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Assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand
The future heir to the Austrian crown and his wife were assassinated. They died after being mortally wounded by Gavrilo Princip. The murder created a collision between the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Serbia. There was another attempted assassination of the heir right before the actual assassination. -
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia
After the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand the Austrian Empire was crumbling. Austria-Hungary blamed all of Serbia for the death of their heir. They blamed Serbia because Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated by a Bosnian Serb nationalist. This marked the start of the first World War. -
Germany declares war on Russia
Austria-Hungary seeks German support for a war against Serbia because of Russian militarism. Germany declares war on Russia after help is seeked from them by Austria-Hungary. They declared war on Russia because Russia agreed to side with Serbia. Russia said they would protect Serbia from Austrian aggression. -
Battle of the Marne
Allied forces halt German advance into France during First Battle of the Marne. The battle resulted in an Allied victory. The Allies fought the German armies in the West. The battle took place in Paris, Marne, and Brasles. -
Great Britain begins naval blockade of Germany
Restriction of goods to the Central Powers. This happened during and after the war. Anything imported into Germany was cut off. The blockade affected the war. -
Sinking of the passenger liner Lusitania
The passenger line the Lusitania is sunk by a German submarine. The Lusitania was passing from New York to Liverpool, England. The sinking killed 128 Americans. Germany waged submarine warfare against the United Kingdom -
The Beginning of the Battle of Verdun
The battle of Verdun was the longest battle of WWI. In the hills of north Verdun-sur-Meuse in north-eastern France is where the battle took place. Germany bombarded French forces. Germany struck a Cathedral in Verdun, France beginning the battle. -
Naval Battle of Jutland
Naval battle between Britain's Navy and Germany's Navy. Britain's Navy was under Admiral Sir John Jellicoe. Germany's Navy was under control of Vice-Admiral Reinhard Scheer. This was the only major encounter between the main British and German battle fleets in World War I. -
Battle of Verdun Ends
550,000 French and 450,000 German casualties resulted from the Battle of Verdun. The battle of Verdun was the largest and longest battle of the First World War. It was fought between the German and French armies. It resulted in a French victory. -
The United States declares war on Germany
President Woodrow Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of war against Germany. He asked for the declaration because he wanted to "make the world safe for democracy." Congress granted the request and war with Germany began. Congress was overwhelmingly for the war. -
Russia signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany
A peace treaty between the new Bolshevik government of Russia Russia and the Central Powers German Empire, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire. The treaty ended Russia's involvement in the war. Russia recognized that the Ukraine, Georgia, and Finland were independent. They also gave up Poland and the Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to Germany and Austria-Hungary -
Treaty of Versailles Signed
Germany, Britain, France, Italy, and Russia signed the Treaty of Versailles. The Treaty ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. The treaty was signed exactly five years after the assassination of the Austrian heir. The signing of the treaty ended the war.