July Crisis

The July Crisis of 1914 refers to the series of diplomatic and military escalations following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria on June 28. Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia, which led to Serbia's partial rejection. In response, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. This triggered a chain reaction of alliances: Russia mobilized to protect Serbia, Germany declared war on Russia, and soon, other nations were drawn in due to existing treaties. By early August, major European powers were embroiled in a devastating conflict that escalated into World War I, fundamentally altering the global landscape.