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Franz Ferdinand assassinated
Franz Ferdinand and wife, Sophie, were assassinated on the 28 June at Sarajevo. They were shot by Gavrilo Princip, The goal of the assassination was to break off Austria-Hungary's South Slav provinces so they could be combined into a Yugoslavia.
The newspaper (primary source) is dated 29th June 1914. The day after the assassination occurred. It shows how fearful everyone was about this news, and anxious about war. This event was very important, as it was a main trigger for what started the war. -
Austria 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.
This newspaper (pirmary source) is from the time of this event. -
Germany declares war on Russia
Germany declared war on Russia, Germany was honoring their alliance with Austria-Hungary, after Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia in response to the assassination. Serbia and Russia were both Allies.
This newspaper (primary source) is dated the 1st of August, the very same day the news occurred.
This was an important event was Russia was also a significant force in the war and in the Allied Powers. -
Germany declares war on France and invades Belgium
Germany officially declared war, with the Schlieffen Plan, the aims of which were to win the war in six weeks. The invasion on Belgium happened the day after (4th). On August 1 the German government sent an ultimatum to Belgium demanding passage through the country but Belgium refused the demands.This picture (primary source) of the newspaper is also dated 3rd August the same day as the news occurred.
This event was important as Germany, France and Belgium were significant countries in the war. -
Britain declares war on Germany
Great Britain declared war on Germany. It was a decision that is seen as the start of World War One. Herbert Asquith had given Germany an ultimatum to get out of Belgium by midnight of August 3rd. The German military hierarchy had doomed Belgium to an invasion.
This picture (primary source) is a newspaper from the same day as the news occurred. This shows how quickly, evenback then, the news traveled.
This was a significant event as it was one of the factors that led to the Great War. -
Australia enters the war
Australia enters the war alongside Britain. Australia was still a very young nation at this point, having only been declared a Federation 13 years before. (See word document.) -
The First Battle of Marne
The first battle of Marne was fought to the north east of Paris. The opportunity opened for Anglo-French forces to reverse the victorious German advance through Belgium and France.
This picture (primary source) shows French soldiers on manœuvres in 1913. This was not part of the war but it shows where this battle took place.
This battle was important as the outcome brought to an end the war of movement. -
First Battle of Ypres
Allied and German forces began the first of what would be three battles to control the city and its advantageous positions on the north coast of Belgium during the war.
The picture (primary source) shows a Sikh Regiment of the Indian Army during the First Battle.
This was a tragic event as the German Army recorded over 134,000 casualties. The BEF reported over 7,900 soldiers killed, about 29,000 wounded and over 17,800 missing. Belgian Army lost 21,500 soldiers. -
Turkey entered the war on Germany's side.
The Ottoman–German Alliance was an alliance between the German Empire and the Ottoman Empire that was ratified shortly after the outbreak of World War I. The alliance was created as part of a joint effort that would strengthen and modernise the ailing Ottoman military.
The picture (a primary source) shows Turkish troops following a standard bearer carrying the Turkish flag across a muddy field.
This a a significant event as the Central Powers gained another Ally. -
Allied troops land in Gallipoli
On April 25, The Allies (British, French, Australian and New Zealander troops) landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula. However, the Turkish were prepared to meet them, as they knew of the likelihood of an invasion. The British and French suffered two-thirds casualties at some locations. Over the next 3 months, the allies only made slight gains.
The picture (primary source) shows mainly Anzacs at Gallipoli beach landing (Anzac Cove).
This was a very significant battle, as all of the Allies fought. -
Italy declares war on Austria-Hungary
It was fairly surprising that Italy voluntarily declared war, as it was a fairly neutral country. Italy had also been a member of the Triple Alliance alongside Germany and Austria-Hungary since 1882.
This picture (primary source) shows talian Alpine troops. This was fairly important as the Allied forces gained another country. -
Battle of Loos begins
The Battle of Loos was the British Army's contribution to the major Allied offensive launched simultaneously with the main French offensive in Champagne. During this battle, there was also the first use of poison gas by the British Army
The picture to the left is a primary source. It shows wounded French troops lying on stretchers at a farm after the Battle. This was a significant event, as it had been a quiet summer, and there was a sudden attack. The battle of Loos lasted two months. -
Lloyd George becomes British Prime Minister
Before he became prime minister, Lloyd George was chancellor of the exchequer (early in the war), minister for munitions (1915) and secretary of state for war (July 1916). George (in the last two years) persuaded the Royal Navy to introduce the convoy system and the unification of the Allied military command under the French general.
This picture (secondary source) is an oil painting of Lloyd George, done in 1923. -
USA declares war on Germany
Four days prior, President Woodrow Wilson went before a joint session of Congress to request a declaration of war against Germany. The picture (primary source) is an evening newspaper dated on the day the US declared war on Germany.
This was significant as the, already very large, Allied powers gained another force. -
Battle of Caporetto
The battle of Caporetto took place near the town of Kobarid. Austro-Hungarian and German forces broke through the Italian line along the northern Isonzo and caught the Italian defenders by surprise. Italy suffered huge losses: 10,000 were killed, 30,000 wounded and 265,000 were taken prisoner
The picture shows German assault troops at Caporetto, (Primary source.)
This was a significant ecent as the battle was one of the more decisive battles of World War One. -
Britain captures Jerusalem from the Turks
On the morning of 9 Dec 1917, after Turkish troops moved out of the region after only a single day s fighting, officials of the City of Jerusalem offer the keys to the city to British troops.
The British, led by General Edmund Allenby, who had arrived under strict instructions from London on how not to appear disrespectful to the city, its people,
This picture (primary source) shows General Edmund Allenby entering through the Jaffe Gate into the ancient city as the British formally take control. -
Turkey makes peace
A peace treaty between the Ukrainian National Republic (UNR) and the Central Powers of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey, and Bulgaria, was signed in Brest, Belarus.
This picture (primary source) shows Mykola H. Levytsky signing documents at the Brest-Litovsk Peace negotiations. -
Official end on World War One
The armistice that was signed by the Allies and Germany was the agreement that ended the fighting in western Europe. It went into effect at 11 a.m. Paris time on November 11, 1918, and marked a victory for the Allies and a complete defeat for Germany.
This picture (primary source) is an afteroon newspaper from the same day the armistice was signed.
This was one of the most important events of the war as it marked the official end of the war. -
Germans signed the Treaty of Versailles
This is a picture of the Treaty of Versailles. It ended war between Germany and the allied powers. It was signed on 28 June 1919, exactly five years after the assassination of Franz Ferdinand. This was very important, and it marked the official ending of the war, and peace was made. -
Republic of Austria
The Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye of September 10, 1919, established the Republic of Austria, consisting of most of the truncated German-speaking regions of the Habsburg state.
This picture (primary source) is of the signing ceremony. Austrian chancellor Renner addresses the delegates.
