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A Timeline of the Major Events of World War One in Europe

1914
28th JuneFranz Ferdinand Assassinated at Sarajevo.
29th JuneAustro-Hungary send despatch to Vienna accusing Serbian complicity in the killing.
5th JulyKaiser Wilhelm promises German support for Austria against Serbia.
20th JulyAustria-Hungary sends troops to the Serbian frontier.
25th JulySerbia mobilises its troops, Russia sends troops to the Austrian frontier.
28th JulyAustria-Hungary Declares war on Serbia.
29th JulyAustrians bombard Belgrade and German patrols cross the French border. Britain warns it cannot remain neutral.
1st AugustGermany declares war on Russia. Italy and Belgium announce neutrality. French mobilisation ordered.
3rd AugustGermany declares war on France and invades Belgium (Schlieffen plan). Great Britain mobilises.
4th AugustBritain declares war on Germany and Austria-Hungary (after ultimatum to stand down). US declares neutrality. Germany declares war on Belgium.
6th AugustFirst British casualties with the HMS Amphion sunk by German mines in the North sea. 150 men dead.
7th AugustFirst members of the BEF (British Expeditionary Force) arrive in France.
11th AugustStart of enlisting for Kitchener’s New Army ‘Your King and Country Need You’.
20th AugustBrussels is evacuated as German troops occupy the city.
23rd AugustThe BEF started its retreat from Mons. Germany invades France.
26th AugustRussian army defeated at Tannenburg and Masurian Lakes. BEF suffers over 7000 casualties at the Battle of Le Cateau –forced to retreat.
6th SeptemberBattle of the Marne starts; checks German advance, but at the cost of 13,000 British, 250,000 French and 250,000 German casualties.
19th OctoberFirst Battle of Ypres.
29th OctoberTurkey enters the war (on Germany’s side).
22nd NovemberTrenches are now established along the entire Western Front.
8th DecemberBattle of the Falkland Islands.
1915
19th JanuaryFirst Zeppelin raid on Britain (Great Yarmouth and Kings Lynn – killing 5).
18th FebruaryBlockade of Great Britain by German U-boats begins. All vessels considered viable targets, including neutrals.
22nd AprilSecond Battle of Ypres begins Widespread use of poison gas by Germany.
25th AprilAllied troops land in Gallipoli.
2nd MayAustro-German offensive on Galicia begins.
7th MayThe Lusitania is sunk by a German U-Boat – creating US/ German diplomatic crisis
23rd MayItaly declares war on Germany and Austria
31st MayFirst Zeppelin raid on London, killing 35 and shaking morale.
30th JuneGerman troops use flamethrowers for the first time, against the British at Hooge, Ypres.
5th AugustGermany captures Warsaw from the Russians.
21st AugustFinal British offensive in the Dardanelles (Scimitar Hill, Gallipoli). They lose, and suffer 5000 deaths.
25th SeptemberStart of the Battle of Loos and Champagne. The British use gas for the first time, but the wind blows it over their own troops, resulting in 2632 casualties.
31st OctoberSteel helmets introduced on the British Front.
15th DecemberSir Douglas Haig replaces Sir John French as Commander of the BEF.
1916
8th JanuaryAllied evacuation of Helles marks the end of the Gallipoli campaign.
21st FebruaryStart of the Battle of Verdun – German offensive against the Mort-Homme Ridge. The battle lasts 10 months and over a million men become casualties. (Finishes 18th December, the longest and costliest battle of the Western Front).
9th MarchGermany declares war on Portugal. Six days later, Austria follows suit.
31st MayBattle of Jutland – lasts until 1st June. German High Seas Fleet is forced to retire despite having inflicted heavier losses on the Royal Navy (14 ships and 6,100 men). German fleet irreparably damaged.
4th JuneStart of the Russian Brusilov Offensive on the Eastern front. Nearly cripples Austro-Hungary.
1st JulyStart of the Battle of the Somme – 750,000 allied soldiers along a 25 mile front. Nearly 60,000 are dead or wounded on the first day.
14th JulyBattle of Bazetin Ridge marks the end of the first Somme Offensive. The British break the German line but fail to deploy cavalry fast enough to take advantage. 9,000 men are lost.
23rd JulyBattle of Pozières Ridge marks the second Somme Offensive, costs 17,000 allied casualties – the majority of whom are Australian. (ends 7th August).
10th AugustEnd of the Brusilov Offensive.
9th SeptemberThe Battle of Ginchy. The British capture Ginchy – a post of vital strategic importance as it commands a view of the whole battlefield.
15th SeptemberFirst use en masse of tanks at the Somme. The Battle of Flers-Courcelette signifies the start of the third stage of the Somme offensive.
13th NovemberBattle of Ancre. The fourth phase of the Somme Offensive is marked by the British capturing Beaumont Hamel and St. Pierre Division, taking nearly 4,000 prisoners.
12th DecemberGermany delivers Peace Note to Allies suggesting compromise.
1917
1st FebruaryGermany’s unrestricted submarine warfare campaign starts.
3rd FebruaryUS sever diplomatic relations with Germany as U-boats threaten US shipping. Intercepted messages reveal that Germany is provoking the Mexicans into war with the US.
21st FebruaryThe great German withdrawal begins. Serre, Miraumont, Petit Miraumont, Pys and Warlencourt are evacuated, falling back 25 miles to establish stronger positions on the Hindenburg Line.
15th MarchTsar Nicholas II abdicates as Moscow falls to Russian Revolutionaries. Demise of the Russian army frees German troops for the Western front.
6th AprilUSA declares war on Germany – troops mobilise immediately.
9th AprilBattle of Arras. British successfully employ new tactics of creeping barrages, the ‘graze fuse’ and counter battery fire.
16th AprilFrance launches an unsuccessful offensive on the Western Front.
- Second Battle of Aisne begins as part of the ‘Nivelle Offensive’. Losses are horrendous, triggering mutinies in the French Army.
7th JuneThe Battle of Messines Ridge. British succeed with few casualties as detonate 19 mines under German front lines – the explosions are reportedly heard from England.
13th JuneGermans launch first major heavy bomber raid of London – kills and injures 594.
25th JuneFirst US troops arrive in France.
31st JulyStart of the Third Battle at Ypres – a 15 mile front in Flanders. Initial attacks are successful as the German forward trenches are lightly manned.
15th AugustThe Battle of Lens (Hill 70). – Canadians at the forefront , won a high vantage point, though loss of 9,200 men.
20th AugustThird Battle of Verdun begins. French progress is marked by gaining lost territory in the earlier battles.
9th OctoberThe third phase of the Ypres Offensive begins with British and French troops taking Poelcapelle. 25mm of rain falls in 48 hours and the battlefield turns into a quagmire.
12th OctoberBritish launch assault at Ypres Against the Passchendale Ridge. New Zealand and Australians take terrible casualties. Bogged down in mud and forced back to start lines.
24th OctoberBattle of Caporetto – Italian Army heavily defeated.
26th OctoberSecond Battle of Passchendaele begins, 12,000 men lost and 300 yards gained (ends 10th November – 500,000 casualties, 140,000 deaths and 5 miles gained).
6th NovemberBritain launches major offensive on the Western Front.
20th NovemberVictory for British tanks at Cambrai - The Royal flying Corps drop bombs at the same time on German anti-tank guns and strong points. Early example of the ‘Blitzkrieg’ tactics later used by Germany in World War Two.
5th DecemberArmistice between Germany and Russia signed.
1918
16th JanuaryRiots in Vienna and Budapest with dissatisfaction at the war.
3rd MarchTreaty of Brest-Litovsk signed between (Soviet) Russia and Germany.
21st MarchSecond Battle of the Somme marked by the German spring offensive, the ‘Kaiserschlacht’. Germans attack along a 50 mile front south of Arras.
22nd MarchVictory for Germany with operation Michael - Use of new ‘Storm trooper’ assault to smash through British positions west of St. Quentin, taking 16,000 prisoners.
23rd MarchGreatest air battle of the war takes place over the Somme, with 70 aircraft involved.
5th AprilThe German Spring Offensive halts outside Amiens as British and Australian forces hold the Line. The second 1917 battle of the Somme ends, as Germany calls off operation Michael.
9th AprilGermany starts offensive in Flanders –Battle of the Lys (ends 29th April).
19th MayGerman air force launches largest raid on London, using 33 aircraft.
27th MayOperation Blucher – The Third German Spring Offensive attacks the French army along the Aisne River. French are forced back to the Marne, but hold the river with help from the Americans.
15th JulySecond battle of the Marne started; final phase of German spring offensive.Start of the collapse of the German army with irreplaceable casualties.
8th AugustSecond Battle of Amiens – German resistance sporadic and thousands surrender.
27th SeptemberBritish offensive on the CambraiFront leads to the storming of the Hindenburg Line. Battle of St. Quentin – British and U.S troops launch devastating offensives.
4th OctoberGermany asks the allies for an armistice (sent to Woodrow Wilson).
8th OctoberAllies advance along a 20 mile front from St. Quentin to Cambrai, driving the Germans back and capturing 10,000 troops.
29th OctoberGermany’s navy mutinies (at Jade).
3rd NovemberAustria makes peace. German sailors mutiny at Kiel.
9th NovemberKaiser Wilhelm abdicates and revolution breaks out in Berlin.
11th NovemberGermany signs the armistice with the allies – coming into effect at 11.00am (official end of WWI).
1919
10th JanuaryCommunist Revolt in Berlin (Battle of Berlin).
18th JanuaryParis Peace Conference Begins.
25th JanuaryPrinciple of a League of Nations ratified.
6th MayUnder conditions of the Peace conference, German colonies are annexed.
21st JuneThe surrendered German naval fleet at Scapa Flow was scuttled.
28th JuneTreaty of Versailles signed.
19th JulyCenotaph unveiled in London.
War Brides: A Play in One Act (WWI Centenary Series)

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