Course of the War

  • The Assassination

    The Assassination
    Archduke of Austria-Hungary Franz Ferdinand is assassinated in Sarajevo by Princip from the Black Hand group.
    This later led to the Austria-Hungaria declaration of war on Serbia.
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    Course of the World War 1

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    Alliances and Declarations of War

    August 1 Germany declares war on Russia.
    Germany, as an ally of Austria-Hungary, declares war on Russia due to their military mobilization. August 3 Germany declares war on France.
    France was allied with Russia and Britain and Germany wants to invade them to seize land. August 4 Great Britain declares war on Germany after Germany did not guarantee to uphold Belgian sovereignty.
  • Invasion of Belgium

    Invasion of Belgium
    Neutral Belgium is invaded by Germany as part of the Schlieffen Plan.
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    Battle of Tannenberg

    During the Battle of Tannenberg, the Germany army achieves its greatest victory during the war on the Eastern Front
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    First Battle of the Marne

    The German advance into France is stopped during the First Battle of the Marne
  • Airplanes Become an Idea

    Airplanes Become an Idea
    The usefulness of airplanes in war was appreciated for the first time
  • Submarine Blockade

    Submarine Blockade
    The Germans create a submarine blockade around Great Britain, targeting any and all shipping.
  • Gallipoli Campaign

    The Gallipoli Campaign starts after Winston Churchill states that capturing Constantinople is essential for the supply line between Russia and Britain
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    First Battle of Ypres

    Chemical weapons are used for the first time during the Battle of Ypres
  • Sinking of the Lusitania

    Sinking of the Lusitania
    The German torpedoing of the American ship Lusitania causes widespread anger among the American population
  • Italian Declaration of War

    Italian Declaration of War
    Italy declares war on Austria-Hungary (Switches sides from triple alliance to triple entente)
  • Retreat of Gallipoli

    Soldiers are pulled out of Gallipoli after the huge losses do not give way to any advances
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    Battle of Verdun

    The longest battle of WW1 ends with an estimated one million casualties.
    The battle was fought between German and French armies in North-Eastern France
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    Battle of the Somme

    The Battle of the Somme ends with 1 million casualties but no breakthrough for the Allied powers. One of them most iconic battles of the first world war
  • Submarine Warfare

    Submarine Warfare
    Germany declared unrestricted submarine warfare.
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    Hindenburg Line

    The Siegfriedstellung (Hindenburg Line) was a German defensive position in World War I built during the winter of 1916–1917 on the Western Front from Arras to Laffaux, near Soissons on the Aisne.
  • Russian Revolution

    Russian Revolution
    Tsar Nicholas II of Russia abdicates his throne for his son. This is considered to be the end of the Russian Empire after 196 years.
  • United States' Declaration of War

    United States' Declaration of War
    On April 6, nited States was formally at war with Germany. Several key events leading up to this act included the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915, and the Zimmerman Telegram sent to Mexico by Germany in January 1917. The resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare by Germany on February 1, 1917 was the key event that made America join the war.
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    Battle of Passchendaele

    Battle of Passchendaele also known as the Third Battle of Ypres. A campaign fought by the British and their allies against the German Empire.
  • Armistice Between Russia and Germany

    Armistice Between Russia and Germany
    Armistice between Russia and Germany was signed. Between the representatives of the higher command of Russia on the one hand and of Bulgaria, Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Turkey on the other hand, for the purpose of achieving a lasting and honourable peace between both parties.
  • The Fall of Jerusalem

    Jerusalem was captured by Britain from the Turkish. Barely pausing for consolidation following the Battle of Mughar Ridge on 13 November 1917, British Commander-in-Chief Sir Edmund Allenby marched eastwards towards Jerusalem via the Judea Hills.