The Major Events of World War 1

By scosti
  • Archduke Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated

    Archduke Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated

  • Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia, beginning World War l

  • Invasions and Allies

    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.
  • Austria-Hungary invades Russia

  • Allied forces halt German advance into France during First Battle of the Marne.

    Allied forces halt German advance into France during First Battle of the Marne.

  • Germany begins naval blockade of Great Britain.

  • Allied forces land on the Gallipoli Peninsula of the Ottoman Empire.

  • German submarine sinks the passenger liner Lusitania during crossing from New York to Liverpool, England, killing 128 Americans.

    German submarine sinks the passenger liner Lusitania during crossing from New York to Liverpool, England, killing 128 Americans.

  • Italy declares war on Austria-Hungary.

  • Germany begins the attack on Verdun.

    Germany begins the attack on Verdun.

  • Naval Battle of Jutland takes place between British and German fleets.

    Naval Battle of Jutland takes place between British and German fleets.

  • Allied offensive begins the Battle of the Somme.

  • Battle of Verdun ends with 550,000 French and 450,000 German casualties.

  • United States sever diplomatic relations with Germany

  • The American public learned about a German proposal to ally with Mexico if the United States entered the war

  • The United States declare war on Germany

  • American combat forces arrive in France.

    American combat forces arrive in France.

  • Russia signs Armistice with Germany (Truce)

  • Russia signs the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany

  • Germany begins the final offensive of the war

  • Allied forces begin the attack at Meusse-Argonne, the final offensive of the war.

    Allied forces begin the attack at Meusse-Argonne, the final offensive of the war.

  • Germany signs the Armistice at Compiègne, ending World War I.

  • British and American forces enter Germany

  • Peace conference begins in Paris

  • Allied and German representatives sign treaty of Versailles. The United States signs treaty of guaranty, pledging to defend France in case of an unprovoked attack by Germany.

  • United States signs separate peace treaties with Germany, Austria, and Hungary.