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Assassination of Franz Ferdinand
Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, and his wife, had decided to inspect Austro-Hungarian troops in Bosnia. The date chosen for the inspection was a national day in Bosnia. The Black Hand supplied a group of students with weapons for an assassination attempt to mark the occasion. -
Austria declared war on Serbia
The Austrian government blamed the Serbian government for the assassination of Franz Ferdinand and his wife and declared war on Serbia. -
Germany declared war on Russia
Germany declared war on Russia. -
Germany declared war on France
Germany declared war on France. German troops poured into Belgium as directed under the Schleiffen Plan, drawn up in 1905. -
British declaration of war
Germany did not withdraw from Belgium and Britain declared war on Germany. -
Battle of Tannenberg
The Russian army marched into Prussia. However, because of the differences in railway gauge between Russia and Prussia it was difficult for the Russians to get supplies through to their men. -
Japan declared war on Germany
Japan declared war on Germany through her alliance with Great Britain, signed in 1902 -
Battle of Masurian Lakes
Having defeated the Russian Second army, the Germans turned their attention to the Russian First army at Masurian Lakes. -
Turkey
Turkey entered the war on the side of the central powers and gave help to a German naval bombardment of Russia. -
Russia declared war on Turkey
Because of the help given by Turkey to the German attack of Russia, Russia declared war on Turkey. -
Britain and France declared war on Turkey
Britain and France, Russia’s allies, declared war on Turkey, because of the help given to the German attack on Russia. -
Zeppelins
The first Zeppelins appeared over the English coast. -
Zeppelin bombing
Zeppelin airships dropped bombs on Yarmouth. -
Dardenelles
The Russians appealed for help from Britain and France to beat off an attack by the Turkish. -
Second Battle of Ypres
Poison gas was used for the first time during this battle. -
Lusitania 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. -
Italy
Italy entered the war on the side of the Allies. -
USA declares war on Germany
The United States of America declared war on Germany in response to the sinking, by German U boats, of US ships. -
Allies recover France and Belgium
The allies had taken almost all of German-occupied France and part of Belgium. -
Armistice with Turkey
The allies had successfully pushed the Turkish army back and the Turks were forced to ask for an armistice. The terms of the armistice treaty allowed the allies access to the Dardenelles. -
Armistice signed
At 11 am, in the French town of Redonthes, the Armistice was signed bringing the war to an end.