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Question: Why was 4th august accepted as the beginning of World War I!?
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
At two minutes past 8AM German troops began the invasion of Belgium!. [Barbara Tuchman 1962 "Guns of August" page123]
That's when Britain felt obligated to come into the war on the side of Belgium and France!. That ensured that the war would not be limited to Europe but would be global in scope!. Britain at that time controlled about 25% of the world in the vast British Empire!. If Britain had stayed out of it, France may well have fallen in about six weeks as they had in the 1870 Franco-Prussian War!. Germany would then have turned east and beaten Russia!. The war would have been over in 1914 and been just another European War!. British involvement led to the stalemate that would draw the war out for 4 years and 3 months!.

Barbara Tuchman's book covering the events and people of August 1914 at the start of WWI is a classic!. Chapter 9 p!.112 to 133 covers this better than any other source I've read!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Further discussion of War in Europe in the House of Commons
(including announced rupture of Belgian neutrality and debate on war risk insurance; facsimile transcript)
4 August 1914
Origin of the Term "A Scrap of Paper"
4 August 1914
The Imperial Chancellor Defends the Invasion of Belgium
4 August 1914
King Albert I of the Belgians' Speech to the Belgian Parliament
4 August 1914
President Poincaré's War Message
4 August 1914
Great Britain Declares War on Germany
4 August 1914
As reported in the Daily Mirror
Clemenceau Calls France to Arms
5 August 1914
Telegram from Wilhelm II to President Wilson, August 10, 1914Www@QuestionHome@Com

that was the day when germany and England went to war and at that point most nations in europe were at war so it was decided (later on ) that the official start of a "world war" was on august 4th!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I think it was the assassination of Prince Ferdinand of Austria by some nuttnik socialist!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Only from the British point of view!. Some nations started on 1st August!.Www@QuestionHome@Com