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Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, is assassinated by Gavrilo Princip, a 19 year old Serbian nationalist and a member of a secret society called the Black Hand, in hopes of ridding Serbians of Austro-Hungarian influence. This was the incident that triggered World War I. -
Austria-Hungary's Declaration of War
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia, after sending them an ultimatum that was near imposssible to accept. -
Schlieffen Plan
The Schlieffen Plan was Germany's military strategy at the beginning of the war. Rather than fighting their enemies on opposite fronts separately, they started fighting the war on the Eastern and Western Front simultaneously, hoping to end the war quickly. -
First Battle of the Marne
The Germans went through Belgium to invade France. In the First Battle of the Marne, French and British soldiers fought off the German intruders, successfully pushing them further back. This battle ended any hope for a quick and decisive war, and it marked the beginning of a long and costly war of attrition. -
Sinking of the Lusitania
The Lusitania was a British passenger liner that was carrying American citizens from New York. On May 7, 1915, it was sunk by a German U-boat without warning. This is one of the events that caused the United States to join the Allied Forces in WWI. -
Unites States Enters War
After unlimited U-boat warfare by Germany which led to the sinking of many American ships and other ships carrying American passengers, President Woodrow Wilson asks Congress for a declaration of war against Germany. -
Russian Revolution
Several unsuccessful offensives on Germany on the Eastern Front led to unrest among Russia's poor working class, which led to hostility toward the government. This was the basis for the Russian Revolution, led by Lenin and the Bolsheviks, after which Lenin ended Russia's participation in World War I. -
Second Battle of the Marne
The Second Battle of the Marne marked the final German offensive of World War I, in which they attacked French, American, and British troops. However, this attack resulted in defeat and a counteroffensive by the Allies. This battle ascertained the advantage and eventual victory of the Allied Forces, because they were able to take back most of France and Belgium by autumn of 1918. -
Armistice
As their resources dwindled and their allies surrendered, Germany was left with no other option but to sign an armistice on this date, officially ending World War I. -
Treaty of Versailles
Signed exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the Treaty of Versailles marked the true end of WWI. In this treaty, the Allies demanded peace with victory by weakening Germany's military, deanding reparations for the damage they caused, and by reclaiming several German territories. Germany signed reluctantly, and this was the case for resentment towards the Allies that culminated in World War II.
