The outbreak of war: summer 1914
It was a crisis in the Balkans in the summer of 1914 that led directly to war.
By 1914, Serbia, supported by Russia, was determined to create a large Slavic state in the Balkans. Austria-Hungary was determined that this would not happen. Many Europeans anticipated war. (Serbia&Rus vs Austria)
On June 28, 1914, Archduke Francis Ferdinand, the heir to the throne of Austria- Hungary, visited the Bosnian city of Sarajevo. Members of the Black Hand made plans to kill him. The Black Hand was a Serbian terrorist organization that wanted Bosnia to be free of Austria-Hungary. An attempt to kill the archduke with a bomb was unsuccessful. Later in the day, however, Gavrilo Princip, a 19-year-old Bosnian Serb, shot and killed both the archduke and his wife.
Austrian leaders wanted to attack Serbia, but they feared that Russia would intervene on Serbia’s behalf
The Austrians asked their German allies for help. Emperor William II of Germany agreed to give Austria-Hungary his full support. Austrian leaders sent an ultimatum to Serbia on July 23. Many of the demands were so extreme that Serbia had no choice but to reject some of them. On July 28, Austria- Hungary declared war on Serbia. Russia was determined to support Serbia
On July 29, The German government warned Russia that it must stop its mobilization. When Russia refused, Germany declared war on Russia on August 1 Austria&Germany vs Serbia&Russia
The Schlieffen Plan
Alfred von Schlieffen had drawn up a plan that called for war against both Russia and France.
According to the Schlieffen Plan, Germany would conduct a small holding action against Russia while most of the German army would carry out a rapid invasion of France. According to the Schlieffen Plan, Germany would invade France by moving quickly along the level coastal area through Belgium. After France was defeated, the German invaders would move to the east against Russia.
On August 4, Great Britain declared war on Germany for violating Belgian neutrality
