World War 1

World War I Begins

Apr 22, 1914

Germany invades Belgium, beginning World War I.

Assassination of The Archduke

Jun 20, 1914

Gavrilo Principe fried two shots and kills the Archduke and his wife

Archduke Assassination. Archduke

Jun 28, 1914

Archduke Franz Ferdinand is assassinated in Sarajevo. His death is the event that sparks World War I.

Austria declared war on Serbia

Jul 28, 1914

Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and is wife were killed by a Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo.

Russia Mobilizes.

Jul 30, 1914

Russia mobilizes its vast army to intervene against Austria-Hungary in favor of its ally, Serbia.

Germany declared war on Russia

Aug 1, 1914

Russia's support of Serbia brought France into the conflict

Germany declared war on France

Sep 3, 1914

Germany declares war on France, moving ahead with a long-held strategy, conceived by the former chief of staff of the German army

Second Battle of Ypres

1915

To push Germany out of Belgium and away from France.

Germans Fire

Apr 22, 1915

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.

Lusitania Sinks

May 7, 1915

A German submarine sinks the passenger liner Lusitania. The ship carries 1,198 people, 128 of them Americans.

Germany Limits Submarines

Sep 18, 1915

Reacting to international outrage at the sinking of the Lusitania and other neutral passenger lines, Kaiser Wilhelm suspends unrestricted submarine warfare.

Battle of the Somme

1916

Attack the Germans from all sides. Push then back to the border.

First Tanks

Sep 15, 1916

The British employ the first tanks ever used in battle, at Delville Wood.

Battle of Vimy Ridge

1917

Take the ridge from the Germans to gain higher ground.

Passchendaele

1917

Take out Germans ports and sink their u-boats.

Submarines Back

Feb 1, 1917

Germany resumes unrestricted submarine warfare in European waterways.

Wilson for War

Feb 2, 1917

President Wilson outlines his case for war to Congress.

Zimmerman Telegram

Feb 25, 1917

british intelligence gives Wilson the so-called Zimmermann Telegram, a message from German foreign secretary Arthur Zimmermann proposing that Mexico side with Germany

U.S. Enters War

Apr 6, 1917

Congress authorizes a declaration of war against Germany. The United States enters World War I on the side of France and Britain.

Selective Service Act

Jun 18, 1917

Congress passes the Selective Service Act authorizing the draft. Although criticized for destroying democracy at home while fighting for it abroad

Germany and Russia Peace

Mar 3, 1918

The Germans sign a peace treaty with the new Bolshevik government of Russia.