WWI (1914-1918)

By JaviC

  • WWI begins

    • June 28 – Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria.
    • July 28 – Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia, starting WWI.
    • August 1-4 – Germany declares war on Russia and France; Britain declares war on Germany.
    • September 6-10 – First Battle of the Marne halts German advance into France.

  • Stalemate & Trench Warfare

    • April 22 – Germany uses poison gas for the first time (Second Battle of Ypres).
    • May 7 – Sinking of the Lusitania by a German U-boat, killing civilians, including Americans.
    • October – Bulgaria joins the Central Powers; Serbia is invaded.

  • Major Battles

    • February-December – Battle of Verdun (longest battle of the war).
    • July-November – Battle of the Somme; first use of tanks by the British.

  • Turning Points

    • March – Russian Revolution begins; Tsar Nicholas II abdicates.
    • April 6 – The U.S. declares war on Germany.
    • November – Bolsheviks seize power in Russia; Russia begins withdrawing from the war.

  • War Ends

    • March – Germany launches its Spring Offensive but fails.
    • July-August – Allied forces counterattack in the Second Battle of the Marne.
    • November 11 – Germany signs the Armistice; war officially ends.

  • Aftermath

    • June 28 – Treaty of Versailles is signed, imposing heavy penalties on Germany.