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The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Archduke Franz Ferdinand's assassination was a major event that triggered World War I. On June 28, 1914, in Sarajevo, Bosnia, the Archduke and his wife were assassinated by a young nationalist named Gavrilo Princip. This assassination set off a chain of events that led to the outbreak of the war. It was a significant moment in history that had far-reaching consequences. -
Austria-Hungary Declares War on Serbia, Beginning World War I.
After the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia for the attack. They saw it as an opportunity to assert their power and influence in the region. Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia, demanding certain conditions be met. When Serbia only partially accepted the terms, Austria-Hungary decided to declare war on Serbia in July 1914. -
Germany Invades Luxembourg and Belgium
During World War I, Germany invaded Luxembourg and Belgium as part of their military strategy. They saw these countries as potential obstacles to their planned invasion of France. In August 1914, German forces swiftly occupied Luxembourg, which was a neutral country at the time. Soon after, they advanced into Belgium, disregarding its neutrality as well. This invasion of Belgium was met with resistance, and it played a significant role in bringing other countries, such as Britain, into the war. -
Austria-Hungary Invades Russia.
Austria-Hungary's main focus was on the Eastern Front, where they faced Russia as one of their primary adversaries. However, it was Germany, Austria-Hungary's ally, who launched the invasion of Russia in 1914. The German forces aimed to quickly defeat Russia, but the Russian army put up a strong resistance, leading to a long and brutal war on the Eastern Front. Austria-Hungary primarily concentrated on their own front against Serbia and other neighboring countries. -
Allied Forces Halt German Advance Into France During First Battle of the Marne.
The First Battle of the Marne was a crucial turning point in World War I. In September 1914, the Allied forces, including British, French, and Belgian troops, successfully halted the German advance into France along the Marne River. It was a significant victory that prevented the German army from reaching Paris and forced them to retreat. The battle marked the end of the German Schlieffen Plan and led to a long and brutal stalemate on the Western Front. -
Germany Begins Naval Blockade of Great Britain.
The German government regarded the blockade as an attempt to starve the country into defeat and wanted to retaliate in kind. The German High Seas Fleet set out multiple times from 1914 to 1916 to reduce the British Grand Fleet and to regain access to vital imports. -
Allied Forces Land On The Gallipoli Peninsula of The Ottoman Empire.
At dawn on 25 April 1915, Allied troops landed on the Gallipoli peninsula in Ottoman Turkey. The Gallipoli campaign was the land-based element of a strategy intended to allow Allied ships to pass through the Dardanelles, capture Constantinople (now Istanbul) and ultimately knock Ottoman Turkey out of the war. -
German Submarine Sinks The Passenger Liner Lusitania During Crossing From New York to Liverpool, England, killing 128 Americans.
The Lusitania became a focus for British and American propaganda and was used to bolster recruitment efforts. However, Germany claimed that the sinking was justified because munitions were being carried on board. -
Italy Declares War on Austria-Hungary.
In the final analysis, it was the Emperor's obstinacy that caused Italy to enter the war as an enemy of the Danube Monarchy. When Italy joined sides with the Triple Entente, it was on the understanding that the Allies would seek to provide Italy with substantial territorial gains at the cost of Austria-Hungary. -
Germany Begins The Attack On Verdun.
It was originally planned by the German Chief of General Staff, Erich von Falkenhayn to secure victory for Germany on the Western Front. The aim was to crush the French army before the Allies grew in strength through the full deployment of British forces. -
Naval Battle of Jutland Takes Place Between British And German Fleets.
The German High Seas Fleet hoped to weaken the Royal Navy by launching an ambush on the British Grand Fleet in the North Sea. German Admiral Reinhard Scheer planned to lure out both Admiral Sir David Beatty's Battlecruiser Force and Admiral Sir John Jellicoe's Grand Fleet. -
United States Severs Diplomatic Relations With Germany.
Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare strategy sent more merchant and passenger ships to the ocean's floor and the loss of American lives mounted. The U.S. protested and in February severed diplomatic relations with Germany, while Congress appropriated funds for increased military affairs. -
Russia Signs Armistice With Germany.
Immediately after their accession to power in Russia in November 1917, the Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, had approached the Central Powers to arrange an armistice and withdraw from a war they saw as the major obstacle to their plan of providing food and land to the long-impoverished Russian peasant population. -
American Forces Stop German Attempt To Cross The Marne River At Chateau-Thierry.
The AEF had changed the rules of the game and in so doing found itself in command of the valuable main bridge over the river in Chateau Thierry. U.S. machine guns overlooking the site helped save the French army, and the Germans were forced to end their attack and retreat due to extreme loss of life. -
Germany Signs The Armistice At Compiègne, Ending World War I.
In the west, the German Army's imminent collapse led Germany to pursue an armistice. The Allied delegation, led by Supreme Allied Commander Marshal Ferdinand Foch, largely ignored United States President Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points for Peace and left no room for negotiation.