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Assassination
Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austro-Hungarian Empire, and his wife are assassinated -
War declared on Serbia
Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia. -
The Ottoman Empire signs a secret alliance with Germany
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. -
War declared 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. -
United States declares neutrality
The United States declares neutrality in the war. -
Russian army defeated by Germans
The German army defeats Russia at the Battle of Tannenberg. -
German invasion halted
German invasion of France is halted at the First Battle of Marne. -
Race to the Seas ends
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. -
Allies 9 month battle
Allies begin a nine-month battle for the Turkish peninsula of Gallipoli. -
The Germans use poison gas at the 2nd battle of Ypres.
The Germans use poison gas at the 2nd battle of Ypres. -
German U-boat
A German U-boat sinks the Lusitania killing 1,198 civilians, including 128 Americans.t -
Italy Joins the Allies.
Italy Joins the Allies. -
British nurse executed
British nurse, Edith Cavell, is executed by the Germans. -
Battle of Verdun is fought
The Battle of Verdun is fought resulting in an estimated one million casualties. -
Tank introduced
The British introduce the tank during the Battle of Somme. The battle results in an estimated one million casualties. -
President Wilson re-elected
Woodrow Wilson is re-elected President of the United States. -
British decipher a telegram
British cryptographers decipher a telegram from German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmerman to the German Minister of Mexico. -
Unrestricted submarine warfare resumed
The Germans resume unrestricted submarine warfare. -
Tsar of Russia abdicates.
Tsar Nicholas II of Russia abdicates. -
President Wilson wants to declare war on Germany
President Wilson asks the U.S. Congress for a declaration of war against Germany. -
700,000 people die in the 3rd 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. -
Declaration presented in London
The Balfour Declaration is presented in London. -
Fourteen points Outlined
President Wilson outlines his Fourteen Points in a speech before Congress. -
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk is signed
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk is signed between Russia and Germany. -
German Force 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 of Austria abdicates.
Emperor Karl of Austria abdicates. -
Genocide begins
Armenian Genocide begins. -
War ends on western front
At eleven o’clock on this day, war on the Western Front ends as Germany and the Allies sign an Armistice. -
Treaty of Versailles signed
Germany and Allies sign the Treaty of Versailles. The U.S. Senate later refuses to ratify it. -
Treaty of Sevres
The Treaty of Sevres ends the war on the Eastern Front with the Ottoman Empire
