How did the 1st world war start?

Question

TIMELINE THREE FUSES AND 1 SPARK

Answer 1

A serbian assassin executed Archduke Franz Ferdinand from Austria-Hungary, the Austrains and Germans were waiting on an excuse to go to war and that gave them the perfect excuse

Answer 2

The actual event that started the war was the assassination of Arch-Duke Franz-Ferdinand, by the Serbian, Gavrilo Princip. Princip belonged a group called the Black Hand, who among other things demanded independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. When Austria demanded that Serbia take the blame for the assassination, and that Austrian agent would be able to take part in the investigation. Serbia accepted all but the “assistance” of the Austrian agents, feeling they could since they had the backing of Russia at the time. Austria declared war and mobilized. The Russians set in motion their mobilization plan, which mobilized troops on all fronts, which included the German-Russian border. Germany sent an ultimatum to Russia to demobilize its troops on the German border, but Russia’s mobilization plans were such that it could mobilize all of its troops or none. This left Russia with the choice of acquiescing to Germany and leaving Serbia by itself against the Austro-Hungarian Empire, or go to war with Germany also. The German deadline of 12 hours left little time for the Russians to do anything, and on August 1, 1914 Germany declared war on Russia. The Russians had a pact with Britain and France, in which any signatory would support the other if faced with war. Germany seeking to knock out France quickly, occupied Luxembourg and sought permission for Belgium to cross its borders to attack France. Belgium refused, and Germany then occupied Belgium as it also invaded France. The United Kingdom then joined the fray when Belgian neutrality was violated. The United States, Italy and Japan would enter the war later and for other reasons.

Answer 3

On June 28, 1914, Gavrilo Princip assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austrian throne, in Sarajevo. Princip was a member of Young Bosnia, a group whose aims included the unification of the South Slavs and independence from Austria-Hungary. The assassination in Sarajevo set into motion a series of fast-moving events that escalated into a full-scale war. However, the distal causes of the conflict are multiple and complex. Historians and political scientists have grappled with them for nearly a century without reaching a consensus on what definitively could be said to have caused the war.

Answer 4

Ferdinand was assassinated by a Bosnian

Austria-Hungary decided to retaliate against Serbia because the Bosnian terrorists were based in Serbia and it was believed Serbia was involved.

The Austrian Prime Minister asked for and got the support of the Germans

The Serbians asked the Russians for support, which they got as the Russians were concerned about the Austrians annexing Serbia

The Russians started to mobilise and the Germans retaliated against the Russians using a battle plan from 1907 which required them to attack France first (because of the Franco-Russian alliance of 1905)

Belgium was neutral and the Germans requested permission to send troops across Belgium to get to France. The Belgians refused but the Germans sent them anyway.

Under a treaty from 1839, the British then had to attack the Germans as under the treaty Britain guaranteed Belgian neutrality

Answer 5

Spark: The assasination of the Duke.

3 Fuses:
Nationalitionization
Militarization
Interlocking Alliances

Answer 6

The assassination of Arch-Duke Franz-Ferdinand by a Serbian Nationalist named Princip. Austria then declared war on Serbia, who in turn asked for and received help from Russia. Austria then sought Germany's aid. By the Entente Cordiale between Russia, France and the UK - once Russia mobilised it's armies against Austria and Germany it obliged France and the UK to come to its aid and both countries also mobilised their armed forces and declared war.

Answer 7

The Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated

Answer 8

The whole damn continent of Europe was itching for war and the assassination of Ferdinand gave them the excuse they were looking for.

Before the war, Kaiser Wilhelm was asked what he thought would start a war. He answered, "Some damn fool thing in the Balkans."

He was right.

Answer 9

Austrian Archduke Ferdinand was in Serbia when he was assissinated by a Serbian nationalist. Austria then declared war on Serbia. Germany had a pact with Austria to join it when it went to war, so it did. Europe was littered with these pacts, so eventually all of Europe was embroiled in war, all over one political assassination.

Answer 10

Sarajevo

Duke Ferdinand was assassinated - Wilhelm wanted a "place in the sun" and was an excellent situation in which to show off German supremacy.