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World War I Begins
Germany invades Belgium, beginning World War I. -
Assassination of The Archduke
Gavrilo Principe fried two shots and kills the Archduke and his wife -
Archduke Assassination. Archduke
Archduke Franz Ferdinand is assassinated in Sarajevo. His death is the event that sparks World War I. -
Austria declared war on Serbia
Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and is wife were killed by a Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo. -
Russia Mobilizes.
Russia mobilizes its vast army to intervene against Austria-Hungary in favor of its ally, Serbia. -
Germany declared war on Russia
Russia's support of Serbia brought France into the conflict -
Germany declared war on France
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
To push Germany out of Belgium and away from France. -
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. -
Lusitania Sinks
A German submarine sinks the passenger liner Lusitania. The ship carries 1,198 people, 128 of them Americans. -
Germany Limits Submarines
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
Attack the Germans from all sides. Push then back to the border. -
First Tanks
The British employ the first tanks ever used in battle, at Delville Wood. -
Battle of Vimy Ridge
Take the ridge from the Germans to gain higher ground. -
Passchendaele
Take out Germans ports and sink their u-boats. -
Submarines Back
Germany resumes unrestricted submarine warfare in European waterways. -
Wilson for War
President Wilson outlines his case for war to Congress. -
Zimmerman Telegram
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
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
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
The Germans sign a peace treaty with the new Bolshevik government of Russia.
