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Archduke Franz Ferdinand, and wife are assassinated.
Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austro-Hungarian Empire, and his wife are assassinated. -
Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia.
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The Ottoman Empire signs a secret alliance...
The Ottoman Empire signs a secret alliance with Germany agreeing to enter the war once Germany declares war on Russia. They formally enter the war several months later when they bomb Russian seaports. Bulgaria joins the Central Powers. -
Germany declares war on neutral Belgium
Germany declares war on neutral Belgium and invades Belgium and Luxembourg as part of the Schlieffen Plan. As a result, Britain declares war on Germany. -
Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia.
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The United States declares neutrality in the war.
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Battle of Tannenberg
The German army defeats Russia at the Battle of Tannenberg. -
First Battle of Marne
German invasion of France is halted at the First Battle of Marne. -
1st Battle of Ypres
The Race to the Sea ends when the Germans withdraw at the 1st Battle of Ypres. -
Unofficial Christmas
Unofficial Christmas truce is declared by German and Allied soldiers in the trenches along the Western Front. -
Armenian Genocide begins.
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2nd battle of Ypres
The Germans use poison gas at the 2nd battle of Ypres. -
Allies begin a nine-month battle for the Turkish peninsula of Gallipoli.
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A German U-boat sinks the Lusitania
A German U-boat sinks the Lusitania killing 1,198 civilians, including 128 Americans. -
Italy Joins the Allies.
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Edith Cavell, is executed
British nurse, Edith Cavell, is executed by the Germans. -
The Battle of Verdun
The Battle of Verdun is fought resulting in an estimated one million casualties. -
Woodrow Wilson is re-elected President of the United States.
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British cryptographers deciphered a telegram to the German Minister of Mexico.
British cryptographers deciphered a telegram from German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmerman to the German Minister of Mexico. -
The Germans resume unrestricted submarine warfare.
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Tsar Nicholas II of Russia abdicates.
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President Wilson asks the U.S. Congress for a declaration of war against Germany.
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3rd battle of Ypres
The 3rd battle of Ypres, also known as Passchendaele, results in minor gains for the Allies and a total of 700,000 casualties. -
The Balfour Declaration is presented in London.
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President Wilson outlines his Fourteen Points
President Wilson outlines his Fourteen Points in a speech before Congress. -
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk is signed between Russia and Germany. -
Germans on the banks of the Marne near Paris are stopped
Germans on the banks of the Marne near Paris are stopped by American forces at Chateau-Thierry -
tank during the Battle of Somme
The British introduced the tank during the Battle of Somme. The battle resulted in an estimated one million casualties. -
Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany abdicates.
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Emperor Karl of Austria abdicates.
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Allies sign an Armistice
At eleven o’clock on this day, war on the Western Front ends as Germany and the Allies sign an Armistice. -
Treaty of Versailles
Germany and Allies sign the Treaty of Versailles. The U.S. Senate later refuses to ratify it. -
Treaty of Sevres
The Treaty of Sevres ends the war on the Eastern Front with the Ottoman Empire.