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Austria Archduke Ferdinand assassinated
He was shot to death by a Bosnian Serb nationalist during an official visit to the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo. This event was important because it was the last event before the war came. -
World War Begins
World War I, also known as the First World War or the Great War, was a global war starting in Europe. This was important because this war was just the beginning of history. -
Battle of Tannenberg
This battle was fought between Russia and Germany in the first month of the war. This battle ended in almost completed destruction of the Russian Second Army and the suicide of its commanding general, Alexander Samsonov. -
First Battle of the Marne
It included the French army and the British Expeditionary Force against the Germans who had invaded Belgium and northeastern France. This was important because this battle was the first in WW1. -
Lusitania Sunk
A German U-boat torpedoed the British-owned steamship Lusitania, killing 1,195 people. This was important because it killed a lot of people. -
Italy Declares War on Germany
Hitler had been making plans to invade Italy to keep the Allies from gaining a foothold. This event is important because this is another two countries coming into battle. -
Germany Limits Submarines
After the inking of the Lusitania Kaiser Wilhelm suspends unrestricted submarine warfare. This was an attempted to keep the United States out of the war. This is important because it severely hurts German efforts to prevent American supplies from reaching France and Britain. -
Battle of Verdun
It was one of the longest, bloodiest, and most-ferocious battles of the war. About 400,000 French casualties, German ones to about 350,000. Other 300,000 were killed. This was an important vent because this battle had the most casualties in all the WW1 battles. -
First Tank
The British employ the first tanks ever used in battle. Tanks are useful at breaking through barbed wire and clearing a path for the infantry. -
Zimmerman Telegram
This was a secret diplomatic communication issued from the German Foreign Office. This proposed a military alliance between Germany and Mexico. -
United States Declares War On Germany
President Woodrow Wilson went before a special joint session of Congress and asked for a declaration of war against Germany. This is important because its the beginning of the United States becoming involved. -
Russia signs armistice with Germany.
Germany hoped that the formerly Russian territories would fall under their sway, but later realized there was no point because the war ended shortly after. -
Russia Leaves the War
After riots broke loose in Russia Vladimir Lenin decide to pull out Russia from the war. This was important because a big country decided to leave the war. This could have an affect on other countries. -
Germany and Russia Peace
The Germans sign a peace treaty with the new Bolshevik government of Russia. The terms of the treaty gave Germany a lot of land. But this caused serious problems for the French, British, and Americans. -
World War 1 Ended
The signing of an armistice between the Allies and Germany that called for a ceasefire starting at 11 a.m. This is important because its the end of a long, tragic, bloody war.
