cronological

1914

June

• 28. Assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand, heir to throne of Austria-Hungary, and his wife at Sarajevo, Bosnia.

July

• 28. Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia.
• 29. Russian mobilization ordered.

August

• 1. Germany declares war on Russia.
• 1. France orders mobilization.
• 2. Germany demands free passage through Belgium.
• 3. Germany declares war on France.
• 3. Belgium rejects Germany's demand.
• 4. Germany at war with Belgium. Troops under Gen. Von Kluck cross border. Halted at Liege.
• 4. Great Britain at war with Germany. Kitchener becomes Secretary of War.
• 5. President Wilson tenders good offices of United States interests of peace.
• 6. Austria-Hungary at war with Russia.
• 7. French forces invade Alsace. Gen. Joffre in supreme command of French army.
• 7. Montenegro at war with Austria.
• 7. Great Britain's Expeditionary Force lands at Ostend, Calais and Dunkirk.
• 8. Serbia at war with Germany.
• 12. Great Britain at war with Austria-Hungary.
• 12. Montenegro at war with Germany.
• 17. Belgian capital removed from Brussels to Antwerp.
• 19. Canadian Parliament authorises raising expeditionary force.
• 20. Germans occupy Brussels.
• 23. Japan at war with Germany. Begins attack on Tsingtau.
• 24. Germans enter France near Lille.
• 25. Austria at war with Japan.
• 26. Viviani becomes premier of France.
• 28. Austria declares war on Belgium.
• 30. Amiens occupied by Germans.
• 31. Russian army of invasion in East Prussia defeated at Tannenberg by Germans under Von Hindenburg.

September

• 3. Paris placed in state of siege: Government transferred to Bordeaux.
• 6-10. Battle of Marne. Von Kluck is beaten by Gen. Joffre, and the German army retreats from Paris to the Soissons-Rheims line.
• 14. French reoccupy Amiens and Rheims.
• 29. Antwerp bombardment begins.

October

• 2. British Admiralty announces intention to mine North Sea areas.
• 9. Antwerp surrenders to Germans. Government removed to Ostend.
• 13. British occupy Ypres.
• 14. Canadian Expeditionary Force of 32,000 men lands at Plymouth.
• 15. Germans occupy Ostend. Belgian government removed to Havre, France.

November

• 5. Great Britain and France declare war on Turkey.
• 5. Cyprus annexed by Great Britain.

December

• 8. Off the Falkland Isles, British squadron under command of Rear-Admiral Sturdee, sinks three of the German cruisers which had destroyed the Good Hope and Monmouth on Nov. 1. The Dresden escapes.
• 16. German squadron bombards Hartlepool, Scarborough and Whitby on east coast of England.

1915

February

• 10. Prussians defeated by Germans in Battle of Masurian Lakes.
• 18. German submarine 'blockade' of British Isles begins.
• 25. Allied fleet destroys outer forts of Dardanelles.

March

• 2. Allied troops land at Kum-Kale, on Asiatic side of Dardanelles.
• 10. British take Neuve Chapelle in Flanders battle.
• 22. Austrian fortress of Przmysl surrenders to Russians.

April

• 22. Poison gas first used by Germans in attack on Canadians at Ypres, Belgium.

May

• 1. American steamer Gulflight torpedoed off Scilly Isles by German submarine; 3 lives lost.
• 2. British South Africa troops under General Botha capture Otymbingue, German Southwest Africa.
• 7. Germans capture Libau, Russian Baltic port.
• 7. Lusitania, Cunard liner, sunk by German submarine off Kinsale Head, Irish coast, with loss of 1152 lives; 102 Americans.
• 23. Italy declares war on Austria-Hungary and begins invasion on a 60 mile front.
• 31. German Zeppelins bombard suburbs of London.

June

• 4-6. German aircraft bomb English towns.
• 15. Allied aircraft bombs Karlsruhe, Baden, in retaliation.
• 22. Lemberg recaptured by Austrians.
• 26. Montenegrins enter Scutari, Albania.

July

• 9. German Southwest African surrenders to British South African troops under Gen. Botha.

August

• 5. Warsaw captured by Germans.
• 6. Gallipoli Peninsula campaign enters a second stage with the debarkation of a new force of British troops in Suvla Bay, on the west of the peninsula.
• 8. Russians defeat German fleet of 9 battleships and 12 cruisers at entrance of Gulf of Riga.
• 19. Arabic, White Star liner, sunk by submarine off Fastnet; 44 lives lost; 2 Americans.
• 25. Brest-Litovsk, Russian fortress, captured by Austro-Germans.
• 28. Italians reach Cima Cista, north-east of Trent.
• 30. British submarine attacks Constantinople and damages the Galata Bridge.
• 31. Lutsk, Russian fortress, captured by Austrians.

September

• 6. Czar Nicholas of Russia assumes command of Russian armies. Grand Duke Nicholas is transferred to the Caucasus.
• 25. Allies open offensive on Western front and occupy Lens.

October

• 5. Franco-British force lands at Salonika and Greek ministry resigns.
• 9. Belgrade again occupied by Austro-Germans.
• 12. Edith Cavell, English nurse, shot by Germans for aiding British prisoners to escape from Belgium.
• 13. London bombarded by Zeppelins; 55 persons killed; 114 injured.
• 14. Bulgaria at war with Serbia.
• 15. Great Britain declares war on Bulgaria.
• 17. France at war with Bulgaria.
• 19. Italy and Russia at war with Bulgaria.
• 29. Briand becomes premier of France, succeeding Viviani.

November

• 5. Nish, Serbian war capital, captured by Bulgarians.
• 24. Serbian government transferred to Scutari, Albania.

December

• 4. Henry Ford, with large party of peace advocates, sails for Europe on chartered steamer Oscar II, with the object of ending the war.
• 13. Serbia in hands of enemy, Allied forces abandoning last positions and retiring across Greek frontier.
• 15. Gen. Sir Douglas Haig succeeds Field Marshal Sir John French as Commander-in-Chief of British forces in France.
• 20. Dardanelles expedition ends; British troops begin withdrawal from positions on Suvla Bay and Gallipoli Peninsula.
• 22. Henry Ford leaves his peace party at Christiania and returns to the United States.

1916

January

• 11. Greek island of Corfu occupied by French.
• 13. Cettinje, capital of Montenegro, occupied by Austrians.
• 29-31. German Zeppelins bomb Paris and towns in England.

February

• 10. British conscription law goes into effect.
• 19. Kamerun, German colony in Africa, conquered by British forces.
• 21. Battle of Verdun begins. Germans take Haumont.
• 25. Fort Douaumont falls to Germans in Verdun battle.

March

• 9. Germany declares war on Portugal on the latter's refusal to give up seized ships.
• 15. Austria-Hungary at war with Portugal.
• 24. Sussex, French cross-channel steamer, with many Americans aboard, sunk by submarine off Dieppe. No Americans lost.
• 31. Melancourt taken by Germans in Verdun Battle.

April

• 19. President Wilson publicly warns Germany not to pursue submarine policy.
• 20. Russian troops landed at Marseilles for service on Frenchfront.
• 24. Irish rebellion begins in Dublin. Republic declared. Patrick Pearse announced as first President.
• 29. British force of 9000 men, under Gen. Townshend, besieged in Kut-el-Amara, surrenders to Turks.
• 30. Irish rebellion ends with unconditional surrender of Pearse and other leaders, who are tried by court-martial and executed.

May

• 8. Cymrio, White Star liner, torpedoed off Irish coast.
• 14. Italian positions penetrated by Austrians.
• 15. Vimy Ridge gained by British.
• 26. Bulgarians invade Greece and occupy forts on the Struma.
• 31. Jutland naval battle; British and German fleets engaged;heavy losses on both sides.

June

• 5. Kitchener, British Secretary of War, loses his life when the cruiser Hampshire, on which he was voyaging to Russia, is sunk off the Orkney Islands, Scotland.
• 6. Germans capture Fort Vaux in Verdun attack.
• 21. Allies demand Greek demobilization.
• 27. King Constantine orders demobilization of Greek army.

July

• 1. British and French attack north and south of the Somme.
• 14. British penetrate German second line, using cavalry.
• 15. Longueval captured by British.
• 25. Pozieres occupied by British.
• 30. British and French advance between Delville Wood and the Somme.

August

• 3. French recapture Fleury.
• 27. Roumania declares war on Austria-Hungary.
• 28. Italy at war with Germany.
• 28. Germany at war with Roumania.
• 31. Bulgaria at war with Roumania. Turkey at war with Roumania.

September

• 2. Bulgarian forces invade Roumania along the Dobrudja frontier.
• 13. Italians defeat Austrians on the Carso.
• 15. British capture Flers, Courcelette, and other Germans positions on Western front, using tanks.
• 26. Combles and Thiepval captured by British and French.
• 29. Roumanians begin retreat from Transylvania.

October

• 24. Fort Douaumont recaptured by French.

November

• 2. Fort Vaux evacuated by Germans.
• 7. Woodrow Wilson re-elected President of the United States.
• 13. British advance along the Ancre.
• 21. Britannic, mammoth British hospital ship, sunk by mine in Aegean Sea.
• 22. Emperor Franz Josef of Austria-Hungary, dies. Succeeded by Charles I.
• 23. German warships bombard English coast.
• 28. Roumanian government is transferred to Jassy.

December

• 1. Allied troops enter Athens to insist upon surrender of Greek arms and munitions.
• 6. Bucharest, capital of Roumania, captured by Austro-Germans.
• 7. David Lloyd George succeeds Asquith as Prime Minister.
• 15. French complete recapture of ground taken by Germans in Verdun battle.
• 18. President Wilson makes peace overtures to belligerents.
• 26. Germany replies to President's note and suggests a peace conference.
• 30. French government on behalf of Entente Allies replies to President Wilson's note and refuses to discuss peace till Germany agrees to give restitution, reparation and guarantees.

1917

January

• 1. Turkey declares its independence of suzerainty of European powers.
• 1. Ivernia, Cunard liner, is sunk in Mediterranean.

February

• 3. United States severs diplomatic relations with Germany. Count Von Bernstorff is handed his passports.
• 7. California, Anchor liner, is sunk off Irish coast.
• 13. Afric, White Star liner, sunk by submarine.
• 17. British troops on the Ancre capture German positions.
• 25. Laconia, Cunard liner, sunk off Irish coast.
• 26. Kut-el-Amara recaptured from Turks by new British Mesopotamian expedition under command of Gen. Sir Stanley Maude.
• 28. United States government makes public a communication from Germans to Mexico proposing an alliance, and offering as a reward the return of Mexico's lost territory in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.
• 28. Submarine campaign of Germans results in the sinking of 134 vessels

March

• 3. British advance on Bapaume.
• 3. Mexico denies having received an offer from Germany suggesting an alliance.
• 10. Russian Czar suspends sittings of the Duma.
• 11. Bagdad captured by British forces under Gen. Maude.
• 14. China breaks with Germany.
• 15. Czar Nicholas abdicates. Prince Lvoff heads new cabinet.
• 17. Bapaume falls to British. Roye and Lassigny occupied by French.
• 18. Peronne, Chaulnes, Nesle and Noyon evacuated by Germans, who retire on an 85-mile front.
• 18. City of Memphis, Illinois, and Vigilancia, American ships, torpedoed.
• 19. Alexander Ribot becomes French premier, succeeding Briand.
• 21. Healdton, American ship, bound from Philadelphia to Rotterdam, sunk without warning; 21 men lost.
• 26-31. British advance on Cambrai.

April

• 1. Aztec, American armed ship, sunk in submarine zone.
• 5. Missourian, American steamer, sunk in Mediterranean.
• 6. United States declares war on Germany.
• 7. Cuba and Panama at war with Germany.
• 8. Austria-Hungary breaks with United States.
• 9. Germans retreat before British on long front.
• 9. Bolivia breaks with Germany.
• 13. Vimy, Givenchy, Bailleul and positions about Lens taken by Canadians.
• 20. Turkey breaks with United States.
• 22. President Wilson suggests to the belligerents a peace without victory.
• 31. Germany announces intention of sinking all vessels in war zone around British Isles.

May

• 9. Liberia breaks with Germany.
• 11. Russian Council of Workmen's and Soldiers' Delegates demands peace conference.
• 15. Gen. Petain succeeds Gen. Nivelle as Commander-in-Chief of French armies. Gen. Foch is appointed Chief of Staff.
• 16. Bullecourt captured by British in the Arras battles.
• 17. Honduras breaks with German.
• 18. Conscription bill signed by President Wilson.
• 19. Nicaragua breaks with Germany.
• 22-26. Italians advance on the Carso.

June

• 5. Registration day for new draft army in United States.
• 7. Messines-Wytschaete ridge in English hands.
• 8. Gen. Pershing, Commander-in-Chief of American expeditionary force, arrives in England en route to France.
• 18. Haiti breaks with Germany.

July

• 1. Russians begin offensive in Gallicia, Kerensky, Minister of War, leading in person.
• 3. American expeditionary force arrives in France.
• 6. Canadian House of Commons passes Compulsory Military Service Bill.
• 12. King Constantine of Greece abdicates in favour of his secondson, Alexander.
• 16-23. Retreat of Russians on a front of 155 miles.
• 20. Alexander Kerensky becomes Russian premier, succeeding Lvoff.
• 20. Drawing of draft number for American conscript army begins.
• 22. Siam at war with Germany and Austria.
• 31. Franco-British attack penetrates German lines on a 20-mile front.

August

• 1. Pope Benedict XV makes plea for peace on a basis of no annexation, no indemnity.
• 7. Liberia at war with Germany.
• 8. Canadian Conscription Bill passes its third reading in Senate.
• 14. China at war with Germany and Austria-Hungary.
• 15. Canadian troops capture Hill 70, dominating Lens.
• 19. Italians cross the Isonzo and take Austrian positions.
• 28. Pope Benedict's peace plea rejected by President Wilson.

September

• 3. Riga captured by Germans.
• 14. Paul Painleve becomes French premier, succeeding Ribot.
• 16. Russia proclaimed a republic by Kerensky.
• 20. Costa Rica breaks with Germany.
• 21. Gen. Tasker H. Bliss named Chief of Staff of the United States Army.
• 26. Zonnebeke, Polygon Wood and Tower Hamlets, east of Ypres, taken by British.
• 29. Turkish Mesopotamian army, under Ahmed Bey, captured by British.

October

• 6. Peru and Uruguay break with Germany.
• 9. Poelcapelle and other German positions captured in Franco- British attack.
• 17. Antilles, American transport, westbound from France, sunk by submarine; 67 lost.
• 23. American troops in France fire their first shot in trench warfare.
• 23. French advance northeast of Soissons.
• 24. Austro-Germans begin great offensive on Italian positions.
• 25. Italians retreat across the Isonzo and evacuate the Bainsizza Plateau.
• 26. Brazil at war with Germany.
• 31. Beersheba, in Palestine, occupied by British.

November

• 1. Germans abandon position on Chemin des Dames.
• 3. Americans in trenches suffer 20 casualties in German attacks.
• 6. Passchendaele captured by Canadians.
• 6. British Mesopotamian forces reach Tekrit, 100 miles northwest of Bagdad.
• 7. The Russian Bolsheviki, led by Lenin and Trotzsky, seize Potrograd and depose Kerensky.
• 8. Gen. Diaz succeeds Gen. Cadorna as Commander-in-Chief of Italian armies.
• 10. Lenin becomes Premier of Russia, succeeding Kerensky.
• 15. Georges Clemenceau becomes Premier of France, succeeding Painlove.
• 21. Ribecourt, Flesquieres, Havrincourt, Marcoing and other German positions captured by British.
• 23. Italians repulse Germans on the whole front from the Asiago Plateau to the Brenta River.
• 24. Cambrai menaced by British, who approach within three miles, capturing Bourlon Wood.

December

• 1. German East Africa reported completely conquered.
• 1. Allies' Supreme War Council, representing the United States, France, Great Britain and Italy, holds first meeting at Versailles.
• 3. Russian Bolsheviki arrange armistice with Germans.
• 5. British retire from Bourlon Wood, Graincourt and other positions west of Cambrai.
• 7. Finland declares independence.
• 8. Jerusalem, held by the Turks for 673 years, surrenders to British, under Gen. Allenby.
• 10. Panama at war with Austria-Hungary.
• 11. United States at war with Austria-Hungary.
• 15. Armistice signed between Germany and Russia at Brest-Litovsk.
• 17. Coalition government of Sir Robert Borden is returned andconsidered confirmed in Canada.

1918

March

• 21. Ludendorff launches his series of major offensives, known as the 'Kaiserschlacht' in an effort to gain a decisive victory before the effect of the America entering into the War can be fully realised. Major successes are reported.
• 23. German offensive redirects towards Amiens and Paris.
• 28. German Operation 'Mars' repulsed at Arras.

April

• 4-5. Australians halt German advance at Villers Bretonneux.
• 9. German launch 'Georgette' offensive against British at Lys.
• 23-24. British attempt to blockade Ostend harbour fails.

May

• 27. German offensive 'Blucher' launched.
• 29. German troops advance to the Marne but are stopped by US Divisions.

June

• 15-16. Austrian offensive at Asiago defeated by combined British and French force.

July

• 15. Ludendorff launches final offensive.

August

• 8. Anglo-French counter-attack at Amiens supported by heavy artillery and 400 tanks achieves major successes. Ludendorff describes it as 'the Black Day' for the German army.

September

• 12. American offensive at St Mihiel.
• 23. British 15th Cavalry Brigade attacks Haifa.
• 26. Allied offensive at Meuse-Argonne.

October

• 26. Ludendorff is dismissed.
• 28. Kiel mutiny by German sailors.

November

• 1. Americans breakthrough German defences at Meuse.
• 3. German Sailors Soviet take control of Kiel.
• 3. Americans cut vital Lille-Metz rail link.
• 11. On the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month, the Armistice is signed effectively halting the War. The final Treaty of Versailles, is signed on June 28, 1919.