July Ultimatum

The July Ultimatum refers to a diplomatic demand made by Austria-Hungary to Serbia on July 23, 1914, following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Austria-Hungary presented Serbia with a series of demands, expecting a swift acceptance, which included suppressing anti-Austrian propaganda and allowing joint investigations into the assassination. Serbia agreed to most but rejected a few key demands. This led Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia on July 28, 1914, triggering a chain reaction of alliances that escalated into World War I. The ultimatum marked a crucial moment in the lead-up to the war.