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Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand
A man by the name of Gavrilo Princip assassinated Archduke Ferdinand in Sarajevo. He shot Archduke and his wife Sophie. Nationalism was a cause of this assassination. His death is the event that sparks World War I. -
Russia Mobilizes
Russia mobilizes its vast army to intervene against Austria-Hungary in favor of its ally, Serbia. This starts a chain reaction that leads to the mobilization of the rest of the European GreatPowers, and inevitably to the outbreak of attack. -
World War I Begins
Germany invades Belgium, beginning World War I. -
Lusitania Sinks
A German submarine sinks the passenger liner Lusitania. The ship carries 1,198 people, 128 of them are Americans. -
Germans Fire
The Germans fire shells with chlorine gas at allied lines. This is the first time that large amounts of gas has been used in a battle. The result was a near-collapse pf the French lines. The Germans couldn't take advantage of the breach. -
Germany Limits Submarines
This is an attempt to keep the United States out of the war but it severely hampers German efforts to prevent American supplies from reaching France and Britain. -
First Tanks
In Delville Wood, the first British tanks were ever used. These tanks could Break through barbed wire and also good at clearing a path for the infantry, tanks are still primitive and they fail to be the decisive weapon. -
Submarines Back
This act draws the United States into the war and causes the eventual defeat of Germany. -
Zimmerman Telegram
The British give a message to Germany proposing that mexico side with Germany in case of war between Germany and the United States. Then. Germany promises to return to Mexico. Mexico soon declines the offer. -
Wilson For War
President Wilson outlines his case for war to congress. He was the 28th President, and was and American Politician and academic. -
U.S. Enters War
Congress authorizes a declaration of war against Germany. The United States enters World War 1 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, President Wilson claims he sees no other option and signs the bill into law. -
Germany and Russia Peace
The German sign a peace treaty with the new Bolshevik government of Russia. The terms of the treaty give Germany huge tracts of land that had been the Ukraine and Poland, and peace of the Eastern Front allows Germany to shift soldiers to the Western Front, causing serious problems for the French, British, and Americans. -
Belleau Wood Ends
This battle ends with the final expulsion of the Germans from the wood, which marks the farthest German advance on Paris. The area has changed hands six times during the three-week batle, which has caused nearly 10,000 American Casualties. -
Battle of Cantigny
The Battle of Cantigny is the first major American offensive of the war. The Americans fight bravely and soon go on to larger attacks against German Positions. -
Chateau-Thierry
American attack the Germans at Chateau-Thierry. This battle would morph into the larger Battle of Belleau Wood. -
Battle of Belleau Wood
Battle pf Belleau wood begins as the U.S. Marie Corps attacks the Germans across an open field of wheat, suffering huge casualties. -
Battle of St. Mihiel
The Battle of St. Mihiel begins when 300,000 American troops under the direct command of General Pershing fling themselves into the German lines -
Wilhelm Abdicates
Kaiser Wilhelm abdicates, ending all German hope for a victory. He and his retinue quietly slip over the border into the Netherlands where he lives out the remainder of his life in relative peace and writes a self-promoting memoir defending his actions in the war. -
Treaty of Versailles
This treaty ended the war, and was also the most important of the peace treaties. The Treaty ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on June 28th, exactly 5 years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
