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Archduke Francis Ferdinand is assassinated.
This assassination precipitated the July Crisis which led to Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia and the start of World War I. Citation:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Archduke_Franz_Ferdinand#:~:text=The%20political%20objective%20of%20the,start%20of%20World%20War%20I. -
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia, beginning World War I.
When Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in June by a Serbian-backed terrorist, Austria-Hungary felt it had no choice but to assert its dominance. Austria-Hungary sets out to punish Serbia it wants to quash support for Serbian nationalism. It's encouraged by its ally Germany.
Citation: https://kafkadesk.org/2021/07/28/on-this-day-in-1914-world-war-i-broke-out-when-austria-hungary-declared-war-on-serbia/ -
Germany invades Luxembourg and Belgium
Germany invades Luxembourg and Belgium. France invades Alsace. British forces arrive in France. Nations allied against Germany were eventually to include Great Britain, Russia, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Rhodesia, Romania, Greece, France, Belgium, United States, Canada, Serbia, India, Portugal, Montenegro, and Poland.
https://www.annefrank.org/en/timeline/99/germany-invades-the-netherlands-belgium-and-france/ -
Austria-Hungary invades Russia
The Austro-Hungarian Empire played a relatively passive diplomatic role in the war, as it was increasingly dominated and controlled by Germany. The only goal was to punish Serbia and try to stop the ethnic breakup of the Empire, and it completely failed.
https://www.britannica.com/event/Eastern-Front-World-War-I-history/1915-The-Austro-Hungarian-German-advance-into-Russia -
Germany begins naval blockade of Great Britain.
Britain's blockade across the North Sea and the English Channel cut the flow of war supplies, food, and fuel to Germany during World War I. Germany retaliated by using its submarines to destroy neutral ships that were supplying the Allies.
https://www.theworldwar.org/learn/about-wwi/unrestricted-u-boat-warfare#:~:text=Britain's%20blockade%20across%20the%20North,that%20were%20supplying%20the%20Allies. -
Italy declares war on Austria-Hungary
Italy joined the war in order to seek territories deemed part of the nation still occupied by foreign powers, as well as to dissolve the intense internal disharmony through unity of purpose among the people. -
The United States declares war on Germany.
On April 2, President Wilson asked Congress to declare war against Germany specifically citing Germany's renewed submarine policy as “a war against mankind. It is a war against all nations.” He also spoke about German spying inside the U.S. and the treachery of the Zimmermann Telegram.
https://www.theworldwar.org/learn/about-wwi/us-enters-war#:~:text=On%20April%202%2C%20President%20Wilson,treachery%20of%20the%20Zimmermann%20Telegram. -
Russia signs armistice with Germany.
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk: A photo of the signing of armistice between Russia and Germany on March 3, 1918. The treaty marked Russia's final withdrawal from World War I and resulted in Russia losing major territorial holdings. -
Wilson's 14 points
Wilson's 14 Points were designed to undermine the Central Powers' will to continue, and to inspire the Allies to victory. The 14 Points were broadcast throughout the world and were showered from rockets and shells behind the enemy's lines. -
Germany begins its final offensive of the war.
On March 21, 1918, near the Somme River in France, the German army launches its first major offensive on the Western Front in two years. At the beginning of 1918, Germany's position on the battlefields of Europe looked extremely strong. German armies occupied virtually all of Belgium and much of northern France. -
United States forces are victorious in the Battle of Cantigny
At Cantigny, the First Division proved U.S. military capabilities. In March of 1918, the German army had secured a valuable position around the French village of Cantigny. In the first major American battle of WWI, the First Division was ordered to take it back. -
Germany signs the Armistice at Compiègne, ending World War I.
On Nov. 11, 1918, after more than four years of horrific fighting and the loss of millions of lives, the guns on the Western Front fell silent. Although fighting continued elsewhere, the armistice between Germany and the Allies was the first step to ending World War I. -
Peace conference begins at Paris.
The Paris Peace Conference convened in January 1919 at Versailles just outside Paris. The conference was called to establish the terms of the peace after World War I. -
Allied and German representatives sign treaty of Versailles.
The four representatives of the principle allied powers were at the table: Clémenceau for France, Wilson for the USA, Lloyd George for Great Britain, and Orlando for Italy. The German delegation was composed of Müller, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and a jurist, one Doctor Bell. -
Treaty of Versailles takes effect.
On Jan. 10, 1920, the controversial Treaty of Versailles, which established the terms for peace at the end of World War I, went into effect.