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Archduke Ferdinand Assassination
Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife, Sophie, are shot dead in Sarajevo. The objective of the assassination is to break off Austria-Hungary's south-Slav provinces so they could be combined into a Greater Serbia or a Yugoslavia. -
Germany declares War
Germany declares war on Russia after France mobilizes against its western front. -
Great Britain declares war
The United Kingdom declared war on Germany following an "unsatisfactory reply" to the British ultimatum that Belgium must be kept neutral. -
Lusitania
The Lusitania, a luxury cruise liner sailing out of New York, is sunk by a German U-boat. 1153 passengers and crew died, 128 of them being Americans. -
Battle of Jutland
A naval clash between the British and Germans in the Northern Sea. The British are said to be the victors because their fleet was still a sea worthy entity, whereas the German High Seas fleet was never again to be in a position to put to sea and challenge the British Navy -
USA declares war on Germany
The United States decides to end its neutral position in the war after their trade is restricted by both sides. It is also caused by Germany announcing that merchant shipping in a specified zone around Britain would be legitimate targets. -
Battle of Caporetto
Germany attacks Italian army defensive lines and are able to break through. The Battle of Caporetto and the subsequent withdrawal, had a major impact on the Italian Army. The Italians lost 300,000 men - of these, about 270,000 were captured and held as prisoners. -
British tanks won a victory at Cambrai
In a mixture of cavalry, air power, artillery, tanks, and infantry, the Britsih attack the town Cambrai. The plan included an attack on the Hindenburg Line and the use of three cavalry divisions that would encircle Cambrai, thus cutting it off. The attack flails 10 days later and the British withdraw. -
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk is signed
After constant failed attempts between Russia and Germany for peace, Lenin urges the Bolshevik to sign a treaty no matter how steep the terms were. Under the treaty, Russia lost Riga, Lithuania, Livonia, Estonia and some of White Russia. -
Ceasefire Agreement
The Allied powers signed a ceasefire agreement with Germany at Rethondes, France, at 11:00 a.m., bringing the war, later known as World War I, to a close.
