Immediate Cause:The AssassinationThe Assassination

At SarajevoAt Sarajevo

The AssassinationThe Assassination

The assassin was Gavrilo Princip of the Serbian society The Black Hand, a terrorist organization. The Serbian government was cognizant of the plot; the world generally was outraged.

July 23. Austrian ultimatum to Belgrade (48 hours). July 28. AUSTRIA DECLARED WAR ON SERBIA. B

elgrade was bombarded the next day, though Austria was not ready for real operations until about August 12. The declaration of war was meant to create a fait accompli.

July 29. The Russian tsar agreed to general mobilization. July 31. Germany proclaimed "state of threatening danger

of war." Sent a 12-hour ultimatum to Russia demanding cessation o

f preparations on the German frontier. Germany refused a British request that the neutrality of Belgium be respected.