On June 28, 1914, teenage [[Serbia|Serbian]] [[nationalism|nationalist]] [[Gavrilo Princip]] assassinated the Austrian Archduke [[Franz Ferdinand]] and his wife in [[Sarajevo]]. This action led to Austria-Hungary giving an ultimatum [http://teachers.sduhsd.k12.ca.us/mmontgomery/world_history/world_war1/ultimatum.htm] to Serbia. Serbia refused to comply with the list of demands, and due to a number of military alliances throughout Europe, a full scale war was soon in progress. Serbia requested support from its ally, [[Russia]], which mobilized its military forces. This mobilization led to [[Germany]] invading both Russia and [[France]] (which had an existing alliance with Russia), which was a part of Germany's [[Schlieffen Plan]] of war on two fronts. En route to France, German forces passed through neutral [[Belgium]]. The violation of this neutrality led [[Britain]] to declare war on Germany. | On June 28, 1914, teenage [[Serbia|Serbian]] [[nationalism|nationalist]] [[Gavrilo Princip]] assassinated the Austrian Archduke [[Franz Ferdinand]] and his wife in [[Sarajevo]]. This action led to Austria-Hungary giving an ultimatum [http://teachers.sduhsd.k12.ca.us/mmontgomery/world_history/world_war1/ultimatum.htm] to Serbia. Serbia refused to comply with the list of demands, and due to a number of military alliances throughout Europe, a full scale war was soon in progress. Serbia requested support from its ally, [[Russia]], which mobilized its military forces. This mobilization led to [[Germany]] invading both Russia and [[France]] (which had an existing alliance with Russia), which was a part of Germany's [[Schlieffen Plan]] of war on two fronts. En route to France, German forces passed through neutral [[Belgium]]. The violation of this neutrality led [[Britain]] to declare war on Germany. |