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June 28, 1914, he was shot dead by Bosnian Serb. The political objective of the assassination was to break off Austria-Hungary's south-Slav provinces so they could be combined into a Greater Serbia or a Yugoslavia.
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It was a major war centred on Europe that began in the summer of 1914. Ferdinand's assassination by a Yugoslav nationalist resulted in a Habsburg ultimatum against the Kingdom of Serbia. Several alliances formed over the past decades were invoked, so within weeks the major powers were at war; via their colonies, the conflict soon spread around the world.
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On August 2 1914 the Imperial German Government delivered an ultimatum demanding free passage for its army through Belgium to attack France.
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ZEPPELINS RAID LONDON SUBURBS, SET MANY FIRES; German Aircraft, After Several Attempts, Succeed in Reaching British Capital. OTHER PLACES ALSO VISITED Invaders Reported to Have Been Seen Near Ramsgate, on Kentish Coast, and Brentwood. PRESS PROMPTLY MUZZLED Warned to Publish Nothing Indicating Course Taken by Foe Save What Is Issued Officially.
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The Germans mounted an attack on the French at Verdun designed to 'bleed the French dry'. Although the fighting continued for nine months, the battle was inconclusive. Casualties were enormous on both sides with the Germans losing 430,000 men and the French 540,000.
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The British and German naval forces met again but the battle was inconclusive. The German ships did a great deal of damage to British ships before once again withdrawing and the British Admiral Jellicoe decided not to give chase.
Although British losses were heavier than the German, the battle had alarmed both the Kaiser and the German Admiral Scheer and they decided to keep their fleet consigned to harbour for the remainder of the war. -
The first German air raid on London took place. The Germans hoped that by making raids on London and the South East, the British Air Force would be forced into protecting the home front rather than attacking the German air force.
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The United States of America declared war on Germany in response to the sinking, by German U boats, of US ships.
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American troops in France fire their first shot in trench warfare.
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The fighting in World War 1 ended at 11 AM on this day.
