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Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
The start of World War I was triggered when a teenage Serbian revolutionary shot Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife Sophie on their visit to the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo. -
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia
One month to the day after the assassination of the Archduke Ferdinand, Austria-Hungary delivered an ultimatum containing unacceptable demands to Serbia which, assured of Russian support, rejected it. As a response, assured of German support, Austria-Hungary started the groundwork for war. -
German troops enter Belgium
It was a decision made by the Germans since France had many forts and defenses on the edges. Germany thought that Belgium would remain neutral, but it fought back. As a consequence of the invasion, Great Britain joined against Germany. -
Italy declares war on Austria-Hungary
When the World War I broke out, Italy declared itself neutral. The decision to join the fray on the side of the Allies, was based on the assurances they recieved in the Treaty of London. They would receive control over the territory on its border with Austria-Hungary. -
United States declares war on Germany
When World War I broke out, the United States remained neutral and this decision was supported by Americans. However, this opinion started to change after the sinking of the British ocean Liner Lusitania by a German boat. Wilson asked Congress and they officially entered the conflict. -
Bolshevik storm the Winter Palace
After Lenin and the Military Revolutionary Committee announced a coup the day before, rail workers and Kronstadt sailors rallied and marched on the city centre. The Winter Palace was poorly defended by 3.000 cadets, Cossacks, and female soldiers and the provisional government surrendered with little resistance -
Russia signs armistice with Germany
Immediately after their accession to power in Russia, the Bolsheviks had approached the Central Powers to arrange an armistice and withdraw from the war. After three months of debate and conflicts, Russia would lose a million squares miles of its territory, a third of its population and the majority of its industry. -
Russia signs the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
It was one of Lenin´s first actions as leader after taking the power from the provisional government of Russia. Some of the terms of the Treaty were that Russia recognized the independence of Ukraine, Georgia and Finland, and to give up Poland, the Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Ardahan and Batum. -
Armistice
The war ended with an armistice, an agreement in which both sides agree to stop fighting, rather than a surrender. On the morning of November 8, they pulled into a railroad siding in the Forest of Compiègne, alongside Foch´s railroad car. The meeting took place there. -
Treaty of Versailles signed
It was signed at the Palace of Versailles and concluded World War I. It was negotiated by the U.S., Britain and France. In addition, Germany was forced to accept the blame and pay the major reparations. Finally, the League of Nations was stablished.
