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Trench Warfare
Warfare where armed forces attack, counterattack, and defend from permanent systems of trenches dug into the ground. -
Archduke Francis Ferdinand is assassinated.
Archduke was assassinated by Gavrilo Princip in order to prevent a "threat" to Serbian independence and it caused the start of World War 1. -
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia.
Marked the beginning of the First World War. One of the world's most tragic conflicts in the history of the human race. -
Germany invades Luxembourg and Belgium
Germany sought to bypass the French defense by moving through Luxembourg and Belgium. It was all under the Schlieffen Plan. -
Austria-Hungary invades Russia.
A Serbian dissident shot and killed the heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary. in response they declared war on Serbia. Serbia had a treaty with Russia, therefore, causing Russia to declare war on Austria-Hungary. -
Use of chemical weapons
The most commonly used gas in World War 1 was 'mustard gas'. There were around 91,000 gas deaths in World War 1. -
Germany begins naval blockade of Great Britian.
Britian blockade cut the flow of war supplies, food and fuel to Germany. In return, Germany destroyed neutral ships that were supplying the Allies. -
Allied forces land on the Gallipoli Peninsula of the Ottoman Empire
They wanted control of the Dardanelles and re-establish sea communications with Russia through the Black Sea and end the Ottoman Empire's role in the war. -
German submarine sinks the passenger liner Lusitania.
The Germans felt themselves fully justified in attacking a vessel that was furthering war aims of their enemies. -
Italy declares war on Austria-Hungary.
It was the Emperor's obstinacy that caused Italy to enter the war as an enemy of the Danube Monarchy. -
Germany begins the attack on Verdun.
They wanted to secure victory for Germany on the Western Front. It began when Germany started pounding the forts and trenches with artillery fire. -
Allied offensive begins the Battle of the Somme.
On February 21, 1916, the Germans attacked at Verdun. In order to assist their ally, the British launched their attack on the Somme earlier than planned. -
Zimmermann Telegram
It was a secret message that Germany was trying to send to Mexico, but it got intercepted by the British. It was Germany offering Mexico United States territory in return for joining the German cause. The helped draw the US into the war. -
The United States declares war on Germany.
Germany's resumptions of submarine attacks on passenger and merchant ships were the primary motivation behind the US going into World War 1. -
American combat forces arrive in France with General John J. Pershing
The tired British and French troops needed the relief offered by the American forces. Gen. John J. Pershing arrived in France with his staff to establish American forces in Europe. -
American women recruited to serve as bilingual telephone operators for the AEF arrive in Europe.
Just over 200 female telephone operators ultimately served in France with the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Army Headquarters. -
President Woodrow Wilson presents his 14 points.
In a speech before Congress, Wilson laid out his "14 points." It was an ambitious blueprint for ending the World War 1 that emphasized "national self-determination." -
Allied forces begin the attack at Meusse-Argonne, the final offensive of the war.
General Pershing's troops launched an attack along the Meuse River and into northern France's rugged Argonne Forest. It would be the deadliest battle in American history. -
Germany signs the Armistice.
The Armistice was signed at 5:00 a.m. by Marshal of France Ferdinand Foch. It was the first step to ending World War 1 -
British and American Forces enter Germany
British and American Forces had a treaty, and both entered Germany. -
Peace conference begins at Paris (Versailles).
The Paris Peace Conference was an international meeting convened at Versailles just outside Paris. Its purpose was to establish the terms of the peace after World War 1. -
Draft of the League of Nations is completed
Under Wilson's resolute leadership, the conference was able to draw up a document which was called the Covenant of the League of Nations. -
United States Senate fails to ratify Treaty of Versailles.
The Senate rejected the Treaty of Versailles, which ended World War 1. President Woodrow Wilson failed to take senators' objections to the agreement into consideration. -
Treaty of Versailles in Europe takes effect.
It subjected Germany to strict punitive measures. It required the new German Government to surrender 10% of its territory in Europe and all of its overseas possessions.