-
The assassination.
The Balkan states of Bosnia and Herzegovina, had been annexed from Turkey and taken into the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This was strongly resented by many Serbs and Croats and a nationalist group, The Black Hand, was formed. -
Germany declares war on Russia
-
Germany declares war on France.
-
Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia and Serbia declares war on Germany.
-
U.S. President Woodrow Wilson announces the U.S. will remain neutral.
-
The Battle of Tannenberg begins.
-
The First Battle of the Marnebegins. Trench warfare begins as soldiers on both sides dig in.
-
Battle of Ypres begins.
-
December 24 The unofficial Christmas truce is declared.
-
Germany declares a "war zone" around Great Britain, essentially effecting a submarine blockade where even neutral merchant vessels were to be potential targets.
-
The Dardanelles Campaign begins.
-
The British ocean liner RMS Lusitania is sunk by German U-boat, U-20.
-
22 Apr 1915The Second Battle of Ypres begins. It is during this battle that the Germans first use poison gas.
-
The Battle of Gallipoli begins.
-
21 Feb 1916 The Battle of Verdun begins. The Battle of Verdun was the longest battle of World War I and was one of the bloodiest.
-
31 May 1916 The Battle of Jutland, the major naval battle of the war, begins.
-
The Battle of the Somme begins. During the Battle of the Somme, tanks are first introduced into battle.
-
Germany sends the secret Zimmerman Telegram. Telegram is sent to Mexico in an effort to entice Mexico to join the war. The British intercept and decipher the coded message.
-
Russian Tsar Nicholas II abdicates.
-
The United States declares war on Germany. The first turning point.
-
The Battle of Passchendaele begins. (Also known as the Third Battle of Ypres)
-
The armistice agreed upon between the new Russian government and the Central Powers goes into effect.
-
Russia signs the Treaty of Brest Litovsk. It is a peace treaty between Russia and the Central Powers.
-
Germany launches the Spring Offensive.
-
German flying ace, Baron Manfred von Richthofen is shot down. More commonly known as the Red Baron.