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On the 28th of June, Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian nationalist assassinated the Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne.
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In this "blank cheque", Germany promised to support Austria-Hungary in whatever action they decided to take against Serbia.
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Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia for the assassination of Franz Ferdinand. They were furious at the assassination and took this opportunity to offer Serbia an ultimatum (that would have made Serbia a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire).
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Austria-Hungary, with an excuse to get rid of Serbia, declares war on Serbia and shells it's capital, Belgrade.
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The Russians, an ally of Serbia, got ready to defend Serbia from Austria Hungary. Germany, an ally of Austria Hungary, warns them not to help.
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Russia begins helping the Serbs against Austria-Hungary, and so Germany declares war on Russia. It also begins to move its army towards France, an ally of Russia, and Belgium. This was because they wanted to prevent a two-front war, and decided to first take out Russia's ally, France.
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The French get ready to fight the Germans, and prepare for an invasion.
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Germany declares war on France and invade Belgium, a neutral territory. Britain orders Germany to withdraw from Belgium.
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With the Germans still in Belgium, Britain, an ally of Russia and France, declares war on Germany.
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