The Guns of August: Outbreak of War

Balkan Crisis:
- Austria-Hungary vs. Russia: tension over Balkans
- Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
- German "blank check" (full support) for Austria
- Austrian ultimatum to Serbia (humiliating demands refused)

Declarations of War: Eastern Front
- Austria declared war on Serbia July 28, 1914
- Partial (later full) mobilization of Russian army
European mobilization plans generally inflexible
- German ultimatum to Russia: stop mobilization within 12 hours
- Germany declared war on Russia August 1

Declarations of War: Western Front
- Schlieffen Plan: defeat France first (through Belgium)
Holding action/redeployment to east against Russia
- Germany declared war on France August 3
- Violation of Belgian neutrality rights
- Great Britain declared war on Germany August 4