:red_flag: WW1 1914-1918
28th June - Francis Ferdinand murdered in Sarajevo
28th July - Austrian Empire declares War on Serbia ---> Russia mobilises and Germany declares war on Russia.
3rd August- Germany declares war on France
4th August - Britain declares war on Germany
The Sarajevo Crisis and the Outbreak of War
A Serb terrorist, with Serbian complicity, assassinated Archduke Francis Ferdinand, a moderate, who angered both the Serbs and the status quo Austrians. Austria now determined to crush the South Slav movement, and Germany promised the “blank check” of support. Serbia refused the Austrian ultimatum and brought war, counting on Russian support. Russia counted on France, which itself gave a virtual blank check. Russia began to mobilize, and Germany set in motion its war plan, attacking France through Belgium--counting on British reluctance to act. The Kaiser dismissed Britain’s protests, calling the treaty of Belgian neutrality a “scrap of paper,” and Britain declared war.
Why had war come?
The Alliance system had divided Europe into two entangled, hostile camps. Each was concerned about its
credibility with its allies. Germany feared encirclement by Russia and France; France feared increasing German superiority. Austria and Russia acted recklessly, feeling they had much to gain and little to lose. Germany, moreover, had an internal crisis, with the growing power of the Social Democrats, anti-war and anti-military--while power was held by the arrogant, obstinate Junkers. In addition, the international economy showed the vulnerability of nations