-
Ferdinand assasinated
Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to Austria-Hungary's throne, and his wife, Sophie, are assassinated by Serbian nationalist -
Invasion of Belgium
The United Kingdom declares war on Germany, after Germany invades Belgium. -
US stays neutral
U.S. President Woodrow Wilson announces the U.S. will remain neutral. The US does not want to be involved with any foreign wars if they do not directly affect us. -
Trench warfare
The First Battle of the Marne begins. Trench warfare begins as soldiers on both sides dig in. -
War Zone
Germany declares a "war zone" around Great Britain, essentially effecting a submarine blockade where even neutral merchant vessels were to be potential targets. -
Lusitania
British passenger liner Lusitania was sunk by a torpedo from a German submarine. 1195 passengers, including 128 Americans, lost their lives. Americans were outraged and put pressure on the government to enter the war. -
Tsar Nicholas II
Tsar Nicholas II takes personal control over Russia's armies. -
Selective Service Act
The Selective Service Act on May 18, 1917, giving the U.S. president the power to draft soldiers. Congress passed the Selective Service Act, which Wilson signed into law on May 18, 1917. The act required all men in the U.S. between the ages of 21 and 30 to register for military service. -
Treaty of Brest Litovsk
Russia signs the Treaty of Brest Litovsk, which is a peace treaty between Russia and the Central Powers. -
Germany signs
Germany signs the armistice at Compiegne, France. Fighting ends on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month -
End of WW1
The Treaty of Versailles officially ends WWI. -
Invasion of Poland by Germany
Adolf Hitler seeks to regain lost territory and ultimately rule Poland. World War II was now started and France and Britain retaliate because of this move. -
German gains ground
Germany attacked and gains Denmark, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France. -
Attacks on Britain
140-1941 Germany tries to attackBritain from the air but did not succed. -
The Yalta Conference
At Yalta, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin made important decisions regarding the future progress of the war and the postwar world.
