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The confusion and bloodshed of these conflicts left Serbia with increased territory and emboldened its nationalism. By early 1914, Serbia had doubled its size and solidified its position, inadvertently alarming both Austria-Hungary and Germany, who perceived Serbia as a Russian ally with potentially destabilizing ambitions.
The Road to War: June 1914
The intertwined relationships and mounting animosities among nations in Eastern Europe set the stage for a larger conflict. As tensions reached a boiling point, Austria-Hungary found itself at a crossroads. The growth of Serbian power, perceived as a threat to the stability of the empire, pushed Austria to take decisive action, while Russia felt compelled to support its Slavic neighbor to avert any perceived humiliation.