Muhamed Mehmedbasic

Muhamed Mehmedbasic was born in Bosnia-Herzegovina. A cabinet-maker, Mehmedbasic joined the Black Hand 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, Mehmedbasic was recruited by Danilo Ilic to join the plot to assassinate Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

On Sunday, 28th June, 1914, Franz Ferdinand and Sophie von Chotkovato 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 members of the Black Hand group 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 Muhamed Mehmedbasic. Standing by the Austro-Hungarian Bank, Mehmedbasic lost his nerve and allowed the car pass without taking action. Mehmedbasic later said that a policeman was standing behind him and feared he would be arrested before he had a chance to throw his bomb.

Later that day Franz Ferdinand and Sophie von Chotkovato were assassinated by Gavrilo Princip. Princip and Nedjelko Cabrinovic were captured and interrogated by the police. They eventually gave the names of their fellow conspirators. Mehmedbasic managed to escape to Serbia but Danilo Ilic, Veljko Cubrilovic, Vaso Cubrilovic, Cvijetko Popovic and Misko Jovanovic were arrested and charged with treason and murder.

After the First World War Mehmedbasic returned to Sarajevo and in 1919 was pardoned for his role in the assassination. Muhamed Mehmedbasic died in Sarajevo during the Second World War.