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The assassination on 28 June 1914 of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, the heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, was the proximate trigger of the war. Long-term causes, such as imperialistic foreign policies of the great powers of Europe, such as the German Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, the Russian Empire, the British Empire, France, and Italy, played a major role. Ferdinand's assassination by a Yugoslav nationalist resulted in a Habsburg ultimatum against the Kingdom of Serbia.[9][10]

Europe that began in the summer of 1914. The fighting ended in November 1918. This conflict involved all of the world's great powers,[4] assembled in two opposing alliances: the Allies (centred around the Triple Entente) and the Central Powers.[5] More than 70 million military personnel, including 60 million Europeans, were mobilised in one of the largest wars in history.[6][7] More than 9 million combatants were killed, due largely to great technological advances in firepower without corresponding advances in mobility. It was the second deadliest conflict in Western history.[8]