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Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand Assassinated
Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austrian Empire, was killed along with his wife during a drive while visiting Sarajevo, the capital city of Bosnia. This event is generally accepted by historians as being the immediate cause of the First World War, though tensions had been previously building. -
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FIRST WORLD WAR
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Austria Declares War of Serbia
Because the assassination was commited by Serbs, Austria declares war on Serbia. -
Germany Declares War on Russia
Germany declares war on the Russians, who are compeled to defend Serbia. -
Russians Defeated at Tannenburg and Masurian Lakes
The invading Russian and German armies battled in East Prussia at the start of the war. This battle is considered one of the most clean-cut German victories throughout the war, however, the Russian distraction in the east played a part in the failure of the Schleiffen Plan. -
The Battle of the Marne
The Battle of the Marne was fought during September of 1914. Casualties were high on both sides. The French lost about 250,000 soldiers, as did the Germans. The BEF lost about 13,000 men as well. This battle signifies the beginning of full-blown trench warfare, which would dominate the front throughout the rest of the war. The French managed to save Paris, however, and Germany's Schleiffen Plan had failed. -
First Zeppelin Raid on Britain
Zepplins were a relatively new technology. The models built in 1914 had five machine guns and could carry 4,400 lbs. of bombs. Their maximum speed was 136 kph and they could reach a height of 4,250 metres. this particular raid took place over the east coast of England. Yarmouth and King's Lynn were both bombed. -
Allied Troops Land in Gallipoli
The campaign at the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey was a joint British and French attempt to capture Istanbul and secure a sea route to Russia. The British and French forces failed at the expense of many casualties on both sides. -
Sinking of the Lusitania
THe RMS Lusitania was an ocean liner owned by Cunard Lines. She was attacked by a German U-boat and sank in eighteen minutes. 1,198 of the nearly 2,000 passengers aboard died. Many of the passengers were American citizens. It is considered the second most famous civilian liner disaster, following the sinking of the RMS Titanic.
These events did a lot to turn public opinion of several countries, including the United States, against the Germans. -
Germans Capture Warsaw from Russia
General August von Mackensen led his troops over the San River to capture Przemysl. -
Battle of Loos
It was the biggest British attack of 1915, the first time that the British used poison gas and the first mass engagement of New Army units. The Allies tried to break through the German defences in Artois and Champagne and restore a war of movement -
Battle of Verdun
A ten-month long battle between the German and French Armies. Hundreds of thousands died on both sides and no real advantage was won for either country. The French successfully defended the city of Verdun and pushed the German forces back. -
Battle of Jutland
The Battle of Jutland was the largest naval battle of the war. Fought by the Germans and the British in the North Sea near Jutland, Denmark, the battle claimed 14 British and 11 German ships. the British, however, maintained naval control of the North Sea. -
Beginning of the Brusilov Offensive
The Brusilov Offensive is known as the Russians greatest feat furing the war and is ranked as one of the world's most deadly battles. It was a major offensive against the armies of the Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria, Italy) in what is now the Ukraine. The battle lasted through August and achieved several goals, including distracting Germany from Verdun and severely crippling Austro-Hungarian Army. -
Battle of the Somme Begins
The Battle of the Somme was a British and French offensive launched against invading German forces in the Somme portion of France along the Somme River. It was one of the largest battles of the entire war with 1.5 million casualties by the time it ended in November of 1916. British and French forces penetrated about 6 miles into the German line. The Germans failed to accomplish several of their objectives but still maintained partially entrenched areas. -
End of the Brusilov Offensive
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David Lloyd George becomes Prime Minister of Britain
David Lloyd George was the first Welsh Prime Minister of Britain and would lead the country to victory during World War I. -
The February Revolution
Strikes broke out across Russia against Czar Nicholas II. The revolution was largely because of the heavy loss of life during WWI. Nicholas abdicated in March. The February Revolution was the first of several revolutions which combined are called the Russian Revolution. -
America Enters the War
The USA declared war on Germany -
British Victory at Cambrai
British won a major victory at Cambrai with the use of tanks. -
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Peace Treaty between Russia and Germany. The Communist Revolution overturned the monarchy and the Russians called for an end to the war. -
Beginning of the Second Battle of the Marne
It was the last major German offensive on the Western Front during the First World War. The attack failed when an Allied counterattack by French and American forces, including several hundred tanks, overwhelmed the Germans on their right flank, inflicting severe casualties. -
Austria Makes Peace
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Germany Signs Armisctice With Allies
Official end of WWI. The photograph is of a march through the streets of London in celebration of the end of the war. -
The Treaty of Versailles
The official peace settlement known as the Treaty of Versailles was signed near the beautiful palace at Versailles, near Paris. The treaty was very harsh on Germany and the resentment it created is often credited with the onset of the Second World War . The treaty forced Germany to accept full responsibility for the the war and pay reparations, give up territories and reduce the army size to a meager 100,000 souls,
