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The Archduke of Austria-Hungary, Franz Ferdinand, is assassinated while on a visit to Sarajevo by the Serbian terrorist group, "The Black Hand". This led Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia with each's allies quickly joining in to support each side thus WWI began. Germany supporting Austria-Hungary and Russia supporting Serbia. Germany Declared war on Russia.
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Great Britain declares war on Germany after they violated Belgium's neutrality even after Belgium voiced their, "Belgium is a country, not a road", opinion.
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Trench warfare, where both sides dig down into the Earth in the form of large trenches and basically just wait until one side makes a move (either offensive or defensive), is first seen on the battlefield. The defensive side usually always had the advantage because they could just mow down the attackers with machine guns.
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Both sides come to an unofficial agreement to cease fighting in light of the holidays and take time to celebrate with their friends and fellow troops. Ironic because the saying upon entering the war was "Home by Christmas".
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The British passenger ship, the RMS Lusitania, is sunk by a German U-Boat prompting strong ill will from the British towards the Germans.
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The Battle of Verdun begins which came to be recognized as the most visious, bloody, battle in all of WWI. Not to mention that this battle also happened to be one of the longest as well. It lasted from February 1916 until December 1916 and generated over 700,000 casualties.
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A telegram, sent by Germany to Mexico trying to persuade them into attacking/invading the United States from the South so that they would be unable to join the war in Europe, was intercepted by the British and decoded and was then passed on to the US prompting swift response from the president, congress, and the people.
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After receiving the Zimmerman telegram from the British, president Wilson talks congress into declaring war on Germany thus leading the US to join the Allies in Europe and fight alongside other great powers such as Great Britain and France against Germany. This influx of new troops provides the new, fresh, energized push that the allies need.
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The war is officially ended and Germany punished when this treaty is signed in France. Involved are countries such as the US and Great Britain alongside others. Harsh punishments are placed upon the Germans.
