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Franz Ferdinand was assasinated
Franz Ferdinand was assasinated on this day in Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip, a member of the Serbian nationalist group. -
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia
Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia for the assasination. They sent a letter to Serbia listing their demands. After Sebia refused, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. -
Russia mobolized armed forces
Russia was mobolizing their armed forces because they knew that Germany would declare war on them because they had agreed to protect Serbia. Mobolizing means to gather their armed forces and start preparing for the war. -
Germany declares war on Russia
Russia was preparing for the war because they agreed to protect Serbia. Germany had to side with its ally, so they declared war on Russia on this day. -
Germany declares war on France
Germany knew France was an ally of Russia. Thus, Germany declared war on France on this day. -
Germany invades Belgium
On this day, Germany hoped to march through Belgium to get to Russia. However, the Belgians held out for three weeks against the Germans. -
Britian declares war on Germany
Germany violated a 1839 treaty guaranteeing Belguim's neutrality. Since Britian had a plegde to protect Beluim, Britian declared war on Germany. -
Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia
Since Russia was an ally of Serbia, Austria-Hungary declared war on Russia. -
France and Britian declare war on Austria-Hungary
Since France and Britian were allies of Russia, they declared war on Austria-Hungary on this day. -
Japan joins the Allies
Japan was a rival of Germany. Therefore they joined the Allies on this day. -
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The Battle of Marne
The Germans were hoping to march right into Paris and take it. However, the British and French stopped the Germans and fought the Battle of Marne, which saved Paris from the Germans. -
The Ottoman Empire joins the Central Powers
The Ottoman Empire (Turkish) joined Germany and Austria-Hungary on this day. -
Germany announced they would use U-boats to sink any vessels entering or leaving British ports
Germany did not like American aid to Britian. Therefore, ont his day Germany announced they would sink any vessels entering or leaving British ports. -
Poison gas is first used by the Germans
Poison gas was a very deadly weapon. It could seriously injure or kill anyone who breathed it. -
Germany torpedoes the Lusitania
On this day, a German U-boat torpedoed the British passenger liner Lusitania off the coast of Ireland. About 1,000 people died, including 128 Americans. -
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The Battle of Verdun
On this day, one of the longest and bloodest battles in the war was fought, the Battle of Verdun. 750,000 soldiers lost their lives, but no territory was gained. -
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The Battle of Somme
On this day, the Battle of Somme was fought in norhern France. The Allies only gained about 7 miles. -
The Zimmermann telegram is published
The British government intercepted a secret telegram from Germany to Mexico asking them to join Germany against America. Newspapers published this telegram on this day, making many Americans very angry. -
The Russians overthrow their government
On this day, the Bolsheviks overthrew the democratic Russian government. The Bolsheviks wanted to end Russia's participation in the war to vocus on there new government. -
U.S. declares war on Germany
Wilson thought that if Germany would win, there would be no balance of power in Europe and no one would support the Monroe Doctrine which means America would not be protected. After realizing this, He declared war on Germany. -
Wilson signed a declaration of war
The U.S. wished defend its rights and be a great world power. As a result congress passed a declaration of war and Wilson signed it on this day. -
The Selective Service Act is passed
On this day, the Selective Service Act was passed. This act was passed because the Untied States had to raise an army very quickly. -
American troops land in France
France needed a lot of help in the war. On this day, we sent over troops to help them. It took many months for them to get ready, but when they finally were, the Americans turned around the war. -
Russia signs an armistice with Germany
On this day, Vladimir Lenin took Russia out of the war. -
Wilson reveales his "Fourteen Points" for peace
Woodrow Wilson had an idea for a peace plan, the Fourteen Points. Several of these points concerned the boundaries in Europe. -
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
On this day, the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed by Vladimir Lenin and Germany. Russia surrendered Poland, the Ukraine, and other territory. -
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Germany and Austria-Hungary fight their last great offensive
During this time, Germany and Austria-Hungary pushed the Allies back to within 40 miles of Paris. After this, it looked like Germany might win the war. -
The AEF saw its first serious fighting
On this day, the American Expidetionary Force, led by John J. Pershing, fought on the Marne River. This helped turn back a German offensive. -
The German government suggests an armistice
On this day, the German government asked Wilson for an armistice. An armistice is an agreement to end the fighting. -
WAR IS OVER!!!
On this day, the war had finally stopped. Germany agreed to surrender a lot of equiptment, all land forces east of the Rhine River, and its fleet to the Baltic Sea.
