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Beginning of War
Austro- Hungarian invasion of Serbia marks the start of the Great War. Mass mobilisation in the opposing Central and Entente alliances ensues as Germany begins invasion through the Low Countries to France in the following days. -
Germany declares war on Russia
Germany then declares war on France and Belgium on the 3rd and 4th respectively. -
Britain declares on Germany
Britain and her colonies officially enter the war. -
Defence of the Realm Act 1914
New legislation which imposed strict censorship regulations to maintain morale on the Home Front in Britain. Amendments in the later years of the war would see the implentation of rationing as merchant fleets carrying vital food supplies come under more frequent attacks by the German Navy. -
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First Battle of Ypres
The first of many battles to gain strategic advantages through the important town of Ypres. The Allied victory in Ypres was important in preventing the Schlieffen Plan succeeding. The town's importance is shown in the numerous battles that took place to gain control of it. -
France and Britain declare war on the Ottoman Empire
This follows Russia declaring war on the Ottomans a few days previous. -
First Zeppelin raid on Britain
Although the attack was unsuccessful, it was part of a series of bomb attacks on Britain which would be a significant change to warfare. -
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Second Battle of Ypres
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Gallipoli Campaign
A British and French attempt to capture the Ottoman capital Constantiople (Istanbul) through naval attack and sea landings. Landings failed and the allied forces retreated to Egypt after heavy casulties on both sides. -
Sinking of RMS Lusitania
German torpedoing of ship kills 1,198 people, draws America closer to entering war. -
Conscription in UK
The Military Service Act 1916 is given royal assent. The Act calls for all unmarried men (with some exceptions such as labour in important industries). The Act shows the realisation that the fighting will be a 'long war' and more troops will need to be drafted in. -
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Battle of Verdun
A long and brutal battle, fought at the same time as the Somme. A German assault on the Western Front was repelled by the French forces. -
Battle of the Somme: Lochnagar mine detonated
-La Boisselle. Marks the beginning of the Battle of the Somme. Explosion is believed to be the largest recorded at the time. Created by British tunnellers -
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Battle of the Somme
British/ French offensive against the German army in Northern France (Western Front); one of the largest and bloodiest battles of the War; over a million combined casualties and killed. -
David Lloyd- George becomes British PM
Lloyd- George takes role after lack of support forces Asquith to resign. -
February Revolution
Years of spiraling inflation, food shortages and discontent on the Russian Home Front; combined with an increasingly shattered morale on the frontline culminates in a series of protests and riots break ingout in the Russia capital Petrograd (St. Petersburg) resulting in mutinies on the fronts. -
Abdication of Tsar Nicholas II
Opposition to Tsar's rule by Bolsheviks results in abdication, paving the way to an early Russian exist. -
USA declares war on Germany
US congress authorises entry into war after years of neutrality of Woodrow Wilson's government. -
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Third Battle of Ypres (Battle of Passchendaele)
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October Revolution
Lenin returns from exile to lead a Bolshevik revolt against the new Russian government. -
Official Russian exit from War
The Bolsheviks sought so deliver their slogan of "Peace, land, bread" and managed to gain peace at the expense of a large amount of territory in Eastern Europe. -
Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicates
Weakening military, a naval mutiny and an increasingly hungry and resistant public causes the Kaiser to escape to the Netherlands. Effectively bringing about the end of fighting in just a few days. -
Armistice- end of war
The signing on Le Wagon de l'Armistice at 11 am on 11 November 1918 brought an end to the fighting of the First World War, but it would be months until a peace treaty (the Treaty of Versailles) would be negotiated.
