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Assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand and his wife in Sarajevo, Serbia.
Archduke was the nephew and heir of the aging Austrian emperor, Francis Joseph. At the time of his visit, Bosnia was under the rule of Austria-Hungary. It was home to many Serbs and Slavs. A Serbian terrorist group, the Black Hand, took action by the assassination. They did this because it angered many nationalists, in which they were. The Archduke was warned by many but he ignored them and still went to Serbia. This event has been known as the 'starting point' of WW1. -
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia.
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia because of the assassination carried out by the Black Hand on Archduke Franz Ferdinand. -
The World Joins In.
Germany declares war on Russia (Serbia) because they are allies with Austria-Hungary. Germany and Turkey sign an alliance. France mobilizes to support Russia (Serbia). -
First Invasion
Germany invades Luxembourg. Luxembourg is a very small country that is near France and Germany. They did this to get to France, in which they declared war on the same day. Germany also declared war on Belgium for the same reason. Germany does this because France is allied with Russia, and if Germany could eliminate France from the war early on then all eyes would be focused on Russia. Britain then declares war on Germany. Britain does this because they are allies with Russia and France. -
Russians are defeated at the Battle of Tannenburg
On the eastern front, Germans shatter the Russian Second Army and take over 92,000 prisoners at the Battle of Tannenberg. -
Japan Captures Tsingtao, China
Held by the Germans since 1898, Tsingtao is a lightly garrisoned port city on the Yellow Sea. The Germans surrendered on November 6. -
Germany Rations Bread
Each citizen and neutral foreign national is issued a bread card for an initial daily quota of 225 grams. -
German Women want Peace
Several thousand women demonstrate for peace before the German Reichstag -
Germany Introduces Poison Gas
Germans open the assault with a chlorine gas attack, the first successful use of poison gas on the Western Front, and more than 10,000 Allied troops are affected, over half of them died. -
German U-Boat Torpedoes Lusitania
A German U-boat torpedoes a British liner named the Lusitania. The U-boat killed all 1200 passengers on board, including 128 Americans. -
Women Want Work
Women in London take action by applying for jobs in manufacturing, food production, and nursing on the -
Serbia is Invaded by Germany, Austria, and Bulgaria
The Central Powers troops cross the Danube River and within days capture Belgrade. A massive Serbian retreat follows. Soldiers and their families made their way to the Albanian border through mountains and steady snowfall. -
Belgians Deported to Germany as Forced Labor
German troops begin to round up Belgian workers for deportation to Germany. They are assembled in daily batches of 1,400 men and women in equal numbers. -
British Use Tanks
Thirty-six tanks are secretly shipped to the front and used in the Battle of Flers-Courcelette. However, these tanks had many malfunctions and problems. -
Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson is reelected as the president of the United States. -
Zimmerman Telegram
Intercepted weeks earlier by the British intelligence service, the United States is alerted about the Zimmermann Telegram. In the decoded message, German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmermann promises the return of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona to Mexico as a reward for siding with Germany if the U.S. enters the war. -
The United States Declares War on Germany
President Wilson signs the declaration. The United States quickly puts the entire country on the road to war. Going from a standing army of 133,000 men with almost no heavy artillery pieces, millions of men were inducted into the armed forces over the next two years and given basic combat training. -
First American Troops Land in France
14,000 American troops arrive in France. -
First Americans killed in Combat
Soldiers of the First Division enter combat on the Western Front under French command. It is less than two weeks later, on Nov. 1, when First American soldiers, members of the 1st Division, are killed in action: James Gresham, Merle D. Hay and Thomas F. Enright -
Prohibition Amendement
The Eighteenth Amendment outlaws the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic liquors. The law is sent to the states for ratification. -
U.S. Navy Begins Laying Mines in North Sea
By war’s end, the U.S. Navy places a total of 56,570 sea mines, helping to create a 300-mile barrier against Germany, stretching from Scotland to Norway. At least five U-Boats were sunk by the barrage and many others forced to waste valuable time avoiding the mines. -
Bolsheviks Murder the Czar of Russia
The former Czar Nicholas II, his wife and children, are shot by Bolsheviks at Ekaterinburg. -
Hungary and Austria Separate
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Germany Signs Armistice
Fighting ends on the Western Front Paris time 11:00 a.m. when Germany signs this armistice with the Allied Powers. The terms are harsh, intended to show German acceptance of defeat and to prevent any lengthy break for Germany to regroup and start military action again. -
Germany and Allies Sign Treaty of Versailles
Representatives of Germany and the Allied and Associated Powers sign the Treaty of Versailles. The war is officially over.
