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Franz Ferdinand assasinated. Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia.
Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to Austria-Hungary's throne, and his wife, Sophie, are assassinated by Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip while the couple were visiting Sarajevo. Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia. -
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WW1 Dates of Importance.
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Germany declares war on France
Germany declares war on France. German troops invade Belgium. Germany had to execute the Schlieffen Plan. This Plan was a strategic plan for a possible victory in a war fighting on two fronts such as WW. British foreign secretary demanded Germany to withdraw from neutral Belgium. -
Britan declares war.
Great Britain declares war on Germany and its Allies because Germany did not withdraw from Belgium. The Australian government also pledged full support for Britain in the war against Germany. -
Allied troops land at Gallipoli
The Australian Forces land at Gallipoli together with troops from New Zealand, Britain, and France to fight the Turks. The troops were very confined on the small beach and they were also faced with steep cliffs which they had to climb to get off the beach. -
Battle for lone pine
This fierce battle was the only successful Australian attack against the Turkish trenches. It was intended to divert attempts made by NZ and Australian units to breakout from the ANZAC perimeter battlefield. This battle of intense hand-to-hand fighting resulted in over 2,000 Australian casualties. Seven Victoria Crosses were awarded for bravery to Australian troops. -
Last Australian troops evacuate from Gallipoli Peninsula
The Allies evacuate 83,000 troops from the battlefields of Suvla Bay at ANZAC Cove in Gallipoli. There were virtually no casualities in this withdrawal and the Turkish were unaware of this evacuation taking place. Many men were saddened by having to leave behind the graves of their dead comrades. LEST WE FORGET. -
Battle of Fromelles
This was the first major battle on the Western Front fought by Australian troops. The attack was intended to deceive German troops away from the Somme offensive then being pursued further to the south. The 5th Australian Division suffered 5,533 casualties. -
First Battle of Bullecourt
The Battle was fought as part of the British offensive north and south of Arras. It was undertaken to support a major attack further south. -
Armistice signed
During WW1 over 35 million people were killed, wounded or missing. After four long years of fighting, in the French town of Redonthes, Germany signed an Armistice with the Allies. The official date and time of the end of WW1 was 11.00 am on the 11th day of the 11th month. This is known as Armistice Day.
