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A Serbian nationalist assassinated him and his wife while they were in Sarajevo, Bosnia. This was in protest to Austria-Hungary having control of this region. Serbia wanted to take over Bosnia and Herzegovina. This assassination led to Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia.
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On July 28, 1914, one month to the day after Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife were killed by a Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo, Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia, effectively beginning the First World War.
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Russia urges German restraint, but the Russians begin partial troop mobilization as a precaution.
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Austrian warships bombard Belgrade, the capital of Serbia.
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The Germans warn Russia on its mobilization and begin to mobilize themselves and declare war on them.
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Germany declares war on France.
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Germany invades Belgium and Britain then sends an ultimatum, rejected by the Germans, to withdraw from Belgium. They use the Schlieffen Plan.
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Great Britain declares war on Germany. The declaration is binding on all Dominions within the British Empire including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India and South Africa.
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Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia.
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Great Britain and France declare war on Austria-Hungary. Serbia is invaded by Austria-Hungary.
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Russia invades Germany, attacking into East Prussia, forcing the outnumbered Germans there to fall back. This marks the advent of the Eastern Front in Europe in which Russia will oppose Germany and Austria-Hungary.
