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The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
The Balkan countries were a "Powder Keg" and the assassination was the spark of World War 1. There was so much tension of militarism, alliances, imperialism and nationalism threatening war so when a member from the Black Hand terrorist group murdered the Austrian Hungary Archduke and his wife in Serbia, war broke out. -
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World War One
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Important World War One Events
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Assurance
Germany assures Austria Hungary that no matter what happens they will back them and help with their strong military. This also gives Austria Hungary more support to declare war on Serbia. -
Austria Hungary declares war on Serbia
Austria Hungary was angered by the assassination of their Archuke and they wanted to crush Serbian Nationalism. They issued an ultimatum to Serbia. Serbia agreed to all but one of the demands because it was considered embarrassing to allow foreign law enforcers into their country to apprehend the "Black Hand." So Austria Hungary declared war on Serbia. -
Germany declares war on Russia
Russia was backing up Serbia and was also allies with France. When Austria Hungary declared war on Serbia, they were mobilizing. Germany (ally of A-H) ordered France and Russia to halt but they both refused so Germany declared war on Russia. -
Germany declares war on France
A day after Germany declared war on Russia, they declared war on France for the same reasons. -
The Scheifflin Plan
Germany was in the middle of Europe and needed to protect itself from France and Russia so it came up with this plan. It was a two-front war lay which called for a knockout blow against France before Geman armies moved back across Gemany to conter a Russian Attack. But they did not achieve what their plan intended. -
Germany invades Belguim
Germany had the Schlieffen plan to invade France and in order to follow this they had to go through Belgium. -
Britain declares war on Germany
The invasion of Belgium made Britain angry because they were a longtime guardian of Belgian neutrality. This brought Britain into war. -
The United Kingdom declares war on Germany
When Germany invaded Belgium, Britain gave them an ultimatum to get out of the neutral country Belgium but they did not agree so Britain went into war. Britain fought with it's allies France and Russia. -
The United States announces that they will stay neutral.
United States president Woodrow Wilson announced that the U.S. will remain neutral because they wanted peace. -
Battle of Tannenburg
Germany's victory of destroying the Russian Second Army which ended Russia's invasion of East Prussia. Most of the Russian Second Army was killed and over 92,000 Russians were taken prisoner by Germany. -
The First Battle of Marne begins.
The battle was fought between Germany and the allies of France and Britain. When the Germans approached Paris, the Allies of Britain and France gave all their effort to stop the advance of the German army. The armies on both sides suffered heavy casualties but the battle was a major victory for the allies because they held off the German army. This forced Germany to fight the war on two fronts. -
Second Battle of Ypres
The Second Battle of Ypres was fought from 22 April – 25 for control of the strategic town of Ypres in western Belgium. It was the first use of a gas attack in war by the Germans while Canadians troops were in the front line against them. -
Lusitania Sinks
A German U-boat sunk the British passenger ship Lusitania off the coast of Ireland. Over 1,000 passengers were killed, including 128 Americans. The ship may have been carrying military equipment along with the people but the Americans were angry because the people on board weren’t warned before the sinking. The Sinking of the Lusitania increased more anti-German sentiment in America. -
First Battle of Ypres
This battle took place near Ypres, Belgium with the allied powers France, Britain and Belgium against Germany in the race to the sea. The First Battle of Ypres and the Battle of the Yser marked the end of the Race to the Sea. With the trench line firmly drawn the battles were costly to both sides with many lives lost. -
Battle of Somme
This battle was fought in northern France, lasted 5 months and was known as the bloodiest battle of WWI. It was a brutal battle of attrition for the British and French who fought the Germans. The aim of the battle was to relieve the French Army fighting at Verdun and to weaken the German army but many people were killed and little gains were produced on either side. -
First Tanks
The first tanks were introduced to the warfare by the British at the Battle of Somme.The tanks shocked the enemy, but their impact wasn't great because of the lack of effective tactics and numerous mechanical failures. However, the door to the future was opened and the first step taken in the development of a weapon that would dominate the battlefield of future wars. -
Germany’s unrestricted submarine warfare campaign started
Germany declared the area around the British Isles a war zone. So all the merchant ships would be attacked by German navy, even the ones from neutral countries! (Another reason for U.S. to go to war) -
United States Declares War
One reason was the invasion of Belgium by Germany which shocked the Americans that innocent people in a neutral country were being harmed. Some of the stories were British propaganda but they gave a strong anti-German sentiment to Americans, which also grew after the sinking of Lusitania. In 1917, a telegram was sent to Mexico suggesting that if the US should declare war on Germany, they should declare war on the US but the telegram was intercepted by the British and given to the Americans. -
The Battle of Vimy Ridge
Canadian troops were sent to capture Vimy Ridge, which was being occupied by the Germans. The allies had tried several times to capture it, but every attempt met with failure. This battle was the biggest victory for Canada during World War I. -
Battle of Passchendaele
This was known as the muddiest battle with senseless slaughter. The British launched a series of failed assaults against German forces holding the plateau overlooking the city of Ypres, Belgium. Canadian forces entered the war in October, capturing the Passchendaele ridge at a cost of many casualties. -
Hundred Days Offence
The Hundred Days Offence was a series of major battles that took place in the last phase of WWI on the Western Front between August and November 1918. The British, Belgian, French and American armies did a series of offensive operations that forced the German army and government to seek peace. -
Armistice Day
The signing of the armistice by the Allies and Germany brought an end to World War One. It is what we celebrate every year on the 11th month, 11th day on the 11th hour (remembrance day.) -
The Treaty of Versailles
One of the peace treaties at the end of WWI that ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. The purpose of the Treaty of Versailles was to establishing guidelines for continued peace and put strict treaty obligations on Germany in hopes of preventing further war and make the country pay reparations for the damages caused during the war. -
League of Nations
An organization of countries established in 1919 at the end of the First World War. The League failed in its main purpose of keeping peace through the arbitration of international disputes. After failing, it was replaced by the United Nations at the end of the Second World War.
