... in the Balkans and Russia was ready to help. Like the Balkans, many different races, including Slavs, lived within the Austro-Hungarian borders. A united Slav Serbia could be all they needed to start demanding independence from Austria-Hungary and looking to Russia for help. Assassination at Sarajevo: Tensions were building up. It took only one spark to set them alight. On 28 June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir of the Austro-Hungarian throne, was visiting Sarajevo. He was shot dead by a Serbian student called Gavrillo Princip. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. Russia came in on the side of Serbia and declared war on Austria-Hungary. The other major countries of the alliances were drawn in. The last one was Britain, when Germany marched through Belgium to attack France (Britain had a treaty to protect Belgium). ...

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