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Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
This event is important because the heir to the Austria-Hungarian throne was killed, so that gave Austria an excuse to punish Serbia since the killed was a Serbian. Afterwards, it eventually led to a declaration of war and a chain reaction between the two alliances. -
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The Great War
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Austria Declares War on Serbia; WWI begins.
This event is important because it marked the start of World War I and caused a chain reaction among the two alliances. After Austria declared war on Serbia, Russia (Serbia’s ally) and Germany (Austria’s ally) got involved in the war, too. And that brought even more countries into the conflict. -
The Central Powers & Allied Powers Alliances Are Formed
This strategy development on the Western Front is important because it marked the battle lines of the war when the European nations decided to take sides. This alliance system was the main strategy during the war that brought deadly battles and complications between both alliances. It split Europe into half, and even though its intention was to keep peace, many countries were dragged into the war instead. -
Battle of the Marne
This battle is important because it was the first major clash on the Western Front, and it’s perhaps the single most important event in the entire war. This battle marked the end of the German sweep into France. It saved Paris from being capture, and pushed the Germans away from France. -
Battle of Limanowa
This battle of the Eastern Front is important because it marks Austria’s revenge on Russia. After losing twice in September 1914, the Austrian army managed to defeat the Russians in a 17-day battle with German assistance and drove them east-ward. And two weeks later, the Austrian army finally pushed the Russians out of Austria-Hungary. -
Gallipoli Campaign
This event is important because it was a battle where the Allied Powers tried to take the Dardanelles strait from the Ottoman Empire. The Allies hoped to take Constantinople if they secured Dardanelles, defeat the Turks, and establish a supply line to Russia. But unfortunately, Gallipoli turned into a stalemate & the Allies eventually gave up the campaign. -
Battle of Verdun
This event is important because this battle represents Germany’s massive attack against the French near Verdun. It caused each side to lose more than 300,000 men, but the Germans were able to advance about 4 miles. -
Battle of the Somme
This event is important because this battle was Britain’s effort to relieve the pressure on the French after the Battle of Verdun and attack the Germans. The Battle of the Somme caused each side to suffer over half a million causalities! By the time the battle was over, the British were able to gain about 5 miles. -
Unrestricted Submarine Warfare
This strategy development is important because it represents Germany’s effort to establish its own naval blockade around Britain. On this day, the Germans announced that their submarines would sink without warning any ship in the waters around Great Britain. Unrestricted submarine warfare caused many deaths and outraged the public. -
U.S. Enters The War on the Side of the Allies
It’s important because it marks the start of the U.S. involvement in World War I. On this day, the Zimmerman note pushed President Wilson to ask Congress to declare war. The British intercepted a telegram from Germany’s foreign secretary, Arthur Zimmerman, to the German ambassador of Mexico. The note said that Germany would help Mexico reconquer the land it lost to the U.S. The British decoded the message and gave it to the U.S. government. Once the Zimmerman note became public to the Americans, -
Vladimir Ilyich Lenin Seizes Power in Russia.
This development on the Eastern Front is important because this communist leader helped end Russia’s involvement with the war by offering Germany a truce. By March 1918, Germany and Russia signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, which ended the war between them. -
Second Battle of the Marne
This battle on the Eastern Front is important because it led the Allied forces to defeat Germany and it allowed the Central Powers to crumble. On top of that, 350 tanks were smashed through the German lines and the arrival of 2 million more American troops set the Germans off. -
Allies Defeat Central Powers; War Ends
This event is important because it marked the end of World War I. On November 11, the time had come to finally reach a peace settlement. Leaders of the victorious nations gathered outside Paris to work out the terms of peace on this day. -
Treaty of Versailles is Signed
This event is important because this treaty was very significant after World War I. The differences between French, British, and U.S. aims led to many arguments among the nations’ leaders, but eventually, the Treaty of Versailles finally became a compromise. Along with that, the Treaty of Versailles created a League of Nations and punished Germany with many conditions.