradoksalnie czytało się ją bardzo dobrze. Prosto, czytelnie i przystępnie dla laika nie-historyka Dedijer wyjaśnia pobudki kierujące każdą z person i organizacji działających na terenie Austro-Węgier i Bałkanów, które miały ostatecznie wpływ na wybuch I WŚ. Pierwsze rozdziały zajmują się zarysowaniem ogólnego kontekstu historycznego oraz celów politycznych Monarchii, Serbii i Bośni-Hercegowiny, a kolejne opisują szczegółowo życiorysy i ideologie Franciszka Ferdynanda oraz zamachowców z Sarajewa w bardzo wyczerpujący sposób (wystarczy zerknąć na bibliografię). Autor umiejętnie używa cytatu tam, gdzie to potrzebne.
Gdzie haczyk? Zapewne taki był zamiar autora, ale nie można odnieść wrażenia, że w książce panuje chronologiczny chaos. Na jednej stronie mówimy o wydarzeniach z roku 1916, by w kolejnym zdaniu przenieść się do 1907, a następnie zacytować list z 1878. Żeby nie było - w wielu miejscach taki układ treści jest logicznie uzasadniony, ale przerywa on też imersję, zwłaszcza, gdy użyty jest podczas opisywania życiorysów postaci zamachowców - trzeba się czasami cofnąć, żeby poukładać sobie akapity po kolei w celu odtworzenia historii Principa albo Gaćinovicia. Oprócz tego parada różnych nazwisk, z których nieobeznany w temacie czytelnik zapamięta może 25%. Znowu - trudno winić za to autora, w końcu to powieść historyczna, a każda z przytoczonych postaci historycznych odgrywała przecież ważną rolę w wydarzeniach, ale cóż - efekt jest jaki jest.
Czytelnicy posiadający to samo wydanie co ja zauważą też parę błędów w druku (linijki zamienione miejscami), z którymi spotykam się szczerze pierwszy raz, ale to oczywiście nie wpływa na ocenę książki.
Wyczerpujące materiał kompendium historyczne, z którym warto się zapoznać chociażby dla lepszego zrozumienia podłoża I WŚ.
July 27, 2021
Sarajevski atentan, trebaće vam dugo vremena da pročitate, ali vrijedno je svake sekunde čitanja.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews