RUDN Journal of Russian HistoryRUDN Journal of Russian HistoryВестник Российского университета дружбы народов. Серия: История России2312-86742312-8690Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba (RUDN University)5088410.22363/2312-8674-2026-25-2-410-425LTBOLTSOURCES AND METHODOLOGY OF HISTORICAL RESEARCHИСТОЧНИКИ И МЕТОДОЛОГИЯ ИСТОРИЧЕСКИХ ИССЛЕДОВАНИЙResearch ArticleOutbreak of World War I According toemoirs of N.N. Shebeko, Russian Ambassador to Austria-HungaryНачало Первой мировой войны по воспоминаниям российского посла в Вене Н.Н. Шебекоhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0934-33126346-4054SeleznevFedor A.СелезневФёдор Александрович

Dr. Habil. Hist., Professor, Professor of the Department of Foreign Regional Studies and Local History, Head of the Center for Local History Research at the Institute of International Relations and World History

доктор исторических наук, профессор, профессор кафедры зарубежного регионоведения и локальной истории, руководитель Центра краеведческих исследований Института международных отношений и мировой истории

fseleznev@mail.ruLobachevsky Nizhny Novgorod State UniversityНижегородский государственный университет имени Н.И. Лобачевского30062026252FAR EASTERN CROSS-BORDER OF RUSSIAДАЛЬНЕВОСТОЧНОЕ ТРАНСГРАНИЧЬЕ РОССИИ41042529062026Copyright ©; 2026, Seleznev F.A.Copyright ©; 2026, Селезнев Ф.А.2026Seleznev F.A.Селезнев Ф.А.https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0https://journals.rudn.ru/russian-history/article/view/50884

The study is based on on Russian Ambassador to Austria-Hungary N.N. Shebeko’s unpublished memoirs and reports to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The author sets the task to reveal in Shebeko’s memoirs important and little-known details of the diplomatic conflicts that took place in JuneJuly 1914. These facts are considered in the context of the topical issues of historiography of the July crisis. Special attention is paid to Shebeko’s relationship with Minister of Foreign Affairs S.D. Sazonov. The author considers Shebeko’s proposals to resolve the conflict between Russia and Austria-Hungary due to the ultimatum issued by Vienna to Serbia. According to Shebeko, the Austrians did not want a war with Russia and were afraid of it. The author shows that the Russian ambassador tried to convey to the leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Austria-Hungary the idea that Russia would stand up for Serbia. However, until the beginning of the Russian mobilization, the officials Vienna were confident that Russia would yield without any war. In general, the activities of the Russian ambassador to AustriaHungary during the July crisis can be divided into three stages. At first, he saw no danger of an armed conflict between Austria-Hungary and Russia in the ongoing events and made reassuring reports to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Saint Petersburg. This is important additional evidence that Russia was not preparing for war and did not seek to unleash it. During the second stage, Shebeko focused his efforts on warning the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia about the ultimatum which Austria-Hungary was going to issue to Serbia. He was sure that in this situation Russia would stand up for Serbia and considered it necessary to warn official Vienna about this so that it would moderate its aggressiveness towards Belgrade. During the final stage of the July crisis, N.N. Shebeko continued to seek a compromise between Russia and Austria-Hungary.

Исследование базируется на неопубликованных воспоминаниях и донесениях в МИД российского посла в Вене Н.Н. Шебеко. Свою задачу автор видел в том, чтобы выявить в мемуарах Шебеко важные и малоизвестные детали дипломатических коллизий, имевших место в июне-июле 1914 г. Эти факты рассматриваются в контексте актуальных проблем историографии июльского кризиса. Особое внимание уделено взаимоотношениям Н.Н. Шебеко с министром иностранных дел С.Д. Сазоновым, рассмотрены его предложения по решению конфликта между Россией и Австро-Венгрией в связи с выдвинутым Веной ультиматумом Сербии. По оценке Н.Н. Шебеко, австрийцы не хотели войны с Россией и очень ее боялись. Показано, как российский посол пытался довести до руководства МИД Австро-Венгрии понимание того, что Россия вступится за Сербию. Однако официальная Вена вплоть до начала российской мобилизации была уверена, что Россия уступит без войны. В целом, деятельность российского посла в Вене в период Июльского кризиса можно разделить на три этапа. Поначалу он не видел в происходящих событиях опасность вооруженного конфликта между Австро-Венгрией и Россией и в успокоительном духе информировал МИД. Это служит важным дополнительным свидетельством того, что Россия не готовилась к войне и не стремилась к ее развязыванию. На втором этапе Н.Н. Шебеко сосредоточил свои усилия на том, чтобы предупредить российский МИД об ультиматуме, который Австро-Венгрия собиралась предъявить Сербии. Он был уверен, что Россия в этой ситуации вступится за Сербию, и считал необходимым предупредить об этом официальную Вену, чтобы та умерила свою агрессивность по отношению к Белграду. На завершающем этапе июльского кризиса Н.Н. Шебеко продолжал искать компромисс между Россией и Австро-Венгрией.

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