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Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
The royal couple was touring the city in an open car, with extremely little security; one of the nationalists threw a bomb at their car, but it rolled off the back of the vehicle, wounding some bystanders. Later, the car took a wrong turn near where Princip happened to be standing. Seeing his chance, Princip fired into the car, shooting Franz Ferdinand and Sophie at point-blank range. -
Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia
Emperor Franz Joseph signed the declaration of war in his Imperial Villa in Bad Ischl on July 28. At this time several European countries had already started to mobilize their armies. -
Germany mobilizes its armed forces and declares war on Russia
If the German Government had failed to guard against this chaos, they would have compromised the safety and the very safety of Germany. -
Germany declares war on France
On the afternoon of this day in 1914, two days after declaring war on Russia, Germany declares war on France, moving ahead with a long-held strategy, conceived by the former chief of staff of the German army. -
"The Battle of the Frontiers"
27,000 French soldiers die on this single day in an offensive movement to the east of Paris, towards the German borders. -
The first trenches are built
These trenches protected the soldiers from the guns and fire. It also protected them from the upcoming tanks. -
U-boat sinks the Lusitania
A huge bombing on the Lusitania. 1,998 people were killed, including 128 americans. -
The Battle of Verdum
This is the beginning of the Battle of Verdun. This will be the longest battle of the war. An estimate of one million soldiers were killed. -
Wilson warns U-Boats
President Woodrow Wilson warns U-Boats from the Germans not to continue unrestricted polices. -
Selective Service Act
The Selective Service Act is passed. This allows for the government to create the draft, for soldiers to be "drafted" into the army. -
The 14 Points
President Woodrow Wilson makese his "14 Points" speech. He speaks about how the world needs to be at peace. -
The Armistice is signed
At 11 o'clock, on the eleventh day of the eleventh month. The war ends as Germany and the Allies sign an armistice. -
The Treaty of Versailles
German delegates and the Allies sign this peace treaty to end WWI. This Treaty Signing was held at the Paris Peace Conference.
