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June 28, 1914
On June 28, 1914, Archduke Francis Ferdinand was assassinated for making a wrong turn. -
July 28, 1914
On July 28, 1914, Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia. This is the beginning of World War I. -
August 2-10, 1914
On August 2-7, 1914, Germany invades Luxembourg and Belgium. France invades Alsace. British forces arrive in France. Nations allied against Germany were eventually to include Great Britain, Russia, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Rhodesia, Romania, Greece, France, Belgium, United States, Canada, Serbia, India, Portugal, Montenegro, and Poland. Then Austria-Hungary invades Russia. -
February 18, 1915
On February 18, 1915, Germany begins a naval blockade of Great Britain. -
May 7, 1915
On May 7, 1915, a German submarine sinks the passenger liner Lusitania during the crossing from New York to Liverpool, England, killing 128 Americans. -
May 23, 1915
On May 23, 1915, Italy declares war on Austria-Hungary. -
February 21, 1916
On February 21, 1916, Germany begins the attack on Verdun. -
July 1, 1916
On July 1, 1916, the Allied offensive begins the Battle of the Somme. -
December 18, 1916
On December 18, 1916, the Battle of Verdun ends with 550,000 French and 450,000 German casualties. -
February 1, 1917
On February 1, 1917, Germany returns to unrestricted submarine warfare halted after the sinking of the Lusitania. -
April 6, 1917
On April 6, 1917, the United States declares war on Germany. -
June 24, 1917
On June 24, 1917, American combat forces arrive in France. -
January 8, 1918
On January 8, 1918, President Woodrow Wilson presents to Congress his outline of the Fourteen Points required for peace. -
March 3, 1918
On March 3, 1918, Russia signs the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany. -
March 21, 1918
On March 21, 1918, Germany begins its final offensive of the war. -
May 28, 1918
On May 28, 1918, United States forces are victorious in the Battle of Cantigny, the first independent American operation. -
August 24-29, 1921
On August 24-29, 1921, United States signs separate peace treaties with Germany, Austria, and Hungary.