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World War I was sparked by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to Austria-Hungary's throne, and his wife, Sophie, by Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip while the couple were visiting Sarajevo in 1914. So Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia.
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The First Battle of the Marne begins. Trench warfare begins as soldiers on both sides dig in.
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The Second Battle of Ypres begins. It is during this battle that the Germans first use poison gas.
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The Battle of Verdun was the longest battle of World War I and was one of the bloodiest.
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During the Battle of the Somme, tanks are first introduced into battle.
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Germany sends the secret Zimmerman Telegram to Mexico in an effort to entice Mexico to join the war. The British intercept and decipher the coded message.
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The armistice agreed upon between the new Russian government and the Central Powers goes into effect.
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German flying ace, Baron Manfred von Richthofen (more commonly known as the Red Baron), is shot down.
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Germany signs the armistice at Compiegne, France. Fighting ends on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.
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World War I ended with the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.