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Assasination
Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austrian throne, and his wife, visit Sarajevo in Bosnia. A lone assassin shoots and kills them both. Austria believes the killer is linked to the Serbian nationalist movement. -
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia
Britain calls for international mediation. Russia urges German restraint, but then begins partial troop mobilization as a precaution. The Germans warn Russia and begin to mobilize themselves Austria shells bombard Belgrade, the Serbian capital.Russia begins full mobilization. Germany demands that it stop. -
Germany declares war on Russia. France and Belgium begin full mobilization
Germany declares war on France and invades neutral Belgium. Britain delivers an ultimatum to Berlin demanding withdrawal from Belgium. Germany ignores it. -
Britain declares war on Germany
The declaration is binding on the British Empire, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India and South Africa. -
Britain and France declare war on Austria-Hungary,
That mean that Serbia get invaded -
Russia invades Germany
The weary Germans change their plan and turn south before passing Paris. In doing so, they expose their flank. In the Battle of the Marne the French and British halt the great German sweep across northern France, squelching their hope of a lightning victory. Aug 23 - Sep 12 -
Both sides try to outflank each other
side-stepping north in what was called “The Race to the Sea.” When they finally reach the North Sea, Europe is essentially bisected by a front that stretches to the Swiss border. Both sides begin to dig in and the infamous Western Front of trench lines is born. Sep 17 - Oct 19