July 1914

July

• 05

  • Kaiser promises Austria-Hungary full supportOn 5 July 1914 Wilhelm II promised Austria-Hungary full support against Serbia, giving political impetus to the further escalation of the crisis.
• 14

  • Vienna decides on action against SerbiaOn 14 July 1914 Vienna took the political decision on a hard line towards Serbia and on preparing an ultimatum that would lead to war.
• 19

  • Austro-Hungarian council of ministers approves the draft ultimatum to SerbiaOn 19 July 1914 Vienna approved the draft ultimatum to Serbia, completing preparations for a diplomatic step meant to open the way to war.
• 23

  • Austria-Hungary delivers an ultimatum to SerbiaOn 23 July 1914 Austria-Hungary handed Serbia an ultimatum with a 48-hour deadline, making demands that struck at its sovereignty.
• 24

  • German government backs Austrian ultimatum to SerbiaOn 24 July 1914 Berlin told the Entente powers that it approved Austria-Hungary's ultimatum and regarded the dispute with Serbia as a local matter.
  • Grey proposes an international conference to prevent warOn 24 July 1914 Sir Edward Grey proposed that four powers jointly mediate between Vienna and St Petersburg before the crisis turned into a war.
  • Belgium declares it will defend its neutralityOn 24 July 1914 the Belgian government announced that in the event of war it would uphold its neutrality whatever the consequences.
• 25

  • Austria-Hungary breaks off diplomatic relations with SerbiaOn 25 July 1914 the Austro-Hungarian minister, Baron Giesl, judged Serbia's reply inadequate, broke off diplomatic relations and left Belgrade.
  • Serbian government orders mobilisationOn 25 July 1914, before replying to the ultimatum, Serbia announced general mobilisation, and the authorities began to leave Belgrade.
  • Serbian government moves from Belgrade to NišOn 25 July 1914 Regent Alexander decided to move Serbia's government, parliament and administration to Niš, which became the country's wartime capital.
• 26

  • Austria-Hungary orders partial mobilisation against SerbiaOn 26 July 1914 the partial mobilisation of the Austro-Hungarian army against Serbia got under way – the monarchy's first step from diplomacy to war.
  • Montenegrin government orders mobilisationOn 26 July 1914 Montenegro ordered the mobilisation of its army, standing alongside Serbia in its conflict with Austria-Hungary.
  • Admiralty halts the dispersal of the fleetOn 26 July 1914 the First Sea Lord, Prince Louis of Battenberg, kept the fleet ready for action instead of sending the ships back to their home ports.
  • Kaiser Wilhelm II cuts short his cruise and returns to GermanyOn 26 July 1914 Wilhelm II, against his chancellor's advice, broke off his Norwegian fjord cruise and sailed for Kiel, to return thence to Potsdam.
• 27

  • France and Italy accept the British proposal for a conferenceOn 27 July 1914 France and Italy backed the British plan for an ambassadors' conference in London. The same day Germany rejected it.
  • German High Seas Fleet recalled from Norway to its war basesOn 27 July 1914 the German High Seas Fleet assembled off the coast of Norway, broke off its summer cruise and set course for its war bases.
• 28

  • Key eventAustria-Hungary declares war on SerbiaOn 28 July 1914 Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia by telegram. That same night Belgrade was shelled and the First World War began.
  • German government rejects British conference proposalOn 28 July 1914 Chancellor Bethmann Hollweg confirmed that Germany would not take part in the conference of the powers proposed by Britain.
  • British fleets ordered to their war basesOn 28 July 1914 Winston Churchill ordered the First Fleet to move from Portland to its war base at Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands.
• 29

  • Russia orders partial mobilisation against Austria-HungaryOn 29 July 1914 Russia mobilised four military districts against Austria-Hungary. That evening the Tsar halted a general mobilisation that was ready to go.
  • Austro-Hungarian artillery shells BelgradeOn the night of 28–29 July 1914 Austro-Hungarian monitors and artillery shelled Belgrade. These were the first shots of the First World War.
  • Germany proposes an agreement on British neutralityOn the evening of 29 July 1914 Chancellor Bethmann Hollweg tried to secure British neutrality in the event of war with France and Russia.
  • Admiralty sends the "warning telegram" to the fleetsOn 29 July 1914 the Admiralty sent the pre-arranged "warning telegram" to the ships of the Royal Navy, placing the fleet on a war footing.
  • War Office announces the "precautionary period"On 29 July 1914 the British War Office sent out telegrams bringing in the "precautionary period": guards on bridges, forts manned, leave cancelled.
• 30

  • Tsar orders general mobilisation of the Russian armyOn the afternoon of 30 July 1914 Nicholas II, persuaded by Sazonov, agreed to general mobilisation. Its first day was 31 July.
  • Britain rejects Germany's neutrality proposalOn 30 July 1914 Edward Grey rejected a German offer. He judged that neutrality at the expense of France and Belgium would be a disgrace for Britain.
  • Australia places its fleet on a war footing alongside the Royal NavyOn 30 July 1914 a British warning of possible war reached Melbourne. The Australian navy took up war stations and on 3 August was offered to the Admiralty.
• 31

  • Belgium orders mobilisationOn 31 July 1914 the Belgian government ordered a general mobilisation of the army to defend the country's neutrality against anyone who might violate it.
  • Russia begins general mobilisation31 July 1914 was the first day of general mobilisation in Russia. The news of it provoked an immediate reaction from Berlin.
  • Austria-Hungary orders general mobilisationOn 31 July 1914 Austria-Hungary, responding to Russia's mobilisation, ordered general mobilisation. Its first day was set for 4 August.
  • Germany sends an ultimatum to RussiaOn 31 July 1914 Germany demanded that Russia halt its mobilisation within 12 hours. At the same time it asked France whether it would remain neutral.
  • Germany proclaims a state of imminent danger of warOn 31 July 1914 Germany proclaimed a "state of imminent danger of war" (Kriegsgefahr), the last step before mobilisation. The chancellor admitted it meant war.
  • Ottoman Empire orders mobilisationAround the turn of July and August 1914 the Ottoman government ordered a mobilisation that began on 3 August. It also secretly allied with Germany.
  • London Stock Exchange closesOn 31 July 1914 the London Stock Exchange closed its doors for the first time since 1801. It did not reopen until January 1915.