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Germany declares war on Russia
French military mobilisation ordered.
Germany declares war on Russia.
Italy announces neutrality.
Belgium announces neutrality. -
Germany declares war on Belgium
Germany declares war on Belgium.
United States declares neutrality.
Great Britain gives Germany ultimatum to stand down from hostilities. -
The First Battle of Marne
The First Battle of Marne checks German advance at the cost of 13,000 British, 250,000 French and 250,000 German casualties. -
First Battle of Ypres.
German forces begin the first of what would be three battles to control the city -
Trenches established
Trenches are established along the entire Western Front. -
Air bomb attack
In the first airborne attack on British soil, Zeppelins bomb Great Yarmouth and King's Lynn, killing five civilians. -
Italy in war
Italy declares war on Austria-Hungary. -
Germany with new weapons
German troops use flame throwers for the first time against the British lines at Hooge, Ypres. -
Britian and Canada
British and Canadian regiments take Hill 70 at Loos and break the German line, but lack of reserves to exploit the breach results in limited success. The Canadians receive over 9,000 casualties. -
Sir Douglas Haig
Sir Douglas Haig replaces Sir John French as Commander in Chief of the British Expeditionary Force. -
The Battle of the Somme
The Battle of the Somme sees 750,000 Allied soldiers unleashed along a 25 mile front. By the end of the day nearly 60,000 are dead, wounded or missing for very little gain. -
Second battle
The Battle of Pozières Ridge marks the second Somme. The action to take the village costs 17,000 Allied casualties, the majority of whom are Australian. -
Italy vs Germany
Italy declares war on Germany -
Tanks first used in the third battle of Somme
The Battle of Flers-Courcelette was the start of the third stage of the Somme Offensive. Tanks are used for the first time. -
End of Verdun
The Battle of Verdun ends. It is the longest and costliest battle on the Western Front. -
The First Battle of Gaza
The First Battle of Gaza, Palestine, as the British attempt to cut off the Turkish forces in Mesopotamia from their homeland. They fail to take the town and are forced to withdraw. -
Battle of Passchendaele ends.
Battle of Passchendaele ends. After months of fighting, the Allies
have advanced only 5 miles. Half a million men are casualties, of which around 140,000 have been killed. -
Soviet Russia concludes separate peace
Soviet Russia concludes separate peace at Brest-Litovsk with Germany and her allies. -
Largest and last raid on London
The German Air Force launches its largest and last raid on London. Out of the 33 aircraft, 6 are lost, while 49 civilians are killed and 177 wounded. -
Armistice Day
At 10.57am Canadian Private George Lawrence Price is killed while on patrol in Canal du Centre. He is the last soldier to die in action on the Western front.