Major events in world war I By lara defran Feb 21, 1914 Germany begins the attack on Verdun. Jul 28, 1914 Archduke Francis Ferdinand is assassinated Jul 29, 1914 Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia starting WWI Aug 5, 1914 Germany invades Luxembourg and Belgium. France invades Alsace. Aug 10, 1914 Allied powers start joining the war Aug 10, 1914 Austria- Hungary invades russia Apr 25, 1915 Allied forces land on the Gallipoli Peninsula of the Ottoman Empire. May 7, 1915 German submarine sinks the passenger liner Lusitania when crossing from New York to Liverpool killing 128 Americans. May 23, 1915 Italy declares war on Austria-Hungary May 31, 1916 Naval Battle of Jutland between British and German fleets Jul 1, 1916 Allied offensive begins the Battle of the Somme Dec 18, 1916 Battle of Verdun ends killing 550,000 French and 450,000 German people May 5, 1917 United states declare war on Germany