Declarations of War, 1914-1918 The outbreak of World War I, which was in many ways the worst war in history, certainly up to that time, was accompanied, ironically, with a sense of relief for the peoples of Europe, for the tensions that had been building for decades had become almost unbearable. News of the declarations was greeted in the major capitals with wild celebrations based on the assumption that the war would be swift and decisive, and that their country would be victorious. Because the world had become so economically interdependent, it was clear that the spoils which would eventually go to the victors would be substantial. The peace settlements, which were sure to conclude the conflict, would undoubtedly divide up the wealth of losers; to participate in that division of the spoils, one had to be a player in the conflict. Thus the following list of war declarations, which, although they appear somewhat ludicrous, did have an ultimate purpose |
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1914 |
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July 28 |
Austria on Serbia |
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Aug. 1 |
Germany on Russia |
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Aug. 3 |
Germany on France |
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Aug. 4 |
Germany on Belgium |
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Great Britain on Germany |
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Aug. 5 |
Montenegro on Austria |
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Aug. 6 |
Austria on Russia |
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Serbia on Germany |
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Aug. 8 |
Montenegro on Germany |
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Aug. 12 |
France on Austria |
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Great Britain on Austria |
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Aug. 23 |
Japan on Germany |
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Aug. 25 |
Japan on Austria |
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Aug. 28 |
Austria on Belgium |
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Nov. 4 |
Russia on Turkey |
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Serbia on Turkey |
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Nov. 5 |
Great Britain on Turkey |
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France on Turkey |
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1915 |
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May 23 |
Italy on Austria |
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June 3 |
San Marino on Austria |
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Aug. 21 |
Italy on Turkey |
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Oct. 14 |
Bulgaria on Serbia |
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Oct. 15 |
Great Britain on Bulgaria |
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Montenegro on Bulgaria |
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Oct. 16 |
France on Bulgaria |
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Oct. 19 |
Russia on Bulgaria |
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Italy on Bulgaria |
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1916 |
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March 9 |
Germany on Portugal |
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March 15 |
Austria on Portugal |
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Aug. 27 |
Romania on Austria |
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Aug. 28 |
Italy on Germany |
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Germany on Romania |
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Aug. 30 |
Turkey on Romania |
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Sept. 1 |
Bulgaria on Romania |
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1917 |
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April 6 |
U.S. on Germany |
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April 7 |
Panama on Germany |
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Cuba on Germany |
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April 13 |
Bolivia severs relations with Germany |
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April 23 |
Turkey severs relations with U.S. |
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June 27 |
Greece on Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, and Turkey |
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July 22 |
Siam on Germany and Austria |
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Aug. 4 |
Liberia on Germany |
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Aug. 14 |
China on Germany and Austria |
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Oct. 6 |
Peru severs relations with Germany |
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Oct. 7 |
Uruguay severs relations with Germany |
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Oct. 26 |
Brazil on Germany |
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Dec. 7 |
U.S. on Austria |
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Dec. 8 |
Ecuador severs relations with Germany |
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Dec. 10 |
Panama on Austria |
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Dec. 16 |
Cuba on Austria |
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1918 |
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April 23 |
Guatemala on Germany |
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May 8 |
Nicaragua on Germany and Austria |
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May 23 |
Costa Rica on Germany |
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July 12 |
Haiti on Germany |
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July 19 |
Honduras on Germany |
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