Muhamed Mehmedbašić

One of the streets in Banja Luka carries his name

Muhamed Mehmedbašić (1886–1943) was a Bosniak/Muslim revolutionary and participant in the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria.

Background

A member of Bosnia's Muslim nobility (what?), Mehmedbašić joined Mlada Bosna, the Serbian secret society and in 1914 was chosen to assassinate General Oskar Potiorek, Governor of the Austrian provinces of Bosnia-Herzegovina, with a poisoned dagger. After one failed attempt, Mehmedbašić was recruited by Danilo Ilić to join the plot to assassinate Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria.^[1]

On Sunday, June 28, 1914, the Archduke and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, arrived in Sarajevo by train. General Oskar Potiorek, Governor of the Austrian provinces of Bosnia-Herzegovina, was waiting to take the royal party to the City Hall for the official reception.

Seven assassins lined the route. They were spaced out along the Appel Quay, each one had been instructed to try and kill Franz Ferdinand when the royal car reached his position. The first conspirator on the route to see the royal car was Muhammed Mehmedbašić. Standing by the Austro-Hungarian Bank, but Mehmedbašić did not take action. Mehmedbašić later said that a policeman was standing behind him ( naebhour advising Him not to ruin his life..)and feared he would be arrested before he had a chance to throw his bomb (shoot a pistol).

Later that day the Archduke and his wife were assassinated by Gavrilo Princip. Princip and Nedeljko Čabrinović, that throw a grande were captured and interrogated by the police. They eventually gave the names of their fellow conspirators, after torturing. Mehmedbašić managed to escape to Montenegro but Danilo Ilić, Veljko Čubrilović, Vaso Čubrilović, Cvjetko Popović and Miško Jovanović were arrested and charged with treason and murder. On 12 July, Mehmedbašić was apprehended by Montenegrin authorities however before he was extradited he escaped from his prison in Nikšić two days later.^[2] Hapsburg authorities suspected Montenegrin collusion in his escape and arrested the gendarmes who guarded Mehmedbašić.^[2] During his captivity Mehmedbašić admitted his complicity in the assassination of Ferdinand.^[2]

After the First World War Mehmedbašić returned to Sarajevo and in 1919 was pardoned for his role in the assassination. Lived and proclaimed himself as Serb. Muhamed Mehmedbašić was killed by Croats Fascists Ustaše, in Sarajevo, on May 29, 1943, during the Second World War. Berried by his youngest son dr. Vladimir and a neighbor in cover of the night. His son and daughter still live today ( 2011).

References

1. ^ Kantowicz, Edward R. (1999). The Rage of Nations. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. p. 97. ISBN 0802844553. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} Treadway, John D. (1983). The Falcon and the Eagle: Montenegro and Austria-Hungary, 1908-1914. Purdue University Press. pp. 185–186. ISBN 1557531463. 

• Black Hand Over Europe, Henri Pozzi, 1935
• The Black Hand: The Secret Serbian Terrorist Society, Micheal Shackelford [1]

Persondata
Name	Mehmedbasic, Muhamed
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1886
Place of birth
Date of death	1943
Place of death