The Great War 1914 -1918
World War I (WWI), also known as the First World War, was a global war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918. From the time of its occurrence until the approach of World War II in 1939, it was called simply the World War or the Great War, and thereafter the First World War or World War I. In America it was initially called the European War. More than 9 million combatants were killed: a scale of death impacted by industrial advancements, geographic stalemate and reliance on human wave attacks. It was the fifth-deadliest conflict in world history, paving the way for major political changes, including revolutions in many of the nations involved.
On 28 June 1914, Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb student and member of Young Bosnia, assassinated the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, in Sarajevo, Bosnia. This began a month of diplomatic maneuvering between Austria-Hungary, Germany, Russia, France, and Britain called the July Crisis. Believing correctly that Serbian officials (especially the officers of the Black Hand) were involved in the plot, and wanting to finally end Serbian interference in Bosnia, Austria-Hungary delivered to Serbia the July Ultimatum, a series of ten demands intentionally made unacceptable, intending to provoke a war with Serbia.When Serbia agreed to only eight of the ten demands, Austria-Hungary declared war on 28 July 1914. |
The Russian Empire, unwilling to allow Austria-Hungary to eliminate its influence in the Balkans, and in support of its longtime Serb protégé, ordered a partial mobilisation one day later. Germany mobilised on 30 July. Germany's war plan, the Schlieffen Plan, relied on a quick, massive invasion of France to eliminate the threat on the West, before turning east against Russia. Simultaneously with its mobilisation against Russia, therefore, the German government issued demands that France remain neutral. The French cabinet resisted military pressure to commence immediate mobilisation, and ordered its troops to withdraw 10 km (6 mi) from the border to avoid any incident. France only mobilised on the evening of 2 August, when Germany invaded Belgium and attacked French troops. Germany declared war on Russia on the same day. Britain declared war on Germany on 4 August 1914, following an "unsatisfactory reply" to the British ultimatum that Belgium must be kept neutral.
The declaration of war can be read here.
The full timeline for the Great War can be found here.
The early events of World War One were:
The declaration of war can be read here.
The full timeline for the Great War can be found here.
The early events of World War One were:
- June 28; Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and his wife Sophie (Duchess of Hohenberg) are assassinated in Sarajevo, Bosnia.
- June 29: Secretary of the Austro-Hungarian Legation at Belgrade sends despatch to Vienna accusing Serbian complicity in the assassination.
- July 20: Austria-Hungary sends troops to the Serbian frontier.
- July 25: Serbia orders mobilisation of troops. Russia arranges for troops to be stationed on Russo-Austrian frontier.
- July 28: Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia.
- July 29: Great Britain warns Germany that it cannot remain neutral. Austrians bombard Serbian capital Belgrade. German patrols cross the French border.
- August 1: French military mobilisation ordered. Germany declares war on Russia. Italy announces neutrality. Belgium announces neutrality.
- August 3: Germany declares war on France. Great Britain gives order for troops to mobilise.
- August 4: Germany declares war on Belgium. United States declares neutrality. Great Britain gives Austria-Hungary ultimatum to stand down from hostilities. When Austria-Hungary doesn't comply a state of war is declared at 11.00 p.m.
- August 6: Royal Navy cruiser HMS Amphion is sunk by German mines in the North Sea, causing the death of 150 men and the first British casualties of war.
- August 7: First members of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) land in France.
- August 11: 'Your King and Country Need You' slogan is published, calling for the first 100,000 men to enlist for Kitchener's New Army. The call is answered within two weeks.
- August 13: The first squadrons of the Royal Flying Corps arrive in France.