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Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his Wife
Archduke Franz Ferdinand, next in line to the Austro-Hungarian throne was in Sarajavo, Boznia for a visit. As he and his wife were in their open car driving along, a gunman attacked. They were both killed by a Serbian nationalist, who wanted political independence for Serbia. This event upset a balance of power in Europe. Within weeks, the war starts. -
Austria-Hungary Declares War on Serbia
One month after the day Archduke Ferdinand of Austri-Hungary was killed, Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia, which effectively is the beginning of the First World War. -
Germany Declares War on Russia
Germany mobilizes it's armed forces and declares war on Russia. -
Germany Declares War on France
Two days after declaring war on Russia, Germany declares war on France, moving ahead with a strategy by the cheif of staff for the german army, Alfred von Schlieffen, for a war on France and Russia. Hours later, France makes it's own declaration of war against Germany, readying its troops for war. -
Germany Invades Belgium
Germany invades on August 4th. The German Army quickly overwhelmed Belgian defences and King Albert was forced to move his government to La Havre in France. -
Great Britain Declares War on Germany
Germany invaded Belgium on August 3, 1914. Great Britain had a pledge with Belgium that if they were ever invaded that Great Britain would protect them. Honoring this pledge, they declared war on Germany the next day. -
Battle of Marne
In the early days of WWI, the Germans won a number of victories and invaded France through Belgium. The Germans marched into France to within fifteen miles of the capital, Paris. The British and French met the Germans at Marne River. The Battle of Marne, fought September 5-10, stopped the German advance. The Battle of Marne was a costly battle for both sides with many casualties and an Allies victory. This battle also showed the war would not be won quickly or easily. -
Sinking of the Lusitania
Germany had said it would sink any vessels that entered or left British ports. President Wilson then warned the Germans that if any Americans lost lives in submarine attacks they would hold Germany responsible. But in May, 1915, a German U-boat torpedoed the British passenger liner called the Lusitania near the coast of Ireland which killed 128 Americans and more than 1,000 others. This angered the American public and led the US closer to entering the war. -
Battle of Verdun
For three years since, the Battle of Marne, both sides faced off from a network of trenches. In 1916, both sides lauched major offensives. The Germans lauched the Battle of Verdun in France, which was one of the longest and bloodiest battles of the war. At the end of the battle in December 1916, more than 750,000 French and German soldiers were dead and more were wounded. -
Sinking of the Sussex and the Sussex Pledge
About a year after the sinking of the Lusitania, a German U-boat attacked an unarmed French passenger ship called the Sussex. Several Americans suffered injuries. Germany feared this would cause the Americans to enter the war. Germany offered money to those injured on the Sussex. Then they made the Sussex Pledge promising to warn neutral ships and passenger vessels before attacking. -
Battle of Somme
At the same time of the Battle of Verdun, the Allies had lauched their own offensive in July. This was the Battle of Somme which also caused a large number of casualties. The Allies only gained 7 miles and it ended on November 18, 1916. -
The Zimmermann Note is Intercepted
In January 1917, British agents intercepted a secret telegram by the German foreign minister, Arther Zimmermann. The telegram was going to Mexico. It offered to make a German alliance with Mexico against the United States if they were to enter the war. When Americans found out about this note, it angered them and caused a wave of anti-Germans in the United States. -
Russian Revolution Breaks Out
A revolution took place in Russia and the Russian people overthrew their monarchy. In place of the monarcy, Russians set up a temporary government promising free elections and to continue the fight with Germany. This change in Russia from an autocracy to a democratic government raised the Allies' hopes. They now could say they were fighting a war for democracy. -
The US Declares War Against Germany
Events continued to push the United States to war. A revolution took place in Russia, so Wilson could now argue they were fighting a war for democracy, making public support more likely. Also Germans attacked and sank four American merchant ships, thirty-six people died. On April 2, President Woodrow Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of war against Germany. On April 6, Congress granted the request and the United States was formally at war. -
Battle of Argonne Forest
The Battle of Argonne Forest was the final Allied offensive of World War I that stretched along the entire Western Front. It was fought from September 26 until November 11, a total of 47 days.
