On this date 1914 and 1919

1914 dateline Sarajevo

The presumptive heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Hungary and his wife were assassinated by Serbian nationalists while visiting Sarajevo. Ferdinand's death led to Hungary declaring war on Serbia. Mutual defense pacts between Serbia and its allies and Austria-Hungary and its allies escalated into World War I.

The Archduke and his wife were murdered within minutes of this photo being taken.


1919 dateline Paris

George Clemenceau of France, Woodrow Wilson of the US and David Lloyd-George of Great Britain shown leaving Trianon Palace after the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, ending WWI. Negotiations over acceptable settlement terms took 6 months to finalize. France wanted to avenge German aggression, Britain wanted German cash to pay down Britain's war debt and the US wanted the League of Nations. Be careful what you wish for.

Germany made their final WWI reparation payment in October 2011, 92 years and 1 World War after the Treaty to end the war to end all wars.

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