World War I Leaders

World War I Leaders — page 3 — support demanded Austria Hungary give Serbia a part of Bosnia But when Austria Hungary backed by its ally FT Germany threatened war Serbia and Russia were off forced to back Nicholas would not forget the way Germany and its ally had treated him and his country When the world ignited into war in August 1914 Nicholas would enter the war on the side of his first cousin King George V of the United Kingdom A FAMILY AFFAIR With the exception of France which was a republic all European nations had monarchs Though the monarchs had varying degrees of political and military power they all had symbolic importance Nicholas left and his first cousin King George V right

World War I Leaders — page 4 — and influenced how their countries acted on the world stage ALL MONARCHS WERE NOT EQUAL Three of these monarchs were also Though Nicholas II George V and Wilhelm Ill were all monarchs they did not have the same related Wilhelm of Germany and George powers As czar of Russia Nicholas Il had of the United Kingdom were first cousins nearly complete control of the government and military He could create policies and give both grandsons of British Queen Victoria orders to troops himself As king of the United George and Nicholas of Russia were Kingdom George V had very limited powers also first cousins Nicholas's wife was a The British Parliament and constitution put the ability to lead the government and military in granddaughter of Queen Victoria Though the hands of politicians and the law As emperor related these monarchs found themselves of Germany Wilhelm Il s power fell somewhere between that of Nicholas il and George V at odds in World War I Wilhelm II is known to have said if that Queen Victoria had been alive she would never have allowed her grandchildren to go to war against each other WAR BEGINS The family relationships between the monarchs of the major European powers could not prevent the outbreak of World War I Austria Hungary's annexation of Bosnia stirred anti Austrian sentiment in the Balkans On June 28 1 seven Serbian nationalists traveled to Sarajevo the capital of Bosnia The heir to the throne of Austria Hungary Archduke Franz Ferdinand was visiting the

World War I Leaders — page 5 — ty The nationalists planned to assassinate the archduke One of them Gavrilo Princip shot and killed the archduke and his wife Sophie It took Austria Hungary a month to decide how to react to the assassination On July 28 1914 it declared war against Serbia As an ally of Serbia Russia mobilized its military to defend it But Russia was also an ally of France which borders Germany And Germany was an ally of Austria Hungary Threatened by France in the west and by Russia in the TIMELINE OF WAR DECLARATIONS east Germany declared war on Russia and on France and neutral Belgium a few days Austria Hungary Emperor Franz Joseph declares war on Serbia on July 28 1914 later Austria Hungary in turn declared war Germany Kaiser Wilhelm II declares war on Russia World War I had begun on Russia on August 1 1914 Germany Kaiser Wilhelm II declares war Not all nations were pulled into the on France on August 3 1914 conflict at its outbreak Belgium which lay Germany Kaiser Wilhelm II declares war on Belgium on August 4 1914 between Germany and France attempted United Kingdom King George V declares to remain neutral at the onset of the war war on Germany on August 4 1914 Austria Hungary Emperor Franz Joseph But its neutrality was quickly violated by declares war on Russia on August 6 1914 Germany which hoped to march through the country into France The United Kingdom declared war on Germany for its invasion of Belgium King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy which bordered Austria Hungary declared neutrality But Italy too would be pulled into the

World War I Leaders — page 6 — Princip second from right was arrested for his role in the assassination of Archduke Franz

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