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 War Russian-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. Petersburg Revolution 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 Herzegovina Bosnian Crisis	1908/10/05
Treaty of Ciudad Juárez signed, forcing Porfirio Díaz to abdicate Mexican Revolution	1911/05/21
Italo-Turkish War Italo-Turkish War 1911-1912	1911/09/29
Morocco-Congo Treaty ends Second Moroccan Crisis Moroccan Crises 1905-1911	1911/11/04
First Balkan War Balkan 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 Powers Scutari crisis	1913/05/04
Redl Affair in Vienna Espionage Redl, Alfred	1913/05/24
Second Balkan War Balkan 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 Bight Naval 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 Germany Making 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 Tanga Tanga, 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 Bank Naval 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 Law Armenian 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 Conference Zimmerwald 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 Zurich Dada	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 Rising Easter 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 signed Sykes-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 Mexico Zimmermann Telegram	1917/01/19
Woodrow Wilson gives "Peace without victory" speech Wilson, 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 Baghdad Fall 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 Russia July Crisis 1917 (Russian Empire)	1917/07/16
Signing of Corfu Declaration Corfu 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 Mutiny La 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 Passchendaele Ypres, 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 Cattaro Cattaro, 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 signed Brest-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 Conference Enver 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 independence Independence 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 Batum Batum, Conference and Treaties of	1918/05/11
Georgia declares independence Georgia	1918/05/26
Armenia declares independence Armenia	1918/05/28
Azerbaijan declares independence Azerbaijan	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 Mudros Mudros, Armistice of	1918/10/31
Polish Ukrainian Conflict over East Galicia Polish-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 lifted Naval 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 Riga Riga, Treaty of	1921/03/18
Leipzig War Crime Trials Leipzig 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 Lausanne Post-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