How One Bullet Started the First World War

On the morning of June 28th, 1914, a wrong turn, a failed escape, and two gunshots changed the course of the modern world. In this episode of History, Explained, we explore how the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand did not merely kill a man — but exposed a European system already under extreme strain. From rising nationalism and rigid alliances to mobilisation plans that could not be stopped, this is the story of how one moment triggered a chain reaction that led to the First World War. Not a story of one cause, but of how fragile systems collapse when fear, pride, and bad decisions replace restraint. New episodes weekly, exploring the moments, decisions, and turning points that shaped our world. This video explains the spark that ignited the "world war 1", starting with the "assassination of archduke franz ferdinand of austria" in "sarajevo" and its subsequent chain reaction. It covers the real "causes of world war 1", including arms races, rigid military plans, and unstable empires, and highlights "germany's" perception of being surrounded by alliances. This pivotal moment set in motion the events that led to "the great war" and reshaped the 20th century. On this day, we break down the single spark that ignited the entire world into the First World War. We examine the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in Sarajevo and the chain reaction it set off, leading to the causes of World War 1. This episode of history explained shows how one event escalated into the great war, reshaping the world as we know it.