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Assassination of Franz Ferdinand
The Archduke, heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire was assassinated along with his wife, Sophie, at 11:00 A.M. by Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian-Serb. This occurred while Ferdinand was visiting Sarajevo, Bosnia (part of the empire). Firing two rounds, Princip hit Sophie in the abdomen, and Ferdinand in the neck. The injuries were fatal. This event is what triggered the start of the First World War. -
Outbreak of War: August 1-August 28, 1914
Following the assassination of the Archduke, Austria-Hungary unsurprisingly declares war on Serbia. This causes a chain reaction. Russia goes to defend Serbia, and Germany (ally of Austria-Hungary) then declares war on Russia. This in turn caused a needed declaration against France; and soon the majority of Europe was involved in this war. Invasions were taking place, such as Germany's invasion of Belgium, and France's invasion of Alsace. Even Japan gets involved. It all gets out of control. -
The Battle of the Frontiers
On August 4th at midnight, the Battle of the Frontiers began— a battle consisting between Germany, France, and Belgium. Lasting just over a month, the battle had over 3 million casualties: the bloodiest confrontation in the world at that point. Consisting of many smaller battles, it was one of the first large-scale conflicts of the Western Front. During this, the Germans were very successful and made several victories against the Allies; though they were eventually pushed back at the end. -
War Against the Ottoman Empire
On November 5, 1914, Britain and France declared war on the Ottoman Empire. As a Central Power, it sided with Germany, Austria-Hungary, and some other nations; an enemy to the Allies (U.S., Britain, Russia, etc.). The Ottoman Empire was very large, standing to the east of the Mediterranean, and south of the Black Sea, spreading through north Africa and west Asia. It played a significant role in WWI. -
The Second Battle of Ypres
The Second Battle of Ypres was a significant battle in WWI, fought on the Western Front, between the Germans and the Allies. It is significant because it was the introduction of chemical warfare—chlorine gas. The use of this was very effective, and very deadly. It caused numerous side effects, and if the person survived, they would have a number of future problems. With over one million casualties, this battle is one of the war's bloodiest. It was fought from April 22 to May 25, 1915. -
Germans Sink the Lusitania
It was on this day that a German U-Boat torpedoed the Lusitania—a British ocean liner that, at the time, was carrying just under 1,200 passengers. In total, 1,197 people died, including 128 Americans. And because of those American deaths, the relationship between Germany and the U.S. was worsened. Indirectly (through causing a chain reaction), it is one of the reasons why neutral America decided to enter WWI. -
The Battle of Verdun
Starting in mid-February, and ending on December 18 of the same year, the Battle of Verdun was the longest of the entire war. Spanning exactly three hundred days over a period of ten months, it was brutal. It was a German offensive against the French, as they [Germans] tried to take the French town of Verdun. It holds over 700,000 deaths in total. -
The Battle of the Somme
The Battle of the Somme started on July 1st, 1916, and ended in November of the same year, actually before the end of Verdun—November 18th. And while it was shorter, it still carries a huge body count. Like the Second Battle of Ypres, it claims over one million deaths. This time, it was an Allied offensive against the Germans. But through it all, it really shows the ruthlessness of the "war to end war." -
The Zimmermann Telegram
The Zimmermann Telegram was a telegram sent from Germany to Mexico, proposing a potential alliance between them and Japan in the event that the U.S. were to declare war (on Germany). However, the British intercepted the telegram and deciphered it (it was in code). Seeing this, the British alerted Mexico, and then Mexico alerted the United States. Upon seeing this, the United States had its relations with Germany incredibly worsened. And this is one of the reasons why the U.S. entered WWI. -
The Tsar's Abdication
On this day—March 15—the Tsar of Russia officially abdicated from the throne. At the time, Nicholas II was the ruler of Russia. But in the people's eyes, he was seen as worthless. They thought he was a terrible ruler, and in truth, he was. He didn't have any idea of how to run a nation, and due to this, the people rioted. There was the February Riots (which were actually in March); the people demanded food. They didn't have any! And it was due to this, that tsarist rule finally ended. -
U.S. Declares War on Germany
I'm sure you recall when just a few events ago, I stated that the Zimmermann Telegram was a piece of motivation for the U.S. entering the war. Here it is. On April 6, 1917, the U.S. officially declared war against Germany and joined the Allies. The Zimmermann Telegram wasn't the only piece of the puzzle, though. It was also based on Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare. In the seas, Germany would just destroy any seen ships that they didn't recognize. Frankly, the Allies had enough. -
The Battle of Cambrai
Going through December 6, the two-week-long Battle of Cambrai was a British offensive against the Germans. Located in France, it was the first large-scale use of tanks. While it wasn't the first use of tanks, it's still a very important milestone. Even though the tanks look nothing like how they do today, they were unimaginable back then. Large machines, surrounded with armor, and a cannon that could kill you in a flash. -
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
The treaty, signed on March 3, 1918, was one between Russia and the Central Powers. It ended Russian involvement in WWI. After Nicholas' resignation, revolutionist Vladimir Lenin seized the government and its power. Afterwards, one of his first goals was to end the war for Russia. After suffering continued and numerous losses, Lenin thought it was time. So, the treaty was signed. -
The Third Battle of the Aisne
A little over a week is the time frame the Third Battle of the Aisne took place—another German offensive, and the target was the Allies. This was a successful German victory, as they pushed the Allies back; across the Aisne (in France). Though a relatively small battle, it is a battle leading to the end of the war. Following this, there are many other battles which are moving to that "final push" of the war. -
The Second Battle of the Marne
The Second Battle of the Marne started on July 15 and ended on August 6, 1918. It was the final German offensive against the Allies, ultimately ending in an Allied victory. After having some success in past offensives, German gen. Erich Ludendorff planned another. But, having predicted this, French gen. Ferdinand Foch met the Germans with fearsome resistance. As the offensive was called off, the Allies began a counteroffensive, which left the Germans to a full retreat. -
The Battle of Château-Thierry
The Battle of Château-Thierry was kind of a "mini-battle," fought in between the Second Battle of the Marne. It lasted only one day. Here, famous American gen. John J. Pershing led the U.S. troops. The American performance in this battle was so impressive that German Intelligence even noted that, "The Second American Division must be considered a very good one and may even perhaps be reckoned as a stormtroop." And again, "...qualities of the men individually may be described as remarkable." -
The Battle of Saint-Mihiel
The Battle of Saint-Mihiel was one of the first offensives of WWI that was led by the Americans. Going against Germany, the Allies secured yet another victory. More than five hundred thousand American soldiers fought, and with the help of the French, the Central Powers suffered another loss. The battle lasted from September 12 to September 15. -
The Meuse-Argonne Offensive
The Meuse-Argonne Offensive was one of the final battles of WWI. Again it was led by the Americans, and this specifically was the largest operation ever executed by the U.S. at the time (in WWI). Following Saint-Mihiel, the U.S. troops were incredibly exhausted—hundreds of thousands of troops and supplies were moved sixty miles in eleven days for this offensive. However, this was fought up until the Armistice of November 11 (following event). The war would soon come to an end. -
Signing the Armistice
On November 11, 1918, the Armistice of Compiègne was signed between Germany and the Allies. After this, WWI was officially over. Fighting ceased, and all celebrated (some in more violent ways than others). And while some small fights still continued, the war was as good as over. This is the end of the First World War. -
Signing the Treaty
You might think to yourself, "Why is there still an event after the armistice? Isn't the war over?" Well, yes. It is. But on June 28, 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was signed, again between Germany and the Allies. It defined and indicated the conditions of peace between them. The signing of it "officially" ended the war. The Central Powers were treated as scapegoats, and many were forced to give up territory, give up military, and make payments for reparation. This is the end.