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Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand on June 28,
1914, was the starting point of a long destructive war that the world had never seen before. -
Period: to
The Great War
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Austria-Hungary declaration of war
On July 28th 1914 Austria-Hungary mad a declaration of war on Serbia. This set off a chain reaction between the alliance systems that soon ignited an all out war. -
Schlieffen plan
On August of 1914 the Germans put into effect their Schlieffen plan. It was a plan that they beleived would win them the war. They would first attack France then race back to Russia and defeat them. -
First Battle of the Marne River
On September 5th of 1915 the first Battle of the Marne River took place. The British drove the Germans back 60 miles thanks to reinforceents brought in from taxi's from Paris. -
Battle of Limanowa
On December of 1914 the Battle of Limanowa took place between Austria-Hungary and Russia. -
Gallipoli campaign
On February of 1915 the Gallipoli campaign took place between the Turks and the British and french. A joint British and French operation was mounted to capture the Ottoman capital of Constantinople, to make a supply line to Russia. After the campaign over 120000 troops had died. -
Battle of Verdun
On February of 1916 the battle of Verdun took place between the French and the Germans. The Germans mounted a massive attack on the French and both sides lost over 30000 men. -
Battle of Somme River
British forces attacked the Germans in hopes of relieving the French, after the battle both sides lost over half a million casualties. -
Unrestricted submarine warfare
On January of 1917 the Germans announced they would continue unrestrickted submarine warfare. This was very bad for anyone on a boat near Europe, the Germans destroyed any ships that were capable of carrying war material. -
United States enters war
On April 2nd of 1917 the United States enters the war due to hearing of German plans to have Mexico invade them, as well as the Germans sinking a ship with American passengers. -
Russian Communist leader Vladimir Ilyich Lenin seized power
On November of 1917 Russian Communist leader Vladimir Ilyich Lenin seized power. Lenin insisted on ending
his country’s involvement in the war. In March 1918, Germany and Russia signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, which ended
the war between them. -
Second Battle of the Marne
On July of 1918 the second Battle of the Marne took place. The Germans were marching to Paris but they were weakened by the journey. The allies then sent 140000 fresh inexperienced American troops to stop them. They sent another 2 million troops that quickly defeated the Germans and pushed through Austria-Hungary. -
Armistice
On November 11th of 1918 a representative of the new German government met with Marshal Foch. In a railway car in a forest near Paris, the two signed an armistice to stop the bloodbath. -
Treaty of Versailles
On June 28th of 1918 the Treaty of Versailles was signed and brought the long and destructive war to an end.