WWI Timeline by Aaliyah Tobar

Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (June 28, 1914)

12377317 — 2025-02-25 23:11:58 UTC

The Archduke of Austria Hungary was killed along with his wife due to the fear Serbians had over their independence. He had been spared once before but Gavrilo Princip made sure his second attempt was successful by, shooting two shots from a corner in the center of the city. This was a major reason Austria declared war on Serbia leading to the chain reaction of wars being declared from different sides of alliances. The assassination impacted societies in Europe by causing millions of deaths, destruction, and long process of reconstruction.

Battle of Verdun (February - December 1916)

12377317 — 2025-02-25 23:11:58 UTC

The Battle of Verdun was the longest and bloodiest battle during the war which included over 750,000 casualties. The German's 5th army attacked the defences of the French's 2nd army. This battle affected France the most because afterwards they experienced PTSD from the brutal fighting which brought down the morale of soldiers. The battle became a symbol of the dreadful nature of modern warfare.

Battle of the Somme (July-November 1916)

12377317 — 2025-02-25 23:11:58 UTC

The British and French armies started a big attack against the German forces near the Somme River in France. They gathered their troops, planned their move, and began fighting to push back the German soldiers and take control of the area. The Battle of the Somme left towns and families devastated, with many men killed and survivors struggling with trauma. Also lead to social changes like women taking on new jobs and growing distrust in war and leadership across Europe.

Russian revolution (March 8, 1917)

12377317 — 2025-02-25 23:11:58 UTC

The Russian Revolution was a series of events where the Russian people overthrew the monarchy of Tsar Nicholas II and established a communist government led by the Bolsheviks under Vladimir Lenin. This revolution led to Russia pulling out of the war and changing the country into the Soviet Union. The Russian Revolution changed Europe by removing Russia from the war, which allowed the Central Powers to focus on the Western Front. It also caused fear of revolutions in other countries and led to political changes in places like Germany and France.

Zimmermann telegram (January 1917)

12377317 — 2025-02-25 23:11:58 UTC

The Zimmermann Telegram was a secret message sent by Germany to Mexic, proposing an alliance if the U.S. entered the war against Germany, promising Mexico the return of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona if they attacked the U.S.. When the British intercepted the message and revealed the telegram, it outraged Americans and helped push the U.S. into the war on the Allied side. The Zimmermann Telegram increased tension in Europe because it showed Germany was trying to get other countries involved in the war, which worried the Allies. When the U.S. joined the war, it gave the Allies more support and helped them gain an advantage over Germany.

Treaty of Versailles (June 28 1919)

12377317 — 2025-02-25 23:11:58 UTC

The Treaty of Versailles, signed in 1919, officially ended World War I and caused harsh punishments on Germany, including territorial losses and huge repercussions. France wanted strict punishment for Germany, Britain wanted a fair peace but with some reparations, and the U.S. hoped for a more lenient treaty focused on lasting peace. The lasting effects of this treaty was the hardest on Germany because they had to pay $31.5 billion to repair the other countries damages leaving Germans suffering from starvation due to their debt. The result of the treaty influenced a German Soldier named Hitler into starting WWll to regain Germany's pride.