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The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Ferdinand was going to be the heir to the Austrian Hungary throne and was assassinated by a Serbian named Gavrilo Princip in late June, 1914. The Assassination was done so the Austrians would be provoked by the Serbians and to declare war on them. This plan was successful as the Austrians declared war on the Serbians a month later. -
Austria-Hungary Declares War on Serbia
Obviously the assassination of the Archduke led to a declaration of war against the Serbians and officially started World War One. The tension was huge between the two countries and it lasted for about a month before war was officially declared. This event led to a war in which millions of people and soldiers died and it is a very important day in world history. -
Germany Invades Luxembourg and Belgium
The Germans wanted to avoid the French and their fortification so they had to cross through Belgium but the Belgians refused to let them through so they forced their way in and Invaded the country. The Germans also invaded Luxembourg because the country had many strong points that were important to hold in the war. These invasions lasted a few days in August in 1914. -
Austria-Hungary Invades Russia
Since Russia was sworn to protect Serbia from any enemies, the Austrians saw them as enemies and decided to invade their country in August 1914. Austria-Hungary also knew Russia supported the Serbians when they assassinated Franz Ferdinand so that is another reason for the invasion. This was a major invasion in the war and it sparked many more battles. -
Germany Sinks the Lusitania
An American passenger ship named the Lusitania was traveling from New York to Great Britain. German Submarines decided to sink the ship on its way to Great Britain and 128 Americans died. This event heavily provoked the United States and it is a part of the reason why they entered the war. -
Italy Declares War on Austria-Hungary
Italy wanted more territory and during the war the allies promised them more land and the Austrians did not so that is a solid reason why war was declared. Italy decided joining the allies would have more and better benefits than joining the other side. Italy didn't have a very strong army but they were still a huge part of the war and they even switched sided later on. -
The Battle of Verdun Begins and Ends (Started on this date)
Verdun which was a city in France was a place the Germans wanted to hold because it could secure more of the western front for them. The battle lasted for over 300 days and it resulted in a ton of casualties for both sides. The French were able to defeat the German army but they suffered a lot of casualties and it was a vey important win for them. -
Naval Battle of Jutland
This was a naval battle located in the North Sea between the Germans and Great Britain. Great Britain had over 50 more ships than Germany which led to a much better chance of winning. Great Britain won the battle and they lost a few ships and a couple thousand men and it was about the same for Germany. This Battle proved Great Britain's naval dominance in the war. -
The Battle of the Somme
This was a battle between the British and the French against the Germans. Winning this battle would help control the western front so it was very important for both sides to win the Battle. The Battle was one of the most violent in WW1 and it resulted in a win for the allies but it also resulted in many deaths and injuries. -
The US Declares War on Germany
The US declaring war on Germany was a long time coming because of the Germans sinking the US ships in the last few years. The submarine war that Germany was doing on the allies heavily influenced the US to join the war. On April 4, 1917 the US Senate voted in favor to declare war on Germany because of the growing threat of their submarine warfare. -
US Forces Arrive in Europe
During June of 1917 American troops were sent to allied countries in Europe to help give support to them. The US did not participate in any battles at the front until a few months later in October. The US support at this time helped the allies significantly overpower the Germans and Austria-Hungary. -
Russia Signs an Armistice with Germany
The Russians and the Germans signed this Armistice on December 15, 1917 and both sides agreed to stop fighting after this signing. This helped with a future treaty that would give peace to a few of the countries at war later on. Even though a new government was enacted in Russia they still decided to stop participating in the war which sort of hurt the allies. -
14 Points Required for Peace
This is a list made by US President Woodrow Wilson and it outlines 14 ways peace can be achieved. Most of the points involve returning land back to the rightful owner, removing barriers, and redrawing and restoration. These points helped the US and the rest of the world find ways to make peace for the future. -
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk Signed
This was a treaty signed by the countries of Germany and Russia on March third, 1918. This treaty pretty much withdrew Russia from the war and they lost some territory because of it. The treaty benefited Germany way more because they got rid of an enemy and they gained more land which improved their chances of winning the war. -
The Battle of Cantigny
This battle was the United States first offensive and significant battle in the war. The battle was a fight against the Americans and the Germans and it was at a village in France called Catingy. The US was able to win the battle and it helped the US improve morale and it stopped Germany from holding the village. -
The US attacks St. Mihiel
St: Mihiel is a city in France where Germans were stationed while they were preparing to retreat from France. This attack was not expected by the Germans and it led to disorganization and an increase in German casualties and that gave the US an easier fight. This win for the US let the rest of the powers know how powerful they were. -
The attack at Meusse-Argonne
This attack was located in a forest in France and it was a battle between the allies and the Germans. The point of the battle was for the allies to push the Germans out of France and the attack was successful for them. This win for the allies helped them secure a win in WW1 and it forced the Germans to surrender and lose the war. -
Germany signs the Armistice at Compiegne
This Armistice was signed by Germany just a few weeks after their loss against the allies in the French Forest. The signing of this treaty led to Germany ending all battles on land, in the air, and the sea. The rest of Germany's allies also surrendered before this Armistice was signed, and this Armistice was also signed in a railcar. -
The Treaty of Versailles
This was a treaty between Germany and the allied powers and it was signed at Versailles, France in 1919. The signing of the treaty forced Germany to pay a of money for reparations, they lost a lot of territory, and their economy was pretty much destroyed because of it. This treaty formally ended the first world war but the problems it caused for Germany led to another group wanting revenge. -
The rise of Adolf Hitler
After Benito Mussolini of Italy formed the National Fascist Party it led to a huge influence on a former German soldier named Adolf Hitler. Hitler was able to become the leader of a workers party in Germany and he kept moving up ranks and he spread his ideas all over Germany. He was eventually the leader of Germany under his Nazi party and he invaded Poland in 1939 which led to World War 2. -
