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Archduke Assassination
On June 6, 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria is assassinated along with his wife. They were shot by 19 year old Gavrilo Princip. The couple laid wounded in their limousine dying an hour later. Princip was attacked by a mob and fought back aggressively. Was then later taken by the police. After the assassination a rapid chain of events would happen -
Russia Mobilizes troops
After losing the Franco Prussian war Russia did not want to seem weak to other European Countries so they promised to protect France. After they found out Germany was going to declare war on France, Russia moved troops to the Austrian Border. Germany was not worried because it would take Russia a long time to move their troops. Russia had the largest army and sent 40,000 men to war without any arm. -
War Spreads
Just two days after Germany declared war on France they declare war on France because they were Russia ally. Then later, on August 4th 1914 Germany attacks neutral Belgium to get to France attempting to use their Schieffen Plan. This causes just a day later for Britain to declare war on Germany. -
The Battle of Mons
The Battle of Mons was the British's first engagement in France. The German Kaiser demanded that the German army attack the British "little army". 70,000 British men are attacked by Germany's 160,000 men. Out armed and out numbered the British suffer a large amount of causalities and started to recruit a bigger army. -
Indian Army Joins War
At the battle of La Bassee in France calls the Indian soldiers to join the war for first time. Britain also calls 1.5 million and 1.3 Canadians, Australian, and South Africans to fight with them on the allied side. The war becomes truly global now. -
Siege of Tsingtao
The Siege of Tsingtao was Britain's new ally Japan attacks the port of Tsingtao a German colony in China. Germany put a resistance but 23,000 Japanese soldiers took control. Japan also takes over other German colonies. -
First Use of Poison Gas
Both sides of the war experiment with tear gas. In 1915 Germany uses a more deadly chemical called xylyl killing around 1,000 Russian Troops at Bolimov. At Belgium large amounts of gas are used for the first time. Germany uses thousands of canisters of chlorine gas killing around 7,000 British causalities. The effects of the gas are devastating and terrify causing troubles at home -
The Sinking of the Lusitania
A civilian passenger liner, the Lusitania is sunk off the coast of Ireland by a U-boat, a new dangerous weapon in the war. Around 1,200 people die including 128 Americans. Although Germany had put warnings out the world was still shocked. This caused the US coming closer to join the war. -
Battle of Verdun
The Battle of Verdun was the longest battle throughout the whole war. Lasting about 9 months. The Germans plan a series of fort throughout the town of Verdun believing the French will humiliate themselves. The Germans plan fails by not being able to break through the French's exhaust. Both sides lose around 300,000 people. For the French the Battle of Verdun becomes a symbol of the sacrifice of their countries youth -
America Joins the War
In 1917 Germany sends the infamous "Zimmerman" telegram to Mexico inciting it to attack the US. In February the Germans start to restart their U-Boat campaign against commercial ships headed from America to Britain. President Woodrow Wilson tells congress the US should declare war on Germany. The following year, the american troops arriving is a great blow to Germany. Now Germany faces many military and economic problems of the Worlds Rising Power.
