Timeline of the First World War
187 Timeline Events
1879/10/07 | |
Triple Alliance signed by Germany, Austria-Hungary and ItalyAlliance System 1914Austria-HungaryGermanyItalyThe Way to War | 1882/05/20 |
Franco-Russian Alliance drafted; finalized on 4 January 1894Alliance System 1914FranceRussian Empire | 1892/08/17 |
First Hague ConferenceHague Conferences 1899-1907International Law and the Laws of War | 1899/05/18 |
Signing of the "Boxer Protocol" (Boxer Rebellion in China)Austria-HungaryBelgiumChinaFranceGermanyGreat BritainItalyJapanRussian EmpireSpainThe NetherlandsUnited States of America | 1901/09/07 |
1902/01/30 | |
Russo-Japanese WarRusso-Japanese War | 1904/02/08 |
1904/04/08 | |
“Bloody Sunday” in St. PetersburgRevolution of 1905 (Russian Empire) | 1905/01/22 |
Wilhelm II of Germany visits Tangier, Morocco; First Moroccan Crisis beginsMoroccan Crises 1905-1911Wilhelm II, German Emperor | 1905/03/30 |
Second Hague ConferenceHague Conferences 1899-1907International Law and the Laws of War | 1907/06/15 |
1907/08/31 | |
Hague Convention of 1907 signedHague Conferences 1899-1907International Law and the Laws of War | 1907/10/18 |
Austria-Hungary announces annexation of Bosnia and HerzegovinaBosnian Crisis | 1908/10/05 |
Treaty of Ciudad Juárez signed, forcing Porfirio Díaz to abdicateMexican Revolution | 1911/05/21 |
Morocco-Congo Treaty ends Second Moroccan CrisisMoroccan Crises 1905-1911 | 1911/11/04 |
First Balkan WarBalkan Wars 1912-1913 | 1912/10/17 |
Austro-Hungarian Emperor passes War Requirement ActsFrancis Joseph I, Emperor of AustriaWar Requirement Acts | 1912/12/26 |
Administration of the city of Skutari assigned to the Great PowersScutari crisis | 1913/05/04 |
Redl Affair in ViennaEspionageRedl, Alfred | 1913/05/24 |
Second Balkan WarBalkan Wars 1912-1913 | 1913/06/26 |
Sarajevo Incident: Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife SophieBlack HandFranz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria-EsteSarajevo Incident | 1914/06/28 |
The Hoyos Mission, Germany gives "blank cheque" to Austria-HungaryBallhausplatzGermany's Blank Cheque to Austria-HungaryJuly Crisis 1914 | 1914/07/05 |
1914/07/23 | |
Austria-Hungary declares war on SerbiaAustria-HungarySerbiaTactics, Army (Austria-Hungary)Warfare 1914-1918 (South East Europe) | 1914/07/28 |
Pursuit of the cruisers Goeben and BreslauGoeben, SMS and Breslau, SMSNaval Warfare | 1914/07/28 |
Germany declares war on the Russian EmpireGermanyRussian EmpireWarfare 1914-1918 (Germany)Warfare 1914-1918 (Russian Empire) | 1914/08/01 |
1914/08/03 | |
Approval of war credits by German Reichstag leads to cleavage in the Social Democratic Party in Germany (SPD)Burgfrieden/Union sacréeSocial Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) | 1914/08/04 |
Declarations of “Burgfrieden” and „Union Sacrée” in Germany and France, announced by Kaiser Wilhelm II and French President Raymond PoincaréBurgfrieden/Union sacréePoincaré, RaymondWilhelm II, German Emperor | 1914/08/04 |
Germany begins occupation of BelgiumBissing, Moritz Ferdinand Freiherr vonGeneralgouvernement BelgienGoltz, Colmar Freiherr von derOccupation during the War (Belgium and France) | 1914/08/04 |
Great Britain declares war on Germany; the whole British Empire enters warColonial Military Participation in Europe (Africa)GermanyGreat BritainWarfare 1914-1918 (Germany)Warfare 1914-1918 (Great Britain and Ireland) | 1914/08/04 |
Montenegro declares war on Austria-HungaryAustria-HungaryMontenegroTactics, Army (Austria-Hungary)Warfare 1914-1918 (South East Europe) | 1914/08/07 |
1914/08/08 | |
Battle of CharleroiCharleroi, Battle ofWestern Front | 1914/08/21 |
1914/08/23 | |
1914/08/26 | |
Sea Battle of Heligoland BightNaval Warfare | 1914/08/28 |
First Battle of the MarneMarne, Battles of theWestern Front | 1914/09/05 |
Battle of the Masurian LakesEastern FrontWarfare 1914-1918 (Germany)Warfare 1914-1918 (Russian Empire) | 1914/09/07 |
First Battle of the Aisne: “Race to the Sea”Marne, Battles of theWestern Front | 1914/09/12 |
“Manifesto of the Ninety-Three" published in GermanyMaking Sense of the War (Germany) | 1914/10/04 |
First Battle of YpresWestern FrontYpres, Battles of | 1914/10/20 |
Serbia declares war on the Ottoman EmpireOttoman Empire/Middle EastSerbiaWarfare 1914-1918 (Ottoman Empire/Middle East)Warfare 1914-1918 (South East Europe) | 1914/10/29 |
Battle of CoronelCoronel, Battle ofNaval Warfare | 1914/11/01 |
Battle of TangaTanga, Battle of | 1914/11/03 |
1914/11/07 | |
Declaration of Holy War (Jihad) against the Entente Powers by Caliph Mehmed V Reshad in ConstantinopleJihad, Holy War (Ottoman Empire)Reshid, Mehmed | 1914/11/14 |
Battle of the Falkland IslandsFalklands, Battle of theNaval Warfare | 1914/12/08 |
First Battle of ChampagneChampagne OffensivesWestern Front | 1914/12/08 |
Battle of SarikamisCaucasus FrontSarıkamış, Battle of | 1914/12/22 |
Christmas Truce on the Western FrontChristmas TruceWestern Front | 1914/12/24 |
1915/01/18 | |
Sea Battle of Dogger BankNaval Warfare | 1915/01/24 |
Singapore Mutiny | 1915/02/15 |
Beginning of unrestricted submarine warfare by GermanySubmarines and Submarine WarfareWarfare 1914-1918 (Germany) | 1915/02/22 |
Second Battle of YpresWestern FrontYpres, Battles of | 1915/04/21 |
First use of poison gas by German armyGas WarfareWarfare 1914-1918 (Germany) | 1915/04/22 |
Landing of British, ANZAC, and French troops on the Gallipoli PeninsulaAnzac (Australia)Gallipoli, Campaign and Battle of | 1915/04/25 |
Battle of Gorlice-TarnówEastern FrontOffensive, Gorlice-Tarnow | 1915/05/02 |
Sinking of British passenger liner „Lusitania“ by a German submarineLusitania, Sinking ofSubmarines and Submarine Warfare | 1915/05/07 |
Italy declares war on Austria-HungaryAustria-HungaryItalian FrontItalyTactics, Army (Austria-Hungary)Warfare 1914-1918 (Italy) | 1915/05/23 |
Ottoman Parliament passes the Tehcir LawArmenian Genocide | 1915/05/27 |
1915/06/23 | |
Capitulation of German Southwest AfricaSchutztruppe (East Africa, Southwest Africa, Cameroon)South African Invasion of German South West Africa (Union of South Africa) | 1915/07/09 |
Zimmerwald ConferenceZimmerwald Conference | 1915/09/05 |
Beginning of the Second Battle of ChampagneChampagne OffensivesWestern Front | 1915/09/22 |
Bulgaria declares war on SerbiaBulgariaSerbiaWar in the BalkansWarfare 1914-1918 (South East Europe) | 1915/10/14 |
Main withdrawal of British and ANZAC units from GallipoliAnzac (Australia)Gallipoli, Campaign and Battle of | 1915/12/20 |
Obersten Affair in SwitzerlandOberstenaffäreSwitzerland | 1916/01/19 |
1916/01/23 | |
Conscription of all unmarried men aged 18-41 introduced in Great Britain (in May extended to married men)Recruitment to the Army (Great Britain and Ireland) | 1916/01/27 |
Hugo Ball opens Cabaret Voltaire in ZurichDada | 1916/02/05 |
Battles of VerdunVerdun, Battles ofWestern Front | 1916/02/21 |
1916/03/09 | |
Germany sinks French steam ship Sussex, resulting in temporary halt of German submarine warfareSubmarines and Submarine WarfareSussex Pledge | 1916/03/24 |
Easter RisingEaster Rising (Great Britain and Ireland) | 1916/04/24 |
British Expeditionary Force capitulate to the Turks at Kut al-AmaraBritish Expeditionary ForceKut al-Amara | 1916/04/29 |
Germany issues Sussex PledgeSubmarines and Submarine WarfareSussex Pledge | 1916/05/04 |
Sykes-Picot Agreement signedSykes-Picot Agreement | 1916/05/16 |
Speech by US president Woodrow Wilson: „Peace without victors and vanquished“Wilson, Woodrow | 1916/05/27 |
Sea Battle of JutlandJutland, Battle ofNaval Warfare | 1916/05/31 |
Beginning of the Brusilov OffensiveBrusilov, Alekseĭ AlekseevichEastern FrontKostiuchnówka, Battle of | 1916/06/04 |
Beginning of the Arab rising against Turkish ruleArab Officers in the Ottoman ArmyFaysal I, King of IraqLawrence, Thomas EdwardRevolutions and Rebellions: Van Resistance as Rebellion (Ottoman Empire/Middle East) | 1916/06/05 |
Battle of the SommeSomme, Battles ofWestern Front | 1916/07/01 |
Russo-Japanese Convention is signed in St. Petersburg | 1916/07/03 |
Battle of KostiuchnówkaBrusilov, Alekseĭ AlekseevichKostiuchnówka, Battle ofPiłsudski, JózefPolish Legions | 1916/07/04 |
1916/08/04 | |
Romania declares war on Austria-HungaryAustria-HungaryRomaniaTactics, Army (Austria-Hungary)Warfare 1914-1918 (South East Europe) | 1916/08/27 |
First use of British tanks on the Somme frontSomme, Battles ofTanks and Tank WarfareWarfare 1914-1918 (Great Britain and Ireland) | 1916/09/15 |
"Hindenburg-programme" announced in GermanyHindenburg, Paul vonWarfare 1914-1918 (Germany) | 1916/09/30 |
So-called Judenzählung (Jewish census) ordered by Prussian War Minister Adolf Wild von HohenbornJudenzählung (Jewish Census)Wild von Hohenborn, Adolf | 1916/10/11 |
Proclamation of a "Kingdom of Poland" dependent on the Central PowersDmowski, RomanPiłsudski, JózefPoland | 1916/11/05 |
Emperor Francis Joseph I. of Austria-Hungary diesCharles I, Emperor of AustriaFrancis Joseph I, Emperor of Austria | 1916/11/21 |
Hilfsdienst law approved in German ReichstagGermanyOberste Heeresleitung (OHL)Warfare 1914-1918 (Germany) | 1916/12/05 |
Entente powers publically announce their war aimsWar Aims and War Aims DiscussionsWar Aims and War Aims Discussions (France)War Aims and War Aims Discussions (Great Britain and Ireland)War Aims and War Aims Discussions (Russian Empire) | 1917/01/10 |
Zimmermann Telegram sent to German minister in MexicoZimmermann Telegram | 1917/01/19 |
Woodrow Wilson gives "Peace without victory" speechWilson, Woodrow | 1917/01/22 |
Outbreak of Russian February RevolutionLenin, Vladimir Il’ichNicholas II, Emperor of RussiaRevolutions (Russian Empire) | 1917/03/08 |
Fall of BaghdadFall of Baghdad | 1917/03/11 |
Tsar Nicholas II abdicatesNicholas II, Emperor of RussiaProvisional Government | 1917/03/15 |
1917/03/26 | |
The United States declares war on GermanyGermanyUnited States of AmericaWarfare 1914-1918 (Germany)Warfare 1917-1918 (USA) | 1917/04/06 |
Cuba and Panama declare war on GermanyGermanyLatin AmericaPanama and Panama CanalWarfare 1914-1918 (Germany) | 1917/04/07 |
Third Battle of ChampagneChampagne OffensivesWestern Front | 1917/04/17 |
The first day-time raid of London by German ZeppelinsLondon, Bombing ofZeppelin (Airship) | 1917/06/13 |
Arthur Hoffmann resigns from the Federal Council of Switzerland as a result of the Grimm-Hoffmann AffairGrimm, RobertGrimm-Hoffmann AffairZimmerwald Conference | 1917/06/19 |
Greece declares war on Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and BulgariaAustria-HungaryBulgariaGermanyGreeceOttoman Empire/Middle EastTactics, Army (Austria-Hungary)Warfare 1914-1918 (Germany)Warfare 1914-1918 (Ottoman Empire/Middle East)Warfare 1914-1918 (South East Europe) | 1917/06/29 |
Beginning of Kerenskii-OffensiveEastern FrontKerenskii, Aleksandr Fedorovich | 1917/07/01 |
July crisis in RussiaJuly Crisis 1917 (Russian Empire) | 1917/07/16 |
Signing of Corfu DeclarationCorfu Declaration | 1917/07/20 |
Third Battle of YpresWestern FrontYpres, Battles of | 1917/07/31 |
China declares war on Germany and Austria-HungaryAustria-HungaryChinaGermanyTactics, Army (Austria-Hungary)Warfare 1914-1918 (Germany) | 1917/08/14 |
1917/09/08 | |
La Courtine’s MutinyLa Courtine, Mutiny of | 1917/09/16 |
1917/10/24 | |
Attack by Canadian units at PasschendaeleYpres, Battles of | 1917/10/26 |
Brazil declares war on GermanyBrazilBrazilian Naval Division for War Operations (DNOG)GermanyWarfare 1914-1918 (Germany) | 1917/10/26 |
British government issues Balfour DeclarationBalfour DeclarationBalfour, Arthur James Balfour, Earl of | 1917/11/02 |
Lansing-Ishii-Agreement signedIshii-Lansing Agreement 1917Lansing, Robert | 1917/11/02 |
Beginning of Russian Civil War (until October 1922)International Responses to the Russian Civil War (Russian Empire)Revolutions (Russian Empire)Russian Civil War | 1917/11/07 |
October Revolution in RussiaLenin, Vladimir Il’ichNicholas II, Emperor of RussiaRevolutions (Russian Empire) | 1917/11/07 |
Lenin’s "Decree On Peace" passed by the Second Congress of the Soviet of Workers', Soldiers', and Peasants' DeputiesDecree on PeaceLenin, Vladimir Il’ichRevolutions (Russian Empire) | 1917/11/08 |
Russia proclaims Finnish independenceBaltic States and FinlandIndependence Wars (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia)Russian Empire | 1917/12/06 |
Occupation of German East Africa by British troopsEast and Central AfricaSchutztruppe (East Africa, Southwest Africa, Cameroon)South Africa and the German East Africa Campaign (Union of South Africa) | 1917/12/15 |
Woodrow Wilson presents his Fourteen-Point programFourteen PointsWilson, Woodrow | 1918/01/08 |
1918/01/27 | |
1918/01/28 | |
Mutiny of CattaroCattaro, Mutiny of | 1918/02/01 |
“Bread Peace” between Ukraine and the Central Powers concluded at Brest-LitovskBrest-Litovsk, Treaty ofUkraine | 1918/02/09 |
Peace Treaty of Brest-Litovsk signedBrest-Litovsk, Treaty of | 1918/03/03 |
1918/03/08 | |
Opening Session of Trabzon Peace ConferenceEnver Pasha, Ismail | 1918/03/14 |
Beginning of the German spring offensives on the Western FrontGerman Spring Offensives 1918Warfare 1914-1918 (Germany)Western Front | 1918/03/21 |
Lithuania declares independenceIndependence Wars (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) | 1918/03/23 |
1918/04/07 | |
Peace of Bucharest between Romania and the Central PowersAustria-HungaryBulgariaGermanyOttoman Empire/Middle EastRomania | 1918/05/07 |
Conference and Treaty of BatumBatum, Conference and Treaties of | 1918/05/11 |
Georgia declares independenceGeorgia | 1918/05/26 |
Armenia declares independenceArmenia | 1918/05/28 |
Azerbaijan declares independenceAzerbaijan | 1918/05/28 |
1918/06/15 | |
Second Battle of the MarneMarne, Battles of theWestern Front | 1918/07/15 |
British-French offensive at AmiensAmiens, Battle ofWestern Front | 1918/08/08 |
Battle of BakuAzerbaijanBaku, Battle of | 1918/08/26 |
Fifth Battle of YpresWestern FrontYpres, Battles of | 1918/09/28 |
Japanese Prime Minister Terauchi Masatake abdicates as a result of the rice riotsJapanTerauchi, Masatake | 1918/09/29 |
1918/10/24 | |
Proclamation of the Republic of CzechoslovakiaCrumbling of Empires and Emerging States: Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia as (Multi)national CountriesCzechoslovakia | 1918/10/28 |
Armistice of MudrosMudros, Armistice of | 1918/10/31 |
Polish Ukrainian Conflict over East GaliciaPolish-Ukrainian Conflict over Eastern Galicia | 1918/11/01 |
Beginning of Kiel MutinyKiel MutinyRevolutions (Germany) | 1918/11/03 |
1918/11/05 | |
Double Proclamation of a German republic by Philipp Scheidemann and Karl LiebknechtLiebknecht, Karl Paul August FriedrichRevolutions (Germany)Scheidemann, Philipp | 1918/11/09 |
Wilhelm II abdicatesRevolutions (Germany)Wilhelm II, German Emperor | 1918/11/09 |
1918/11/11 | |
Landesstreik in SwitzerlandLabour, Labour Movements, Trade Unions and Strikes (Switzerland)Landesstreik (Switzerland)Switzerland | 1918/11/11 |
1918/11/21 | |
Khaki Elections in Great BritainGovernments, Parliaments and Parties (Great Britain and Ireland)Khaki Election 1918 | 1918/12/14 |
Independence Wars in Lithuania, Latvia and EstoniaBaltische LandeswehrCēsis, Battle ofIndependence Wars (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia)Laidoner, Johan | 1918/12/15 |
Paris Peace Conference opens in VersaillesThe Paris Peace Conference and JapanThe Paris Peace Conference and its Consequences | 1919/01/18 |
1919/03/01 | |
Massacre of AmritsarAmritsar, Massacre ofPunjab Disturbances 1919 | 1919/04/13 |
Paris Peace Conference approves the League of Nations covenantLeague of NationsLeague of Nations and JapanThe Paris Peace Conference and its Consequences | 1919/04/28 |
German delegation arrives in VersaillesThe Paris Peace Conference and its ConsequencesVersailles, Treaty of | 1919/04/29 |
Student demonstrations in Beijing form the beginning of May Fourth MovementChinaMay Fourth Movement (China) | 1919/05/04 |
Referendum in Vorarlberg to join the Swiss FederationSwitzerlandVorarlberg Referendum | 1919/05/11 |
Beginning of the Greco-Turkish War: Occupation of Smyrna by GreeksGreeceOttoman Empire/Middle East | 1919/05/15 |
1919/06/19 | |
German foreign minister Hermann Müller signs Treaty of VersaillesThe Paris Peace Conference and its ConsequencesVersailles, Treaty of | 1919/06/28 |
Allied blockade against Germany lifted | 1919/07/12 |
Treaty of St. Germain is signedSaint-Germain, Treaty ofThe Paris Peace Conference and its Consequences | 1919/09/10 |
Treaty of Neuilly is signedNeuilly-sur-Seine, Treaty ofThe Paris Peace Conference and its Consequences | 1919/11/27 |
Inception of the Treaty of VersaillesThe Paris Peace Conference and its ConsequencesVersailles, Treaty of | 1920/01/10 |
1920/03/12 | |
1920/04/25 | |
Treaty of TrianonThe Paris Peace Conference and its ConsequencesTrianon, Treaty of | 1920/06/04 |
1920/08/10 | |
First League of Nations meeting held in GenevaLeague of NationsLeague of Nations and Japan | 1920/11/15 |
1920/12/23 | |
Treaty of RigaRiga, Treaty of | 1921/03/18 |
Leipzig War Crime TrialsLeipzig War Crimes Trials | 1921/05/23 |
Four-Power Pact is signedFranceGreat BritainJapanUnited States of AmericaWashington Conference 1921-1922 | 1921/12/13 |
“Die letzten Tage der Menschheit” by Karl Kraus is publishedKraus, KarlLiterature (Austria-Hungary)Literature (Germany)The Last Days of Mankind (play) | 1922/05/01 |
Treaty of LausannePost-war Treaties (Ottoman Empire/ Middle East) | 1923/07/24 |
"All quiet on the Western Front" is publishedAll Quiet on the Western Front (novel)Literature (Germany)Remarque, Erich Maria | 1929/01/29 |
“The Forty Days of Musa Dagh” is publishedArmenian GenocideThe Forty Days of Musa Dagh (novel) | 1933/11/15 |