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Serbia was a young nation brimming with national pride, having gained independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1878. Its motto “where dwells a Serb, there is Serbia” encapsulated its territorial ambitions, which did not sit well with its neighbors, particularly Austria-Hungary. Serbia's goal of uniting the southern Slavs implied eliminating Austro-Hungarian influence, a scenario likely requiring military action. However, with a population of fewer than five million, Serbia could not achieve this ambition alone.