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The assasination of Austria's Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie in Sarajevo by members of the Black Hand Secret Society. This event, and the tentions it caused between nations, could be considered the event that led to the beginning of the war.
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List of 10 demands from Austria to Serbia made intentionally unreasonable in an effort to evoke a war with Serbia.
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Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia after Serbia fails to meet all 10 demands of the Ultimatum, thus beginning World War 1.
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Britian declares war on Germany (who is in the war as an all of Austria-Hungary) thereby automatically involving Canada in the war.
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Canada`s first major engagement of the war. Battle fought from April 22 - May 25 in Belgium between the Allied Forces and the German Empire. Canada played a large role in the success of this battle, bringing Canada a new found reputation of strength in the war.
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This was the longest battle in World War 1 and in history in general lasting 303 days, and also one of the deadliest with casualties approaching one million. WIth battles becoming more frequent and deadly, the war was heating up. I would consider this to be getting into the middle of the war.
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Battle fought in France by the British and French empires against the German Empire. The battle lasted until November 18th of 1916. It is known to the largest and bloodiest battle of the war, with over 1,000.000 casulties.
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A three day battle taking place mainly between Canadian and German forces. Often considered a defining moment in the war, Canada was victorious in part due to extensive planning and tactical measures. A memorial for the Canadian soldiers is now part of a National Park at Vimy Ridge.
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The battle of Passchendaele (aka The Third Battle of Ypres) begins in Belgium between the Britian and Germany. A battle mainly for the purpose of gaining control of Belgiun Ports. Prio to Canada`s arrival In Mid-October, many British casualties with no apparant advancement.
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Canada arrives to relieve the exhausted Anzac Corps (Australian and New Zealand troops). In one day of fighting, Canada gained more ground than the Allied troops had in the previous 3 months.
Canada ended the long standing 3rd battle of Ypres on November 10th of that year. -
This battle marked the beginning of what is now called The Hundred Day Offensive. It is also considered the beginning of the end of the war.
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Germany signs the Armistice at 6:00 am and at 11:00 am fighting ceases marking the end of World War 1.
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Almost a year after the end of the war, a treaty was signed by The Allied Forces and Germany. It required Germany to return to The Allied Forces, it restricted Germany`s military size, and also called for a large sum of funds to be paid for damages of war. It also was the birth of the League of Nations.
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Germany and the Soviet Union sign into effect a non-aggression pact between the two nations. Contained within the pact was a secret clasue, an agreement to carve up Eastern Europe.
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Germany launches an invasion on Poland, marking the beginning of World War II.
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Britian declares war on Germany followed by France later that same day.
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Canada declares war on Germany, thereby entering the war. This marked Canada's first independant declaration of war.
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Poland is defeated, and divided the following day between Germany and the Soviet Union
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German troops invade France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxemburg. Norway and Denmark had already fallen to German troops.
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Italy joins Germany in what is later known as the Axis Powers.
Pictured is Germany's Führer Adolf Hitler (right) beside Italy's Duce Benito Mussolini (left)
Canada also declares war on Italy -
France signs Armistice with Germany, Agreement to end fighting.
Two days later, France signs Armistice with Italy as well. -
The Battle of Britian begins. the Battle of Britain was the period of heaviest ariel attacks by the Axis powers on Britain.
Britian wins the battle on October 31st, 1940 -
On this day in 1940, the Axis powers are formed as Germany, Italy, and Japan become allies with the signing of the Tripartite Pact in Berlin. The Pact provided for mutual assistance should any of the signatories suffer attack by any nation not already involved in the war.
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Germany and the Axis powers invade the Soviet Union in what is known as the Operation Barbarossa, Germany occused the Soviet Union of plotting against them. I would consider this to be the beginning of the middle of the war.
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Japan launches an attack on the Pearl Harbour Naval Base in Hawaii. United States and Britian declare War on Japan the following day.
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The United States had remained neutral to this point.
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The Allied forces invade Italy, and on that same day, sign an Armistice with Italy.
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The Western Allies invade Normandy in Northern France leading to the defeat of the German troops in France.
I would condsider this to be the beginning of the end of the war. -
Mussolini is captured and shot by partisans.
Three days later Hitler commits suicide. -
Germany and it's armed forces surrender unconditionally to the Allied Forces
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The United States drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. Three days later they drop an atomic bomb on Nagasaki. The first time an atomic bomb was used in warfare.
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Japan unconditionally surrenders marking the official end of World War II
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In an effort to prevent future atrocities like that of World War II, 50 countries came together to form the United Nations, an organization not too dissimilar to the League of Nations formed after World War I
