Britain declared war on Germany, entering World War I
On this day · 4 August 1914
When Germany ignored an ultimatum to quit neutral Belgium, Britain's deadline expired at 11pm and the empire went to war.
On 4 August 1914, Britain declared war on Germany, the step that pulled the world’s largest empire into the First World War. The trigger was Belgium. German troops had crossed the Belgian frontier that morning, violating the neutrality Britain had helped guarantee under the Treaty of London of 1839.
At 2pm London issued an ultimatum demanding Germany withdraw. At 11pm the deadline passed with no reply, and Britain considered itself at war.
At 11pm, the deadline passed without a reply. Britain declared war.
The stated cause was Belgian neutrality, but ministers also feared a German victory that would leave one power dominating Western Europe. Crowds gathered outside Buckingham Palace, and many expected a short, sharp conflict. Instead the war ground on for more than four years and killed millions, reshaping the map of Europe and Britain’s place in it.
Sources & references
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