Chronology of the First World War: its characteristics

We explain what the First World War was and the main events in chronological order. Also, its antecedents and consequences.

The First World War broke out after the assassination of the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne.

What was World War I?

World War I was a military conflict that pitted the Allied or Entente countries (United Kingdom, France, Russia, Belgium, Italy and the United States) against the Central Empires (Germany, Austria-Hungary and Turkey).

The first World War started in July 1914after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, perpetrated by a Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914. The Austro-Hungarian Empire declared war on Serbia on July 28 and, in the first days of August, France, the United Kingdom, Russia, Germany and Belgium were already involved in a European conflict that soon affected all continents.

War It ended in November 1918 with the victory of the Entente allies.and peace was sealed with a series of treaties (such as the Treaty of Versailles of 1919) that had particularly harsh conditions for the defeated, especially Germany.

Chronology of World War I

Background to the First World War (1879-1914)

1879

• The German Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire establish an alliance.

1882

• The Kingdom of Italy joins the alliance between the German and Austro-Hungarian empires: the Triple Alliance or Triple Alliance is born.

1890

1893

• The Franco-Russian Alliance is created.

1898

• The Fachoda Incident occurs between France and the United Kingdom: a French expedition (constructing a west-east communication route) in Africa runs into a British expedition in Sudan (constructing a north-south route). Finally, the French withdraw from the area.

1904

• The Entente Cordiale is formed, an agreement between the United Kingdom and France for the mutual recognition of colonial interests.

1905-1906

• The first Moroccan crisis occurs when Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany visits Tangier (Morocco) and offers support to the Sultan against French influence, while the United Kingdom supports the French presence.

1906

• The Algeciras Conference is held in Spain, seeking to resolve the Moroccan crisis. France and Spain are granted control of Morocco (which, from 1912, will be a French protectorate in the south and a Spanish protectorate in the north). Germany is isolated from the region.

1907

• The Anglo-Russian Entente is signed and the Triple Entente (United Kingdom, France, Russia) is formed.

1908

• The Austrian annexation of Bosnia takes place.

1911

• The Agadir Incident in Morocco (the dispatch of a German gunboat in the context of a revolt) causes the second Moroccan crisis. An agreement is signed by which Germany abandons its claims in Morocco in exchange for a portion of the Congo that was in French hands.

1912-1913

• Balkan Wars: The Ottoman Empire loses most of its territories in Europe and the Balkan kingdoms fight over the region.

1914

• June 28th. Sarajevo attack (Bosnia): Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip assassinates the Archduke of Austria, Franz Ferdinand, and his wife.
• July 23th. The Austro-Hungarian government sends an ultimatum to the Serbian government, holding it responsible for the attack in Sarajevo.
• 28 of July. Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia.
• July 30. The general mobilization of troops in Russia takes place.
• August 1. Germany declares war on Russia. General mobilization takes place in France.
• August 3rd. Germany declares war on France.
• August 4th. Germany invades Belgium. The United Kingdom declares war on Germany.

The First World War (1914-1918)

1914

• July August. Beginning of hostilities. Germany attacks France through Belgium, applying the Schlieffen Plan.
• AugustGerman victory at Tannenberg on the Russian front. Japan joins the Entente.
• September. The French halt the German attack on the Marne. “Trench warfare” begins.
• OctoberTürkiye joins the Central Powers.

1915

• April. The Germans use poison gas for the first time at Ypres. Italy joins the Entente (Treaty of London). The unsuccessful landing of British, French, Australian and New Zealand troops at Gallipoli (Turkey) begins.
• October. Bulgaria enters the war alongside the Central Empires.

1916

• Bloody battles of Verdun (February to December) and the Somme (July to November) take place on the Western Front. Following the naval battle of Jutland (31 May to 1 June), Germany begins submarine warfare. Romania enters the war alongside the Entente in August but is soon defeated.

1917

• March. A revolution overthrows the Russian tsar and establishes a provisional government. In the Middle East, the British capture Baghdad.
• April. The United States enters the war.
• October November. The Italians are defeated at Caporetto.
• November. The Bolshevik revolution triumphs in Russia.
• December. Bolshevik Russia signs the armistice with the Central Empires. In the Middle East, the British capture Jerusalem.

1918

• JanuaryWoodrow Wilson, President of the United States, delivers the Fourteen Points Speech (a proposal to end the war and create conditions for future peace).
• MarchRussia and the Central Powers sign the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.
• July September. Allied counteroffensive on the Western Front. Bulgaria signs the armistice on September 29 in Thessaloniki.
• October. Italian victory at Vittorio Veneto. On 30 October, Türkiye signs the armistice at Moudros.
• November 3rd. Austria-Hungary signs an armistice at Villa Giusti. In Germany, a revolution overthrows the Kaiser and proclaims a republic.
• November 11th. Germany signs the armistice at Rethondes. The war is over.

The post-war peace treaties (1919-1920)

1919

• January. The Peace Conference begins in Paris.
• JuneTreaty of Versailles with Germany.
• SeptemberTreaty of Saint-Germain with Austria.
• November. Treaty of Neuilly with Bulgaria.

1920

• June. Treaty of Trianon with Hungary.
• AugustTreaty of Sèvres with Türkiye, later modified by the Treaty of Lausanne (1923).

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References

• Hastings, M. (2013). 1914. The year of the catastrophe. Criticism.
• Showalter, DE & Royde-Smith, JG (2022). World War I. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/
• Stone, N. (2013). Brief history of World War I. Ariel.