-
Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife are killed
Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and his wife are assassinated. -
The British introduce the tank
The British introduce the tank during the Battle of Somme. The battle results in an estimated one million casualties. -
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia.
Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia -
ottoman empire signs a 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 sea ports. Bulgaria joins the Central Powers on October 15, 1915 -
germany declares war
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 is neutral
the united states declares neutrality in the war -
germany army defeats russia
the German army defeats Russia at the battle of tannerberg. -
german invasion of france comes to a halt!
Germany's invasion of France comes is halted at the first battle of Marne. -
the race to the sea ends
the race to the sea ends when the germans withdraw at the first battle of Ypres. -
unofficial christmas truce
an unofficial Christmas truce is declared by german and allied soldiers in the trenches along the western front. -
germans use poison gas
the germans use poison gas at the second battle of Ypres. -
the start of armenian genocide .
Armenian genocide begins -
a nine month battle begins.
allies begin a nine-month battle for the Turkish peninsula of Gallipoli -
A German U-boat sinks the Lusitania
A German U-boat sinks the Lusitania killing 1,198 civilians, including 128 Americans. -
Italy switches teams
Italy Joins the Allies. -
a british nurse killed
British nurse, Edith Cavell, is executed by the Germans. -
The Battle of Verdun
The Battle of Verdun is fought resulting in an estimated one million casualties. -
woodrow wilson is reelected
woodrow wilson is reelected president of the united states. -
British cryptographers decipher a telegram
British cryptographers deciphered a telegram from German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmerman to the German Minister of Mexico. -
germans resume submarine warfare
The Germans resumed unrestricted submarine warfare. -
Tsar Nicholas II of Russia abdicates.
Tsar Nicholas II of Russia abdicates. -
the fourteen points
President Wilson outlines his Fourteen Points in a speech before Congress. -
the third battle of Ypres
The 3rd battle of Ypres, also known as Passchendaele, results in minor gains for the Allies and a total of 700,000 casualties. -
The Balfour Declaration
The Balfour Declaration is presented in London. -
President Wilson asks the U.S. Congress for a war
President Wilson asks the U.S. Congress for a declaration of war against Germany. -
Treaty signed between Russia and Germany.
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk is signed between Russia and Germany. -
Germans on the banks of the Marne are stopped
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. -
war on the western front ends at 11 o'clock.
At eleven o’clock on this day, the war on the Western Front ends as Germany and the Allies sign an Armistice. -
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.
The Treaty of Sevres ends the war on the Eastern Front with the Ottoman Empire.