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Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip shot and killed Archduke Franz Ferdinand, of Austria-Hungary, when he came to visit in 1914.Princip was a part of the Young Bosnia movement, and a terror organization called Black Hand, which proved the group with the weapons that were later used to assassinate the Archduke. -
Austria-Hungary
After the assassination of their Archduke Austria-Hungary demanded that Serbia wipe out terror groups, anti-Austria propaganda, and accept an Austrian run investigation of the assassination. When these terms weren't met Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia -
Serbia
After a member of the Young Bosnian's group assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand the Austria-Hungarians demanded certain terms from the Serbians. The Serbians looked to their ally Russia for help, so Russia decided to begin to mobilize their army, and then the Austria-Hungarians declared war on the Serbians, which ultimately brought Serbia into the war. -
Germany
Germany, an ally of Austria-Hungary, heard that Russia was beginning to mobilize their army, and decided to declare war on Russia, therefore joining world War I. Shortly after, the Germans began to launch and attack on Russia's ally, the French -
Belgium
Belgium joined the war after Germany decided to go through their country to get to France, instead of just going over the border that Germany and France share. Belgium had originally declared themselves a neutral country, bu once the war was brought into their own country, they had no chocice other than to join in. -
Great Britain
Great Britain was brought into the war when Germany went through, and destroyed much of Belgium, in order launch their sneak-attack on France. Belgium had declared themselves neutral in the war, but once they were invaded, their ally Great Britain jumped in to protect them. -
Russia
Once Austria-Hungary gave Serbia their conditions to regain peace after a Serbian citizens shot the Austrian Archduke, Serbia turned their ally Russia for help. Russia began to mobilize their army ebcause they feared in impending attack from Austri-Hungary or one of its allies. -
France
France had promised to lend their troops to fight if either Austria-Hungary or Germany declared war on Russia, becuase France and Russia had an alliance. When Germany declared war on Russia the French took one million men and joined the war. -
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire was aligned with both Austria-Hungary and Germany so when they bith entered the war, the Ottoman Empire also had to join by the system of alliances that were in place at this time -
Italy
Although Italy oringinally had an alliance with Germany, it joined the war on the Allies' side to team up against Austria-Hungary because Italy had a secret side agreement with Britain, France, and Russia -
Bulgaria
Bulgaria had alliances with countries on both sides of the war, but chose to side with the Central Powers because Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire were Bulgari's chief partners in trade. The Bulgarians also felt that the Central Powers would better defend them from Serbia and Russia. -
Portugal
Portugal began to seize German ships in order to be loyal to their alliance with Great Britain who had already joined the war. Germany then turned around and declared war on Portugal also, officially bringing Portugal into the war. -
Romania
Romania and Austria-Hungary had been fighting for long before over the territory known as Transylvania. This region was technically part of Austria-Hungary but ethnically a part of Romania. Romania hoped that by joining the war on the opposing side, they could somehow acquire the territory of Transylvania. -
Greece
The ruler of Greece had an agreement to fight with Serbia, but remained neutral for the first several years of war because he was married to the sister of a German politician. After the Allied Forces took this Greece ruler out of power, Greece quickly turned around and declared war on the Central Powers.