World War I: A Concise Timeline of Key Events
1914
On 28 June, in Sarajevo, a Slav nationalist assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand,
Heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary. Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia and Europe
Found itself at war, because of the diplomatic alliances: Austria-Hungary, Germany
And Italy (Central Powers); and Britain, France and Russia (Triple Entente or
Allies).
On 4 August, Germany invaded neutral Belgium, and Britain declared war – fearing
The occupation of the Channel. On 7 August, Britain sent the British Expeditionary
Force to France to stop the German advance. The French and British were successful
In their objective in the Battle of Marne (September). Each side tried to get to
The coast in a sort of race to the sea.
A huge trench system was built from the Swiss border to the north of France. Because of this system, defending was Easier than attacking. The conflict became a ‘world’ war when Japan entered the war allied to the Entente; and the Ottoman Empire joined the Central Powers. Africa and Asia Were the ‘theatres’ of war of imperial forces. At sea, a new well equipped German fleet challenged the British fleet, the largest In the world.
A huge trench system was built from the Swiss border to the north of France. Because of this system, defending was Easier than attacking. The conflict became a ‘world’ war when Japan entered the war allied to the Entente; and the Ottoman Empire joined the Central Powers. Africa and Asia Were the ‘theatres’ of war of imperial forces. At sea, a new well equipped German fleet challenged the British fleet, the largest In the world.
1915
At the beginning of the year the competing powers realised that the conflict was
Going to be longer than expected. In Britain, the Government extended their
War powers on the economy and recruited women for traditional ‘men’s work’.
On the Western Front the trench system made the conflict a ‘lines war’, and
Innovations like poison gas achieved almost nothing except for killing more
Soldiers.
Battles such as Loos (September) were indecisive and led to little Movements in the lines of trenches. In the east, Bulgaria joined the Central Powers. Attacks continued on Serbia And Russia. In April, the French and British attempted to open a new front in Turkey at Gallipoli. It was a terrible battle – it lasted 9 months. In the end, the Allies forces did not achieve their objectives. At sea, Britain imposed a blockade on the German ports. In response, the German fleet started the submarine war. On 7 May, the Lusitania, a passenger Liner travelling from the United States, was sunk by the German submarines And Americans were killed. New types of war were introduced. At the end of May, London suffered the first Attack from the air. Bombs were dropped from German Zeppelin airships.
Battles such as Loos (September) were indecisive and led to little Movements in the lines of trenches. In the east, Bulgaria joined the Central Powers. Attacks continued on Serbia And Russia. In April, the French and British attempted to open a new front in Turkey at Gallipoli. It was a terrible battle – it lasted 9 months. In the end, the Allies forces did not achieve their objectives. At sea, Britain imposed a blockade on the German ports. In response, the German fleet started the submarine war. On 7 May, the Lusitania, a passenger Liner travelling from the United States, was sunk by the German submarines And Americans were killed. New types of war were introduced. At the end of May, London suffered the first Attack from the air. Bombs were dropped from German Zeppelin airships.
1916
The British government decided to create a mass popular army. The War Minister,
Lord Kitchener had called Britons to war (‘Your country needs you), giving rise
To a million volunteers, but conscription (starting on 9 February) brought 4.5
Million Britons into the army.
Germany launched a huge offensive at Verdun in February, trying to hit France
Deeply. During the next ten months nearly a million soldiers died. The British
And French embarked on a new offensive at the Somme (July) using new innovations
Such as tanks.
At sea, the battle went on. The most significant and decisive battle took place in
The North Sea at Jutland on 31 May 1916. Although the British lost more ships,
The German fleet was more heavily damaged. It spent most of the rest of the
War at home bases. The British fleet controlled the seas and imperial troops
And supplies could reach Europe much more easily.
1917 was a very significant year in the Great War.
The course of the war was Changing. In February, the German Army retreated to the Hindenburg line, a Defensive line. The October Revolution took Russia out of the war in December (armistice), And after the Brest-Litovsk Treaty (March 1918), the German forces could concentrate On the Western Front. On 6 April the USA declared war on Germany. New ships, new troops and supplies Came to Europe to help the Allied nations. On the Western Front, the Allied forces pushed the German lines in the battle of Arras. In July, the Allies used mustard gas to break the German lines at Ypres. In November, at Cambrai, the Allies used a massive force of tanks for the first Time, succeeding in the offensive, but German counter-attack re-occupied the Ground gained. Outside Europe, the Allied forces were taking control of the war. By June, British Forces had taken Baghdad and Jerusalem from the Ottoman Empire. Lawrence Of Arabia and the Arab forces attacked Akkaba.
The course of the war was Changing. In February, the German Army retreated to the Hindenburg line, a Defensive line. The October Revolution took Russia out of the war in December (armistice), And after the Brest-Litovsk Treaty (March 1918), the German forces could concentrate On the Western Front. On 6 April the USA declared war on Germany. New ships, new troops and supplies Came to Europe to help the Allied nations. On the Western Front, the Allied forces pushed the German lines in the battle of Arras. In July, the Allies used mustard gas to break the German lines at Ypres. In November, at Cambrai, the Allies used a massive force of tanks for the first Time, succeeding in the offensive, but German counter-attack re-occupied the Ground gained. Outside Europe, the Allied forces were taking control of the war. By June, British Forces had taken Baghdad and Jerusalem from the Ottoman Empire. Lawrence Of Arabia and the Arab forces attacked Akkaba.
German forces from the East launched an offensive on the Western Front in
The spring of 1918. In July the Germans had failed to break the Allied lines.
Counter-offensives at the Marne and Amiens in August were successful and
At the beginning of autumn Germans retreated far behind the Hindenburg line.
On 11 November in the Forest of Compiégne, an armistice between both sides
Was signed. By October 1918, the Ottoman Empire had agreed to an armistice.
But the Treaty of Versailles was signed much later, in 28 June 1919. It was the
Official ending of the war.