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Period: to
World War One
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The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
On June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, the designated heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, along with his spouse, Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, was assassinated by Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb student. The couple was shot at close range while traveling through Sarajevo, the capital of the province of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand is recognized as a pivotal event that contributed to the outbreak of World War I. -
Austria-Hungary Declares War on Serbia
After Serbia partially rejected an ultimatum issued following the assassination, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. This was the first formal declaration of war in what would become a worldwide battle,and European alliances began mobilizing. -
Germany Invades Belgium
Germany invadedneutral Belgium as part of the Schlieffen Plan in order to attack France quickly. This violation of Belgium's neutrality drove Britain to declare war on Germany, dragging the British Empire into the growing battle. -
First Battle of the Marne
The French and British forcessuccessfully fought off the German advancenear the Marne River, stoppingtheir pushtowardParis. This critical fight marked the start of trench warfare, which would shape the Western Front for years. Ended 9/12/1914 -
Battle of Ypres
The First Battle of Ypres saw intense fighting in Belgium as the Allies and Germans tried to outflankone another. This fight established the use of trench warfareand demonstrated thedamage that modern warfare would cause. Ended 11/22/1914 -
Battle of Gallipoli
The Allies beganan ambitious campaignto capture the Dardanelles Strait and establish a supply route to Russia. The operation failed because of poor preparation, fierce Ottoman resistance, and harsh conditions, resulting in severe casualties and eventual Allied withdrawal. Ended 1/9/1916 -
Lusitania Sinking
A German U-boat torpedoed the British passenger liner RMS Lusitania off the coast of Ireland, killing 1,198 people, including 128 Americans. This act increased tensions between Germany and the United States, fueling anti-German sentiment in the U.S. -
Battle of Verdun
With more than 700,000 casualties, the Battle of Verdun was one of the war's bloodiest and longest battles. Verdun is a representation of French resilience because, despite German attempts to "bleed France white," French forces led by General Pétain managed to hold their ground. Ended 12/18/1916 -
Battle of the Somme
The Allies launched the Battle of the Somme to relieve pressure on Verdun and break through German lines. The first day alone saw nearly 60,000 British casualties, making it the bloodiest day in British military history. The battle ended inconclusively after months of heavy fighting. Ended 11/18/1916 -
Zimmerman Note
Germany sent a secret message to Mexico, proposing an alliance if the U.S. entered the war. Intercepted and decoded by British intelligence, the telegram enraged the American public and played a major role in shifting U.S. opinion toward joining the war. -
U.S. Enters the War
The United States officially entered the war on the side of the Allies after years of neutrality. President Woodrow Wilson, citing unrestricted submarine warfare and the Zimmerman Telegram, declared war on Germany, bringing new manpower and resources to the Allies. -
Russian Revolution
The Bolsheviks, led by Lenin, seized power during the October Revolution (Julian calendar). They soon negotiated the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany, formally withdrawing Russia from the war. This allowed Germany to focus all its efforts on the Western Front. The Eastern Front was no longer active. -
Spring Offensive
Germany launched a series of offensives, hoping to secure victory before American forces arrived in full strength. Despite initial gains, the offensives were ultimately repelled by the Allies, who soon launched their counteroffensive. Ended 7/18/1918 -
Second Battle of the Marne
This marked Germany's final major offensive and a turning point in the war. Allied forces, supported by American troops, successfully countered the attack, forcing Germany into a defensive position. Ended 8/6/1918 -
Armistice
At 11:00 AM on November 11, the fighting stopped following the signing of an armistice between the Allies and Germany. The agreement required Germany to evacuate occupied territories and effectively ended combat in World War I. -
Signing of The Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles, signed on June 28, 1919, was the most important treaty of WW1. This peace agreement ended the war between Germany and the majority of the Allied Powers. The signing took place at the Palace of Versailles, five years following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The armistice halted the fighting and established certain principles, but it took six months of negotiations to finalize the treaty. Germany was excluded from negotiation prior to the treaty's signing.