World War I Leaders

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

World War I Leaders — page 7 — conflict in 1915 Across the Atlantic Ocean President Woodrow Wilson and the United States observed the events in Europe Reluctant to get the United States involved in a foreign war Wilson declared US neutrality in August 1914 shortly after the war began The initial conflicts along Germany's western border with France and Belgium were known collectively as the battle of the Frontiers The skirmishes occurred between August 14 and September 6 in the French towns of Mulhouse Charleroi and Mons and the Ardennes and Lorraine regions Together the conflicts were the largest battle of World War I and possibly the largest battle in human history Two million troops fought in the battle of the Frontiers The battle of the Frontiers ended on September 6 when the French started fighting the Germans back in the battle of the Marne French troops were able MISCALCULATING BELGIUM At the outbreak of World War I Belgium was German troops Germany hoped Belgium a neutral country Lying between northeast would allow the passage But Belgium France and northwest Germany it hoped to refused warning Germany that if it marched stay out of the war But Germany planned on Belgium it would be violating international to march through Belgium to invade France law Germany invaded Belgium the next day and quickly capture Paris The day before it with two major consequences Germany declared war on France Germany wrote to now had to fight Belgian troops all the way Belgium It gave the country a choice allow through Belgium to France In addition the German troops to march through Belgium United Kingdom entered the war against without resistance or face occupation by Germany in defense of Belgium s

World War I Leaders — page 8 — British troops prepare to resist German advances during the battle of Charleroi on August 21 1914 to beat back the German armies saving Paris from capture However Germany retained control of much of northeast France including France's sources of coal steel and iron The leaders of Europe had embroiled the continent in a war that would last four years and affect the lives of

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