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The Balkan states of Bosnia and Herzegovina, had been annexed from Turkey and taken into the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This was strongly resented by many Serbs and Croats and a nationalist group, The Black Hand, was formed. Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, and his wife, had decided to inspect Austro-Hungarian troops in Bosnia. The date chosen for the inspection was a national day in Bosnia. The Black Hand supplied a group of students with weapons for an assassination attempt to mark the occa
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Austria declared war on Serbia The Austrian government blamed the Serbian government for the assassination of Franz Ferdinand and his wife and declared war on Serbia. Although Russia was allied with Serbia, Germany did not believe that she would mobilise and offered to support Austria if necessary. However, Russia did mobilise and, through their alliance with France, called on the French to mobilise.
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Germany declared war on russia
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The British foreign secretary, Sir Edward Grey, sent an ultimatum to Germany demanding their withdrawal from the neutral Belgium
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Germany did not withdraw from Belgium and Britain declared war on Germany
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Japan declared war on Germany through her alliance with Great Britain, signed in 1902
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Having defeated the Russian Second army, the Germans turned their attention to the Russian First army at Masurian Lakes. Although the Germans were unable to defeat the army completely, over 100,000 Russians were taken prisoner
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Turkey entered the war on the side of the central powers and gave help to a German naval bombardment of Russia
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Because of the help given by Turkey to the German attack of Russia, Russia declared war on Turkey.
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Britain and France, Russia's allies, declared war on Turkey, because of the help given to the German attack on Russia
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British troops had advanced from the northern coast of France to the Belgian town of Mons. Although they initially held off the Germans, they were soon forced to retreat.The British lost a huge number of men at the first battle of Ypres.
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Germany signed an armistice with the Allies , the official date of the end of World War One.
