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Franz Ferdinand Assassinated
Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and wife Sophie are assassinated by a Bosnian Serb nationalist in Sarajevo.
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— This assassination set off a quick chain of events. Austria-Hungary blamed the Serbian government for the attack, and since powerful Russia supported Serbia, Austria asked Germany for help. This would begin the collapse of the peace held by the European countries. This chain of allies is what eventually led to the complete world war. -
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia.
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— One month after Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife were assassinated by a Serbian nationalist, Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia. This was the official beginning of the First World War. Allies would soon join each country's side. -
Period: to
World War I
Beginning when Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, it ended when Germany surrendered. The war lasted over 4 years and ended with casualties of about 40 million. The Allies won, and the Central Powers (mainly Germany) lost. -
Russia declares war on Austria-Hungary
Russia declares war on Austria-Hungary.
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— In support of Serbia, Russia declared war on their opponent, Austria-Hungary. This was important because Russia was a massive ally to join the war. This made it much more than a local war. It was now a cross-continent concern. -
Germany declares war on Russia
Germany declares war on Russia.
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— When war was declared by Austria-Hungary and Serbia, Russia responded in an attempt to prevent Serbia's loss. Germany replied to Russia with an ultimatum to either stop their preparations for war or face war with themselves. Russia did not stop, so, Germany, who had a lot of power at this time, entered the war. -
Germany declares war on France
Germany declares war on France.
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— Having already declared war on Russia and even invaded Luxembourg, German troops moved into Belgium at three points, violating their neutrality policy. This threatened France as well, as France had very limited defenses along the Belgium border, making it vulnerable to attack. Germany officially declared war on both France and Belgium on August 3. -
Britain declares war on Germany
Britain declares war on Germany.
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— Britain declared war on Germany after Germany refused to remove troops from neutral Belgium. They were also motivated to enter the war to prevent a French defeat that would have left Germany in control of Western Europe. Additionally, impromptu demonstrations were cited as proof that ordinary Europeans were eager for war. Overall, the massive power of Britain entering the war was bad news for Germany. -
First Battle of the Marne begins
First Battle of the Marne begins.
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— Thirty miles northeast of Paris, the French Army, under General Michel-Joseph Manoury, attacked the German Army, beginning the First Battle of the Marne at the end of the first month of World War I. Events at the Marne ended Germany’s aggressive two-front war strategy. It also made it clear that this war would not be a short one. There was no looking back now. -
Naval blockade of Germany Begins
The British begin a naval blockade of Germany.
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— This type of blockade was a prolonged naval operation conducted especially by Great Britain. The hope was to essentially starve Germany and Austria-Hungary into surrender by cutting off their supplies from the outside world. This worked in starving hundreds of Germans but also motivated Germany to launch its campaign of submarine warfare in 1917. -
Unofficial Truce Declared (Christmas)
An unofficial truce is declared between the two sides at Christmas.
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— Pope Benedict XV initially suggested a temporary hiatus of the war for Christmas, but leaders of the warring countries refused. However, on Christmas, the soldiers in the trenches declared their own unofficial truce. German and British troops sang Christmas carols to each other across the lines, reminding the world of all the humanity that was going to be lost to a prolonged war. -
The Second Battle of Ypres Begins
The Second Battle of Ypres begins.
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— On April 22, 1915, German forces surprised Allied soldiers along the Western Front of the war by firing tons of lethal chlorine gas against two French colonial divisions at Ypres in Belgium. The use of chemical warfare was relatively new, and both sides were shocked at its effects. The inhumanity of war was shockingly obvious after this battle. -
Lusitania Destroyed
British ocean liner Lusitania is torpedoed by a German U-boat.
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— On May 7, 1915, a German U-boat torpedoed the British luxury citizen steamship, Lusitania. This killed 1,195 people, including 128 Americans. The attack on a ship with civilians aboard was a shock to everyone. The backlash stirred anti-German sentiment in America. -
The Battle of Verdun Begins
The Battle of Verdun Begins.
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— Started by one shot from a German Krupp 38-centimeter long-barreled gun, the French forces stretching across the Meuse River in Verdun, France were in for the beginning the Battle of Verdun. This battle extended for 10 months. This made the Battle of Verdun the longest conflict of World War I. -
The Battle of Jutland begins
The Battle of Jutland begins.
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— On May 31, 1916, the British naval force commanded by Vice Admiral David Beatty confronted a squadron of German ships. 75 miles off the Danish coast, the units opened fire on each other, beginning the Battle of Jutland, the greatest naval battle of World War I. Surprisingly, this battle engaged 100,000 men and 250 ships over 72 hours. Both sides suffered major losses. -
First Battle of the Somme begins
First Battle of the Somme begins.
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— In the Somme River region of France, British soldiers expected to find the way cleared for them from a previous attack. However, they were met with active German machine gunfire. By the end of the day, 20,000 British soldiers were dead and 40,000 were wounded, making it the heaviest day of casualties in British military history. The Battle of the Somme stretched over four months, though the Allies advanced just five miles. -
Zimmermann Telegram Intercepted
Zimmermann Telegram intercepted by the British.
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— The Zimmermann Telegram was a message from the German foreign secretary, Arthur Zimmermann, to the German ambassador in Mexico regarding a Mexican-German alliance in the case of war between the United States and Germany. Once intercepted by the British, it was published on the front pages of newspapers across America. The next day, the president proposed arming its ships against possible German attacks. -
Tsar Nicholas II Abdicates Throne
Tsar Nicholas II abdicates the throne after a week of riots in the Russian capital of St. Petersburg
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— During the "February Revolution," Czar Nicholas II, ruler of Russia since 1894, was forced to abdicate the throne. Ordered by the Petrograd insurgents, a provincial government was installed in his place. Following this, a death sentence was passed on Nicholas, his wife, his children, and several of their servants. -
United States declares war on Germany
United States declares war on Germany.
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— On April 2, 1917, Woodrow Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of war against Germany. On April 6, Congress granted the request, and the United States was formally at war with Germany. This was a response to the Lusitania, the Zimmerman Telegram, and the resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare by Germany. This put the American public in the trenches of Europe versus the previous neutral ground at home. -
Woodrow Wilson Issues Fourteen Points
President Woodrow Wilson issues his Fourteen Points.
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— The Fourteen Points of President Woodrow Wilson was delivered before a joint meeting of Congress on January 8, 1918. In this, Wilson outlined his vision for stable, long-lasting peace for the whole world following World War I. His idea led to the short-lived League of Nations, followed by the United Nations after World War II. -
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
The Soviet government signs the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with the Central Powers.
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— On March 3, 1918, in the city of Brest-Litovsk, Russia signed this treaty with the Central Powers and ended its participation in World War I. Before the Treaty of Versailles altered this, Russia had to give up about 1 million square miles of their former territory, including giving Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia to Germany. This way, Russia also lost lots of their resources. -
Germany Surrenders
Germany formally surrendered on November 11, 1918, and all nations agreed to stop fighting while the terms of peace were negotiated (the Treaty of Versailles). -
WWI OFFICIALLY ENDS
The Treaty of Versailles ends WWI.
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— The Treaty of Versailles was signed in June of 1919, marking the end of World War I. Instead of "World Peace," the Treaty of Versailles held Germany responsible for starting the war and imposed harsh penalties on them. They lost territory, paid massive reparations, and were demilitarized. In the end, the total number of military and civilian casualties in World War I was about 40 million.
