-
Assasination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Archducke Franz Ferdinand from Austria was assassinated on this day by a Serbian, when he took a trip into Sarajevo. Because of this, Austria used it as an excuse to punish Serbia of their wrongdoing. They gave Serbia an ultamatum, knowing that it would be impossible for them to accept it. The proposal asked Serbia to stop all anti-Austrian activity. -
Austria Rejects Serbia's Attempts to Negotiate
In result to the proposal that Austria had sent Serbia, it had accepted to agree to most of the demands. Some of them however, could not be done. So Serbia tried to negotiate with Austria, but Austria declined to making any deals, and declared war on Serbia. This soon sent the whole country of Eurpoe into war. -
Germany Declared War on Russia, and put the Schlieffen Plan into action
Because there was war between Serbia and Austria, Russia mobilized its army as a precaution for Germany, Austria's ally. Ignoring the warning that the move wasn't a war threat, Germany declared war on Russia. They then came up with the Schlieffen Plan, in which was made for a quick victory. It was to run a part of their army West to win against France, then east to fight Russia. -
The First Battle of the Marne
The First Battle of the Marne was the first battle inWWI. It was important, because it gave the armies the realization that this war wouldn’t be easily fought, a victory would be hard. War in the Western Front turned into a stalemate. -
Battle near Limanowa
Russians were harsh against the Austrians, and doing much better than them in the war. They had defeated them twice in September, pushing them far back into Austria. Austia finally defeated the Russians in a 17-day battle near Limanowa. With the help of the Germans, they pushed them out of Austria-Hungary. -
Effort to take the Dardanelles Straight
British, Austrailian, New Zeland, and French troops assaulted the Gallipoli Peninsula. This was to try to capture the Dardanelles, which then the Allies would then be able to create a supply line to and from Russia. The battle was a year long, but the Allies were not successful. The Turkish troops did well in defending their territory. -
Germany Launches a Grand Attack on France
Germany decided to attack France massively. The battle was held near Verdum in France, and each side lost more than 300,000 men. -
Battle of the Somme
A battle between the French and the Germans, in which the British were helping the French. It was a major battle, because just in the frist day, about 20,000 British soldiers were killed. -
Germany Declares Unrestricted Submarine Warfare
This meant that the Germans would sink their submarines, and attack other ships without any warning. It was said that they were doing this in the waters of Great Britain. -
President Wilson Delcares war on the Central Powers.
Becuase of the sinking of the American ship Lusitania, the sinking of three more ships, and the Zimmerman Telegram, Americans were upset with the Cental Powers and raging for war. On April 2, President Wilson wrote to Congress, asking them to declare war. This allowed the United States to become part of WWI. -
Vladimir Ilyich Lenin Becomes the Leader of Russia
He makes and signs a treaty with Germany, called the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, which ends the war between them. It also make Russia give up some of its land to Germany. -
Second Battle of the Marne
The Allies and Germans fought against eachother in the Second Battle of the Marne. 2 million American troops had arrived to fight along side the Allies, so they were ready to fight the Germans. Tanks led the Allies lines, crushing the other side. This battle was the end of the stalemate, and the Cental Powers began to fall. -
World War I Ends
This day, called Armistice Day, was when WWI oficially ended. -
Treaty of Versailles
Five years after the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, a treaty was signed, settling the still-going arguments between several countries leaders. Called the Treaty of Verlsailles, there were four men who created it. Woodrow Wilson of America, Georges Clemenceau of France, David Lloyd George of Great Britain, and Vittorio Orlando of Itaky. These four were in a group called the Big Four .