Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand

28 June 1914, Sarajevo, Bosnia

Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated by a Bosnian Serb nationalist. As Austriahungary blamed Serbia (who was allied with Russia, France and Great Britain) they asked for the support of Germany. Soon war broke out and would continue until

1918. Although other factors (such as a rise of nationalism and a shortage of industrial resources) are important elements in the start of World War I, Ferdinand’s killing is the most commonly cited cause. The global conflict was responsible for 20 million deaths and ushered in modern trench-based warfare.