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Franz Ferdinand assassinated.
Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife are assassinated by Gavrilo Princip, a fanatical Serbian separatist. -
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia.
In the wake of the assassination Austro-Hungarian emperor Franz Joseph declares war on Serbia. -
Russia mobilizes its military.
Russia, ally of Serbia, mobilized its military in response to Austria-Hungary's declaration of war. -
Germany declares war on Russia.
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Germany declares war on France.
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Germany declares war on Belgium
Germany's declaration of war with Belgium causes Great Britain to declare war on Germany. -
Battle of the Frontiers
In this offensive, which occurred east of Paris, 27,000 French troops died in one day. -
Trench warfare begins
As the war reaches a stalemate trenches begin to appear along the western front. -
Submarine warfare begins
Germany announces a submarine blockade of Great Britain. -
Lusitania Sunk.
A German U-Boat sinks the Lusitania, killing 1, 198 civilians including 128 Americans. The sinking generated significant outrage in the United States, although the vessel was transporting munitions. -
Battle of Verdun begins.
Lasting nearly one year, the Battle of Verdun resulted in nearly 1 million casualties. -
Battle of Somme begins.
The Battle of Somme lasted nearly five months and produced approximately 1 million casualties, but did not result in any significant gain for the allies. Somme saw the first employment of the tank, used by British forces but with little success. -
Woodrow Wilson asks Congress to declare war on Gernany.
Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare combined with the discovery of the Zimmerman telegram draws the United States into World War I. -
Russia removes itself from WWI
After Lenin and the Bolsheviks overthrow Kerensky's government the new Russian leadership signs an armistace with Germany. -
Battle of Chateau-Thierry begins.
American forces halt the German advance along the banks of the Marne River. -
Germans begin to retreat.
Allied forces begin a series of successful counteroffensives along the Somme, forcing the Germans to retreat. -
Allies break through the Hindenberg line.
In a move known as the "hundred days offensive" allied forces push through the Hindenberg line, a heavily fortified zone that served as Germany's last line of defense. -
Armistice signed between Germany and the Allies.
On November 9th Kaiser Wilhelm abdicated, and on the 11th hour of November 11th World War I ended. -
Allies and Germany sign Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles is signed in Paris. The severe punishments levied upon Germany set the stage for a second world war. Ironically France's surrender in World War II will be signed in the same train car in which the Treaty of Versailles was signed following World War I.
