Start of World War I
July 28, 1914 · 20th Century
World War I began when Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28, 1914, one month after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The conflict quickly escalated as Russia mobilized in support of Serbia, causing Germany to declare war on Russia (August 1) and France (August 3). When German forces invaded neutral Belgium, Britain entered the war on August 4. What started as a localized European conflict soon became a global war involving 32 nations that would last until November 11, 1918.
Key Figures
Kaiser Wilhelm IITsar Nicholas IIEmperor Franz Joseph I
Locations
ViennaBerlinSaint Petersburg
Topics
WWIwaralliance systemJuly CrisismobilizationEuropean diplomacy
Connected Events — 4 Connections
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Treaty of Versailles was the principal peace agreement concluding World War I imposing terms on the defeated Central Powers Treaty of Versailles
Diverted U.S. attention from Mexico and influenced the Zimmermann Telegram incident involving Mexican-German alliance Mexican Revolution
The Panama Canal opened two weeks after World War I began, immediately serving wartime naval logistics Panama Canal Opens to Commercial Traffic
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