Timeline Of The First World War

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International Encyclopedia of the First World War

World War 1 Timeline

Discover significant events of the First World War through our timeline: Each of the 190 timeline events is linked to a variety of articles, allowing you to gain a deeper understanding of the causes, consequences, and complexities of World War I. Whether you're a student researching for a school project, a historical researcher, or simply eager to expand your knowledge, our WWI timeline offers a valuable resource for anyone interested in this pivotal chapter of global history.

190 Timeline Events

Title Event Date
Dual Alliance signed by Germany and Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary Germany The Way to War 1879/10/07
Triple Alliance signed by Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy Alliance System 1914 Austria-Hungary Germany Italy The Way to War 1882/05/20
Franco-Russian Alliance drafted; finalized on 4 January 1894 Alliance System 1914 France Russian Empire 1892/08/17
First Hague Conference Hague Conferences 1899-1907 International Law and the Laws of War 1899/05/18
Signing of the "Boxer Protocol" (Boxer Rebellion in China) Austria-Hungary Belgium China France Germany Great Britain Italy Japan Russian Empire Spain The Netherlands United States of America 1901/09/07
Anglo-Japanese Alliance signed Alliance System 1914 Great Britain Japan 1902/01/30
Russo-Japanese WarRussian-Japanese-War 1904/02/08
“Entente Cordiale” signed between Great Britain and France France Great Britain The Way to War 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 begins Moroccan Crises 1905-1911 Wilhelm II, German Emperor 1905/03/30
Second Hague Conference Hague Conferences 1899-1907 International Law and the Laws of War 1907/06/15
Anglo-Russian Entente signed Great Britain Russian Empire The Way to War 1907/08/31
Hague Convention of 1907 signed Hague Conferences 1899-1907 International 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
Italo-Turkish WarItalo-Turkish War 1911-1912 1911/09/29
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 Acts Francis Joseph I, Emperor of Austria War Requirement Acts 1912/12/26
Administration of the city of Skutari assigned to the Great PowersScutari crisis 1913/05/04
Redl Affair in Vienna Espionage Redl, 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 Sophie Black Hand Franz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria-Este Sarajevo Incident 1914/06/28
The Hoyos Mission, Germany gives "blank cheque" to Austria-Hungary Ballhausplatz Germany's Blank Cheque to Austria-Hungary July Crisis 1914 1914/07/05
Austria-Hungary gives Serbia ultimatum Austria-Hungary July Crisis 1914 Serbia The Way to War 1914/07/23
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia Austria-Hungary Serbia Tactics, Army (Austria-Hungary) Warfare 1914-1918 (South East Europe) 1914/07/28
Pursuit of the cruisers Goeben and Breslau Goeben, SMS and Breslau, SMS Naval Warfare 1914/07/28
Germany declares war on the Russian Empire Germany Russian Empire Warfare 1914-1918 (Germany) Warfare 1914-1918 (Russian Empire) 1914/08/01
Germany declares war on France France Germany Warfare 1914-1918 (France) Warfare 1914-1918 (Germany) 1914/08/03
Approval of war credits by German Reichstag leads to cleavage in the Social Democratic Party in Germany (SPD) Burgfrieden/Union sacrée Social 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 Poincaré Burgfrieden/Union sacrée Poincaré, Raymond Wilhelm II, German Emperor 1914/08/04
Germany begins occupation of Belgium Bissing, Moritz Ferdinand Freiherr von Generalgouvernement Belgien Goltz, Colmar Freiherr von der Occupation during the War (Belgium and France) 1914/08/04
Great Britain declares war on Germany; the whole British Empire enters war Colonial Military Participation in Europe (Africa) Germany Great Britain Occupation during and after the War (Africa) Warfare 1914-1918 (Germany) Warfare 1914-1918 (Great Britain and Ireland) 1914/08/04
Montenegro declares war on Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary Montenegro Tactics, Army (Austria-Hungary) Warfare 1914-1918 (South East Europe) 1914/08/07
Defence of the Realm Act (DORA) passed Censorship Defence of the Realm Act (DORA) Great Britain 1914/08/08
Battle of Charleroi Charleroi, Battle of Western Front 1914/08/21
Japan declares war on Germany Germany Japan Warfare 1914-1918 (Germany) Warfare 1914-1918 (Japan) 1914/08/23
Battle of Tannenberg Eastern Front Hindenburg, Paul von Tannenberg, Battle of 1914/08/26
Sea Battle of Heligoland BightNaval Warfare 1914/08/28
First Battle of the Marne Marne, Battles of the Western Front 1914/09/05
Battle of the Masurian Lakes Eastern Front Warfare 1914-1918 (Germany) Warfare 1914-1918 (Russian Empire) 1914/09/07
First Battle of the Aisne: “Race to the Sea” Marne, Battles of the Western Front 1914/09/12
“Manifesto of the Ninety-Three" published in GermanyMaking Sense of the War (Germany) 1914/10/04
First Battle of Ypres Western Front Ypres, Battles of 1914/10/20
Serbia declares war on the Ottoman Empire Ottoman Empire/Middle East Serbia Warfare 1914-1918 (Ottoman Empire/Middle East) Warfare 1914-1918 (South East Europe) 1914/10/29
Battle of Coronel Coronel, Battle of Naval Warfare 1914/11/01
Battle of TangaTanga, Battle of 1914/11/03
German naval base Tsingtao (Quingdao) is captured by Japanese and British troops Qingdao, Siege of/German-Japanese War Warfare 1914-1918 (Germany) Warfare 1914-1918 (Great Britain and Ireland) Warfare 1914-1918 (Japan) 1914/11/07
Declaration of Holy War (Jihad) against the Entente Powers by Caliph Mehmed V Reshad in Constantinople Jihad, Holy War (Ottoman Empire) Reshid, Mehmed 1914/11/14
Battle of the Falkland Islands Falklands, Battle of the Naval Warfare 1914/12/08
First Battle of Champagne Champagne Offensives Western Front 1914/12/08
Battle of Sarikamis Caucasus Front Sarıkamış, Battle of 1914/12/22
Christmas Truce on the Western Front Christmas Truce Western Front 1914/12/24
Twenty-One Demands sent from Japanese Empire to China China Japan Twenty-One Demands 1915/01/18
Sea Battle of Dogger BankNaval Warfare 1915/01/24
Announcement of unrestricted submarine warfare by Germany Submarines and Submarine Warfare Warfare 1914-1918 (Germany) 1915/02/04
Singapore Mutiny 1915/02/15
Second Battle of Ypres Western Front Ypres, Battles of 1915/04/21
First use of poison gas by German army Gas Warfare Warfare 1914-1918 (Germany) 1915/04/22
Landing of British, ANZAC, and French troops on the Gallipoli Peninsula Anzac (Australia) Gallipoli, Campaign and Battle of 1915/04/25
Battle of Gorlice-Tarnów Eastern Front Offensive, Gorlice-Tarnow 1915/05/02
Sinking of British passenger liner „Lusitania“ by a German submarine Lusitania, Sinking of Submarines and Submarine Warfare 1915/05/07
Italy declares war on Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary Italian Front Italy Tactics, Army (Austria-Hungary) Warfare 1914-1918 (Italy) 1915/05/23
Ottoman Parliament passes the Tehcir LawArmenian Genocide 1915/05/27
First Battle of Isonzo Isonzo, Battles of Italian Front Warfare 1914-1918 (Italy) 1915/06/23
Capitulation of German Southwest Africa Occupation during and after the War (Africa) Schutztruppe (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 Champagne Champagne Offensives Western Front 1915/09/22
Bulgaria declares war on Serbia Bulgaria Serbia War in the Balkans Warfare 1914-1918 (South East Europe) 1915/10/14
Main withdrawal of British and ANZAC units from Gallipoli Anzac (Australia) Gallipoli, Campaign and Battle of 1915/12/20
Obersten Affair in Switzerland Oberstenaffäre Switzerland 1916/01/19
Capitulation of Montenegro Montenegro War in the Balkans Warfare 1914-1918 (South East Europe) 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 Verdun Verdun, Battles of Western Front 1916/02/21
Germany declares war on Portugal Germany Portugal Warfare 1914-1918 (Germany) 1916/03/09
Germany sinks French steam ship Sussex, resulting in temporary halt of German submarine warfare Submarines and Submarine Warfare Sussex Pledge 1916/03/24
Easter RisingEaster Rising (Great Britain and Ireland) 1916/04/24
British Expeditionary Force capitulate to the Turks at Kut al-Amara British Expeditionary Force Kut al-Amara 1916/04/29
Germany issues Sussex Pledge Submarines and Submarine Warfare Sussex 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 Jutland Jutland, Battle of Naval Warfare 1916/05/31
Beginning of the Brusilov Offensive Brusilov, Alekseĭ Alekseevich Eastern Front Kostiuchnówka, Battle of 1916/06/04
Beginning of the Arab rising against Turkish rule Arab Officers in the Ottoman Army Faysal I, King of Iraq Lawrence, Thomas Edward Revolutions and Rebellions: Van Resistance as Rebellion (Ottoman Empire/Middle East) 1916/06/05
Battle of the Somme Somme, Battles of Western Front 1916/07/01
Russo-Japanese Convention is signed in St. Petersburg 1916/07/03
Battle of Kostiuchnówka Brusilov, Alekseĭ Alekseevich Kostiuchnówka, Battle of Piłsudski, Józef Polish Legions 1916/07/04
Battle of Gorizia Gorizia, Battle of Isonzo, Battles of Italian Front Warfare 1914-1918 (Italy) 1916/08/04
Romania declares war on Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary Romania Tactics, Army (Austria-Hungary) Warfare 1914-1918 (South East Europe) 1916/08/27
First use of British tanks on the Somme front Somme, Battles of Tanks and Tank Warfare Warfare 1914-1918 (Great Britain and Ireland) 1916/09/15
"Hindenburg-programme" announced in Germany Hindenburg, Paul von Warfare 1914-1918 (Germany) 1916/09/30
So-called Judenzählung (Jewish census) ordered by Prussian War Minister Adolf Wild von Hohenborn Judenzählung (Jewish Census) Wild von Hohenborn, Adolf 1916/10/11
Proclamation of a "Kingdom of Poland" dependent on the Central Powers Dmowski, Roman Piłsudski, Józef Poland 1916/11/05
Emperor Francis Joseph I. of Austria-Hungary dies Charles I, Emperor of Austria Francis Joseph I, Emperor of Austria 1916/11/21
Hilfsdienst law approved in German Reichstag Germany Oberste Heeresleitung (OHL) Warfare 1914-1918 (Germany) 1916/12/05
Entente powers publically announce their war aims War Aims and War Aims Discussions War 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
"Operation Alberich"Warfare 1914-1918 (Germany) 1917/02/09
Outbreak of Russian February Revolution Lenin, Vladimir Il’ich Nicholas II, Emperor of Russia Revolutions (Russian Empire) 1917/03/08
Fall of BaghdadFall of Baghdad 1917/03/11
Tsar Nicholas II abdicates Nicholas II, Emperor of Russia Provisional Government 1917/03/15
German troops withdraw to the Hindenburg Line Hindenburg, Paul von Western Front 1917/03/16
Battles of Gaza Beersheba-Gaza Line Egyptian Expeditionary Force Ottoman Empire/Middle East 1917/03/26
The United States declares war on Germany Germany United States of America Warfare 1914-1918 (Germany) Warfare 1917-1918 (USA) 1917/04/06
Cuba and Panama declare war on Germany Germany Latin America Panama and Panama Canal Warfare 1914-1918 (Germany) 1917/04/07
Third Battle of Champagne Champagne Offensives Western Front 1917/04/17
The first day-time raid of London by German Zeppelins London, Bombing of Zeppelin (Airship) 1917/06/13
Arthur Hoffmann resigns from the Federal Council of Switzerland as a result of the Grimm-Hoffmann Affair Grimm, Robert Grimm-Hoffmann Affair Zimmerwald Conference 1917/06/19
Greece declares war on Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria Austria-Hungary Bulgaria Germany Greece Ottoman Empire/Middle East Tactics, 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-Offensive Eastern Front Kerenskii, 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 Ypres Western Front Ypres, Battles of 1917/07/31
China declares war on Germany and Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary China Germany Tactics, Army (Austria-Hungary) Warfare 1914-1918 (Germany) 1917/08/14
Luxburg Affair Germany Latin America Luxburg Affair 1917/09/08
La Courtine’s MutinyLa Courtine, Mutiny of 1917/09/16
Battle of Caporetto Caporetto, Battle of Italian Front Warfare 1914-1918 (Italy) 1917/10/24
Attack by Canadian units at PasschendaeleYpres, Battles of 1917/10/26
Brazil declares war on Germany Brazil Brazilian Naval Division for War Operations (DNOG) Germany Warfare 1914-1918 (Germany) 1917/10/26
British government issues Balfour Declaration Balfour Declaration Balfour, Arthur James Balfour, Earl of 1917/11/02
Lansing-Ishii-Agreement signed Ishii-Lansing Agreement 1917 Lansing, 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 Russia Lenin, Vladimir Il’ich Nicholas II, Emperor of Russia Revolutions (Russian Empire) 1917/11/07
Lenin’s "Decree On Peace" passed by the Second Congress of the Soviet of Workers', Soldiers', and Peasants' Deputies Decree on Peace Lenin, Vladimir Il’ich Revolutions (Russian Empire) 1917/11/08
Russia proclaims Finnish independence Baltic States and Finland Independence Wars (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) Russian Empire 1917/12/06
Occupation of German East Africa by British troops East and Central Africa Occupation during and after the War (Africa) Schutztruppe (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 program Fourteen Points Wilson, Woodrow 1918/01/08
Finnish Civil War Finnish Civil War 1918 Jäger Movement Mannerheim, Carl Gustaf Emil Tampere, Battle of 1918/01/27
Mass strikes in Germany Luxemburg, Rosa Revolutions (Germany) Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) 1918/01/28
Mutiny of CattaroCattaro, Mutiny of 1918/02/01
“Bread Peace” between Ukraine and the Central Powers concluded at Brest-Litovsk Brest-Litovsk, Treaty of Ukraine 1918/02/09
Peace Treaty of Brest-Litovsk signedBrest-Litovsk, Treaty of 1918/03/03
Battle of Tampere Finnish Civil War 1918 Jäger Movement Mannerheim, Carl Gustaf Emil Tampere, Battle of 1918/03/08
Opening Session of Trabzon Peace ConferenceEnver Pasha, Ismail 1918/03/14
Beginning of the German spring offensives on the Western Front German Spring Offensives 1918 Warfare 1914-1918 (Germany) Western Front 1918/03/21
Lithuania declares independenceIndependence Wars (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) 1918/03/23
Fourth Battle of Ypres Lys, Battle of the Western Front Ypres, Battles of 1918/04/07
Peace of Bucharest between Romania and the Central Powers Austria-Hungary Bulgaria Germany Ottoman Empire/Middle East Romania 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
Battle of the Piave Italian Front Piave, Battles of Warfare 1914-1918 (Italy) 1918/06/15
Second Battle of the Marne Marne, Battles of the Western Front 1918/07/15
British-French offensive at Amiens Amiens, Battle of Western Front 1918/08/08
Battle of Baku Azerbaijan Baku, Battle of 1918/08/26
Fifth Battle of Ypres Western Front Ypres, Battles of 1918/09/28
Japanese Prime Minister Terauchi Masatake abdicates as a result of the rice riots Japan Terauchi, Masatake 1918/09/29
Battle of Vittorio Veneto Italian Front Vittorio Veneto, Battle of Warfare 1914-1918 (Italy) 1918/10/24
Proclamation of the Republic of Czechoslovakia Crumbling of Empires and Emerging States: Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia as (Multi)national Countries Czechoslovakia 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 Mutiny Kiel Mutiny Revolutions (Germany) 1918/11/03
Lansing Note Lansing, Robert The Paris Peace Conference and its Consequences 1918/11/05
Double Proclamation of a German republic by Philipp Scheidemann and Karl Liebknecht Liebknecht, Karl Paul August Friedrich Revolutions (Germany) Scheidemann, Philipp 1918/11/09
Wilhelm II abdicates Revolutions (Germany) Wilhelm II, German Emperor 1918/11/09
Cease-fire treaty signed in the Forest of Compiègne Erzberger, Matthias Foch, Ferdinand Western Front 1918/11/11
Landesstreik in Switzerland Labour, Labour Movements, Trade Unions and Strikes (Switzerland) Landesstreik (Switzerland) Switzerland 1918/11/11
Belgium forms new government Albert I, King of the Belgians Belgium Loppem Coup 1918/11/21
Khaki Elections in Great Britain Governments, Parliaments and Parties (Great Britain and Ireland) Khaki Election 1918 1918/12/14
Independence Wars in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia Baltische Landeswehr Cēsis, Battle of Independence Wars (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) Laidoner, Johan 1918/12/15
Paris Peace Conference opens in Versailles The Paris Peace Conference and its Consequences The Paris Peace Conference and Japan 1919/01/18
A series of demonstrations for Korean independence from Japan begin Japan Korea 1919/03/01
Massacre of Amritsar Amritsar, Massacre of Punjab Disturbances 1919 1919/04/13
Paris Peace Conference approves the League of Nations covenant League of Nations League of Nations and Japan The Paris Peace Conference and its Consequences 1919/04/28
German delegation arrives in Versailles The Paris Peace Conference and its Consequences Versailles, Treaty of 1919/04/29
Student demonstrations in Beijing form the beginning of May Fourth Movement China May Fourth Movement (China) 1919/05/04
Referendum in Vorarlberg to join the Swiss Federation Switzerland Vorarlberg Referendum 1919/05/11
Beginning of the Greco-Turkish War: Occupation of Smyrna by Greeks Greece Ottoman Empire/Middle East 1919/05/15
Battle of Cesis Cēsis, Battle of Independence Wars (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) 1919/06/19
German foreign minister Hermann Müller signs Treaty of Versailles The Paris Peace Conference and its Consequences Versailles, Treaty of 1919/06/28
Allied blockade against Germany liftedNaval Blockade (of Germany) 1919/07/12
Treaty of St. Germain is signed Saint-Germain, Treaty of The Paris Peace Conference and its Consequences 1919/09/10
Treaty of Neuilly is signed Neuilly-sur-Seine, Treaty of The Paris Peace Conference and its Consequences 1919/11/27
Inception of the Treaty of Versailles The Paris Peace Conference and its Consequences Versailles, Treaty of 1920/01/10
Nikolaevsk Massacre International Responses to the Russian Civil War (Russian Empire) Japan Russian Civil War 1920/03/12
Polish-Soviet War Poland Polish-Soviet War 1920-1921 Russian Empire 1920/04/25
Treaty of Trianon The Paris Peace Conference and its Consequences Trianon, Treaty of 1920/06/04
Treaty of Sèvres Post-war Treaties (Ottoman Empire/ Middle East) The Paris Peace Conference and its Consequences 1920/08/10
First League of Nations meeting held in Geneva League of Nations League of Nations and Japan 1920/11/15
Government of Ireland Act is signed Great Britain Ireland Irish Home Rule 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 signed France Great Britain Japan United States of America Washington Conference 1921-1922 1921/12/13
“Die letzten Tage der Menschheit” by Karl Kraus is published Kraus, Karl Literature (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 published All Quiet on the Western Front (novel) Literature (Germany) Remarque, Erich Maria 1929/01/29
“The Forty Days of Musa Dagh” is published Armenian Genocide The Forty Days of Musa Dagh (novel) 1933/11/15
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