1. Pivotal Events in WWI 1914-1919

2. June 28, 1914 Event: Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie Event: Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie Significance: Ferdinand was the heir to the A-H throne. Assassinated by Serbian nationalist, Gavrilo Princip. A-H declares war on Serbia one month later, activating the complex system of alliances in Europe. Significance: Ferdinand was the heir to the A-H throne. Assassinated by Serbian nationalist, Gavrilo Princip. A-H declares war on Serbia one month later, activating the complex system of alliances in Europe.

3. September 5, 1914 Event: First Battle of Marne begins. Event: First Battle of Marne begins. Significance: Beginning of trench warfare as soldiers on both sides dug in. Disruption of Germany’s plan to quickly end the fighting on the Western Front. Significance: Beginning of trench warfare as soldiers on both sides dug in. Disruption of Germany’s plan to quickly end the fighting on the Western Front.

4. April 25, 1915 Event: The Battle of Gallipoli begins. Event: The Battle of Gallipoli begins. Significance: A bloody and brutal attempt by Allied forces to take Gallipoli, the gateway to the Ottoman capital of Constantinople. Significance: A bloody and brutal attempt by Allied forces to take Gallipoli, the gateway to the Ottoman capital of Constantinople.

5. May 7, 1915 Event: RMS Lusitania sank off the coast of Ireland by a German U-boat (submarine). Event: RMS Lusitania sank off the coast of Ireland by a German U-boat (submarine). Significance: American civilians killed and American merchant good lost in the sinking. American opinion turning against the Germans. Significance: American civilians killed and American merchant good lost in the sinking. American opinion turning against the Germans.

6. February 21, 1916 Event: The Battle of Verdun begins. Event: The Battle of Verdun begins. Significance: The longest and one of the bloodiest battles of WWI. Fought on the Western Front along the border of France and Germany. Significance: The longest and one of the bloodiest battles of WWI. Fought on the Western Front along the border of France and Germany.

7. July 1, 1916 Event: The Battle of the Somme begins. Event: The Battle of the Somme begins. Significance: One of the largest battles in the history of WWI. Battle lasted 3 months. 1.5 million men were killed. British lost 57,000 soldiers on the first day of fighting. Significance: One of the largest battles in the history of WWI. Battle lasted 3 months. 1.5 million men were killed. British lost 57,000 soldiers on the first day of fighting.

8. April 6, 1917 Event: US declares war on Germany. Event: US declares war on Germany. Significance: After the discovery of the Zimmerman note, the US declares war on Germany and enters the war on the side of the Allies. Significance: After the discovery of the Zimmerman note, the US declares war on Germany and enters the war on the side of the Allies.

9. December 17, 1917 Event: Russia agrees to an armistice with the Central Powers. Event: Russia agrees to an armistice with the Central Powers. Significance: After the events of the Russian revolution the new russian government no longer supports the war. Russia signs Treaty of Brest Litovsk on March 3 1918, declaring peace with the Central Powers. Significance: After the events of the Russian revolution the new russian government no longer supports the war. Russia signs Treaty of Brest Litovsk on March 3 1918, declaring peace with the Central Powers.

10. November 11, 1918 Event: Germany signs armistice at Compiegne, France. Event: Germany signs armistice at Compiegne, France. Significance: Fighting in Europe end on the 11 th hour of the 11 th day of the 11 th month (11am on November 11). Significance: Fighting in Europe end on the 11 th hour of the 11 th day of the 11 th month (11am on November 11).

11. June 28, 1919 Event: Treaty of Versailles is signed. Event: Treaty of Versailles is signed. Significance: Treaty officially ends WWI. Significance: Treaty officially ends WWI.