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Japan declares war on Germany
Japan declared war on Germany along with her alliance, Great Britain, which was signed in 1902. -
The First Battle of the Marne
Lasting six days, the first battle of the marne resulted in an Allied victory against the German Army. It put the monthlong German offensive that opened the war to an end. This lucky feat was also known as the Miracle of Marne. -
Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill resigned as First Lord of the Admiralty and rejoined the army as a battalion commander. He then served as lieutenant colonel of the Royal Scots Fusiliers in Belgium in early 1916. -
The Zeppelins
The Zeppelins, giant airships used during the war, arrived alongside Germany. Zeppelin airships benefitted Germany in several ways during the war, including dropping bombs on Yarmouth in February of 1915 and London soon after. -
Gallipoli
This was an idea presented by Winston Churchill; the idea of creating a new war front that the Central Powers could not cope with. He suggested his idea in November of 1914 and that following January the British troops were on alert for the new front and causing the German army to split further. After a short and confusing meeting with the War Office, his idea was approved. -
Battle of Loos
This was a major battle on the Western Front for Great Britain. It was the first time the British used poison gas and is also known as the first large-scale use of Kitchener's Army units. It was also known as the British contribution to the Third Battle of Artois. -
Battle of Jutland
This battle is considered to be the only major naval battle of the war. Though more men and ships were lost from the British Navy, it was declared a loss for Germany, who was unable to return to sea warfare thereafter. This ended the supposed 'naval race' between the two countries. Britain's win was inevitable. -
Battle of Verdun
WW1's longest single battle lasted from February 1, 1916, and ended on December 16, 1916. This battle later caused the Battle of the Somme in order to take pressure off of Germany due to the casualities of the French Army during the battle. It made General Philippe Petain a war hero in France. -
"Peace without Victory" Speech
President Woodrow Wilson makes his "Peace without Victory" speech on this day. He proposes peaceful terms to end the war and defined victory as being "anathema to the establishment of peace among nations". -
U.S. enters WW1
U.S. joins the war after remaining neutral since 1914. America's policy of insisting on neutral rights did not sit well with other countries. President Woodrow Wilson repeatedly warned that he did not want unrestricted submarine warfare, and the Germans repeatedly promised to stop. After the chance of Mexico joining the war was discovered, along with several other contibuting factors, the U.S. joined and was referred to as an 'Associated Power'.
