Rapid spread of hostilities from "summary" of Outbreak of the First World War by David Stevenson
The rapid spread of hostilities is a central feature of the outbreak of the First World War. In the summer of 1914, a series of events unfolded swiftly, leading to a chain reaction that engulfed Europe in conflict. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria by a Serbian nationalist on June 28th set off a sequence of diplomatic and military actions that escalated tensions between the Great Powers. Within weeks, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, prompting Russia to mobilize its forces in support of its Slavic ally. Germany, in turn, declared war on Russia and France, while Britain entered the fray in defense of Belgium. The speed at which these events unfolded took many by surprise, as alliances were invoked and armies mobilized in quick succession. The interconnected nature of European diplomacy and military planning meant that once the first shots were fired, there was little room for de-escalation. The mobilization of millions of ...
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