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Murder of Francis Ferdinanad by a Serbian
videoArcheduke Francis Ferdinand MurderArchiduke Francis Ferdinand, the heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, traveled to the Bosnian city of Sarajevo with his wife Sophia, on June 28, 1914. Conspirator members of the Black Hand, a Serbian terrorist organization that wanted Bosnia to become part of a large Serbian kingdom and be free of Austria-Hungary, waited in the streets to assinate him and his wife. -
Austria-Hungargy Declare War on Serbia
Austria-Hungary Declares War on SerbiaThe Austro-Hungarian government didn't know if the Serbian government was directly involved in the murder and didn't care. They wanted to attack Serbia without intervention of Russia so they got backing of their German allies. Austrian leaders sent an ultimatum that had such strong demands that Serbia had to reject it to protect its sovereignty. This led to Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia. -
Russia Supports Serbia
Russia Supports SerbiaJune 28, Czar Nicholas II ordered partial mobilization of the Russian army against Austria-Hungary. Leaders of Russia informed Czar Nicholas II that he could not order partial mobilization because the was was against Austria-Hungary as well as Germany. If he did this, the army would create chaos. On June 29, he ordered full mobilization. Mobilization was considered an act of war and was the gathering of troops and supplies. -
Germany Declares War on Russia
Germany Declares War on RussiaThe Germany government reacted quickly to Russia declaring full mobilization on Germany, The German government warned Russia that they absolutely must call their full mobilization to a halt within the next 12 hours. Do to their displeasure, Russia ignored their warning, Germany decided to declare war on Russia because of this on August 1, 1914. -
Germany Declares War on France
Germany Declares War on FranceGermany had a military plan, known as the Schlieffen Plan, that called for a two-front war with France and Russia. Germany would have a small holding action against Russia while the majority of the German army did an invasion into France. The army would move along the coastal area through Belgium, defeat France, and then invade Russia. Germany couldn't just mobilize it's troops against Russia because of this plan, so they declared war on France on August 3, 1914. -
Germany Invades Belgium and Britain Declares War on Germany
Video<a href='http://goo.gl/BGHEK'
Germany invades Belgium</a>At the same time that Germany declared war on France because of the Schlieffen Plan, Germany had an issue with Belgium. Germany issued an ultimatum to Belgium demanding the allowance of German troops to pass through Belgian territory. The problem was that Belgian was a neutral territory. Germany violating Belgium's neutrality angered Britian and so Britian declared war on Germany August 4, 1914. -
Austria-Hungary Declares War on Russia
Austria-Hungary Declares War on RussiaThe German 1st, 2nd and 3rd Armies—some 34 divisions of men—were in the process of aligning themselves on the right wing of the German lines, poised to move into Belgium. In total, seven German armies, with a total of 1.5 million soldiers, were being assembled along the Belgian and French frontiers, ready to put the long-held Schlieffen Plan—a sweeping advance through Belgium into France envisioned by former German Chief of Staff Alfred von Schlieffen—into practice. -
US Declares Itself Neutral
Neutral On 19 August 1914 U.S. President Woodrow Wilson addressed Congress and made formally and publicly the U.S. policy of neutrality. During his address he warned U.S. citizens against taking sides in the war for fear of endangering the wider U.S. policy. He said “The effect of the war upon the United States will depend upon what American citizens say and do.” -
Battle of Tannenberg
videoBattle of TannenburgThe Battle of Tannenburg was a decisive engagement between the Russian Empire and the German Empire in the first days of World War I, fought by the Russian First and Second Armies and the German Eighth Army between 23 August and 2 September 1914. The battle resulted in the almost complete destruction of the Russian Second Army. -
Battle of Tsingtao
TsingtaoAt the start of the First World War that squadron was under the command of Admiral Graf von Spee. On learning of the outbreak of war, he took the fleet out of Tsingtao to avoid getting trapping in port. His squadron inflicted an early defeat on the British at the battle of Coronel (1 November 1914), before being destroyed at the battle of the Falkland Islands on 8 December 1914.
