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Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
On their trip to the capital city of Sarajevo in Serbia, Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie did not expect to be killed by Gavrillo Princip, a member of the Serbian nationalist known as the Black Hand. The Black Hand for the longest time had fought to liberate themselves and be free of Austria-Hungary´s rule. -
Austria-Hungary Declares War on Serbia
After the guidelines of Austria-Hungary´s ultimatum to Serbia had not been made within a month, Austria-Hungary is left with no choice but to declare war on Serbia. -
Germany Invades Belgium
After declaring war on Russia for beginning their troop mobilization, Germany devised a Schlieffen Plan in which they would focus 90% of their military on the Western Front to defeat France and Great Britain before Russia would mobilize their troops, and then Germany would defeat Russia at the Eastern Front which ultimately would win them the war. However, Russia mobilized quicker than expected and the Belgians retaliated harder than expected. -
The US Declares Neutrality
After the eruption of World War 1 in Europe, US President Woodrow Wilson declared that the United States would remain “impartial in thought as well as in action.” This was to maintain peace, not affect trade between any of the rivaling nations at war and to keep the economy flourishing. -
Sinking of the Lusitania
After the United Kingdom had implemented a naval blockade against Germany, Germany retaliated through submarine warfare and had declared that any ships in the war zones were not safe of an attack. This would lead to the sinking of the RMS Lusitania from a German U-boat torpedo that killed 129 Americans who were on board which drove the United States´ hatred towards Germany even more. -
Battle of Verdun
After Germany had made their way to take Verdun knowing that the French would focus much of their military to defend their symbolic city, the longest battle of World War 1 would ensue on the hills north of Verdun-sur-Meuse in north-eastern France. The result was a French victory, but both sides lost a lot of men. -
The Discovery of the Zimmerman Telegram
British cryptographers deciphered a telegram from German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmermann to the German Minister to Mexico, von Eckhardt, offering United States territory to Mexico in return for joining the German cause. This would ultimately lead to the US entering World War 1. -
The US Enters World War 1
The U.S. joins its allies--Britain, France, and Russia--to fight in World War I. Under the command of Major General John J. Pershing, more than 2 million U.S. soldiers fought on battlefields in France. Many Americans were not in favor of the U.S. entering the war and wanted to remain neutral. Woodrow Wilson declares that this is a ¨war to end wars¨. -
Russia Exits the War
Russia’s disastrous involvement in World War I was a primary factor that led to Vladimir Lenin’s successful Marxist revolution in November 1917. In December 1917, Germany agreed to an armistice and peace talks with Russia, and Lenin sent Leon Trotsky to Brest-Litovsk in Belarus to negotiate a treaty. Lenin later authorized the signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk on March 3, 1918. -
The Treaty of Versailles
Germany had formally surrendered on November 11, 1918, and all nations had agreed to stop fighting while the terms of peace were negotiated. On June 28, 1919, Germany and the Allied Nations (including Britain, France, Italy and Russia) signed the Treaty of Versailles, formally ending the war.
