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Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (Start of World War 1)
The assassination led directly to the First World War when Austria-Hungary subsequently issued an ultimatum to the Kingdom of Serbia, which was partially rejected. Austria-Hungary then declared war. -
Period: to
Timespan of World War 1
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Germany declares war on Russia
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The United Kingdom declares war on Germany
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The United States declare neutrality
President Woodrow Wilson formally proclaims the neutrality of the United States, a position that a vast majority of Americans favored, on August 4, 1914. Wilson’s initial hope was that America could be “impartial in thought as well as in action”. -
The United Kingdom begins the naval blockade of Germany
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Central powers control Belgrade
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Germany suspends unrestricted submarine warfare
Their strategy of submarine warfare was abandoned in favour of resuming commerce warfare after many unsuccessful attempts. -
The Central Powers create a unified command
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The Germans withdraw to the Hindenburg Line
German troops begin a well-planned withdrawal—ordered several weeks previously by Kaiser Wilhelm—to strong positions on the Hindenburg Line, solidifying their defense and digging in for a continued struggle on the Western Front in World War I. -
The United States declares war on Germany
The United Sates had declared war on Germany after the Imperial German Government had committed repeated acts of war against the Government and the people of the United States of America. -
Vardar Offensive
Final offensive on the Balkan Front -
Battle of the Hindenburg Line
The Allies break through the German lines. -
Bulgaria signs an armistice with the Allies
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Germany's Hochseeflotte surrendered to the United Kingdom
The first craft to be surrendered were the U-boats, which began to arrive at Harwich on 20 November 1918; 176 were eventually handed over. The German fleet was met by the light cruiser Cardiff on the morning of 21 November, and led to the rendezvous with over 370 ships of the Grand Fleet and other allied navies. There were 70 German ships in total; the battleship König and the light cruiser Dresden had engine trouble and had to be left behind. -
Proposal to create the League of Nations accepted
The League of Nations was an international organisation whose principal mission was to maintain world peace and was the first of its kind. -
Treaty of Versailles is signed
Ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. The treaty made Germany accept responsiblity for all the loss and damage that it caused including its allies.
