The Triple Entente was the alliance formed among the United Kingdom, the French and the Russian empire. The Triple Alliance was a military alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy.
On 28 June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife were assassinated in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia. Black Hand, a secret society founded in Serbia was thought to be behind the assassination.
Austria-Hungary demanded certain actions by Serbia to punish those responsible for the assassination. When Austria-Hungary deemed that Serbia had failed to fully comply, Austria-Hungary declared war on July 28. Russia then mobilized its own army, due to its standing military guarantees to Serbia for Collective defense.
Having pledged its support to Austria-Hungary, Germany issued Russia an ultimatum on July 31, demanding a halt to mobilization within 12 hours. On August 1, with the ultimatum expired, Germany formally declared war on Russia(Official start of WWI) .
On August 2, Germany occupied Luxembourg, as a preliminary step to the invasion of Belgium and delivered ultimatum to Belgium, requesting free passage for the German army on the way to France. The Belgians refused.
On August 3 , Germany declared war on France and invaded Belgium on August 4. This act violated Belgian neutrality, the status to which Germany, France, and Britain were all committed by treaty.
Britain's guarantee to Belgium prompted Britain, which had been neutral, to declare war on Germany on August 4. Canada follows suit and joins the war. U.S declares policy of neutrality.
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