EUROPEAN HISTORY
TH 26 - 3
“THE JULY CRISIS”
28-Jun-1914
Sunday
The Archduke is assassinated in Sarajevo.
5-Jul-1914
Sunday
Austria: Requests German backing for any actions she might take against Serbia.
6-Jul-1914
Monday
Germany: The Kaiser leaves for his annual Baltic cruise vacation in the belief,
apparently, that neither France nor Russia would take action.
15-Jul-1914
Wednesday
France: President Poincare and Prime Minister Viviani leave on a previously planned
visit to Russia, arriving in St. Petersburg on July 20 for a three-day visit.
Germany: Kaiser Wilhelm promises full support, “the blank check,” in whatever
action Austria decides.
Austria: Due to the meetings in St. Petersburg Austria delayed delivering it’s
ultimatum to Serbia until the French leave Russia.
23-Jul-1914
Thursday
Austria: An ultimatum, formulated to generate a refusal, is delivered to Serbia. The
reply must come within 48 hours. "Any conditional acceptance [of the ultimatum], or
one accompanied by reservations, is to be regarded as a refusal"
24-Jul-1914
Friday
England: Sir Edward Grey, Foreign Secretary, (with less than a day before the
expiration of the ultimatum) urges the German ambassador to attempt a four-power
(i.e., Germany, Britain, France and Italy) mediation at Vienna and extension of the time
limit set by Austria.
25-Jul-1914
Saturday
Germany: Grey's mediation is rejected. The Kaiser notes "It is futile, I will not join
in."
Serbia, 3:00 pm: General mobilization is ordered and appeals sent to the tsar ("in
your generous Slav heart") for help. World War I had just begun.
Serbia, 5:55 pm: The provisions of the ultimatum are accepted with some
reservations.
Austria, 7:23 pm: Emperor signs general mobilization order.
26-Jul-1914
Sunday
Russia: Russia enters state of pre-mobilization
27-Jul-1914
Monday
Germany: The Kaiser returns to Berlin from his interrupted Scandinavian cruise.
Germany officially and publicly advises Austria against British mediation
28-Jul-1914
Tuesday
Germany, 7:30 am: Upon reading the Serb reply to the Austrian ultimatum, the
Kaiser concludes: “A brilliant achievement. All reason for war disappears.” He draws
back his support for Austria's "wholly uncompromising attitude." This prompts the
Chancellor to offer the Kaiser's mediation so as to avoid a world war.
Germany, 10:00 am: The Kaiser's proposes a "halt in Belgrade." Austria would
occupy the Serb capital until its demands were met.
Austria, 11:00 am: Austria declares war on Serbia.
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EUROPEAN HISTORY
TH 26 - 3
Russia, afternoon: The Tsar orders partial mobilization in Russia against Austria
only in the wake of the Austrian declaration of war. It was intended as a means of
exerting diplomatic pressure on Austria for moderation.*
Germany, 9:30 pm: The Chancellor finally sends the Kaisers “Halt in Belgrade”
compromise. It’s too late.
29-Jul-1914
Wednesday
Austria: Hostilities open with Austrian bombardment of Belgrade
Germany & Russia: The Willy – Nicky telegrams begin. The Kaiser attempts to
induce Russia to negotiate with Austria; the Tsar, encouraged by the Kaiser's apparent
desire for peace, suspends the order for general mobilization of the Russian armed
forces and, instead, against the wishes of the army chiefs, orders partial mobilization
England: Sir Edward Grey informs the German ambassador England would not
remain neutral in a Franco-German war.
30-Jul-1914
Thursday
Germany & Austria, 3:00 am: The Chancellor urges Austria to open direct talks with
Russia. Austria rejects proposal.
Germany, 11:55 am & 9:00 pm: In communications with the Kaiser, the Russian
Tsar admits that Russian secret military preparations had begun on July 24. The
Kaiser, surmising bad faith negotiations by the Russians, ceases his attempts at
mediation (perhaps a ploy to have Russia later branded as an aggressor). Meanwhile
von Moltke urges the Austrians to mobilize against Russia immediately while the
German Chancellor tells them to accept Grey’s offer of mediation.
Russia, 4:00pm: After much vacillating the Tsar orders general mobilization to
begin secretly. Orders are sent and notices posted in public squares, thus making a
general war almost inevitable.
Austrian, 5:00 pm: The Emperor orders full mobilization.
31-Jul-1914
Friday
Germany, 12:00 am. Word of the Russian mobilization reaches Berlin, thus giving
her the 'green light' (and justification before the German people) to move against
Russia and her ally France in accordance with her long-held war plans. The German
Chancellor demands withdrawal of the Russian mobilization order.
Germany, 7 p.m.: Germany ultimatum to France to declare neutrality within 18 hours.
France replies that she will "act in accordance with her interests"
Germany, 12:00 am: Germany demands suspension of the Russian war measures
within 12 hours; rejected by Russia the next day
1-Aug-1914
Saturday
France, 4:45 pm: France orders full mobilization.
Germany, 5:00 pm: Germany orders general mobilization.
Germany, 6:00 pm: Germany declares war on Russia.
Italy: Italy declares herself to be neutral on the grounds that Austria was engaged on
an aggressive war and hence withdraws from the Triple Alliance
2-Aug-1914
Germany: Germany requests free passage through Belgium.
7
EUROPEAN HISTORY
TH 26 - 3
Sunday
3-Aug-1914
Monday
Germany: Germany declares war on France.
Belgium: The Belgians refuse the German army passage through their country.
4-Aug-1914
Tuesday
Belgium: The German army invades Belgium as the Schlieffen Plan dictates.
12-Aug-1914
Wednesday
England: Great Britain declares war on Germany.
“THE GUNS OF AUGUST”
*Note: Russia's dilemma: Nicholas’ desire to avoid war prompts him to put the kind of pressure on
Austria (via mobilization of the Russian Army) that would make her draw back from the brink. But in
doing so Nicholas invited German support for Austria. This made war inevitable unless Russia made a
humiliating climb-down, as in the Bosnian annexation crisis of 1908-9. Besides, the promise of
German help served to stiffen Austria instead of holding it back.
[Some historians feel, therefore, that it would have been better for the Russians to have avoided a hasty
reaction]
While these events were occurring:
1. von Moltke and the German General Staff were pressuring the Austrian Army to mobilize
immediately against Serbia and attack.
2. The longer Austria waited to act the weaker it looked and gradually lost international opinion.
3. The French were pressuring Russia to stand firm against Germany and Austria.
4. The French General Staff were pressuring Russia to mobilize against Germany in the event of war
according to its treaty obligation.
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