Adeclaration 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 merespeech) or the presentation of a signed document by an authorized party of a national government in order to create astate of war between two or more sovereign states. In the context ofWorld War I, the official international protocol for declaring war was defined in theHague Convention of 1907 (or Hague II).[1] For the diplomatic maneuvering behind these events, which led to hostilities between nations, seeDiplomatic history of World War I.
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 ade factostate 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.
