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Assassination of Franz Ferdinand
Shot dead in Sarajevo -
Europe descends into war
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia on 28 July. -
Britain declares war on Germany
Britain wanted to go to war with Germany -
The war in Africa
British and French forces invade German Colonies in Africa -
The Battle of Mons
The Battle of Mons in Belgium is the British Army's first engagement in France. -
The Battle of the Marne
As the German Army advances towards Paris, French and British soldiers counterattack along the line of the River Marne. -
The Indian Army joins the war
At the Battle of La Bassee in northern France Indian soldiers join the Allies for the first time. -
Siege of Tsingtao
In the Far East, Britain has an ally Japan. Fresh from victory in the Russo-Japanese war, the Japanese flex their military muscles. -
First use of poison gas
Both sides experiment with tear gas in the first winter of the war. -
The Gallipoli campaign
Bogged down in a stalemate on the Western Front, the Allies attack Germany's allies in the Middle East, the Ottoman Turks. -
The sinking of the Lusitania
One of the most terrifying new weapons of World War One is the U-Boat. These German submarines patrol Atlantic and Mediterranean trade routes. -
Conscription introduced in Britain
By 1916 heavy losses on the Western Front mean Britain’s volunteer army needs reinforcements. -
Battle of Verdun
At the start of 1916 the opposing forces are fighting a frustrating war of attrition on the Western Front. -
Battle of Jutland
The German fleet leaves the safety of its ports in a bid to shell the English coast and attack an element of the British fleet. -
The Battle of the Somme
The Battle of the Somme is one of the largest and bloodiest conflicts of World War One. Nearly 20,000 British soldiers die on the first day. -
America enters the war
In January 1917 Germany sends a message to Mexico, the infamous 'Zimmerman' telegram, inciting it to attack the US. -
Revolution in Russia
In March 1917 there is a popular uprising in Russia and Tsar Nicholas II abdicates. -
Germany launches the Spring Offensive
With its armies now free from the threat of Russia in the east, Germany mounts a series of major offensives in France in the spring. -
Hundred Days Offensive
Bolstered by American troops, the Allies carry out a series of sustained attacks, known as the Hundred Days Offensive. -
Armistice
Before the Allied armies can invade Germany, an armistice is signed, bringing the war on the Western Front to an end.
