Abstrakt
The submitted study presents and analyzes the development in the international scene in last weeks before outbreak of World War I. The primary attention is focused on the steps of Austria-Hungary, whose position was markedly weakened due to the Balkan Wars and anti-Austrian activities of Russia.
The author focuses noticeably on assessment of the relations of the Habsburg Monarchy to the allied Germany in context with negotiations of military representatives, the famous Kaiser Wilhelm II's visit to Konopiště in mid-June 1914 and at diplomatic level. Considerable attention is paid to so called Matscheko's memorandum, a document that analyzed in great detail the international position and the outlooks of the Habsburg Monarchy.
The study, of course, evaluates the circumstances and the significance of the assassination of Franz Ferdinand d'Este, Successor to the throne, including the reactions in Europe and in Austria-Hungary. Adequate attention is paid also to the effect of the main factors that influenced the decision of individual great powers to enter the war.