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The heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary was assassinated along with his wife, Countess Sophie, in the capital of Bosnia, Sarajevo. The assassin was Gavrilo Princip, a member of the anti Austrian organization 'The Black Hand'
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The Austro-Hungarian government produced a 10 clause ultimatium which was presented to the Serbian government following the assassination of the archduke. In the event of the ultimatium not being accepted, immediate moblization against Serbia would be declared.
Serbia refused the ultimatium on just one grounds, hence the intiation of World War I. -
Austro-Hungarian mobilization against Serbia.
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Due to partial Austro-Hungarian mobilization against Serbia, Russia retaliated by declearing complete mobilization against both Austria-Hungary and it's ally Germany.
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Germany gives the order to mobilize it's army.
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French announce the mobilization of it's army. Italy anounces it's neutrality.
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Germany launches Schlieffen plan, sending it's army through Luxemburg and towards the North Western French border.
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Germany sends ultimatium to Belgium. Which is rejected the next day.
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Major battles between Germany and allied forces, causing the demolition of the Schlieffen plan and halting the German offence just 320km east of Paris, allowing the allied forces to launch a counter offensive.
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As both sides struggled to find and force a gap in the others forces, a race to the sea was established with the primary objective of controlling the opposing armies ground and supplies.
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Change in tactics resulted in the introduction of modern weaponry (wide use of gas, artliery, complex trench systems and mortars).
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The nature of the fighting changed from attack to defence, and as their positions became more permenant, complex systems of trenches of were built to accomodate the fighting. Neither side had expected the stalemate to last and both sides made numerous attempts to break the deadlock and force a change in the tide.
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A series of principles and specific territorial issues were presented by the American President, Woodrow Wilson, to provide a framework upon which ceasefire negotitation could be held.
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Due to the deteriorating military situation in Germany the German governement accepted the first of the ceasefire conditions presented by the Americans with a statement urging the allies to treat the German Empire with respect.
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A German delegation arrived in Rethondes to recieve and negoitate peace terms with the allied forces. Germany had undergone major social changes in the preceeding week to the meeting with it's navy falling apart and a new socilaist uprising.
