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Archduke Ferdinand was assassinated by Gavrillo Princep, a member of the secret society, The Black Hand, in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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Austria-Hungary took the opportunity provided by Ferdinand's murder to tighten it's hold on Serbia and crash it's nationalist movement. They issued a lengthy document to the Serbian government and demanded a response by July 25.
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In response to the rejection of their ultimatum, Emperor Franz Josef declares war on Serbia.
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Russia, bound by treaty to Serbia, begins to mobilize it's large army, a task that will take several weeks.
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Austria-Hungary's ally, Germany, threatens to take action against Russia if they do not cease their defense of Serbia.
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Russia continues mobilisation and Germany declares war
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Bound by treaty to Russia, France suddenly finds itself at war with Germany and Austria-Hungary.
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After Germany invades Belgium, Britain is bound by 'moral obligation' to defend the neutral country. They declare war on Germany and, by extension, Austria-Hungary.
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Canada, New Zealand, India, Australia and The Union of South Africa are drawn into the going conflict in Europe.
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President Woodrow Wilson declares U.S. policy of absolute neutrality, a stance that would hold true until 1917
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Japan, in a military treaty with Britain, declares war on Germany.
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In response to Japan's declaration, Austria-Hungary takes action against them.
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Lasting 4 days, The First Battle of Marne called a halt to the German advance and signalled the beginning of trench warfare on the Western Front.
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After defeat at Marne, Germany raced through Belgium to The North Sea, where they captured the city of Ypres. The French and British armies followed and thus began a bitter and gruelling entrenchment that would last until the end of the War.
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The Germans start experimenting with chlorine gas in an effort to distract the Allies from the Eastern Front. Released in the early hours of April 22, 10,000 men were effected, half of whom died within ten minutes of the attack. Another 2,000 were taken as POWs. Gas warfare was then used heavily by the Allies until the end of the war.
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A British ocean liner, The Lusitania, is struck by a German submarine and sinks in The North Atlantic. Among the 1,200 passengers lost, 128 were American, sending the American people into an uproar and putting pressure on the President to take retalitory action.
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Previously able to refrain from coming to the aid of allies Germany and Austria-Hungary, they are compelled by British promises of land and wealth to join The Allies in the spring of 1915.
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With the Germans attempting to take the offensive on the Western Front, The Battle of Verdun took 10 months, with severe casaulties on both sides. Germany estimated 430,000 lost, and France lost 540,000 soldiers. By November, France had reclaimed all ground taken by the Germans, setting them
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58,000 British troops lost on the first day of battle, a record that would hold to the end of the war. Even with the tragic loses of the first day, fighting continued until 18 November, when the battle was called off due to snow. The Allies had gained 12 km and lost upwards of 600,000 soldiers.
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The German Empire sends a telegram to Mexico, urging them to take up arms against The United States, promising military support. Britain intercepts and decodes the telegram.
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After increasing submarine warfare threatens U.S shipping industry, The United States declares war on Germany.
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All four divisions of the Canadian Corps work together for the first time in the War to capture Vimy Ridge. Working independently from Britain, this is considered a critical moment in Canada's journey to autonomy. After the unprecendented victory, Canada achieved a new found place of respect within the Allies.
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Launched by the Allied Forces, the fighting continued until November, with severe casaulties on all sides - 310,000 British Forces as well as 240,000 German. There is still debate today whether it was a worthwhile effort. Canada played a large part in capturing Passendaele, sacrificing 15,000 soldiers in the process.
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The economic strain and discomposure of mobilization proves too much for the Russion people, who overthrew the Tsarist autocracy earlier that year, and they organize into revolution, displacing the autocracy and installing a prodominently Soviet government. Russia was forced to withdraw from the war to handle it's troubles at home and sign an armistice with the German Empire.
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Attempting to divide the French army, Germany led a diversionary attack on Allied Forces on The Marne. Their intent was to distract from their battle at Flanders, however, not only did they fail, but they lost significant ground, leading many German leaders to believe the War had finally been lost.
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World War I ends on November 11 at 11am.
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The Treaty of Versailles is signed at The Paris Peace Conference.
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The League of Nations is formed after the Paris Peace Conference in an attempt to temper the possibility of another worldwide conflict. However, the League was severely hampered by The United States refusal to join, and the barring of Germany and Russia. Though the intention was sound, the ineffectiveness of the League caused it to dissolve during WWII.
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Canada asserts it's autonomy is foreign policy, insisting on Parliamentary debate in Ottawa before lending Britain aid in Turkey.
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The Russian Civil War ends with the Communist Party in power, lead by Vladimir Lenin.
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Adolf Hitler and General Ludendorf lead 2000 revolutionaries through the streets of Munich, intent on a coup by the Nazi party. Through the rebellion failed and Hitler imprisoned, he considered this a success, as he was granted the attention of the nation and was able to write 'Mein Kampf', a book which would publicize his nationalist sentiments to a demoralized nation.
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Wildly unsuccessful, the League Of Nations attempted a worldwide disarmament in Geneva, Switzerland. Though they talked a good talk, most nations were unwilling to leave themselves 'defenseless', causing massive delays. The talks finally dissolved in October 1933, when Hitler withdrew Germany from the talks and the League of Nations. It may sporadically after and was officially ceased on 1 May, 1937.
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In an attempt to mitigate the chaos that has gripped the German government, President von Hindenburg declares Hitler the Chancellor, starting him on the path to dictatorship.
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A military coup strikes a match between Nationalist and Rebulicans. The Nationalist, led by Franco Nero, win in 1939 and Franco rules Spain until his death in 1975.
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Hitler makes a bid for control in Austria, pressuring Austria President Schuschnigg into resigning and urging Austrians not to resist the annexation. Hitler installs a Nazi government and would maintain control of Austria until 1945, when the Allies declare the Anschluss void.
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Mussolini promises to fight alongside Hitler in the event of a European war.
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In a bid to distract Russia from Poland, Hitler make a Nonaggression Pact with Stalin.
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The War begins in earnest when Hilter's forces invade Poland.
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France and Britain issue an ultimatum to German, requiring the evacuation of German troops from Poland. At 11:15 am on 3 Sep, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain announces that Britain is now at war with Germany.
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Auschwitz is used as a death camp for enemies of the Nazis. Prisoners were liberated by Russia troops in January 1945. At least 1.1 million people were murdered.
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After invading Norway and Denmark in April, Germany invades France, Belgium and Luxembourg.
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After facing crushing defeat at the hands of the German forces, Allied troops leave Dunkirk and retreat to Dover.
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Mussolini declares war on the Allied forces, cementing it's position in the Axis in Europe.
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After crushing defeat by Germany and the retreat of British allies, France signs an armistice with Germany.
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The Battle for Britain is well under way with the bombing of major British cities. 40,000 people are killed and over 2 million homes are destroyed. The bombings of Britain would continue to the end of the war.
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The Axis is formed when Japan signs the Tripartite Agreement with Italy and Germany.
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Breaking the Nonaggression Pact, Hitler sends troops to Russia and soon the Eastern Front is set ablaze.
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Japan bombs naval base at Pearl Habour and the city of Honolulu, forcing The U.S to join the fight and bringing the European Conflict to A World War.
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The British fortress at Singapore, a heavy blow to Allied forces on the Pacific Theatre.
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Although technically a Japanese victory, the Allies considered this a strategic victory, having been the first time the Allies had stopped Japan's advance on the Pacific Theatre.
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The United States delivers a devasting blow to the Japanese fleet when they defeat an attack at Midway Atoll. The Japanese fleet never truly recovers.
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A disasterous attempt at landing in France. The Royal Air Force failed to lure the Luftwaffe into combat, and the Allies were forced to retreat after only 5 hours of battle. 3,367 of the 6,086 men who made it ashore were killed.
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After a long and arduous battle, the German forces surrender to Russia. This marks the first surrender of Germany and a turning point in the European Theatre.
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Italy surrenders to the Allies and allows them to enter over sea from Tunisia. Germany responds by invading Italy from the north, desperate not to loose its foothold to the Balkans. Although Italy surrendered, the war was far from over.
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Part of Operation Overlord, D-Day, or Operation Neptune, marks the beginning of the end of the war. Nearly 3 million Allied troops go on to retake large portions of Normandy and Brittany, forcing the Nazis to retreat.
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Conceived at the Trident Conference in 1943, Operation Overlord involved a multi pronged invasion of Normandy by the Allies Forces. This was a turning point in the European Theatre, marking the begining of the end for Germany.
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After four years of occupation, Paris is liberated by Allied Forces.
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Fought in the forests of Ardennes region. It was the bloodiest battle fought by the United Statesduring World War II, with approximately 200,000 casualties on both sides.
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Mussolini was captured by Italian partisan's as Allies closed in on Milan. He was excuted the following day in Giulino. Minister of Defenxe, Rudulfo Graziani, surrendered to the Allies shortly thereafter.
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Adolf Hitler commited suicide in a bunker in Berlin. His long time partner and new wife, Eva Braun, killed herself moments later.
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Nazi defenders of Berlin surrender to Soviet Forces. However, fighting continues to the west, some of the troops intent on surrendering to the British instead of the Russians.
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By May 8, all German forces in Europe had surrendered, giving the Allies a decisive victory and ending the war in Europe. It would still be 4 months before Japan surrenders.
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Allied leaders meet in Potsdam, Germany to draft and issue ultimatum to Japan. Japan do not respond.
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Nearing the end of the war, the United States Air Force drops an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima. Three days later, they hit Nagasaki. Approximately 129,000 people are killed.
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Months after V-E Day and in the wake of tragedy at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan surrenders to the Allies. World War II is officially over.
