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Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria
Gavrilo Princip assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife. He was part of a group of 7 Bosnian Serbs who planned to assassinate Franz Ferdinand. His murder sparked WW1 as the two alliances were very tense and unstable and this event set it off. -
World War One Begins
In response to Archduke Franz Ferdinand’s assassination the Austrian government demanded several things from Serbia. Although they agreed to all but one Austria-Hungary went ahead and declared war on Serbia, effectively beginning World War One. -
Germany declares war on Russia
Germany warned Russia who were preparing for war against Austria-Hungary, that to continue full mobilization would mean war with Germany. Germany then declared war on Russia when they refused the German demands to stop. -
Germany and France declare war against each other
Germany declares war on France, preparing for a two-front war against France and Russia. Later that day, France declares war on Germany. -
Germany invades Belgium.
On July 24th the Belgian government had announced that if war started they would remain neutral, Germany demanded that Belgium allow passage through the country, the Belgian government refused. German troops crossed the border and invaded Liège. -
The United Kingdom Declares war on Germany
The United Kingdom gave Germany an ultimatum on the 3rd of August, to get out of Belgium by midnight or they would declare war against them. When the German troops did not leave, Great Britain declared war against Germany. This means Australia was also now involved. -
The Christmas Truce
In a few places across the Western Front the Germans and the British stopped fighting and shared peace for Christmas, in one place they even sang carols. But the next day it was back to fighting as usual. -
Gallipoli Campaign Starts
The Gallipoli Campaign was an unsuccessful attempt by British, French and ANZAC troops to control the sea route from Europe to Russia. -
The sinking of Lusitania
On May 1, 1915 the Lusitania departed New York City for Liverpool. However the passengers were not aware that the ship carried military weapons destined for the British War effort. On May 7, at 2:10pm a German fired a torpedo into the side of the ship. In 18 minutes the ship had sunk and one 1,119 of the 1,942 aboard had died (including 144 Americans). -
The Gallipoli Campaign Ends
By mid-October the Allied troops had suffered many casualties and had made little progress inland from their initial landing points. The British made the decision to evacuate and evacuation then began in December 1915, finishing by January 1916. -
The Battle of the Somme begins
The Battle of Somme took place on both sides of the River Somme in France. It was fought by the armies of the British and French empires against the German empire. -
The Battle of Somme ends
After four and a half months the British Commander in Chief called the Battle of Somme to an end. It was one of the largest battles in WW1 where more than 400,000 men were either wounded or killed. -
Zimmerman Telegram
The Zimmerman Telegram was a diplomatic proposal sent from the German Empire to Mexico, offering military alliance with Mexico. This encouraging Mexico to join the war, in the event that the United States entered WW1 against Germany. However the telegram was intercepted and decoded by the British. -
Russian Tsar Nicholas II abdicates
Czar Nicholas II was the ruler of Russia since 1894. During the February Revolution he was forced to abdicate the throne by the Petrograd insurgents. A provincial government is then installed in his place. -
The United State declares war on Germany
At 8:30 on the evening of April 2, 1917, President Wilson appeared before a joint session of Congress. He asked for a declaration of war against Germany in order to "make the world safe for democracy." On April 4 the Congress granted Wilson's request. -
Overthrow of the Russian government
The Bolsheviks forces led by Vlasimir Ilyich Lenin successfully overthrew the Russian government of Alexander Kerensky during the 1917 Russian Revolution. -
The armistice agreed upon between the new Russian government and the Central Powers goes into effect.
The armistice was between the Allies and Germany. It was known as the Armistice of Compiègne and was the agreement that ended the fighting in western Europe and comprised the First World War. -
Russia signs the Treaty of Brest Litovsk
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed between the Bolshevik government of Russia and the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey). This ended Russia’s participation in World War 1. -
Germany signs the armistice at Compiegne, France
The Armistice of Compiègne was the armistice between the Allies and Germany. It was the agreement that ended fighting in western Europe on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. -
League of Nations formed
The league of nations was an international organization created after the First World War to provide a forum for dealing with international disputes. The US were criticized because although it was first proposed by President Woodrow Wilson the United States never became a member. -
The Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was the peace settlement signed after World War One had ended in 1918. It ended war between Germany and the Allied Powers (France and Great Britain.
