| Austria-Hungary, already assured by William II of Germany's support should it start a preventive war, used the June 28, 1914, assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand as a pretext to humiliate Serbia, presenting it with an unacceptable ultimatum on the evening of July 23. On July 25 Serbia accepted all but two of the ultimatum's demands, but, though Serbia offered to submit the issue to international arbitration, Austria-Hungary promptly severed diplomatic relations. The Austro-Hungarian ... |