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The archduke, Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austria-Hungary empire is assasinated in Sarajevo by Serbians.
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Franz Joseph, emperor of Austria-Hungary, declares war on Serbia.
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Being an ally of Serbia, Russia declares the full mobilization of their troops.
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In return to Russian mobilization, German mobilizes their troops and declare war on Russia. On August 3, Germany also declares war on France.
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Germany declares war on Belgium and invades in a flanking move designed to defeat France quickly. As a result, Britain delcares war on Germany. On August 6, Austria Hungary declares war on Russia.
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27,000 French soldiers die in one day in an offensive thrust to the east of Paris, towards German border.
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Germany defeats Russia in the greatest battle of the eastern front. Germany used railway systems to transport supplies and men into Prussia allowing them to take over the under supplied and unprepared Russia. From August 26-30.
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The first Battle of Marne halts German invasion into France.
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War becomes a "Total War" with German Zeppelin air raid on England.
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Germany declared a submarine blockade of Great Britain. Any ship approaching England is considered a legitimate target.
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German U-boat sinks the Lusitania. 1,198 civilians, including 128 Americans die. Lusitiania was discovered to being carrying war supplies for the allies.
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In result of United States anger, Germany ceases to sink ships without warning.
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Tsar Nicholas of Russia takes control of their armies.
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British armies use gas in war, but suffer 60,000 casualties due to changing winds.
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The longest battle of WWI, Battle of Verdun, begins. This batte ends with an estimated one million casualties.
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Woodrow Wilson warns Germany to cease unrestricted submarine warfare policies.
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Battle of Somme begins results in one million casualties and no major breakthrough for allies.
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The British introduce the tank in the battle of Somme. Tank was effective, but too few of them to make difference.
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The Battle of Somme ends, war results in around one million casualties. No breakthrough for the allies.
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David Lloyd George becomes prime minister of Britain.
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The Battle of Verdun, longest battle in WWI ends. War casualties comes to an estimate of one million.
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Reich Foreign Secretary Zimmermann's telegram to Mexico urging her entry into war against the United States is discovered and translated by the British.
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Germany declares unrestricted submarine warfare.
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Tsar Nicholas II of Russia abdicates. Provisional government is declared.
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The United States passes the Selective Service Act empowering the Federal Government to draft men for the armed forces.
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The first wave of American Expeditionary Forces land in France.
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Bolshevik socialists, led by Lenin, overthrow Kerensky's government.
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President Woodrow Wilson declares his 14 points as the path to permanent world peace.
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The Turks want a truce with the allies and sign an armistice.
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Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany abdicates.
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A Gernan republic is formed.
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At eleven o'clock on the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918, the war ends as Germany and Allies sign an Armistice.
