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WW1
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Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand Assassinated
Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austrian Empire, was killed along with his wife during a drive while visiting Sarajevo, the capital city of Bosnia. This event is generally accepted by historians as being the immediate cause of the First World War, though tensions had been previously building. -
Austria Declares War of Serbia
Because the assassination was commited by Serbs, Austria declares war on Serbia. -
The Scheifflin Plan
The Germans declared war on France and implemented their invasion of Belgium, part of their Scheifflen Plan. The Plan was intended to bring about a swift victory for Germany in the event of a two-front war. It concentrated on exploiting the differences in the amount of time neighboring countries would need to prepare for war. The Belgium army was swept aside easily enough, however, the French held off the German forces. With the failure of the Schleiffen Plan, trench warfare ensued. -
sinking of the lusitania
The RMS Lusitania was an ocean liner owned by Cunard Lines. She was attacked by a German U-boat and sank in eighteen minutes. 1,198 of the nearly 2,000 passengers aboard died. Many of the passengers were American citizens. It is considered the second most famous civilian liner disaster, following the sinking of the RMS Titanic. These events did a lot to turn public opinion of several countries, including the United States, against the Germans. -
Battle of Jutland
The Battle of Jutland was the largest naval battle of the war. Fought by the Germans and the British in the North Sea near Jutland, Denmark, the battle claimed 14 British and 11 German ships. the British, however, maintained naval control of the North Sea. -
Battle of Sommee Begins
The Battle of the Somme was a British and French offensive launched against invading German forces in the Somme portion of France along the Somme River. It was one of the largest battles of the entire war with 1.5 million casualties by the time it ended in November of 1916. British and French forces penetrated about 6 miles into the German line. The Germans failed to accomplish several of their objectives but still maintained partially entrenched areas -
Red October
Also known as the Soviet Revolution, took place in Petrograd. The Soviets, with the support of the common people, overthrew the Provisional Government, which had failed to pull out of World War I. A Russian Civil War followed (1917-1922) and the Soviets gained full power over the country, recreating it as the Soviet Union. -
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Peace Treaty between Russia and Germany. The Communist Revolution overturned the monarchy and the Russians called for an end to the war. -
Execution of the Russian Royals
Czar Nicholas II, his wife, son and four daughters were all executed by the Bolsheviks after being imprisoned following his abdications. The Romanov dynasty officially and tragically ended. -
Germany Signs Armisctice With Allies
Official end of WWI. The photograph is of a march through the streets of London in celebration of the end of the war.
