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Tension in Europe
The tension was stirring up between the Europen countries between nationalism and fighting between new territories and even countries declaring independence. Everyone saw a war coming. -
Germany Attacks
After the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, the Germans began to attack Belgium and France. -
Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
The heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne was shot and killed by Gavrilo Princip in order to gain land. -
World War 1 Begins
After the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia, claiming they had something to do with Ferdinand and his wife's death. Austria-Hungary calls out to their German allies for help. Germany accepts. In response, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, which had a treaty with Russia, so Russian declared war on Austria-Hungary and its ally, Germany. Because after they declared war on Serbia, the Russians had to join as they held an alliance. -
Germany Invades Belgium
On this day, the day before Germany declared war on France, the German government wrote to the Belgian government demanding the right of free passage across Belgium for its troops, so that the latter could most efficiently invade France and reach Paris. The German Army invaded Luxembourg, and the next day a communique was delivered from the German Ambassador at Brussels to the Belgian Government. -
France Joins the War
France and Belgium begin full mobilization. On this day, Germany declares war on France and invades neutral Belgium. Britain then sends an ultimatum, rejected by the Germans, to withdraw from Belgium. -
England Joins the War
Belgium's ports were close to the British coast and German control of Belgium would have been seen as a serious threat to Britain. In the end, Britain refused to ignore the events on that day, when Germany attacked France through Belgium. Within hours, Britain declared war on Germany. -
Belgium Joins the War
After the Germans invaded neutral Belgium in order to get around France's borders and defenses, so they declared war on Germany. -
Austraila Joins the War
Even before Britain declared war on Germany, the nation pledged its support alongside other states of the British Empire and almost immediately began preparations to send forces overseas to participate in the conflict. -
Germans Fire
The Germans fire shells filled with chlorine gas at Allied lines. This is the first time that large amounts of gas are used in battle, and the result is the near-collapse of the French lines. However, the Germans are unable to take advantage of the breach. -
Armenian Genocide
The Armenian Genocide was centrally planned and administered by the Turkish government against the entire Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire. -
The Sinking of Lusitania
A German U-boat sank the Lusitania, a British passenger ship sailing off the coast of Ireland. More than 100 Americans were killed. The Germans said they had put warnings in American newspapers telling passengers to stay off ships heading to the war zone. Germany also claimed the ship had been carrying war supplies for England. -
Germany Declares War on Portugal
Germany declares war on Portugal, who earlier that year honored its alliance with Great Britain by seizing German ships anchored in Lisbon’s harbor. -
The Zimmermann Telegram
a German leader, sent a telegram to Mexico asking the country to start a border war with the United States. In return, Germany would get back Mexican land that had become Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. The English got a copy of the telegram, broke the secret code and sent the information to Wilson.
The telegram was put in the U.S. newspapers, showing that Germany was America's enemy. Two months later, German U-boats sank three American merchant ships. -
Russia Leaves the War
Russia pulled out of World War I because the communists wanted to focus on internal rather than external problems after they seized power in the February Revolution of 1917. -
America Joins the War
The Germans send submarines to sink American merchant and passenger ships. Germany was determined to win its war of attrition against the Allies, announced the resumption of unrestricted warfare in war-zone waters. America wasn't so happy about this, so they declared war on Germany. -
Selective Service Act
Congress passes the Selective Service Act authorizing the draft. Although criticized for destroying democracy at home while fighting for it abroad, President Wilson claims he sees no other option and signs the bill into law. -
The End of the War
The war came to an end following the signing of an armistice between the Allies and Germany that called for a ceasefire effective at 11 a.m.– it was on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. The domestic situation in Germany was also deteriorating, due largely to food shortages caused by the Allied blockade. ... The failure of the Spring Offensive and the loss of her allies in mid- to late-1918 eventually resulted in a German surrender and the signing of a ceasefire. -
The Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles, signed on June 28 1919, brought an official end to World War 1. The world was at peace and never had a war again..... for another 20 years at least.
