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Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife are assasinated.
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Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia.
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Germany mobilizes her armed forces and declares war on Russia.
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Germany declares war on France. Germany declares war on neutral Belgium and invades in a right flanking move designed to defeat France quickly. As a result of this invasion, Britain declares war on Germany.
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Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia.
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First trenches are dug in the Western front.
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War becomes "Total War" with German Zeppelin air raid on England
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U-boat sinks the Lusitania. 1,198 civilians, including 128 Americans die.
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Allies begin withdrawal of troops from Gallipoli.
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The longest battle of the war, the Battle of Verdun, is fought to a draw with an estimated one million casualties.
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The Battle of the Somme results in an estimated one million casualties and no breakthrough for the Allies. British introduce the tank, an effective weapon but far to few to make much of a difference.
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Germany again declares unrestricted submarine warfare.
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President Wilson asks Congress for a declaration of war with Imperial Germany.
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French launch disastrous offensive at Chemin des Dames, advancing only 500 yards at the cost of 250,000 plus casualties.
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The first wave of the American Expeditionary Force lands in France.
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German shells land on Paris.
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German troops being shipped from the Eastern to Western Front begin to desert in large numbers from their transport trains
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Woodrow Wilson sets sail for the Paris Peace conference.
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Demobilization of the armies, millions return home.
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Peace Treaty signed by German delegates and Allies in Versailles.
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President Wilson brings his campaign for the ratification of the Treaty of Versailles and its League of Nations to the American people. The War was officially declared over.
