The United Kingdom and the British Empire entered World War I on 4 August 1914, when King George V declared war after the expiry of an ultimatum to the German Empire. The official explanation focused on protecting Belgium as a neutral country; the main reason, however, was to prevent a French defeat that would he left Germany in control of Western Europe. The Liberal Party was in power with prime minister H. H. Asquith and foreign minister Edward Grey leading the way. The Liberal cabinet made the decision, although the party had been strongly anti-war until the last minute. The Conservative Party was pro-war. The Liberals knew that if they split on the war issue, they would lose control of the government to the Conservatives.
Background[edit] Main article: History of the United Kingdom during the First World War Main article: Splendid isolation The British Empire in 1914For much of the 19th century, Britain pursued a foreign policy later known as splendid isolation, which sought to maintain the balance of power in Europe without formal alliances. As Europe divided into two power blocs during the 1890s, the 1895–1905 Conservative government realised this left Britain dangerously exposed.[1] This resulted in the 1902 Anglo-Japanese Alliance, followed by King Edward VII's 1903 visit to Paris. By reducing anti-British feeling in France, it led to the 1904 Entente Cordiale, the first tangible effect of which was British support for France against Germany in the 1905 Moroccan Crisis.
In 1907, the new Liberal government agreed to the Anglo-Russian Convention. Like the Entente, the Convention focused on resolving colonial disputes; but by doing so, it ped the way for wider co-operation and allowed Britain to refocus its nal resources in response to German nal expansion.[2]
The 1911 Agadir Crisis encouraged secret military negotiations between France and Britain in the case of war with the German Empire. A British Expeditionary Force of 100,000 men would be landed in France within two weeks of war, while nal arrangements allocated responsibility for the Mediterranean Sea to the French Ny, with the Royal Ny looking after the North Sea and the English Channel, including Northern France.[3]
Antagonism with Germany[edit] HMS Dreadnought. The 1902, 1904 and 1907 agreements with Japan, France and Russia allowed Britain to refocus resources during the Anglo-German nal arms raceIn one explanation of why Britain went to war with Germany, British historian Paul Kennedy (1980) argued that a critical factor was the British realisation that Germany was rapidly becoming economically more powerful than Britain. It was in essence not a consequence of the disputes over economic trade imperialism, the Baghdad Railway, the confrontations in Eastern Europe, highly charged political rhetoric, or domestic pressure groups. Germany's reliance time and again on military aggression, while Britain increasingly appealed to moral sensibilities, also played a role, especially in portraying the invasion of neutral Belgium as (in the German view) a necessary military tactic or (in the British view) a profound moral crime. The German invasion of Belgium was not the real cause of war with Britain, because the British decision had already been made as the British were more concerned with the fate of France (pp. 457–62).[clarification needed] Kennedy argues that by far the main reason was London's fear that a repeat of the war of 1870, when Prussia and the German states smashed France, would mean that a rapidly industrialising Germany, with a powerful army and ny, would control the English Channel and northwest France. British policy-makers insisted that that would be a catastrophe for British security.[4]
Christopher Clark points out that the British cabinet decided on 29 July 1914, that being a signatory to the 1839 treaty guaranteeing Belgium's frontiers did not oblige it to oppose a German invasion of Belgium with military force.[5]
Decision for war[edit]In the immediate aftermath of the assassination on 28 June of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand (the heir to the Habsburg throne) in the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo, the British newspapers denounced the Serbian nationalist assassin, Grilo Princip, and were generally sympathetic to the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. The newspapers blamed the Kingdom of Serbia for the crime, with rhetoric against "fanatics", "dangerous forces" and "reckless agitators". These responses were broadly shared across the political spectrum, with Liberal and Conservative papers expressing their shock and dismay. But by 27 July, press opinion had turned against Austria-Hungary. The national press divided along party lines, with Conservative papers stressing the obligation to support France, while Liberal papers insisted Britain had no such commitment and should remain neutral.[6][7]
As Germany and Russia became the central players in the crisis (respectively backing Austria-Hungary and Serbia), British leaders increasingly had a sense of commitment to defending France. First, if Germany again conquered France, as had happened in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, it would become a major threat to British economic, political and cultural interests. Second, partisanship was involved. The Liberal Party was identified with internationalism and free trade, and with opposition to jingoism and warfare. By contrast, the Conservative Party was identified as the party of nationalism and patriotism; Britons expected it "to show capacity in running a war."[8] Liberal voters initially demanded peace, but were outraged when the Germans treated Belgian neutrality as a worthless "scrap of paper" (the words of German Chancellor Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg in ridiculing the Treaty of London). Germany, as part of a massive attack on France, invaded northern France through Belgium early on the morning of 4 August. The Belgians called upon Britain for military assistance under the 1839 treaty, and in response London ge Berlin an ultimatum which expired at 11 pm London time, which was ignored. King George V then declared war on Germany that evening.[9][10]
Before war was declared, the British newspapers ge the crisis extensive coverage but varied wildly in recommended policy options, basically covering the entire spectrum from peace to war.[11][12] C. P. Scott and the Manchester Guardian maintained an intense campaign against war. It denounced a "conspiracy to drag us into a war against England’s interests", arguing that it would amount to a "crime against Europe", and warning that it would "throw away the accumulated progress of half a century".[13] The politician Did Lloyd George told Scott on Tuesday 4 August 1914, "Up until last Sunday only two members of the Cabinet had been in four of our intervention in the war, but the violation of Belgian territory had completely altered the situation".[13] According to Isabel V. Hull:
Annika Mombauer correctly sums up the current historiography: "Few historians would still maintain that the 'rape of Belgium' was the real motive for Britain's declaration of war on Germany." Instead, the role of Belgian neutrality is variously interpreted as an excuse used to mobilise public opinion, to provide embarrassed radicals in the cabinet with the justification for abandoning the principal of pacifism and thus staying in office, or - in the more conspiratorial versions - as cover for naked imperial interests.[14]Once war was declared, defence of Belgium rather than France was the public reason given for the war. Propaganda posters emphasised that Britain was required to safeguard Belgium's neutrality under the 1839 Treaty of London.[15][16]
"The Scrap of Paper - Enlist Today", 1914 British propaganda poster emphasizes German contempt for the 1839 treaty (the signature of British Foreign Secretary Lord Palmerston visible at the top), which guaranteed Belgian neutrality, as merely a "scrap of paper" that Germany would ignore.As late as 1 August 1914, the great majority of Liberals—both voters and cabinet members—strongly opposed going to war.[17] The German invasion of Belgium was such an outrageous violation of international rights that the Liberal Party agreed with the case for war on 4 August. Historian Zara Steiner says:
The public mood did change. Belgium proved to be a catalyst which unleashed the many emotions, rationalizations, and glorifications of war which had long been part of the British climate of opinion. Hing a moral cause, all the latent anti-German feelings, fueled by years of nal rivalry and assumed enmity, rose to the surface. The 'scrap of paper' proved decisive both in maintaining the unity of the government and then in providing a focal point for public feeling.[18] "Germany Violates Belgian Neutrality": Headline in Le Soir, 4 August 1914The Liberals succeeded in mending their deep divisions over military action. Unless the Liberal government acted decisively against the German invasion of France, its top leaders including Prime Minister H. H. Asquith, Foreign Minister Edward Grey, First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill and others would resign, leading to a risk that the much more pro-war Conservative Party might form a government. Mistreatment of Belgium was not itself a fundamental cause of British entry into the war, but it was used extensively as a justification in wartime propaganda to motivate the British people.[19]
The German high command was aware that entering Belgium could trigger British intervention but decided the risk was acceptable; they expected it to be a short war, and their ambassador in London claimed civil war in Ireland would prevent Britain from assisting France.[20]
Historians looking at the July Crisis typically conclude that Grey:
was not a great Foreign Secretary but an honest, reticent, punctilious English gentleman... He exhibited a judicious understanding of European affairs, a firm control of his staff, and a suppleness and tact in diplomacy, but he had no boldness, no imagination, no ability to command men and events. [Regarding the war] He pursued a cautious, moderate policy, one that not only fitted his temperament, but also reflected the deep split in the Cabinet, in the Liberal party, and in public opinion.[21]The majority of the Labour Party, which as a member of the Second International had opposed the war, also shifted to support after the German invasion of Belgium with the exception of some members such as its secretary Ramsay MacDonald. The rest of the Labour Party leadership under Arthur Henderson calculated that the war would be brief and that opposing it would cost the party at the next general election.[22]
Canada automatically joined the war, and vigorously recruited volunteers. Irish crisis on hold[edit] Main article: Home Rule crisisUntil late July, British politics was focused on the threat of a possible civil war in Ireland. In 1912 the government had presented an Irish Home Rule bill that Irish nationalists demanded; under the terms of the Parliament Act 1911, by which the House of Lords retained the right to delay legislation by up to two years, it was due to become law in 1914. The Ulster Protestants demanded separate treatment; by mid-1914 the government was offering a six-year opt-out to the six counties which would eventually become Northern Ireland, but not the permanent exemption which they demanded. Both sides in Ireland had smuggled in weapons, set up militias with tens of thousands of volunteers, were drilling, and were ready to fight a civil war. The British Army itself was paralyzed: during the Curragh Incident officers threatened to resign or accept dismissal rather than obey orders to deploy into Ulster. Elements of the Conservative and Unionist Party supported them.
On 25 July the Austrian ultimatum to Serbia became known, and the cabinet realized that war with Germany was increasingly likely. The Government of Ireland Act 1914 was enacted into law, but was suspended for the duration of hostilities, with the issue of Ulster still unresolved.[23] Grey told the British Parliament on 3 August, "The one bright spot in the whole of this terrible situation is Ireland. [Prolonged cheers.] The general feeling throughout Ireland, and I would like this to be clearly understood abroad, does not make that a consideration that we feel we he to take into account. [Cheers.]"[24]
Empire at war[edit]The king's declaration of war automatically involved all dominions, colonies, and protectorates of the British Empire, many of whom made significant contributions to the Allied war effort, both in the provision of troops and civilian labourers.
Commemoration[edit]The Catholic Bishops of England and Wales invited Catholic churches to conduct a Requiem Mass for the dead on or around Monday 4 August 2015, and on five subsequent anniversaries, to mark the centenary of the entry of the British Empire into the War.[25]
See also[edit] Allies of World War I France–United Kingdom relations Germany–United Kingdom relations Triple Entente Causes of World War I Austro-Hungarian entry into World War I French entry into World War I German entry into World War I Ottoman entry into World War I Russian entry into World War I Color book Diplomatic history of World War I History of the foreign relations of the United Kingdom History of the United Kingdom, since 1707 International relations (1814–1919) International relations (1919–1939) Military history of the United Kingdom Timeline of British diplomatic history Notes[edit] ^ Avner Cohen, "Joseph Chamberlain, Lord Lansdowne and British foreign policy 1901–1903: From collaboration to confrontation." Australian Journal of Politics & History 43#2 (1997): 122-134. ^ Massie, Robert (2007). Dreadnought: Britain, Germany, and the Coming of the Great War (2013 ed.). Vintage. pp. 466–468. ISBN 978-0099524021. ^ Jenkins, Roy (1964). Asquith (1988 Revised and Updated ed.). Harpers Collins. pp. 242–245. ISBN 978-0002173582. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help) ^ Kennedy, Paul M (1980). The rise of the anglo-german antagonism: 1860-1914. London: Allen & Unwin. pp. 464–70. ISBN 9780049400641. ^ Christopher Clark, The Sleepwalkers (2012) p. 539. ^ Meilyr Powel, "The Welsh press and the July Crisis of 1914." First World War Studies 8.2-3 (2017): 133-152.online[dead link] ^ Adam James Bones, "British National Dailies and the Outbreak of War in 1914." International History Review 35.5 (2013): 975-992. ^ Trevor Wilson, The Downfall of the Liberal Party 1914-1935 (1966) p 51. ^ Nilesh, Preeta (2014). "Belgian Neutrality and the First world War; Some Insights". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 75: 1014. JSTOR 44158486. ^ Adrian Gregory, "A Clash of Cultures: The British Press and the Opening of the Great War," in A Call to Arms: Propaganda, Public Opinion, and Newspapers in the Great War, edited by Troy R. E. Paddock, (Praeger, 2004) pp 15–49. ^ Hale, Publicity and Diplomacy: With Special Reference to England and Germany, 1890-1914 (1940) pp 446-70. ^ Scott, Five Weeks: The Surge of Public Opinion on the Eve of the Great War (1927) pp 99–153 ^ a b Tris, Alan (2 August 2014). "First world war: how the Manchester Guardian fought to keep Britain out of conflict". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 April 2020. ^ Isabel V. Hull, A Scrap of Paper: Breaking and Making International Law during the Great War (Cornell UP, 2014) p, 33 ^ Bentley B. Gilbert, "Pacifist to interventionist: Did Lloyd George in 1911 and 1914. Was Belgium an issue?." Historical Journal 28.4 (1985): 863-885. ^ Zara S. Steiner, Britain and the origins of the First World War (1977) pp 235-237. ^ Catriona Pennell (2012). A Kingdom United: Popular Responses to the Outbreak of the First World War in Britain and Ireland. OUP Oxford. p. 27. ISBN 9780199590582. ^ Zara S. Steiner, Britain and the Origins of the First World War (1977) p 233. ^ Stephen J. Lee (2005). Aspects of British Political History 1914-1995. Routledge. pp. 21–22. ISBN 9781134790401. ^ Asquith, Margot (2014). Brock, Michael; Brock, Elinor (eds.). Margot Asquith's Great War Diary 1914-1916: The View from Downing Street (Kindle ed.). OUP Oxford; Reprint edition. pp. 852–864. ISBN 978-0198737728. ^ Clayton Roberts and Did F. Roberts, A History of England, Volume 2: 1688 to the present. Vol. 2 (3rd edition, 1991) p. 722. ^ Thorpe, Andrew (1997), "The Surge to Second-Party Status, 1914–22", A History of the British Labour Party, London: Macmillan Education UK, pp. 32–33, doi:10.1007/978-1-349-25305-0_3, ISBN 978-0-333-56081-5, retrieved 16 June 2022 ^ J. A. Spender and Cyril Asquith. Life of Herbert Henry Asquith, Lord Oxford and Asquith (1932 ) vol 2 p 55. ^ "Statement by Sir Edward Grey 03 August 1914". Hansard. Retrieved 2 April 2020. ^ Liturgy Office (Bishops' Conference of England and Wales), Commemorating the First World War, published on 18 June 2014, accessed on 7 September 2025 Further reading[edit] Main articles: Bibliography of World War I and Causes of World War I Albertini, Luigi. The Origins of the War of 1914 (3 vol 1952). Anderson, Frank Maloy, and Amos Shartle Hershey, eds. Handbook For The Diplomatic History Of Europe, Asia, and Africa, 1870-1914 (1918) online Bartlett, Christopher John. Defence and diplomacy: Britain and the Great Powers, 1815-1914 (Manchester UP, 1993). Bartlett, C. J. British Foreign Policy in the Twentieth Century (1989). Brandenburg, Erich. (1927) From Bismarck to the World War: A History of German Foreign Policy 1870–1914 (1927) online. Bridge, F. R. "The British Declaration of War on Austria-Hungary in 1914." Slonic and East European Review 47#109 (1969), pp. 401–422. online Charmley, John. Splendid Isolation?: Britain, the Balance of Power and the Origins of the First World War (1999), highly critical of Grey. Clark, Christopher. The Sleepwalkers: How Europe Went to War in 1914 (2013) excerpt Sleepwalkers lecture by Clark. online Ensor, R. C. K. England, 1870–1914 (1936) online Evans, R. J. W.; von Strandmann, Hartmut Pogge, eds. (1988). The Coming of the First World War. Clarendon Press. ISBN 978-0-19-150059-6. essays by scholars from both sides Fay, Sidney B. The Origins of the World War (2 vols in one. 2nd ed. 1930). online, passim French, Did. British Economic and Strategic Planning 1905-15 (1982). Goodlad, Graham D. British Foreign and Imperial Policy 1865–1919 (1999). Hale, Oron James. Publicity and Diplomacy: With Special Reference to England and Germany, 1890-1914 (1940) online Archived 4 December 2020 at the Wayback Machine Hamilton, Richard F. and Holger H. Herwig, eds. War Planning 1914 (2014) pp 48–79 Hamilton, Richard F. and Holger H. Herwig, eds. The Origins of World War I (2003) pp 266–299. Hamilton, Richard F.. and Holger H. Herwig. Decisions for War, 1914-1917 (2004). Hinsley, F. H. ed. British Foreign Policy under Sir Edward Grey (1977) 31 major scholarly essays Howard, Christopher. "MacDonald, Henderson, and the Outbreak of War, 1914." Historical Journal 20.4 (1977): 871–891. online Joll, James; Martel, Gordon (2013). The Origins of the First World War (3rd ed.). Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9781317875352. Kennedy, Paul. The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers (1987), pp 194–260. online free to borrow Kennedy, Paul. The Rise and Fall of British Nal mastery (1976) pp 205–38. Kennedy, Paul M. "Idealists and realists: British views of Germany, 1864–1939." Transactions of the Royal Historical Society 25 (1975): 137–156. online McMeekin, Sean. July 1914: Countdown to War (2014) scholarly account, day-by-day MacMillan, Margaret (2013). The War That Ended Peace: The Road to 1914. Random House. ISBN 9780812994704.; major scholarly overview Massie, Robert K. Dreadnought: Britain, Germany, and the coming of the Great War (Random House, 1991) excerpt see Dreadnought (book), popular history Matzke, Rebecca Berens. . Deterrence through Strength: British Nal Power and Foreign Policy under Pax Britannica (2011) online Mowat, R. B., "Great Britain and Germany in the Early Twentieth Century", English Historical Review (1931) 46#183 pp. 423–441 online Murray, Michelle. "Identity, insecurity, and great power politics: the tragedy of German nal ambition before the First World War." Security Studies 19.4 (2010): 656–688. online[dead link] Neilson, Keith. Britain and the Last Tsar: British Policy and Russia, 1894-1917 (1995) online Otte, T. G. July Crisis: The World's Descent into War, Summer 1914 (Cambridge UP, 2014). online review Paddock, Troy R. E. A Call to Arms: Propaganda, Public Opinion, and Newspapers in the Great War (2004) online Archived 21 July 2019 at the Wayback Machine Padfield, Peter. The Great Nal Race: Anglo-German Nal Rivalry 1900-1914 (2005) Papayoanou, Paul A. "Interdependence, institutions, and the balance of power: Britain, Germany, and World War I." International Security 20.4 (1996): 42–76. Rich, Norman. Great Power Diplomacy: 1814-1914 (1991), comprehensive survey Ritter, Gerhard. The Sword and the Sceptre, Vol. 2-The European Powers and the Wilhelmenian Empire 1890-1914 (1970) Covers military policy in Germany and also France, Britain, Russia and Austria. Schmitt, Bernadotte E. "Triple Alliance and Triple Entente, 1902-1914." American Historical Review 29.3 (1924): 449–473. in JSTOR Schmitt, Bernadotte Everly. England and Germany, 1740-1914 (1916). online Scott, Jonathan French. Five Weeks: The Surge of Public Opinion on the Eve of the Great War (1927) pp 99–153 online Archived 21 July 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Seligmann, Matthew S. "A Service Ready for Total War? The State of the Royal Ny in July 1914." English Historical Review 133.560 (2018): 98-122 online. Seton-Watson, R. W. Britain in Europe, 1789–1914, a survey of foreign policy (1937) useful overview online Steiner, Zara S. Britain and the origins of the First World War (1977), a major scholarly survey. online Stowell, Ellery Cory. The Diplomacy of the War of 1914 (1915) 728 pages online free Strachan, Hew Francis Anthony (2004). The First World War. Viking. ISBN 978-0-670-03295-2. Tucker, Spencer C., ed. The European Powers in the First World War: An Encyclopedia (1996) 816pp. Vyvyan, J. M. K. "The Approach of the War of 1914." in C. L. Mowat, ed. The New Cambridge Modern History: Vol. XII: The Shifting Balance of World Forces 1898-1945 (2nd ed. 1968) online pp 140–70. Ward A.W., ed. The Cambridge History Of British Foreign Policy 1783-1919 Vol III 1866-1919 (1923) v3 online Williamson Jr., Samuel R. "German Perceptions of the Triple Entente after 1911: Their Mounting Apprehensions Reconsidered" Foreign Policy Analysis 7.2 (2011): 205–214. Williamson, Samuel R. The politics of grand strategy: Britain and France prepare for war, 1904-1914 (1990). Wilson, Keith M. "The British Cabinet's decision for war, 2 August 1914." Review of International Studies 1.2 (1975): 148–159. Wood, Harry. "Sharpening the Mind: The German Menace and Edwardian National Identity." Edwardian Culture (2017). 115–132. public fears of German invasion. Woodward, E.L. Great Britain And The German Ny (1935) 535pp; scholarly history online Young, John W. "Ambassador George Buchanan and the July Crisis." International History Review 40.1 (2018): 206–224. online Archived 15 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine Young, John W. "Emotions and the British Government’s Decision for War in 1914." Diplomacy & Statecraft 29.4 (2018): 543–564. online "British Entry into World War I: Did the Germans He Reason to Doubt that the British Would Declare War in 1914?" in Paul du Quenoy ed., History in Dispute Vol. 16: Twentieth-Century European Social and Political Movements: First Series (St. James Press 2000; Gale E-Books) 10pp summary of debate Historiography[edit] Cornelissen, Christoph, and Arndt Weinrich, eds. Writing the Great War - The Historiography of World War I from 1918 to the Present (2020) free download; full coverage for major countries. Herwig, Holger H. ed., The Outbreak of World War I: Causes and Responsibilities (1990) excerpts from primary and secondary sources Horne, John, ed. A Companion to World War I (2012) 38 topics essays by scholars Kramer, Alan. "Recent Historiography of the First World War – Part I", Journal of Modern European History (Feb. 2014) 12#1 pp 5–27; "Recent Historiography of the First World War (Part II)", (May 2014) 12#2 pp 155–174. Langdon, John W. "Emerging from Fischer's shadow: recent examinations of the crisis of July 1914." History Teacher 20.1 (1986): 63–86, historiography in JSTOR Mombauer, Annika. "Guilt or Responsibility? The Hundred-Year Debate on the Origins of World War I." Central European History 48.4 (2015): 541–564. Mulligan, William. "The Trial Continues: New Directions in the Study of the Origins of the First World War." English Historical Review (2014) 129#538 pp: 639–666. Winter, Jay. and Antoine Prost eds. The Great War in History: Debates and Controversies, 1914 to the Present (2005) Primary sources[edit] Barker. Ernest, et al. eds. Why we are at war; Great Britain's case (3rd ed. 1914), the official British case against Germany. online Gooch, G.P. Recent revelations of European diplomacy (1928) pp 3-101. online Major 1914 documents from BYU Gooch, G.P. and Harold Temperley, eds. British documents on the origins of the war, 1898-1914 (11 vol.) online v. i The end of British isolation —v.2. The Anglo-Japanese Alliance and the Franco-British Entente —v.3. The testing of the Entente, 1904-6 -- v.4. The Anglo-Russian rapprochment, 1903-7 -- v.5. The Near East, 1903-9 -- v.6. Anglo-German tension. Armaments and negotiation, 1907-12—v.7. The Agadir crisis—v.8. Arbitration, neutrality and security —v.9. The Balkan wars, pt.1-2 -- v.10, pt.1. The Near and Middle East on the eve of war. pt.2. The last years of peace—v.11. The outbreak of war V.3. The testing of the Entente, 1904-6 -- v.4. The Anglo-Russian rapprochment, 1903-7 -- v.5. The Near East, 1903-9 -- v.6. Anglo-German tension. Armaments and negotiation, 1907-12—v.7. The Agadir crisis—v.8. Arbitration, neutrality and security—v.9. The Balkan wars, pt.1-2 -- v.10, pt.1. The Near and Middle East on the eve of war. pt.2. The last years of peace—v.11. The outbreak of war. Joll, James, ed. Britain and Europe 1793-1940 (1967); 390pp of documents; online Jones, Edgar Rees, ed. Selected speeches on British foreign policy, 1738-1914 (1914). online free Lowe, C.J. and Michael L. Dockrill, eds. Mirage of Power: The Documents v. 3: British Foreign Policy (1972); vol 3 = primary sources 1902–1922 Scott, James Brown, ed., Diplomatic Documents Relating To The Outbreak Of The European War (1916) online United States. War Dept. General Staff. Strength and organization of the armies of France, Germany, Austria, Russia, England, Italy, Mexico and Japan (showing conditions in July, 1914) (1916) online Wilson, K.M. "The British Cabinet's Decision for War, 2 August 1914" British Journal of International Studies 1#3 (1975), pp. 148–159 online Young, John W. "Lewis Harcourt's Journal of the 1914 War Crisis." International History Review 40.2 (2018): 436–455. Diary of UK cabinet discussions 26 July to 4 August 1914. vteWorld War I Outline Military engagements Aftermath Economic history Geography Historiography Home fronts Memorials Opposition Popular culture Propaganda Puppet states Technology TheatresEuropean Balkans Serbia Western Front Eastern Front Romania Italian Front Middle Eastern Gallipoli Sinai and Palestine Caucasus Persia Mesopotamia Hejaz & Levant African South West East Kamerun Togoland North Asian and Pacific Tsingtao German Samoa German New Guinea Nal warfare U-boat campaign North Atlantic Mediterranean PrincipalparticipantsEntente Powers Leaders Belgium Brazil China France French Empire Greece Hejaz Italy Japan Empire of Japan Montenegro Portuguese Empire Romania Russia Russian Empire Russian Republic Serbia Siam United Kingdom British Empire United States Central Powers Leaders Germany Austria-Hungary Ottoman Empire Bulgaria Senussi South African Republic Darfur TimelinePre-War conflicts Franco-Prussian War (1870–71) Scramble for Africa (1880–1914) Russo-Japanese War (1905) Tangier Crisis (1905–06) Bosnian Crisis (1908–09) Agadir Crisis (1911) Italo-Turkish War (1911–12) First Balkan War (1912–13) Second Balkan War (1913) Prelude Origins Historiography Sarajevo assassination Anti-Serb riots in Sarajevo July Crisis 1914 German invasion of Belgium Battle of the Frontiers Battle of Cer Battle of Galicia Russian invasion of East Prussia Battle of Tannenberg Siege of Tsingtao First Battle of the Masurian Lakes Battle of Grand Couronné First Battle of the Marne Siege of Przemyśl Race to the Sea First Battle of Ypres Black Sea raid Battle of Kolubara Battle of Sarikamish Christmas truce 1915 Second Battle of the Masurian Lakes Battle of Łomża Second Battle of Ypres Sinking of the RMS Lusitania Battle of Gallipoli Second Battle of Artois Battles of the Isonzo Gorlice–Tarnów offensive Great Retreat Bug-Narew Offensive Siege of Novogeorgievsk Vistula–Bug offensive Second Battle of Champagne Kosovo offensive 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Constantinople Agreement Treaty of London Damascus Protocol Bulgaria–Germany treaty Treaty of Darin Sykes–Picot Agreement Sazonov–Paléologue Agreement Paris Economy Pact Treaty of Bucharest Agreement of Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne Peace treaties Modus vivendi of Acroma Treaties of Brest-Litovsk Russia–Central Powers Ukraine–Central Powers Treaty of Bucharest Paris Peace Conference Treaty of Versailles Treaty of St. Germain Treaty of Neuilly Treaty of Trianon Treaty of Sèvres Treaty of Lausanne Category vteH. H. AsquithPremiership Liberal government 1908-1915 Coalition government 1915–1916 General elections January 1910 December 1910 1918 1922 1923 1924 Career Relugas Compact (1905) People's Budget (1909) Battle of Downing Street (1910) Marconi scandal (1912) Third Home Rule Bill (1914) Curragh incident (1914) Buckingham Palace Conference (1914) July Crisis (1914) British entry into World War I Gallipoli campaign (1915) Shell Crisis (1915) Easter Rising (1916) Maurice Debate (1918) Parties Liberal Party Independent Liberal Party (1918) Constituenies East Fife (1886-1918) Paisley (1920-1924) Family Margot Asquith (second wife) Raymond Asquith (son) Herbert Asquith (son) Arthur Asquith (son) Violet Bonham Carter (daughter) Cyril Asquith (son) Elizabeth Bibesco (daughter) Anthony Asquith (son) Maurice Bonham-Carter (son-in-law) Cynthia Asquith (daughter-in-law) Katharine Asquith (daughter-in-law) Edward Tennant, 1st Baron Glenconner (brother-in-law) Harold Tennant (brother-in-law) Cultural depictions Edward the Seventh (TV, 1975) The Life and Times of Did Lloyd George (TV, 1981) Number 10 (TV, 1983) The Lost Prince (TV, 2003) Related articles Rector of the University of Glasgow Rector of the University of Aberdeen 1916 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours 1920 Paisley by-election 1925 University of Oxford Chancellor election Earl of Oxford and Asquith Venetia Stanley