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At the battle of Mons, British troops reported seeing an angel coming to their aid.

World War One: 1890-14 - The Events Of The Summer Of 1914

Follow the dramatic summer of 1914, from the assassination at Sarajevo to ultimatums, mobilisations and declarations of war that turned a Balkan crisis into a world conflict.

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Fascinating Fact:

On 23 July 1914 Austria-Hungary sent Serbia a very harsh ultimatum with severe demands. Serbia accepted most points but rejected those that threatened its independence.

In GCSE History, the events of the summer of 1914 show how the assassination at Sarajevo, a series of ultimatums, and rapid mobilisation turned a regional clash into a general European war.

Key Terms

Ultimatum: A final set of demands given to another state, usually with a time limit, and a threat of serious consequences if the demands are not met.
Mobilisation: The process of preparing a country’s armed forces for war, including calling up soldiers and moving troops and equipment towards the borders.
July Crisis: The tense weeks after the Sarajevo assassination in 1914, when European powers exchanged notes, issued ultimatums and made decisions that led to World War One.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What key events took place in the summer of 1914?

The summer of 1914 saw the Sarajevo assassination, Austria-Hungary’s ultimatum to Serbia, declarations of war between several powers and rapid mobilisation, which turned a Balkan dispute into a wider European war.

Why did Austria-Hungary declare war on Serbia in 1914?

Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia for the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. When Serbia’s reply to the harsh ultimatum did not fully satisfy Vienna, Austria-Hungary declared war to crush Serbian influence.

How did alliances affect the outbreak of World War One?

Alliances meant that once Austria-Hungary and Serbia went to war, their friends quickly became involved. Russia backed Serbia, Germany backed Austria-Hungary, and France and Britain were soon drawn in as well.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

Which Austrian notable was visiting Bosnia in June 1914, only to lose his life at the hands of a Serb terrorist?

The Emperor Franz Josef

The Archduke Rudolf

The Archduke Karl

The Archduke Franz Ferdinand

The members of the Habsburg family saw themselves as fathers to the disparate races of the Empire. Regular visits were believed to enhance cohesion

2 .

The Germans employed cavalry to advance rapidly into France and Belgium - an elite force. What name was given to such troops?

Grenadiere

Uhlans

Cavaliere

Pferdwehr

The Western Allies also deployed cavalry for a short time at the beginning of the war

3 .

The French were keen to attack Germany in the west in order to liberate the occupied provinces of Alsace and Lorraine. What name was given to this 1914 attack which failed?

Plan 17

Plan 231

Plan 1871

Plan 12

The recovery of Alsace-Lorraine was a major French war aim

4 .

Meanwhile, in the late summer of 1914 Russian forces invaded East Prussia, only to be defeated at two major battles. Which of the following was one of these engagements?

Tannenberg

Koenigsberg

Brest Litovsk

Memel

Russian forces mobilised quicker than the Germans had expected but they were no match for the Imperial German Army

5 .

French troops were rushed to the front line from Paris to engage the German advance to the River Aisne. All public transport and military conveyances were fully stretched, so private measures were necessary. What unusual transport was used to get the troops to the front?

Taxis

Hire cars

Hitchhiking

Bicycles

In a dire emergency special measures may be necessary. In the end sufficient troops did reach the Aisne, and the German advance was pushed back to the River Marne

6 .

What was the official reason for the British ultimatum to Germany to withdraw her troops from Belgium by the 4th of August 1914?

Britain had signed a separate military alliance with Belgium

Britain was one of several signatories to the Treaty of London of 1839, which guaranteed Belgian independence

British public opinion demanded action against a large bully attacking a small, weak power

Russia, already at war with Germany, requested help to relieve pressure on its Western border

Belgium attracted sympathy from many quarters. Britain had historically resisted one continental power dominating the channel ports, and thus threatening Britain's trade and security

7 .

At which battle in Belgium did some British troops report the sight of an angel, which guided them away from a superior German force?

Ypres

Loos

Mons

Passchendaele

All belligerent nations claimed that God was on their side, and they looked for signs that this might be so

8 .

A small British expeditionary force crossed the Channel in early August 1914. Who was appointed to command them?

French

Haig

Kitchener

Rawlinson

This was the army so derided by the Kaiser, who called them "a contemptible little army"

9 .

German armies swept through Belgium and into Northern France according to a pre-arranged plan. Devised first in 1906, what was this plan called?

The Hindenburg Plan

The Moltke Plan

The Ludendorff Plan

The Schlieffen Plan

The plan was to avoid Bismarck's nightmare of a two-front war. Germany would move first to defeat France, then swing her forces over to the east to deal with Russia

10 .

Which European ruler saw himself as the protector of Slav states like Serbia?

Tsar Nicholas II of Russia

King Ferdinand of Bulgaria

Kaiser William II of Germany

The Sultan of the Ottoman Empire

The Balkans seethed with tension: there were internecine rivalries among the small states of South East Europe, many of whom looked to bigger powers for support if they got into difficulties

Author: Edward Towne