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Period: to
WW1
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Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was assassinated in Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian nationalist. This event directly triggered a series of alliances and declaration of war, leading to the start of WW1. -
Austria-Hungary Declares War on Serbia
In the wake of Archduke Franz Ferdinand's assassination on June 28, 1914, by Garvilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb nationalist, Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia for supporting the Black Hand, the secret organization behide the plot. Austria issued an ultimatum to Serbia with a list of demands intended to suppress antiaustrian activities. Serbia agreed to most of the demands but hesitated on allowing Austrian officials to operate within its borders. -
Germany Declares War on Russia and France
Germany declarations of war on Russia and France marked a pivotal escalation in the conflict that turned a regional dispute into a global war. These action were driven by Germany's alliance with Austria Hungary, long standing rivalries with Russia and France, and its military strategy for a two front war. -
Germany Invades Belgium
On August 4, 1914 Germany invaded Belgium as parts of its Schlieffen Plan, a strategic military blueprint designed to quickly defeat France before turning east to confront Russia. This invasion was a blatant violation of Belgian neutrality, which had been guaranteed by the Treaty of London. -
The First Battle of the Marne
The Firsst Battle of the arne was a critical confrontation in the early months of the World War 1. It took place along the Marne River near Paris and marked a significant shift in the war, halting the German advance and preventing a quick German victory. This battle effectively ended the German Schlieffen Plan, forcing the conflict into a prolonged war of attrition. -
Trench Warfare Begins
By the end of 1914, the failure of both the Allies and the Central Powers to secure a decisive victory in the early months of World War 1 resulted in the development of extensive trench system along the Western Front, stretching from the North Sea to the Swiss border. These defensive networks became a defining feature of the war, locking both sides into a deadly statemate that lasted for nearly four years and profoudly shaped the nature of the conflict. -
Gallipoli Campaign
The Gallipoli Campaign was a major Allied operation during World War 1 aimed at securing control of the Dardaneless Strait, a vital waterway connecting the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara, and ultimately knocking the Ottoman Empire out of the war. The plan was to launch a naval and land attack on the Ottoman defenses in the Gallipoli Peninsula, with the hope of opening a new front and reliebing pressure on Russiia. -
Sinking of the Lusitania
A German U-boat torpedoed the British passenger liner Lusitania off the coast of Ireland, reuslting in the deaths of over 1,100 people, including 128 Americans. The attack occurred during World War 1. This event turned U.S. public opinion against Germany. -
Battle of Verdun
The Battle of Verdun was one of the longest and deadliest engagements of World War 1, lasting nearly ten months. Fought between France and Germany, it became a symbol of the war's brutality and the extreme sacrifies made by soldiers. The battle was centered around the French fortress town of Verdun, located on the Eastern front of France, which the Germans aimed to capture in a war of attrition, believing It would break French morale. -
Battle of the Somme
The Battlle of the Somme was one of the largest and most devastating battle of World War 1, marked by its heavy casualties and limited territorial gains. Fought along the Western Front between the Alled forces and the German Empire, the battle aimed to relieve pressure on the French at vverdun and break the German lines. it remains one of the bloodiest battles in history, with over 1 million soldiers killed or wounded. -
Zimmermann Telegram
The Zimmermann Telegram was a secret diplomatic communication sent by Germany to Mexico during World War 1, proposing a military alliance between the two nation. The telegram promised that, if Mexico joined the war on the side of the Central Powers and attacked the United States, Germany would support Mexico in regaining the territories it had lost to the U.S. in the 19th century. -
Russian Revolution
the Russian Revolutions was a pivotal event during World War 1 that lead to the fall of the Russian Empire, the abdication of Czar Nicholas II, and Russia eventual withdrawal from the war. The revolution significantly altered the balance of power in the conflict, allowing Germany to concentrate its military efforts on the Western Front. -
United States Enters the War
The United State officially declared war on Germany, marking a significant turning point in World War 1. Afte years of maintaining policy of neutrality, a combination of German provocations, including unrestricted submarine warfare and the revelation of the Zimmermann Telegram, pushed the U.S. to join the conflict. -
Armistice Day
Armistice Day marks the end of fighting in World War 1, as Germany signed an armistice agreement with the Allied powers on november 11, 1918. the agreement, signed in a railway carriage in the compiegne Forest in France, brought a ceasefire to the Western Front, effectively ending the conflict that had raged for over four years. -
Signing of the Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles, signed June 28, 1919, officially ended World War 1 between Germany and the Allied Powers. The Treaty was signed at the Palace of Versailles in France, exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which had triggered the war. The Treaty imposed severe penalties and reparation on Germany, redrew the political map of Europe, and established the League of Nation to promote peace.