World War I (WWI), also known as The Great War, began and ended on the following dates:
Start of World War I:
- July 28, 1914: This is considered the official start of WWI.
- The war was triggered by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary and his wife, Sophie, on June 28, 1914 in Sarajevo. The assassination was carried out by a Bosnian Serb nationalist.
- Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia, which, after being partly rejected, led to Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia on July 28, 1914.
- This set off a chain reaction due to the complex system of alliances between European powers:
- Russia mobilized in support of Serbia.
- Germany declared war on Russia on August 1, 1914.
- Germany declared war on France on August 3, 1914.
- Germany invaded Belgium, which led to Britain declaring war on Germany on August 4, 1914.
End of World War I:
- November 11, 1918: The war ended with an armistice (a ceasefire agreement) signed between the Allies and Germany at 11 a.m. on the 11th day of the 11th month.
- Germany was forced to sign the armistice after suffering military defeats and internal unrest.
- This is now known as Armistice Day and is commemorated in many countries, with some marking it as Veterans Day (U.S.) or Remembrance Day (Commonwealth nations).
Treaty of Versailles:
- June 28, 1919: Although the armistice ended the fighting in November 1918, the official peace treaty, the Treaty of Versailles, was signed on June 28, 1919, exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
- The treaty imposed heavy reparations and territorial losses on Germany and redrew the map of Europe, setting the stage for political and economic changes that contributed to the rise of World War II.
Summary of Key Dates:
- Start of WWI: July 28, 1914
- End of WWI (Armistice): November 11, 1918
- Treaty of Versailles Signed: June 28, 1919