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Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austrian Empire, was killed with his wife during a drive while visiting Sarajevo, the capital city of Bosnia. This event is generally accepted by historians as being the immediate cause of the First World War, though tensions had been previously building.
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Kaiser William II of Germany promises German support for their Austrian allies against Serbia.
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Because the assassination was commited by Serbs, Austria declares war on Serbia.
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Germany declares war on the Russians, who are compeled to defend Serbia.
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The Germans declared war on France and implemented their invasion of Belgium, part of their Scheifflen Plan. The Plan was intended to bring about a swift victory for Germany in the event of a two-front war.
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Britain joins its French and Russian allies.
