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Assassination of Austrian Archduke Ferdinand
Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to Austria-Hungary's throne, and his wife, Sophie, are assassinated by Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip while the couple were visiting Sarajevo, Bosnia. -
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia.
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Germany declares war on Russia.
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Germany declares war on France.
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The United Kingdom declares war on Germany, after Germany invades Belgium.
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Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia and Serbia declares war on Germany.
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U.S. President Woodrow Wilson announces the U.S. will remain neutral.
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Germany declares a "war zone" around Great Britain, essentially effecting a submarine blockade where even neutral merchant vessels were to be potential targets.
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he British ocean liner RMS Lusitania is sunk by German U-boat, U-20
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German U Boat firing on the Frech ship, Sussex
Lead to Sussex pledge -
Sussex Pledge
Promised a change in Germany’s naval warfare policy. The primary elements of this undertaking were:
1. Passenger ships would not be targeted;
2. Merchant ships would not be sunk until the presence of weapons had been established, if necessary by a search of the ship;
3. Merchant ships would not be sunk without provision for the safety of passengers and crew. -
Germany sends the secret Zimmerman Telegram to Mexico in an effort to entice Mexico to join the war. The British intercept and decipher the coded message.
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The United States declares war on Germany.
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Russia signs the Treaty of Brest Litovsk, which is a peace treaty between Russia and the Central Powers.
This affected the Allies on the Western Front because they had to find a new way to get to battle because they usually fought on the Western Front. -
Germany signs the armistice at Compiegne, France. Fighting ends on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month (i.e. 11 a.m. on November 11).
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The Treaty of Versailles officially ends World War 1.
