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Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand
The archduke went to Sarajevo in June 1914 to check on the imperial armed forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina, controlled by Austria-Hungary in 1908. This had angered Serbian nationalists, who wanted the territories to be part of Serbia. A group of young nationalists had a plan to kill the archduke during his visit to Sarajevo. 19-year-old Gavrilo Princip was able to shoot the royal couple while they traveled in their official procession killing both. They blamed the Serbian government. -
The Start of WWI
A month later after the assassination, Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia which begins World War 1 -
Outbreak of War
Germany declares war on Russia, France, and Belgium. Britain declares war on Germany. Austria declares war on Russia. Montenegro declares war on Austria. France declares war on Austria. Britain declares war on Austria. Montenegro declares war on Germany. Japan declares war on Germany. Austria declares war on Belgium. All the allies declared war on the opposing country, which then becomes a whole continent at war. -
United States Declare Neutrality
During all of this war, the U.S decides to declare neutrality. Most of its allies were declaring war such as Britain, but the U.S saw no reason to declare war on something that was occurring in Europe. -
Battle of Marne
The Germans had advanced within 30 miles of Paris, but over the next two days, the French are reinforced by 6,000 men who are transported to the frontline. The Germans dig in north of the Aisne River, and the trench warfare starts the Western Front for the next four years begins. -
The Ottoman Empire is at War
Britain and France declare war on the Ottoman Empire, shifting alliances. -
The Second Battle of Ypres
The German army starts the new era of chemical warfare by launching a chlorine attack on Allied trenches. 5,000 French and Algerian troops are killed. By war’s end, both sides have used massive quantities of chemical weapons, causing an estimated 1,300,000 casualties, including 91,000 fatalities. -
Collapse of British Government
Landings begin on the Gallipoli Peninsula at Cape Helles and at ANZAC Cove. The attempt to force the Dardanelles and capture the Ottoman capital at Constantinople is a disaster. Allies suffered more than 200,000 deaths during the nine-month campaign. The failed offensive becomes the war’s signal event for Australian and New Zealand troops and eventually leads to the collapse of the British government. -
The Lusitania is Sunk
The British ocean liner Lusitania is destroyed by a German U-boat. This caused nearly 1,200 deaths, including 128 U.S. citizens. The ship had been carrying over 170 tons of rifle ammunition and artillery shells for Britain, and Germany felt fully justified in treating the Lusitania as a legitimate target in a declared war zone. Germany than apologizes but later on the year destroys another boat. This causes a major shift in the U.S neutrality pact. -
The Battle of Verdun
Over the next 10 months, the French and German armies , suffer over 700,000 casualties, including 300,000 deaths. By the battle’s conclusion, entire French villages had been destroyed. -
The Battle of Somme
The British offensive is intended to draw German attention from Verdun and succeded. About 20,000 killed in action on July 1 marks the bloodiest day in the history of the British army. By the time the Somme campaign ground to a halt some four and a half months later, the combined casualties of both sides were about 1,000,000. -
The United States Enters WWI
The United States declares war on Germany. In his address to Congress four days earlier, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson had cited Germany’s practice of unrestricted submarine warfare and the “Zimmermann Telegram” as reasons behind the abandonment of his long-standing policy of neutrality. -
First Use of Tanks
A British offensive at Cambrai, France, marks the first large-scale use of tanks in combat. Attacking with surprise, the British tanks ripped through German defenses in depth and took some 7,500 prisoners at low cost in casualties. Bad weather intervened, however, and infantry reinforcements were not available Within two weeks the British had been driven back almost to their original positions. -
Soviet Declares Peace
After months, the Soviet government makes a separate peace with the Central Powers when it accepts the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. Russia surrenders its claim to Ukraine, to its Polish and Baltic territories, and to Finland. -
End of WWI
Germany had formally surrendered on November 11, 1918, and all nations had agreed to stop fighting while the terms of peace were negotiated. On June 28, 1919, Germany and the Allied Nations (including Britain, France, Italy and Russia) signed the Treaty of Versailles, ending the war.