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Europe Mobilises for War
On the morning of June 28, 1914, a 19-year-old Bosnian nationalist named Gavrilo Princip shot and killed Sophie and Franz Ferdinand, the future heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary (the second-largest empire in Europe) in the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo.
Gavrilo Princip, a simple postman’s son, probably didn’t realize at the time that by firing those three fateful shots, he was starting a chain reaction that would lead directly to the start of World War I. -
Austria declares war on Serbia
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia, effectively beginning the First World War.
Threatened by Serbian ambition in the tumultuous Balkans region of Europe, Austria-Hungary determined that the proper response to the assassinations was to prepare for a possible military invasion of Serbia. After securing the unconditional support of its powerful ally, Germany, Austria-Hungary presented Serbia with a rigid ultimatum on July 23, 1914, demanding, among other things, that all anti-Austrian propagand -
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WW1
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Germany declared war on Russia
Germany was honouring their alliance with Austria-Hungary. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia in response to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by Serbian nationalists. Russia was allies with Serbia, and everyone, including Germany, knew Russia would soon declare war on Austria-Hungary. Russia and Germany had both been mobilizing and massing troops near the border preparing for war. Germany just declared war first. -
Germany invaded Belgium and started the fighting.
To gain access to Frances, Germany invaded Belgium as the border between France and Germany was heavily defended. The Imperial government in Germany demanded the right to march through Belgium to attack France, as they felt the need to defend themselves from France. The King of Belgium and government refused, so Germany declared war on Belgium. -
Britain declared war on Germany.
Britain declared war on Germany due to the execution of The Schlieffen Plan. The Schlieffen Plan was the operational plan for a designated attack on France once Russia had started to mobilise their forces near the German border. This decision has been seen as the start of World War I. They gave Germany an ultimatum to get out of Belgium by midnight 3rd August, but in fear of being surrounded by Russia & France, Germany had put into being The Schlieffen Plan. -
Austria-Hungary invaded Russia, opening the fighting on the Eastern Front.
Russia wanted land in Europe, and access to the sea. It wanted to increase influence in the Eastern Europe and the Balkans at the expense of Austria-Hungary. To maintain their position in Eastern Europe, Austria-Hungary sided with Germany to protect themselves from Russia. Russia then sided with France and Britain to protect themselves against Germany and Austria-Hungary. -
Britain and France declare war on Germany/Austria-Hungary.
It all occurred as a result of a term called "collective defense". Although Britain had no personal involvement in the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the event caused Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia. Serbia was receiving aid from Russia and that brought Austria-Hungary into war against each other. Finally, an alliance/treaty between Britain, France and Russia called the "Triple Entente" brought France and Britain into the war within weeks of the assassination. -
Germany declares "war zone"
Germany declares a "war zone" around Great Britain, essentially affecting a submarine blockade where even neutral merchant vessels were to be potential targets. -
Battle of Ypres
The Second Battle of Ypres begins (Western Belgium). It is during this battle that the Germans first use poison gas on the Western Front. -
Gallipoli WW1
At dawn on 25th April, 1915, the ANZACs landed north of Gaba Tepe (later named Anzac Cove) while the British forces landed at Cape Helles on the Gallipoli Peninsula. This was to capture the Turkish forts commanding the narrow straits. The campaign is considered a military failure. The entire operation evacuated 142000 men with negligible casualties, 25,111 were Australian. Some killed in action and others died of wounds or succumbed to disease. Gallipoli became an Australian household name -
ANZACS
The 1st Australian Division and New Zealand Australian Division trained in the Egyptian desert in late 1914 due to the lack of facilities in England. These divisions then included the 1st Light Horse Brigade and re-formed into the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. These forces assisted in protecting the Suez Canal following Turkey’s entry into war in October 1914. -
Why did the ANZACs land in Gallipoli?
The German army had delivered a crushing blow to Russia at Tannenberg at the start of the war and had been driving eastwards. The Russians were threatened by a Turkish advance through the Caucasus and appealed to their allies for assistance. Gaining control of the Dardanelles would re-establish communications with Russia and release wheat and shipping locked in the Black Sea by Turkey. Besides this, British beleived that best defence of Egypt and the Suez Canal was an attack on Turkey. -
Battle of Verdun
The Battle of Verdun begins. The Battle of Verdun was fought between Germany and France and was the longest and bloodiest battle of World War 1. (Ended December 1916) -
Battle of the Somme
The battle of the Somme begins (also the bloodiest day in British military history with 19,000 dead) During the Battle of the Somme; tanks are first introduced into battle. -
Russian troop’s mutiny.
The Tsar of Russia lost control of the streets, then the soldiers and then the members of the Duma. There were riots about food shortages and the war so the Army abandoned the Tsar. The soldiers mutinied & refused to put down the riots. The government lost control of the country. -
United States declared war on Germany.
Two days after the U.S. Senate votes 82 to 6 to declare war on Germany. The House of Representatives endorses the decision by a vote of 373 to 50 and the United States formally enters the First World War. -
American troops began landing in France.
Although trying to keep their landing a secret, the French people were excited about American’s landing on French soil and they were welcomed by an enthusiastic crowd. -
Russia signed an armistice with Germany, ending the fighting on the Eastern Front.
For the purpose of achieving a lasting and honourable peace between Russia and Germany, Russia signed an armistice which began December 17th at 2pm and continue until January 14th. The armistice embraces the land and aerial forces on the front from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea and also the Russo-Turkish front in Asia Minor. During the armistice, the parties were obliged not to increase the number of troops on the front or to regroup their forces. -
Russian involvement in World War 1 ends.
Russia signs a treaty with Germany formally ending its participation in the war. Germany imposed harsh terms for Russia to yield a quarter of their pre-war territory and over half of Russia’s industries. -
Germany launched first of its final three offensives on the Western Front.
Germany bombarded the British along a 60 mile front in Somme. The British were overrun and wrecked. After effective storm troop tactics, the Germans recapture all of the ground they lost in 1916. However, during the two week battle, the British managed to hold itself together and prevents the Germans from taking Arras and Arras. -
The Allies began their final offensive on the Western Front.
The US and French Armies begin to join forces to clear out the strongly defended corridor between the Meuse River and the Argonne Forest. The Germans do not fall back and the battle soon resembles action from earlier years of war. American casualties suffered over 6 weeks of fighting. -
Germany signed an armistice ending World War 1.
At 5:10 am in a railway car at Compiegne, France, the Armistice was signed. It was effective at 11am (the 11th hour) of the 11th day of the 11th month. Fighting actually continued until that time with 2000 casualties experienced on that day. Artillery barrages also erupt as 11am drew closer as the soldiers yearn to claim that they fired the very last shot in the war.
