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Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to Austria-Hungary's throne, and his wife Sophia, are assassinated by Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip while the couple were visiting Sarajevo.
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Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia.
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Germany declares war on Russia.
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Germany Declares War on France.
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The U.K. declares war onGermany, after Germany attacks Belgium.
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Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia and Serbia declares war on Germany.
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U.S. president Woodrow Wilson announces the U.S. will remain neutral.
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The battle of Tannenberg begins.
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The first battle of the Marne begins. Trench warfare begins as soldiers on both sides dig in.
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Battle of Ypres begins.
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The U.K. announces that the North Sea is a military area, effectively creating a blockade of goods in Germany.
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The unofficial Christmas Truce is declared.
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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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The Dardanelles campaign begins.
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The second battle of Ypres begins. It is during this battle that the Germans first use poisen gas.
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The Battle of Gallipoli begins.
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Tsar Nicholas has personal control over Russian army.
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The Battle of Verdun begins. The Battle of Verdun was the longest and one of the most bloodiest battles of WW1.
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The battle of Jutland, the major naval battle of the war begins.
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The Battle of the Somme begins. During the Battle of the Somme, tanks are first introduced into battle.
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Germany sends the secret Zimmerman Telegraph to Mexico in an effort to entice mexico to join the war. The British intercept and decipher the coded messege.
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Russian Tsar Nicholas II abdicates.
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The United States declares war on Germany.
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The Battle of Passchendaele (alos known as the Third Battle of Ypres) begins.
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The Bolsheviks succesfully overthrow the Russian government.
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The armistice agreed upon between the new Russian government and the Central Powers go into effect .
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U.S. presidnt Woodrow Wilson issues his 14 Points of Peace.
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Russia signs the Treaty of Litovsk, which is a treaty between Russia and the Central Powers.
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Germany launches the Spring Offensive.
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Germany flying ace, Baron Manfred von Richthofen (more commonly know as the Red Baron), is shot down.
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The Second Battle of the Marne begins.
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German kaiser Wilhelm II abdicates and flees Germany.
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Germany signs the Armistice at Compiegne, France. Fighting ends at the 11th hour on the 11th day on the 11th month.
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Here lies the end of WW1. The Treaty of Versailles ends WW1. The Treaty of Versailles was the peace agreement that ended the war... even though 11/11/1918 was the date of the "end" of WW1.
