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Archduke assassin
Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austro-Hungarian Empire, and his wife are assassinated. -
War on Serbia
Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia. -
Secret Alliance
The Ottoman Empire signs a secret alliance with Germany agreeing to enter the war once Germany declares war on Russia. They formally enter the war several months later on October 28, 1914, when they bomb Russian seaports. -
Germany declares war on Belgium
Germany declares war on neutral Belgium and invades Belgium and Luxembourg as part of the Schlieffen Plan. As a result, Britain declares war on Germany. -
Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia.
Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia. -
The United States declares neutrality in the war.
The United States declares neutrality in the war. -
The German army defeats Russia at the Battle of Tannenberg.
The German army defeats Russia at the Battle of Tannenberg. -
the German invasion of France is halted at the First Battle of Marne.
the German invasion of France is halted at the First Battle of Marne. -
The Balfour Declaration is presented in London.
The Balfour Declaration is presented in London. -
1st Battle of Ypres.
The Race to the Sea ends when the Germans withdraw at the 1st Battle of Ypres. -
Unofficial Christmas truce
Unofficial Christmas truce is declared by German and Allied soldiers in the trenches along the Western Front. -
2nd battle of Ypres.
The Germans use poison gas at the 2nd battle of Ypres. -
Armenian Genocide begins.
Armenian Genocide begins. -
Allies begin a nine-month battle for the Turkish peninsula of Gallipoli.
Allies begin a nine-month battle for the Turkish peninsula of Gallipoli. -
A German U-boat sinks the Lusitania killing 1,198 civilians, including 128 Americans.
A German U-boat sinks the Lusitania killing 1,198 civilians, including 128 Americans. -
Italy Joins the Allies.
Italy Joins the Allies. -
British Nurse
British nurse, Edith Cavell, is executed by the Germans -
Germany and the Allies sign an Armistice.
At eleven o’clock on this day, the war on the Western Front ends as Germany and the Allies sign an Armistice. -
Batte of Verdun
The Battle of Verdun is fought resulting in an estimated one million casualties. -
Battle of Somme
The British introduced the tank during the Battle of Somme. The battle resulted in an estimated one million casualties. -
Woodrow Wilson is re-elected President of the United States.
Woodrow Wilson is re-elected President of the United States. -
German Minister of Mexico.
British cryptographers deciphered a telegram from German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmerman to the German Minister of Mexico. -
The Germans resume unrestricted submarine warfare.
The Germans resume unrestricted submarine warfare. -
Tsar Nicholas II of Russia abdicates
Tsar Nicholas II of Russia abdicates -
declaration of war against Germany.
President Wilson asks the U.S. Congress for a declaration of war against Germany. -
3rd battle of Ypres
The 3rd battle of Ypres, also known as Passchendaele, resulted in minor gains for the Allies and a total of 700,000 casualties. -
Fourteen Points
President Wilson outlines his Fourteen Points in a speech before Congress -
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk is signed between Russia and Germany. -
Germans on the banks of the Marne near Paris are stopped by American forces at Chateau-Thierry
Germans on the banks of the Marne near Paris are stopped by American forces at Chateau-Thierry -
Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany abdicates.
Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany abdicates. -
Emperor Karl of Austria abdicates.
Emperor Karl of Austria abdicates. -
Germany and Allies sign the Treaty of Versailles.
Germany and Allies sign the Treaty of Versailles. The U.S. Senate later refuses to ratify it. -
The Treaty of Sevres ends the war on the Eastern Front with the Ottoman Empire.
The Treaty of Sevres ends the war on the Eastern Front with the Ottoman Empire.