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Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy form the Triple Alliance
Germany and Austria-Hungary invite Italy to join a defensive alliance against France and other Great Powers -
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Balkan Wars
Greece, Bulgaria, and Serbia declare war on Turkey. Then Greece and Serbia declared war on Bulgaria. The gave the Balkan's army's experience that would help them fight in WWI -
Archduke Franz Ferdinand is assassinated by Serbian Gavrilo Princip
The Austro-Hungarian Empire was in decline in the 1910s with serious national revolts on the rise. The Archduke who was the heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary wanted to try to improve relations with the Slavic minorities before he took power. He was actually quite popular with the Slavs due to his promise to improve freedoms in the empire. He was assassinated during a parade in Sarajevo, Bosnia. The assassin shot the Archduke and his wife with a pistol after jumping on the Archduke's car. -
July Crisis
The assassination led to a month of diplomatic maneuvering between Austria-Hungary, Germany, Russia, France, and Britain, called the July Crisis. Austria-Hungary correctly believed that Serbian officials (especially the officers of the Black Hand) were involved in the plot to murder the Archduke, and wanted to finally end Serbian interference in Bosnia. -
July Ultimatum
Austria-Hungary issues an Ultimatum to Serbia. These were ten demands meant to provoke war. Serbia renounced the Ultimatum and mobilized for war. -
Germany declares war on Russia
After Russia declared war on Austria-Hungary; Germany declared war on Russia. Germany issued an ultimatum demanding its mobilization be stopped, and a commitment not to support Serbia. -
Germany invades Belgium
Germany after being denied the right to cross Belgian borders marches through Belgium breaking the Belgian's Neutrality -
Battles of Cer and Kolubara
The Battles of Cer and Kolubara were between Austria-Hungary and Serbia. Serbia despite being the smaller force easily defeated the Austro-Hungarians. Ensuring a long drawn out war. https://www.historychannel.com.au/h100/the-amazing-battle-of-kolubara-continued/ -
Battle of Tannenberg
The Battle of Tannenberg was fought between Russia and Germany between the 26th and 30th of August 1914, the first month of World War I in Germanic Prussia. The battle resulted in the almost complete destruction of the Russian Second Army and the suicide of its commanding general, Alexander Samsonov. This would affect the Russians for the rest of the war. -
First Battle of the Marne
The battle was the culmination of the German advance into France and pursuit of the Allied armies which followed the Battle of the Frontiers in August and had reached the eastern outskirts of Paris. A counter-attack by French armies and the British Expeditionary Force along the Marne River forced the Imperial German Army to retreat northwest. The battle was a victory for the Allied Powers but led to four years of trench warfare stalemate on the Western Front. -
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Battle of Gallipoli
The Gallipoli Campaign, also known as the Battle of Gallipoli was a campaign of the First World War that took place on the Gallipoli peninsula The Entente powers, Britain and France, sought to weaken the Ottoman Empire by taking control of the straits that provided a supply route to Russia, the third member of the Entente. The invaders launched a naval attack followed by an amphibious landing on the peninsula, to capture Istanbul. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/battle-of-gallipoli-1 -
Lusitania sinks in Atlantic
The cruise ship Lusitania is sunk by German U-boats. Germany receives backlash but reasons that the cruise liner was carrying weapons. -
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Battle of Verdun
The Battle of Verdynfought from 21 February to 18 December 1916, the longest battle of the First World War was fought on the Western Front between the German and French armies. The battle took place on the hills north of Verdun-sur-Meuse in north-eastern France. Verdun was also a fortress the Germans needed take to push French lines. One of the longest ground battles in history -
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Battle of the Somme
Also known as the Somme Offensive, was a battle of World War I fought by the armies of the British Empire and the French Third Republic against the German Empire. It took place between 1 July and 18 November 1916 on both sides of the upper reaches of the River Somme in France. The battle was intended to hasten a victory for the Allies and was the largest battle of the First World War on the Western Front. -
Britain employs Tanks for the first time
Britain uses tanks to get across No man's land for the first time however the tanks are slow and get left behind the advancing infantry. -
Tsar Nicholas II abdicates throne to the provisional government
After Russia's disastrous effort in the war, the Tsar steps down after extreme unrest. -
America enters the war
After the Zimmerman telegram is intercepted, President Wilson demands war from Congress on the Triple Alliance. -
Brest-Livosk Treaty is signed by Russia and Germany
After the Russian revolution, Lenin forges peace with The Kaiser and many cultures are given the right of self-rule -
Battle of Belleau Wood
U.S. Marines take heavy losses advancing on a German position threatening Paris. The Marines repel the Germans https://warontherocks.com/2018/06/the-importance-of-the-battle-of-belleau-wood/ (http://www.timetoast.com) -
Battle of Belleau Wood ends
American Marines help stop the Belleau Wood offensive crushing Germany's hope for victory. -
Kaiser Wilhelm abdicates his throne
After losing several offenses and being pushed back into Germany, The Kaiser steps down from power and flees Germany -
Armistice Day
Peace is signed between the Entente and the Alliance formally on November 11, at 11 a.m. at the 11th minute of the hour
