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Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand
Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife Sophie were shot to death by a Bosnian Serb nationalist during an official visit to the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo. The killings sparked a chain of events that led to the outbreak of World War I by early August. -
Austria-Hungary demands Serbia arrest the leaders of the black hand
The purpose of the group was to liberate Serbs under the Austro-Hungarian Black Hand members held important army and government positions to World War -
Serbia appeals to Russia for help
czar's government began moving towards mobilization of its army, believing that Germany was using the crisis as an excuse to launch a preventive war in the Balkans. -
Austria-Hungary declares war on serbia
On July 28, 1914, one month to the day after Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife were killed by a Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo, Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia, effectively beginning the First World War. -
Germany declares war on Russia
Then France, who had a treaty with Russia, declares war against Germany to protect its ally. Germany then tries to invade France by going through Belgium, which is allied to England. England declares war against Germany for invading Belgium, its ally. -
Germany declares war on France
Germany declares war on France and invades neutral Belgium. Britain then sends an ultimatum, rejected by the Germans, to withdraw from Belgium. -
Moltke orders the schlieffen plan to proceed
According to Moltke, Belgium's army was a very small one, which could not stop German forces from entering France quickly. 8 divisions were saved to stop the Russian army's advance into the East. -
German troops enter Belgium
The Belgian government mobilized its armed forces on 31 July and a state of heightened alert was proclaimed in Germany. -
Great Britain declares war on Germany
Britain and France are at war with Germany following the invasion of Poland two days ago. -
Lord Kitchener calls for 100,000 mean to join British army
Three weeks later Kitchener raised the recruiting age to 35 and by the middle of September over 500,000 men had volunteered their services. -
Japan declared war on Germany
Japan declared war on Germany through its alliance with Great Britain, signed in 1902 -
Battle of Masurian Lakes
Having defeated the Russian Second Army, the Germans turned their attention to the Russian First army at Masurian Lakes. Although the Germans were unable to defeat the army completely, over 100,000 Russians were taken, prisoner. -
Turkey
Turkey entered the war on the side of the central powers and gave help to a German naval bombardment of Russia. -
Russia declared war on Turkey
Because of the help given by Turkey to the German attack of Russia, Russia declared war on Turkey. -
Britain and France declare war on Turkey
Britain and France, Russia’s allies, declared war on Turkey, because of the help given to the German attack on Russia. -
Zeppelins
The first Zeppelins appeared over the English coast. -
Second battle of Ypres
Poison gas was used for the first time during this battle. The gas, fired by the Germans claimed many British casualties. -
Lusitania sunk
There outraged protests from the United States at the German U-boat campaign, when the Lusitania, which had many American passengers aboard, was sunk. The Germans moderated their U-boat campaign. -
Battle of Jutland
Poison gas was used for the first time during this battle. The gas, fired by the Germans claimed many British casualties. -
First airplane raid
The first German air raid on London took place. The Germans hoped that by making raids on London and the South East, the British Air Force would be forced into protecting the home front rather than attacking the German air force.