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Archduke Francis Ferdinand assassinated by Gavrilo Princip (A member of Serbian Nationalist group, the Black Hand) on St. Vitus Day in Sarajevo, Bosnia.
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Austria gives Serbia an ultimatum to end all Anit-Austrian activites and let Austrian officials handle the murder investigation of Francis Ferdinand. They gave them 48 hours to comply with their terms.
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Against the warning of Germany, Russia begins to mobilize their troops.
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Germany declares war on Russia
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Germany declares war on France as part of the Schlieffen Plan.
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The Lusitania, a luxury British passenger ship, is sunk by a German submarine. 1,201 civilians were killed. This act sparks international outrage and contributes to the United States joining the war against Germany.
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The largest naval battle of the war, the Battle of Jutland, is fought between Britain and Germany in the North Sea.
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The British intercept the Zimmerman Note, sent by German foreign secretary Arthur Zimmerman to the German ambassador to the United States saying that in the event of war with the United States, Mexico should be asked to enter the war as a German ally.
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The United States enters the war, declaring war on Germany.
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The Treaty of Versailles is signed by Germany and World War I comes to an end.
