Declarations of war during World War I

Last updated

A declaration of war is a formal act by which one nation goes to war against another. A declaration is usually an act of delivering a performative speech (not to be confused with a mere speech) or the presentation of a signed document by an authorized party of a national government in order to create a state of war between two or more sovereign states. In the context of World War I, the official international protocol for declaring war was defined in the Hague Convention of 1907 (or Hague II). [1] For the diplomatic maneuvering behind these events, which led to hostilities between nations, see Diplomatic history of World War I.

Contents

List of war declarations

Below is a table showing the outbreaks of wars between nations which occurred during World War I. Indicated are the dates (during the immediate build-up to, or during the course of, World War I) from which a de facto state of war existed between nations. The table shows both the initiator states and the state at which the declaration of war was aimed. Events listed include those in which there were a simple diplomatic breaking of relations that did not involve any physical attack, as well as those involving overt declarations or acts of aggression.

Date [2] [3] [4] Initiator statesTargeted states
July 28, 1914 Flag of Austria-Hungary (1867-1918).svg  Austria-Hungary State Flag of Serbia (1882-1918).svg  Serbia
August 1, 1914Flag of the German Empire.svg  German Empire Flag of Russia.svg  Russian Empire
August 3, 1914Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium
Flag of France.svg France
August 4, 1914 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  British Empire Flag of the German Empire.svg  German Empire
August 5, 1914Flag of Montenegro (1905-1918).svg  Montenegro Flag of Austria-Hungary (1867-1918).svg  Austria-Hungary
August 6, 1914Flag of Austria-Hungary (1867-1918).svg  Austria-Hungary Flag of Russia.svg  Russian Empire
State Flag of Serbia (1882-1918).svg  Serbia Flag of the German Empire.svg  German Empire
August 8, 1914Flag of Montenegro (1905-1918).svg  Montenegro
August 12, 1914Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  British Empire Flag of Austria-Hungary (1867-1918).svg  Austria-Hungary
Flag of France.svg France
August 23, 1914Merchant flag of Japan (1870).svg  Japan Flag of the German Empire.svg  German Empire
August 25, 1914Flag of Austria-Hungary (1867-1918).svg  Austria-Hungary
August 28, 1914Flag of Austria-Hungary (1867-1918).svg  Austria-Hungary Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium
November 1, 1914Flag of Russia.svg  Russian Empire Flag of the Ottoman Empire (1844-1922).svg  Ottoman Empire
November 5, 1914 Flag of France.svg France
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  British Empire
November 11, 1914 Flag of the Ottoman Empire (1844-1922).svg  Ottoman Empire Flag of Russia.svg  Russian Empire
Merchant flag of Japan (1870).svg  Japan
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  British Empire
December 2, 1914State Flag of Serbia (1882-1918).svg  Serbia Flag of the Ottoman Empire (1844-1922).svg  Ottoman Empire
December 3, 1914Flag of Montenegro (1905-1918).svg  Montenegro
December 5, 1914Merchant flag of Japan (1870).svg  Japan
May 23, 1915Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Italy Flag of Austria-Hungary (1867-1918).svg  Austria-Hungary
August 21, 1915Flag of the Ottoman Empire (1844-1922).svg  Ottoman Empire
August 27, 1916Flag of the German Empire.svg  German Empire
October 14, 1915Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria State Flag of Serbia (1882-1918).svg  Serbia
October 15, 1915Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  British Empire Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria
Flag of Montenegro (1905-1918).svg  Montenegro
October 16, 1915Merchant flag of Japan (1870).svg  Japan
Flag of France.svg France
October 19, 1915Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Italy
Flag of Russia.svg  Russian Empire
March 9, 1916Flag of the German Empire.svg  German Empire Flag of Portugal.svg Portugal
March 15, 1916Flag of Austria-Hungary (1867-1918).svg  Austria-Hungary
August 28, 1916Flag of Romania.svg  Romania Flag of Austria-Hungary (1867-1918).svg  Austria-Hungary
Flag of the German Empire.svg  German Empire Flag of Romania.svg  Romania
August 30, 1916Flag of the Ottoman Empire (1844-1922).svg  Ottoman Empire
September 1, 1916Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria
April 6, 1917 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States Flag of the German Empire.svg  German Empire
April 7, 1917Flag of Panama.svg  Panama
Flag of Cuba (sky blue).svg Cuba
June 27, 1917State Flag of Greece (1863-1924 and 1935-1973).svg  Greece Flag of Austria-Hungary (1867-1918).svg  Austria-Hungary
Flag of the German Empire.svg  German Empire
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria
Flag of the Ottoman Empire (1844-1922).svg  Ottoman Empire
July 22, 1917 Flag of Thailand.svg Siam Flag of Austria-Hungary (1867-1918).svg  Austria-Hungary
July 22, 1917Flag of the German Empire.svg  German Empire
August 4, 1917Flag of Liberia.svg  Liberia
August 14, 1917 Flag of the Republic of China 1912-1928.svg China Flag of Austria-Hungary (1867-1918).svg  Austria-Hungary
August 14, 1917 Flag of the German Empire.svg  German Empire
October 26, 1917 Flag of Brazil (1889-1960).svg Brazil
December 7, 1917 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States Flag of Austria-Hungary (1867-1918).svg  Austria-Hungary
December 10, 1917Flag of Panama.svg  Panama
April 23, 1918Flag of Guatemala.svg  Guatemala Flag of the German Empire.svg  German Empire
May 6, 1918Flag of Nicaragua (1908-1971).svg  Nicaragua Flag of Austria-Hungary (1867-1918).svg  Austria-Hungary
May 6, 1918Flag of the German Empire.svg  German Empire
May 23, 1918 Flag of Costa Rica (state).svg Costa Rica
July 12, 1918 Flag of Haiti (1820-1849, 1859-1964).svg Haiti
July 19, 1918Flag of Honduras (1898-1949).svg  Honduras

See also

References

  1. On the Opening of Hostilities; 1907; Yale Law School Library; retrieved March 2014.
  2. "World War: Declarations of War from Around the World". Library of Congress.
  3. "Who Declared War and When". Firstworldwar.com.
  4. Ian F.W. Becket, The Great War, second edition, Pearson Education Ltd., 2007, ISBN   978-1-4058-1252-8