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World War 1 Timeline
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The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Ignoring all warnings, both Franz Ferdinand and his wife accepted an invitation to the Capital of Bosnia. On the way to the palace, the driver took a wrong turn, where 19-year old, Gavrilo Princip, a nationalist, was waiting and fired his gun. He killed both Franz Ferdinand and his wife. -
Austria-Hungary declares war
After the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Austria-Hungary was furious and blamed Serbia for the attack. As a result, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. This declaration eventually led to the involvement of multiple countries and the outbreak of World War 1. -
Battle of Tannenberg
This battle took place from August 26 to 30, 1914, between Germany and Russia. The Russian arm was unprepared, with little training, few weapons, and no food. They saw the most casualties, facing a major defeat. -
First Battle of Marne
The First Battle of Marne took place from September 6 to September 12, 1914. The battle was fought between the German and Allied forces, primarily the French and British. The German army had invaded deep into France but was stopped at the Marne River. This battle marked a turning point in the war, as both sides began digging trenches, leading to the trench warfare. It was a crucial moment that prevented the German army from capturing Paris and potentially winning the war. -
Trench Warfare
Trench warfare involved soldiers digging deep ditches in the ground to protect themselves from machine-gun fire. These trenches stretched across the English Channel to Switzerland, which is 440 miles and 6 to 8 feet deep. Trenches were important because it was dangerous to be on open land. Life in the trenches was harsh and challenging. Soldiers endured constant shelling, disease, and difficult living conditions. For example, rats and lice spread diseases, or trench foot. -
Christmas Truce of 1914
The Christmas Truce of 1914 was a very unexpected but unforgettable event during World War I. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, soldiers from opposing sides along the Western Front put down their weapons and came together in a unofficial ceasefire. They exchanged gifts, sang carols, and even played soccer together. It was a temporary break from fighting in the war but did not end the war. -
Sinking of the Lusitania
The sinking of the Lusitania was a really tragic event. The Lusitania was a British ship that was hit and sunk by an underwater weapon by a the Germans off the coast of Ireland. More than 1,100 passengers and crew members lost their lives. This played a significant role in shaping public opinion and eventually leading the United States to join the war. -
Battle of Verdun
The Battle of Verdun that took place from February to December 1916. It was fought between the German and French armies. The Battle of Verdun didn't have a clear winner, because both sides suffered a lot of casualties. However, the French were able to hold their ground. This battle is remembered as one of the longest and bloodiest battles in history because the Germans used total war to destroy the French moral. -
The Battle of the Somme
The Battle of the Somme was a major battle during ww1 that took place from July 1 to November 18, 1916. It was fought between the British and French against the German army along the Somme River in France. It was one of the bloodiest battles in history, as British suffered nearly 19,000 casualties on the first day of fighting. There was a total of over 1 million casualties on both sides of the end of the 5 months. -
Zimmerman Telegram
The Zimmerman Telegram was a secret message sent by Germany to Mexico in 1917. In the telegram, Germany proposed an alliance with Mexico and encouraged them to join the war against the United States. This revelation played a role in public opinion in the U.S. and ultimately led to the U.S. joining the war against Germany. -
Russian Revolution of 1917
There were two revolutions that took place that year. The first one, known as the February Revolution, resulted in the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II and the formation of the government. However, this government faced many challenges and was eventually overthrown in the second revolution, known as the October Revolution. This led to the rise of the Bolsheviks. It led to the overthrow of the Russian monarchy -
U.S Entry into War
The United States entered World War I in 1917. There were a few key events that convinced President Wilson to declare war. One of them was the sinking of the Lusitania, which increased tensions between the U.S. and Germany. Another important event was the Zimmerman Telegram, where Germany proposed an alliance with Mexico against the U.S. Ultimately, the U.S. joined the war to support the Allies and help bring an end to the conflict and contributed to their victory. -
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was a peace treaty signed in 1918 between Russia (USSR) and the Central Powers during World War I. It marked when Russia officially pulled out of ww1. Under the treaty, Russia gave up significant territories to Germany and its allies. The treaty allowed the Central Powers to move their forces to the Western Front, which caused more fighting there. -
Armistice
The Armistice of World War I was signed on the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month. It marked the official end to the fighting between the Allies and the Central Powers. The armistice led to the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. It was a significant moment in history. -
The Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919. It officially ended World War I and blamed Germany for the war. Germany was threatened to accept responsibility for starting the war, and agreed to pay a sum of 6,600 million dollars for all the damaged caused during the war. Which is why the army demilitarized Germanys armed forces. The treaty also led to the creation of 9 new nations. However, this treaty was a major cause of WW2 because Germany thought it was unfair.