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The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914 acted as a catalyst for World War I, which led to a fracturing of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Amidst the chaos, South Slavic leaders began discussions about their future. In 1917, the Serbian government-in-exile gathered with academics from Austria-Hungary to form a vision for a post-war South Slavic state. Despite Serbia’s desire for complete annexation of the new territories, mounting pressures necessitated concessions.