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Assassination of Franz Ferdinand
The Balkan states of Bosnia and Herzegovina, had been annexed from Turkey and taken into the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The nationalist group the Black Hand was created in resent of the annexation. Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, and his wife, had decided to inspect Austro-Hungarian troops in Bosnia, on a national day in Bosnia. The Black Hand gave a group of students weapons for an attempt to assassinate the Archduke to mark the occasion.
A Serbian nationalist student, Gavrilo Princip, assa -
Austria Declares War on Serbia
The Austrian government blamed the assassination of the Archduke on the Serbian government, and declared war on Serbia. -
Austria declared war on Serbia
The Austrian government blamed the assassination of the Archduke on the Serbian government, and declared war on Serbia. -
Germany Declares War on Russia
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Germany Declared War on France
German troops bombarded Belgium directed by the Schleiffen Plan that was written up in 1905. Britain sent an ultimatum to Germany demanding they retreat from Belgium -
Britain Declaration of War:
Germany refused to withdraw from Belgium, causing Britain to declare war on Germany -
Battle of Tannenberg
The Russian Army enters Prussia to fight the Germans. The German Army had the Russians surrounded, and defeated them. -
First Battle of Marne Begins
Trench warfare began at this battle as soldiers on both sides dug for protection. -
First Battle of Ypres
The German and Allied troops attempted to secure the town from enemy occupation. It included a series of further battles in and around the area. -
Military Area
The United Kingdom announces that the North Sea is a military area, effectively creating a blockade of goods into Germany. -
Christmas Truce
The unofficial Christmas Truce is declared. The Christmas Spirit overcame the fighting soldiers, and they set their weapons aside. They stopped the gunfire and bloodshed in an act of goodwill. -
“War Zone”
Germany declares a “war zone” around Great Britain. This caused a submarine blockade where even neutral merchant vessels were at a potential risk. -
Dardanelles Campaign Begins
The Dardanelle Campaign, or Gallipoli Campaign, was an Anglo-French operation against Turkey. They attempted to occupy the town Constantinople. This specific campaign and battle had many diplomatic and political repercussions. The plan was deemed successful, because it took Turkish pressure off of Russia. -
Second Battle of Ypres
First use of German poisonous gas. The Germans claimed many British casualties. -
Battle of Gallipoli
The Allies went into the battle believing they would win with their Navy, but ended up being defeated and having to fight on land. -
Sinking of the Lusitania
An American passenger ship, the Lusitania, was torpedoed down by a German U-Boat. -
Italy Declares War
Italy enters the war on the side of the Allies. -
Tsar Nicholas II Takes Over
Tsar Nicholas II takes all control over Russia’s armies. -
Battle of Verdun
The Germans began an attack on the French designed to ‘bleed the French die’. The fighting lasted for nine months, but the battle was inconclusive. -
Battle of Jutland
The only truly large-scale naval battle of the war. The British had the Germans in a naval blockade, and the Germans only hope of splitting the British fleet was destroying it ship by ship. The German forces soon retreated when they came to the conclusion that they wouldn’t defeat the British fleet. -
Battle of Somme
The battle Somee was preceded by a week of very long artillery bombardment of the German line. The battle was supposed to destroy the barbed wire defences placed along the German line, but only made no man’s land into a disaster. Tanks were first introduced to battle during this fight. -
First Airplane Raid
The first German air raid on London took place. -
Zimmerman Telegram
Germany sent a secretive telegram, the Zimmerman Telegram, to Mexico to influence them into joining the war. The British intercepted the telegram and deciphered the code. -
USA Declares War
The USA decide to finally decide to withdraw their claim to being neutral and declare war on Germany. -
Battle of Vimy Ridge
Canadian Corps were trying to take control of the German-held ground. This would assure the advancement of the Canadian southern flank. Canada gained most of the ridge in the first day, while the rest came when Canadian Corps overcame German resistance. The final objective fell to the Canadians on April 12, causing German troops to retreat. -
Passchendaele
The Battle of Passchendaele, also known as the Third Battle of Ypres, begins. British tried to break through Ypres. The purpose of the attack was to breakthrough to the coast of Belgium so they could then destroy German submarines. -
Bolsheviks overthrow the Russian Government
The Bolsheviks successfully overthrow the Russian government, giving them full reign on the war -
Wilson’s Fourteen Points
United States president, Woodrow Wilson, issued a list of fourteen points to bring peace to the war torn countries. -
Treaty of Brest Litovsk:
Russia sings the Treaty of Brest Litovsk; a peace treaty between Russia and the Central Powers. -
Spring Offensive
Germany launches their Spring Offensive. -
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles officially marks the end of WWI -
Second Battle of Marne
During the Spring Offensive, twenty three divisions of the First and Third German Army launched an attack on the French Fourth Army, United States, Britain and Italy. The Germans began to withdraw, sending them back to where they bega -
Germany Signs the Armistice
With the signing of the armistice at Compiegne, France, the fighting came to an end on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.
