World War I, also known as the Great War, was a global conflict that occurred from 1914 to 1918. Here are the key dates associated with World War I:
Key Dates of World War I
- Start Date: July 28, 1914
- Event: Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia, following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria.
- Major Early Events:
- August 1, 1914: Germany declares war on Russia.
- August 3, 1914: Germany declares war on France.
- August 4, 1914: Britain declares war on Germany after the German invasion of Belgium.
- Key Battles and Events:
- September 6-10, 1914: The First Battle of the Marne takes place, halting the German advance into France.
- April 22-May 25, 1915: The Second Battle of Ypres sees the first large-scale use of chemical weapons.
- July 1-November 18, 1916: The Battle of the Somme is one of the largest and bloodiest battles of the war.
- End of the War:
- March 3, 1918: The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk is signed, ending the fighting between Germany and Soviet Russia.
- November 11, 1918: An armistice is signed, leading to the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front at 11:00 a.m.
- November 28, 1918: Germany formally agrees to the armistice.
- Official End Date: June 28, 1919
- Event: The Treaty of Versailles is signed, formally ending the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. The treaty imposes significant penalties and territorial losses on Germany.
Summary
World War I was a complex and devastating conflict involving many of the world’s nations and resulting in significant changes to the political and social landscape of the early 20th century. The war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, which aimed to address the issues that led to the war and to establish peace in Europe.