Opening scene shows a man being roughed up by a group of men in an alleyway. A slate comments (in French) that when nations are bellicose, an assassination can cause a world war. Next, a slate shows picture of the world and states (in English) "One murder may start a world war." Another slate (in French) states that In 1914, while Europe's armies and fleets were more powerful than they had ever been, the nephew of the Emperor of Austria (Archduke Ferdinand) was assassinated. A front page is shown of newspaper, "Journal De Geneve" carrying the story. Next scene is a view of the city of Sarajevo. The ancient Emperor's Mosque dominates the scene. A slate appears asking Where is Sarajevo? It is followed by a map of Europe in 1914, which zooms in on Austria and Serbia and identifies and labels Sarajevo,in Austria, close to the Serbian border. Slates (in French) says Austria accused Serbia of War and other nations enter the melee. Animated World map shows the nations getting involved, starting with the German Empire in 1914, including its African colonies, and then successively showing Russia, France, Belgium,Great Britain, Japan, and the Ottoman Empire. Map advances to 1915, showing the Italian empire, Bulgaria,and Central Arabia. In 1916 it adds Portugal, Roumania. Next, the U.S.A. is added in, 1917, along with Central and South America, Greece, Siam, and China. Finally, the slate shows the war ending in 1918. Slate shows Armistice Day, the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th Month (November), with time shown on hands of Big Ben in London.
Portrait of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, who were assassinated June 28, 1914. Crowd at Franz Joseph Street in Sarajevo. The last residence of the royal couple, in Bad Ilidze, near Sarajevo. Trees, plants and fountain at the park. Arrival of the ship, "Viribus Unitis," on July 1, 1914 to transport the bodies of the Archduke and Duchess back to Austria. Austrian seamen carry coffins of the Archduke and Duchess to the pier. They place it on a platform. Priests stand near coffins and Austrian officers salute. Horse carriage, soldiers, officers and priests walk in funeral procession to railroad station in Trieste, where the coffins of the Royal couple are transferred for transport home to Vienna. View of Castello Miramare, on the water, in Trieste. Funeral procession with automobiles in Vienna. Views of Castle Artstetten in Austria, the final resting place of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie,Duchess of Hohenberg, laid to rest there on July 4, 1914.
From a documentary film entitled "World War I". Events leading to World War I. Soldiers at a parade. In August 1914 the leading nations of Europe prepare to go for a war. Soldiers on the battle field. The scenes after the war show damage to life and material. Smoke all around. A tank on the battle field. Sketches of the U.S. President Thomas Woodrow Wilson explain people to be neutral in the war. A sketch of a soldier carrying an artillery. Sketches depict World War I, the industries in the United States. Workers work inside the factory. A sketch of Thomas Woodrow Wilson. People hold strike posters. The President addresses a gathering. A cartoon depicts the concern of the President in the domestic reforms. Sketch of the President sitting in a chair and other officials stand near him. Animation of a map shows Serbia. Sketches of assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria by Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb citizen of Austria-Hungary. Serbia raises a war against Austria and Russia assists. Soldiers on horses prepare for war. Soldiers carry weapons as they run. Germany assists Austria in the war. Soldiers on horses carry weapons. President Thomas Woodrow Wilson seeks to help the world. Sketches of soldiers on horses during a fight and of an injured soldier during the war.
1914: Kaiser Wilhelm II inspects his troops in Berlin, Germany. He shakes hands with military officers and greets other officials. The Kaiser's cousin and heir apparent to the Austrian thrown, Archduke Franz Ferdinand trains Teutonic soldiers. The troops on horses march. Officer greets ladies and children in horse carriages. The Kaiser and the Archduke hunt together. The two standing in a forest with their kill.
Austrian troops in the European Theater during World War I. Austrian cavalry parade on a field. Horse-drawn wagons move along the field. Charles I of Austria, on horseback, speaks to members of royal family in a carriage. Funeral service for Japanese Navy Admiral Heihachiro Togo, Tokyo, Japan. German troops marching to war in 1914. Newspapers announce outbreak of World War I. British troops standing by trenches, fix their bayonets on rifles and advance to take cover in a bomb crater. Gas shells explode near them as they advance across No Man's Land. Litter bearers pick up casualties from the battlefield.
The First World War. Austrian cavalry troops, horse carriages and infantry troops in World War 1. Charles I of Austria leaning over from a horse and talking to royal family members in a carriage. Very brief shot of Japanese funeral forJapanese Navy Admiral Heihachiro Togo, Tokyo, Japan. German Army troops in formation marching to battle in 1914. Newspaper headlines showing outbreak of World War 1. British Army soldiers in trenches fix bayonets on rifles and advance on a battlefield, taking refuge in a bomb crater. Gas shells and or smoke explode nearby as they advance on the battlefield. Explosions occur and smoke rises in the background. Medics with stretchers stop to assist some injured soldiers.