What event caused World War 1 to begin?

June 28, 1914 Archduke Ferdinand of the Austro-Hungarian Empire was assassinated. The Duke and his wife Sophie were touring Sarajevo Bosnia, a part of Austro-Hungary at the time. Gavrilo Princip who was a member of a Serbian radical anarchy group, shot and killed both the Duke and his wife. Austro-Hungary blamed Serbia for the murder and ended up declaring war. This started a chain of events beginning with Russia backing Serbia, then Germany backed Austro-Hungary. So began the Great War.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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33 Comments

scoder

Denis Sagendorf, the Kaiser's name was Wilhelm, not Von Bismarck. Otto Von Bismarck was Chancellor of Germany during the last half of the 19th Century. He was the prime mover in the unification of the German states into one nation. He also started universal health for Germany in the 1880's, the nation to do so.

EarindilAO

the assassination of the duke was only a "catalyst" that started the "great War".. there were other factors as well..but it was considered " The spark" that started the war..

Armadillo

Peter Robertson, all aren't grown-ups. This is the problem.

Wyla Reedy

History class paid off.

Pat Tinham

In a different quiz, there was a different answer given but cannot remember it.

earlepg

Managed to remember this one.

Diane Lynn Kinsman

Knew that..

jack patti go

My grandpa Ridgeway was in WW 1.

Peter Robertson

Yep-there should have been no cause! All started because stiff necked politicians could not humble themselves to say-Sorry! lets talk about this, as if we were all grown ups!

Ernie

I just hope a few who are stuck in the mud don't go and kill all of the Florida alligators too!

Karin Johansson

Irma Rivera, do you really believe that? Then you need help!

Corey Taylor

Gavrilo Princip was sentenced to 20 years in an Austrian prison, but contracted tuberculosis and basically starved to death after less than 4, before the War he set off was even over.