Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia 108 years ago today

July 28, 1914.

In the aftermath of the assassination of Fran’s Ferdinand, heir to the Austrian throne, four weeks earlier, political machinations were churning behind the scenes in Vienna and Berlin to make the Serbs pay for their perceived role in the assassination. On July 23, Austria issued an ultimatum which included a list of demands the Kingdom of Serbia had to meet in order to avoid war. However, the ultimatum was made in such a way that it was designed to be rejected.

On July 28, 1914, Emperor Franz Joseph, hand trembling, signed the declaration of war that would essentially be his empire’s own death warrant. Within a week, all of Europe would be at war as the conflict known as the First World War began. Four years of grueling battle would result in the deaths of 9.5 million military men and around 8 million civilians. Four great empires would fall and the seeds of a second, even larger conflict would be sewn.

And it all began in Vienna, 108 years ago today.