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Archduke Franz Ferdinand
While visiting Sarajevo, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, (heir to Austria-Hungary's throne) and his wife, Sophie, are assassinated by Gavrilo Princip (a Serbian nationalist.) -
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia
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Germany declares war on Russia
because Russia was backing Serbia, and Germany was an ally of Austria-Hungary -
Germany declares war on France
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United Kingdom declares war on Germany
because Germany invaded Belgium -
Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia and Serbia declares war on Germany
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US neutral
US President Woodrow Wilson declares that the US will remain neutral. -
First Battle of Marne
Trench warfare begins -
UK blockades Germany
UK declares that the North Sea is a military area, and they blockade goods to Germany. -
unofficial Chritmas truce
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Germany declares a "war zone" around Great Britain
puts into effect a submarine blockade -
Second Battle of Ypres
Germans first use poison gas -
RMS Lusitania sunk
German U-boat sinks the British ocean liner -
Tsar Nicholas II takes control over Russia's armies
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Battle of Verdun
the longest and one of the bloodiest battles of WWI -
Battle of Jutland
the major naval battle of the war -
Battle of Flers
tanks are first used in battle -
Zimmerman Telegram
Germany sends the secret Zimmerman Telegram to Mexico in an attemt to get Mexico to join the war. However, the British intercepted and deciphered the message. -
Russian Tsar Nicholas II abdicates
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US declares war on Germany
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The Bolsheviks overthrow the Russian government
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Fourteen Points to Peace
Issued by US President Woodrow Wilson -
Russia signs the Treaty of Brest Litovsk
Peace treaty between R ussia and the Central Powers -
Red Baron is shot down
Baron Manfred von Richthofen (a German flying ace) -
German Kaiser abdicates
German Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicates and flees Germany -
Germany signs armistice at Compiegne, France
fighting ends on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month -
Treaty of Versailles
officially ended WWI