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Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife Sophie are shot to death by a Serbian nationalist during an official visit to the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo.
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Russia and Germany had both been mobilizing and massing troops near the border preparing for war. Germany just declared war first. If they hadn't, Russia would have soon declared war on A-H, and Germany would have been pulled in regardless.
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The Belgian government mobilised its armed forces on July 31 and a state of war was proclaimed in Germany. Germany requested passage through Belgium, but they declined a few days later so German troops crossed the border and attacked the Belgian city of Liège declaring war on Belgium.
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Germany declares a "war zone" around Great Britain, essentially effecting a submarine blockade where even neutral merchant vessels were to be potential targets.
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During World War I, the Second Battle of Ypres was fought from 22 April – 25 May 1915 for control of the strategic Flemish town of Ypres in western Belgium after the First Battle of Ypres the previous autumn. Germany also implemented the first use of poison gas against enemies.
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A German 'u boat' sinks the Lusitania on he south coast of Ireland. A total of 1,198 passengers drowned and 128 of those were Americans.
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The British deploy the first tanks used in the war. Granted they are successfully used for breaking through walls and barbwired fences, they were still not a decisive weapon in WWI.
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The Battle of Jutland had begun. It was a very major battle that included the British Navy, Germany's navy. It was fought near the coast of Denmark.
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It was fought by the armies of the British and French empires against the German Empire. This is where tanks were also heavily introduced into the war.
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Germany attempts to send a Zimmerman Telegram to Mexico in an effort to entice Mexico to join the war. However, the British intercept and decipher the message.
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On this date, America has officially declared war on Germany. President Wilson went before congress and stated that they must go to war so the world will be a safe place for democracy.
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President Woodrow Wilson issues his Fourteen Points to peace. These points were later taken as the basis for peace negotiations at the end of the war.
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Russia signs the Treaty of Brest Litovsk, which is a peace treaty between Russia and the Central Powers.
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The Treaty of Versailles is signed and World War I has come to an end. It was made up of 440 articles which were divided into 15 parts.
