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Archduke Franz Ferdinand Assassinated
Archduke Franz Ferdinanad was assassinated in Sarajevo. His death marked the beginning of the conflict that started World War I. -
War Declared
Austria sent an ultimatum to the Serbians. When they failed to meet all the demands, Austria declared war against the Serbians. This led to the biggest war the world had ever seen due to allied countries. -
Russia Mobilizes
Russia mobilized its army to intervene against Austria-Hungary for its ally, Serbia. This move startsed a chain reaction that led to the mobilization of the rest of the European Great Powers, and to the outbreak of hostilities. -
Germany Invades Belgium
To execute the Schliefflen Plan, Germany invaded Belgium first in order to invade France. This got Britain involved in the war. They promised to defed Belgium under the Treaty of London of 1839. -
Battle of Tannenberg
Germans defeated the Russian army during the first month of World War I. The battle resulted in the almost complete destruction of the Russian Second Army. -
First Battle of the Marne
The Allies stopped the German invasion of Paris. It set the stage for four years of trench warfare stalemate on the Western Front. -
Sinking of the Lusitania
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Battle of Verdun
The Battle of Verdun was fought from February 21 to December 18, 1916. It was one of the largest battles of World War I on the Western Front between Germany and France. -
Battle of Jutland
The Battle of Jutland was an indecisive naval battle between German and British fleets. It was the largest naval battle of World War I. -
First Tanks
The British used the first tanks ever in battle. They were not as useful as the designers thought they would be. However, they were still good at breaking through barbed wire and clearing a path for the infantry. -
Zimmerman Telegram
British intelligence gave Wilson the Zimmermann Telegram, a message from German foreign secretary Arthur Zimmermann proposing that Mexico side with Germany in case of war between Germany and the United States. In return, Germany promised to return the "lost provinces" of Texas and a lot of the rest of the American Southwest to Mexico. Mexico declined the offer, but the outrage at this interference in the Western Hemisphere pushed American public opinion to support entering the war. -
U.S. Enters World War I
Congress authorized a declaration of war against Germany, and the United States entered World War I on the side of the Allies. -
Selective Service Act
Congress passed the Selective Service Act, which authorized the draft. This allowed the United States to build a bigger army and become a more influential part of World War I. -
USSR Withdraws from the War
The Russian revolutionaries setup a Communist goverment, attempting to make peace with the Central Powers. -
German and Russian Peace
Germany signed a peace treaty with Russia. The terms of the treaty gave Germany a lot of land that had been the Ukraine and Poland, and peace on the Eastern Front allowed Germany to shift soldiers to the Western Front, causing serious problems for the French, British, and Americans. -
RAF Formed
The British Royal Air Force was formed. It was the largest air force in the world. -
Battle of Cantigny
The Battle of Cantigny was the first American offensive and battle of the war. -
Austria-Hungary Surrenders
The Armistice of Villa Giusti ended warfare between Italy and Austria-Hungary. -
Willhelm Abdicates
Kaiser Willhelm abdicated, ending the German hope for a victory. -
Armistice Day
An armistice is signed between the Allies and Germany that ends fighting on the Western front.
