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Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his Family are Assassinated
Archduke of Austria, Franz Ferdinand, with his wife and children, were assassinated by a Serbian nationalist group. This incident sparks the period known as the "July Crisis." -
Germany's "Blank Check" Status is Assured to Austria-Hungary
Wilhelm II of Germany assured Austria-Hungary of their support in whatever method Austria-Hungary wished to use in response to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. -
Austria-Hungary Declares War on Serbia
Following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia. -
Austrian Military Bombards Belgrade
The first confrontation of military power during the preface to World War I occurred with bombardment of Serbian Belgrade. -
Russian Military Fully Mobilized
Tsar Nicholas II orders full mobilization of the military. He sends his troops to aid the Serbians in their defense against Austrian invasion. -
Period: to
Multitude of Formal War Declarations
August 1st: Germany v Russia; France orders full military mobilization; Italy declares neutrality in the event of war
August 3rd: Germany v France; Germany begins invasion of France, Belgium, and Luxembourg
August 4th: Great Britain v Germany & Austria; Australia, Canada, and New Zealand follow Great Britain and declare war on Germany
August 6th: Austria-Hungary v Russia; Germany v Serbia -
Alliances
Image of alliances established by the 6th of August, 1914. -
Germans Torpedo the William P. Frye
The American cargo ship William P. Frye was torpedoed and sunk by German U-Boats. While Germany would later apologize for the attack, it further spurred discussion of US involvement in the war. Germany will later send an official declaration promising to cease U-Boat activity. -
RMS Lusitania is Sunk
The ocean liner RMS Lusitania was torpedoed by German submarines, causing it to sink. Twelve-hundred people lost their lives, many of them were innocent civilians. It is worth mention that until this point, the United States had remained largely uninvolved in the tangle of alliances and skirmishes in Europe. The Lusitania had US passengers aboard, this stirred feelings that maybe they US should get involved. -
U-Boat Activity Restricted
The German government puts an end to its policy of unrestricted activity for U-Boats, instead redeploying them in the Mediterranean. -
President Wilson Calls On Germany to Stop U-Boats from Sinking Civilian Vessels
Woodrow Wilson requests that German U-Boats stop sinking unmilitary vessels without provocation. Germany had previously promised they would cease, but failed to do so. -
