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Archduke Franz Ferdinand of the Austro-Hungarian Empire is assassinated in Sarajevo
Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie the Duchess of Hohenburg, are killed by Bosnian Serb nationalist Gavrilo Princip. The Austrian government suspects that Serbia is responsible. -
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia. World War I begins
“This is a dark day and a dark hour. The sword is being forced into my hand. This war will demand of us enormous sacrifice in life and money, but we shall show our foes what it is to provoke Germany.”
– Kaiser Wilhelm II, July 31, 1914 -
August 1, 1914 — August 29, 1914
In one month, the world erupts in war -
Russians are defeated at Battle of Tannenberg
On the eastern front, Germans shatter the Russian Second Army and take over 92,000 prisoners at the Battle of Tannenberg. -
Germans conduct air raid on Paris
The attack has little military value, but is intended to terrorize civilians. -
Germans stopped at First Battle of the Marne
German invasion of France is stopped in the First Battle of the Marne as German troops are forced to the north side of the Marne River, causing the the Schlieffen Plan to fail. -
Japan attacks and captures Tsingtao, China
Held by the Germans since 1898, Tsingtao is a lightly garrisoned port city on the Yellow Sea. The Germans surrender on November 6. -
In First Battle of Ypres, entrenched Allies fight off German assault
As the armies tried to out flank each other, they extended their lines to the English Channel and began trench warfare. Ypres, a Belgian city and communications hub, was essential to both sides. In the First Battle of Ypres, entrenched Allies fight off German assault. Germans give up their offensive by November 24 as winter and stormy weather set in.