ASSASSINATION LEADS TO EUROPEAN ALLIED POWERS

WORLD WAR
CENTRAL POWERS

Statement of Inquiry
Alliances between nations with common interests lead to
RUSSIA
conflicts with long-term consequences.
GERMANY
GERMANY
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand FRANCE AUSTRIA-
in June 1914 was the “spark” of the worst war the HUNGARY

world had ever seen. In just over a month, the Bosnia

assassination had led to war between the major OTTOMAN

EMPIRE
powers of Europe (including their colonies)…

June 28, 1914 July 28, 1914 August 1-3, 1914 August 3, 1914 August 4, 1914

Assassination of Austria-Hungary Germany declares Germany invades Britain declares war

Archduke Ferdinand declares war on
Serbia believes the Slavic Serbia; Russia
people of Europe should
mobilizes against
not be ruled by Austria-
Hungary. Bosnia is part Austria-Hungary
of Austria-Hungary, but Austria-Hungary blames
Serbia thinks Bosnia Serbia for the
should belong to them. assassination of their
When Archduke (future archduke. Austria-Hungary
emperor) Franz-Ferdinand declares war on Serbia.
of Austria-Hungary visits Russia, an ally of Serbia,
Bosnia, a radical mobilizes its forces
nationalist group from against Austria-Hungary in
Serbia assassinates him. response.
MAJOR ALLIED POWERS:
Britain, France, Russia (until 1917),
Italy (starting in 1915), and the United States (starting in 1917)
MAJOR CENTRAL POWERS:
Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire (Turkey)
war on Russia and Belgium on its way on Germany
France to attack France Britain has a long-
Germany, to support their Germany’s border with standing treaty with
ally Austria-Hungary, France is too heavily Belgium in which Britain
declares war on Russia. agreed to defend
defended for Germany to
Because Russia is allied Belgium’s independence.
attack France directly.
with France, Germany Germany’s invasion of
Germany asks Belgium
also declares war on Belgium leaves Britain
for permission to attack
France two days later. with no choice but to
France through Belgium.
Meanwhile, Germany honor this treaty and join
Belgium says no, but
makes a secret alliance the war against Germany.
Germany invades
with the Ottoman Empire. Belgium anyway, not
(The Ottoman Empire expecting much of a fight
would join the war in The world is at war!
from this small country.
October 1914.) Germany is wrong, and Because these European
the small Belgian army powers had colonies
around the world, they
fights back harshly.
would draw on those
colonies for soldiers and
resources. This made it
truly a world war.