Editing Black Hand

{{Evil_Organization|Box title = |fullname = Unification or Death|alias = Black Hand (name from 1901-1911)|origin = Serbia|foundation = August 1901|dissolution = 1917|commanders = [[Dragutin Dimitrijević]]|skills = Great influence within Serbia and Bosnia|goals = Unification of South Slavic States (failed)|crimes = [[Mass murder]]<br>[[Terrorism]]<br>[[Genocide]]<br>[[War crimes]]|type of villains = Military Leaders|image=Black Hand, logo.png|type of villain=Military Leaders}}The '''Black Hand''', otherwise known as '''Unification or Death''', was a secret military society that was originally formed in 1901 in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serbia Serbia]. The primary purpose for the group's existence was to advocate for the unification of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Slavs South Slavic] states.

The group is best known for their involvement in the Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914, an event that would ultimately lead to the beginning of [[World War I]].

The group was also involved in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Coup_(Serbia) May Coup], wherein King [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_I_of_Serbia Alexander Obrenović] of Serbia was assassinated.

== Formation ==
In August of 1901, Serbian colonel [[Dragutin Dimitrijević]] and several military officers formed a group that would later become known as the '''Black Hand''', and held their first meeting on September 6, 1901. From here, they planned the May Coup, and carried it out on the night on June 10, 1903 (May 29 in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Style_and_New_Style_dates Old Style]).

== May Coup ==
The May Coup involved the assassinations of King [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_I_of_Serbia Alexander Obrenović], his wife [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draga_Obrenovi%C4%87 Draginja Obrenović], and three other high-ranking officials. In the end, the coup lead to power being transferred to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kara%C4%91or%C4%91evi%C4%87_dynasty Karađorđević dynasty], and the Black Hand gained significant power in the Kingdom of Serbia.

The group officially gained the name '''Unification or Death '''on May 9, 1911, and over the next few years, the group would attain the membership of hundreds.

== Assassination of Franz Ferdinand ==
In 1914, Dimitrijević recruited six people to take out [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archduke_Franz_Ferdinand_of_Austria Archduke Franz Ferdinand] of Austria-Hungary.

On June 28, 1914, the six assassins were present at a scheduled motorcade for Archduke Franz Ferdinand. One of the assassins, 19-year-old [[Gavrillo Princip|Gavrilo Princip]], would eventually be the one to succeed in assassinating him and his wife.

This event had the unintentional effect of triggering the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/July_Crisis July Crisis], which would lead to the beginning of [[World War I]].
[[Category:Assassins]]
[[Category:Military]]
[[Category:Villains of World War 1]]
[[Category:Austria]]
[[Category:Organizations]]
[[Category:Destroyer of Innocence]]
[[Category:Jingoists]]
[[Category:Extremists]]
[[Category:Terrorists]]
[[Category:Conspirators]]
[[Category:Supremacists]]
[[Category:Arrogant]]
[[Category:Provoker]]
[[Category:Anarchist]]
[[Category:Political]]
[[Category:Dissolved Organizations]]
[[Category:European Villains]]
[[Category:Murderer]]
[[Category:Serbia]]