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Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand shocked Francis Joseph, but he still was reluctant to go to war. After this horrific incident, Austria sent Serbia a sweeping ultimatum. Serbia agreed to most, but not all of Austria's ultimatum. This partial refusal gave Austria the opportunity it was seeking and they declared war. -
Austria Declares War on Serbia
Serbia agreed to most of Austria's final set of demands, but did not agree to all of them. This partial refusal gave Austria the opportunity it was seeking. This was the last straw and Austria declared war. -
Germany Declares War on Russia
The Russian's supported Serbia. Once there was assurance that German leader, Kaiser Wilhelm II, would support Austria-Hungary's side in the Russian intervene. This caused these two countries to go to war which lead to a lot more deaths involving more countries. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-world-war-erupts-in-europe -
Germany Invades Belgium
Germany wanted to declare war on France, but could not do soon being Belgium was in the way. Germany went about this problem by giving Belgium a ultimatum and if they did not follow this, Germany would declare them one of their enemies. http://www.historyforkids.net/germany-invades-belgium.html -
Britain Declares War on Germany
Belgium's ports were close to the British coast and if Germany controlled Belgium, Britain would feel threatened. Britain refused to ignore the events of 4 August 1914, when Germany attacked France through Belgium. Within hours, Britain declared war on Germany (nationalarchives). http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/greatwar/g2/backgroundcs1.htm -
Turkey Entered The War on Germany’s Side
Turkey joined the Central Powers pretty early in the war for a few reasons. One of the reasons they may have chose this side is because early off in the war Germany had a few nice wins and another reason is the German pressure and the opportunism of Turkish minister. Turkey entered the war with the bombing of Russian Black Sea ports. http://www.thenagain.info/WebChron/EastEurope/TurkeyCentral.html -
Germany's First Zeppelin raid on Britain
Britain suffered its first casualties from an attack by air when two German zeppelins drop bombs on Great Yarmouth and King’s Lynn on the eastern coast of England (history.com). This was very beneficial to Germany during the war against Britain. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-air-raid-on-britain -
Germany Threatens Submarine Warfare Against Merchant Vessels
Germany warns that the neutral vessels in the waters of Britain would be destroyed without it any recognition. This causes more problems for Britain because supplies can not get were they need and they also have a hard time trading in these conditions. -
Lusitania Was Sunk
There outraged protests from the United States at the German U-boat campaign, when the Lusitania, which had many American passengers aboard, was sank. The Germans moderated their U-boat campaign (historyonthenet). http://www.historyonthenet.com/world-war-one-timeline/ -
Italy Joins
Italy joined the war on the side of the allies. -
Lloyd George Becomes Prime Minister
In 1916 he became war minister, upstaging the indecisive though once cunning prime minister, H. H. Asquith, architect of an ineffective multiparty coalition (history). http://www.history.com/topics/british-history/david-lloyd-george -
Germany Continues the Unrestricted Submarine Warfare
On this day in 1917, the lethal threat of the German U-boat submarine begins to happen frequently, as Germany returns to the policy of unrestricted submarine warfare it had previously suspended in response to pressure from the United States and other neutral countries (history.com). http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germany-resumes-unrestricted-submarine-warfare -
America Joins the War
On April 6, 1917, the U.S. joined its allies, Britain, France, and Russia, to fight in WWI. Under the command of Major General John J. Pershing, more than 2 million U.S. soldiers fought on battlefields in France. Many Americans did not agree with the U.S. entering the war and wanted to remain neutral (americaslibrary). http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/jazz/jb_jazz_wwi_1.html -
Armistice Was Signed
In the French town of Redonthes, the Armistice was signed bringing the war to an end. -
The Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was signed by the Germans. The Treaty ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers.
