World War I

By Mpierce85
  • Franz Ferdinand assassinated.

    Franz Ferdinand assassinated.

    Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife are assassinated by Gavrilo Princip, a fanatical Serbian separatist.
  • Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia.

    Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia.

    In the wake of the assassination Austro-Hungarian emperor Franz Joseph declares war on Serbia.

  • Russia mobilizes its military.

    Russia, ally of Serbia, mobilized its military in response to Austria-Hungary's declaration of war.

  • Germany declares war on Russia.

  • Germany declares war on France.

  • Germany declares war on Belgium

    Germany's declaration of war with Belgium causes Great Britain to declare war on Germany.
  • Battle of the Frontiers

    Battle of the Frontiers

    In this offensive, which occurred east of Paris, 27,000 French troops died in one day.
  • Trench warfare begins

    Trench warfare begins

    As the war reaches a stalemate trenches begin to appear along the western front.
  • Submarine warfare begins

    Submarine warfare begins

    Germany announces a submarine blockade of Great Britain.
  • Lusitania Sunk.

    Lusitania Sunk.

    A German U-Boat sinks the Lusitania, killing 1, 198 civilians including 128 Americans. The sinking generated significant outrage in the United States, although the vessel was transporting munitions.
  • Battle of Verdun begins.

    Battle of Verdun begins.

    Lasting nearly one year, the Battle of Verdun resulted in nearly 1 million casualties.
  • Battle of Somme begins.

    Battle of Somme begins.

    The Battle of Somme lasted nearly five months and produced approximately 1 million casualties, but did not result in any significant gain for the allies. Somme saw the first employment of the tank, used by British forces but with little success.
  • Woodrow Wilson asks Congress to declare war on Gernany.

    Woodrow Wilson asks Congress to declare war on Gernany.

    Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare combined with the discovery of the Zimmerman telegram draws the United States into World War I.
  • Russia removes itself from WWI

    Russia removes itself from WWI

    After Lenin and the Bolsheviks overthrow Kerensky's government the new Russian leadership signs an armistace with Germany.
  • Battle of Chateau-Thierry begins.

    Battle of Chateau-Thierry begins.

    American forces halt the German advance along the banks of the Marne River.

  • Germans begin to retreat.

    Allied forces begin a series of successful counteroffensives along the Somme, forcing the Germans to retreat.
  • Allies break through the Hindenberg line.

    Allies break through the Hindenberg line.

    In a move known as the "hundred days offensive" allied forces push through the Hindenberg line, a heavily fortified zone that served as Germany's last line of defense.
  • Armistice signed between Germany and the Allies.

    Armistice signed between Germany and the Allies.

    On November 9th Kaiser Wilhelm abdicated, and on the 11th hour of November 11th World War I ended.
  • Allies and Germany sign Treaty of Versailles

    Allies and Germany sign Treaty of Versailles

    The Treaty of Versailles is signed in Paris. The severe punishments levied upon Germany set the stage for a second world war. Ironically France's surrender in World War II will be signed in the same train car in which the Treaty of Versailles was signed following World War I.