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Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
The Archduke of Austria-Hungary is assassinated in Sarajevo by a Bosnian nationalist, Gavrilo Princip. -
Germany Declares War on Russia
Germany pre-emptively declared war on Russia because they believed that an invasion was imminent. Within a weak, Germany and Austria-Hungary will be at war with France, Russia, and Great Britain. -
Battle of the Marne Begins
Germany's plan to end the war quickly will be crushed with their defeat in this battle. The result will be a stalemate and trench warfare along the Western Front. -
Red Sunday
Notable Armenian citizens are arrested and eventually murdered. The event marks the beginning of the Armenian Genocide, a tragedy that saw 600,000-1,500,000 Armenians killed in the Ottoman Empire. The event is the first genocide of the 20th century. -
Sinking of the Lusitania
The cargo ship the Lusitania, carrying some American civilians, is sunk in the Atlantic Ocean by German U-Boats. The event infuriates Americans and entrenches most Americans with the Allies. -
Zimmerman Telegram Intercepted
The British intercept a telegram intended for Mexico proposing an alliance with the country if the Americans fought the Germans. -
March Revolution
Angered by the lack of progress in Russia, female workers take to the streets of Petrograd to protest among other things, Russia's poor performance in the war. Czar Nicholas abdicates the thrown in response to the riots. -
USA Declares War on Germany
In response to unrestricted submarine warfare, the sinking of the Lusitania, and the Zimmerman Telegram, the United States declares war on the German government. -
November Revolution
Bolsheviks overthrow the Provisional Government of Kerensky and appoint Vladimir Lenin as the leader of the new Soviet Government. -
Second Battle of the Marne Begins
The Second Battle of the Marne will be the last German threat to the Allies. The Germans will go on the defensive from this point of the war, and their army will struggle with motivation. -
Armistace Signed
An armistace is signed by the belligerents of World War I, officially ending the fighting between the two sides. -
Treaty of Versailles Signed
The Treaty of Versailles is signed. The flawed treaty requires Germany to assume all guilt for the war, pay the Allies immense reparations, forfeit their overseas colonies, and cede land to the Allies. The League of Nations is created through this document.