Pre-War
Tensions were building across the Balkans throughout the early nineteenth century. Six great powers ruled Europe, including Great Britain, France, Germany, Russia, Austria–Hungary and Serbia, all of which were looking to expand their territories. Those observing the tensions anticipated, at some point, there would be another Balkan explosion, reflecting centuries of conflict between ‘the Turks and the Slavs and the Bulgars’. What was to come was a complete reinvention of the European map, changing the landscape in a matter of a few short years.
![A caricature map of Europe with each country depicted as an angler having various levels of success in hooking colonies.](/sites/default/files/styles/content_full_width/public/nla.obj-232519231-1_crop_0.jpg?h=7f08828c&itok=Rs4Qmd5A)
Rose, Fred. W. (Frederick W.) & Hewardine, Matt & G.W. Bacon & Co. (1899). Angling in troubled waters = Der Fischfang im Trüben = La pêche en eau trouble = La pesca nelle acque turbes : a serio-comic map of Europe / by Fred. W. Rose, author of the "octopus" map of Europe ; Matt. Hewardine, from design by Fred. W. Rose. http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-232519231
![A newspaper clipping titled 'The Balkans situation, Outlook reported to be grave'.](/sites/default/files/styles/content_full_width/public/2017-12-07_12_58_40-01_oct_1913_-_the_balkans_situation._-_trove_0.png?h=c22e2f19&itok=d_DF2tUL)
THE BALKANS SITUATION. (1913, October 1). The Albany Advertiser (WA : 1897 - 1954), p. 3. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article70110256
![A newspaper clipping titled 'The five Balkan states at a glance', and a map showing the states with a silhouette of a soldier holding a gun.](/sites/default/files/styles/content_full_width/public/2017-12-07_12_59_58-19_nov_1912_-_the_five_balkan_states_at_a_glance._-_trove_0.png?h=b9408290&itok=GVEPXu_-)
THE FIVE BALKAN STATES AT A GLANCE. (1912, November 19). The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 - 1930), p. 11. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article238732615
Outbreak of War (28 June 1914)
On 28 June 1914, Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip assassinated the heir to the Austrian–Hungarian Empire, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, and his wife, in Sarajevo, Bosnia. This event sparked a chain reaction that essentially led to the outbreak of World War I, less than a month later. Following the assassination, Austria–Hungary delivered a list of ultimatums to Serbia. When it failed to comply with the requirements, war was declared on 4 August 1914.
Following the mobilisation of Russian troops along Austria–Hungary’s Galician border, Germany promptly declared war on Russia, on 1 August, and announced its long-planned invasion of France, Russia’s ally, through Belgium. When Britain then declared war against Germany on 4 August, all of the five great European powers were simultaneously at war. In total, 30 nations joined the fight including Australia, France, Japan and Russia—known as the Allied powers. In turn, Germany, Austria–Hungary, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire formed the Central powers.
![A clipping of a newspaper titled 'Great Britain declares war.'](/sites/default/files/styles/content_full_width/public/2017-12-07_13_07_16-07_aug_1914_-_great_britain_declares_war._-_trove_0.png?h=9b17a3a3&itok=zkYQlnOb)
Great Britain Declares War. (1914, August 7). Bunyip (Gawler, SA : 1863 - 1954), p. 2. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article97733079
![A clipping of a newspaper article titled 'The Great War'.](/sites/default/files/styles/content_full_width/public/2017-12-07_13_04_16-19_nov_1914_-_great_war._-_trove_0.png?h=df44d719&itok=WYK_S_Yh)
Great War. (1914, November 19). The Yackandandah Times (Vic. : 1890 - 1931), p. 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article144938308
Australia Joins the Fight (5 August 1914)
Australia’s involvement in World War I began almost immediately after Great Britain declared war on Germany. The strong sense of patriotism and loyalty to the Mother country led to both Prime Minister Joseph Cook and Opposition Leader Andrew Fisher to agreeing to send troops. As most Australians saw it, Britain’s declaration was justified on moral grounds and as a means to secure the Empire.
![A newspaper clipping titled 'Australia's opportunity'.](/sites/default/files/styles/content_full_width/public/2017-12-07_13_13_52-10_oct_1914_-_australias_opportunity._-_trove_0.png?h=4f53303d&itok=Rii2Jy62)
AUSTRALIA'S OPPORTUNITY. (1914, October 10). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 12. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15537528
![A drawing of people in a circle set against the Union Jack, titled 'The Family gathering'. A woman has a hat with 'Canada' on it, a man in a turban has 'India' on it, a boy with a soldier's hat saying Australia reads a newspaper in the hands of an older man in a top hat. The newspaper says 'the New Europe'.](/sites/default/files/styles/content_full_width/public/2017-12-07_13_22_39-nla.news-page17595094.pdf__0.png?h=64e1b801&itok=elxHZWmP)
(1915, January 13). Sydney Mail (NSW : 1912 - 1938), p. 1. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page17595094
Aussie Troops Head to Egypt (November 1914)
The outbreak of war saw the establishment of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). Thousands of young men rushed to enlist, expecting to be sent straight to the Western Front. Instead, they found themselves heading to Egypt. The Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) began disembarking at Alexandria in early December, adding to the British and Indian troops there, with the aim of looking after British interests and defending the strategically critical Suez Canal. Under the shadow of the great pyramids and the hot desert sun, the Australian troops endured over four months of training.
![A newspaper clipping titled 'The Australian troops in Egypt', with a map of the region.](/sites/default/files/styles/content_full_width/public/2017-12-07_13_37_04-19_dec_1914_-_the_australian_troops_in_egypt._-_trove_0.png?h=ae9e7232&itok=RBGmM3n6)
THE AUSTRALIAN TROOPS IN EGYPT. (1914, December 19). The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931), p. 15. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5435481
![A newspaper clipping titled 'Getting fit, Our troops in Egypt.'](/sites/default/files/styles/content_full_width/public/2017-12-07_13_37_51-30_dec_1914_-_getting_fit_-_trove_0.png?h=ff4764a6&itok=VK_eLJYI)
"GETTING FIT" (1914, December 30). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 7. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10824446
Significant Battles
Rabaul, New Guinea (11 September 1914)