On this day: July 28

Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand Sets Europe on Course for War

On 28 July 1914, weeks after the killing of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, a decision that triggered a chain of alliances and mobilizations across Europe leading to the outbreak of World War I.

1976 Tangshan Earthquake Levels City in Deadly July Quake

On July 28, 1976, a powerful earthquake struck Tangshan in Hebei province, China, causing widespread destruction and a catastrophic loss of life. The disaster collapsed much of the city and triggered a national emergency whose full human toll remains disputed.