War and Democracy

Abstract

The assassination of Franz Ferdinand led directly to world war. Austria-Hungary was determined to use the occasion to strengthen her position in the Balkans by humbling Serbia, whom she held responsible for the crime. On July 28, 1914, one month after the assassination, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. Within five days Germany had taken steps to fulfill her treaty obligations. On August 1, she declared war on Russia, who was mobilizing against the Central Powers; on August 3, having learned that France would abide by her treaty with Russia, she declared war on France and set into motion the Schlieffen plan of attack by invading Belgium. Great Britain responded to the invasion of Belgium by declaring war on Germany. Europe’s peace had been destroyed, and a world war had begun.