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Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, and his wife, decided to inspect Austro-Hungarian troops in Bosnia. A Serbian nationalist, Gavrilo Princip, assassinated the the Archduke and his wife, when their open car stopped at a corner on its way out of the town.
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The Austrian government blamed the Serbian government for the assassination of Franz Ferdinand and his wife and declared war on Serbia. Although Russia was allied with Serbia, Germany did not believe that she would mobilise and offered to support Austria if necessary, Russia did mobilise and, through their alliance with France, called on the French to mobilise.
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Germany declares war on Russia.
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Germany declared war on France. German troops poured into Belgium as directed under the Schleiffen Plan. The British foreign secretary, Sir Edward Grey, sent an ultimatum to Germany demanding their withdrawal from the neutral Belgium.
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Germany did not withdraw from Belgium and Britain declared war on Germany.
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Japan declares war on germany through its alliance with Great Britian, signed in 1902.
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Turkey entered the war on the side of the central powers and gave help to a German naval bombardment of Russia.
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Because of the help given by Turkey to the German attack of Russia, Russia declared war on Turkey.
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Britain and France, Russia's allies, declared war on Turkey, because of the help given to the German attack on Russia.
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Zeppelin airships dropped bombs on Yarmouth.
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Winston Churchill decided to launch an attack on Turkey. His plan was to begin by gaining control of the Gallipoli Peninsula. By seizing the Peninsula the Allies would be would be able to invade and occupy Constantinople in the hope that with the downfall of her capital, Turkey would soon follow. However the campain was a complete failare with over 2300 men die on the first day, the campain was mainly fought through trench warfare and lasted about 8 months.
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After the faliure at Gallipoli, the Anzacs evactuated to Eygpt. There, they were reorginized with most of the remaining men transferred to the Western Front.
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German U-boats attack an american passanger liner called the Lusitania, which had many American passengers aboard. This caused the citizens of the US to protest.
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Italy enters the war on the side of the allies.
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The Germans mounted an attack on the French at Verdun. Although the fighting continued for nine months, the battle was inconclusive. The Germans lost 430,000 men and the French 540,000.
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The United States of America declared war on Germany in response to the sinking, by German U boats, of US ships.
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The British and German naval forces met again but the battle was inconclusive.
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This five month long battle saw the deaths of 420,000 British soldiers (60,000 on the first day), 200,000 French soldiers and 500,000 German soldiers all for a total land gain of just 25 miles.
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The first German air raid on London took place.
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The Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service were merged to form the Royal Air Force.
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On the 28th of November 1918, at 11am, in the French town of Redonthes, the Armistice was signed to finally bring the war to an end.
