The Treaty of Lausanne is signed by the Allies and Turkey, the successor state to the Ottoman Empire. It supersedes the failed Treaty of Sèvres and offically ends the First World War.
Treaty of Sèvres
The Treaty of Sèvres is signed by the Allies and the Ottoman Empire. The treaty is not recognised by the Turkish national movement, which considers the Constantinople (now Istanbul) government illegitimate.
Treaty of Trianon
The Treaty of Trianon is signed by the Allies and newly-independent Hungary.
First meeting of League of Nations
The first meeting of the League of Nations is held in London.
Treaty of Neuilly-sur-Seine
The Treaty of Neuilly-sur-Seine is signed by the Allies and Bulgaria.
Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye
The Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye is signed by the Allies and newly-independent Austria.
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles is signed by the Allies and Germany.
German fleet sunk at Scapa Flow
The German High Seas Fleet is scuttled in Scapa Flow in the Orkneys with nine deaths. These are the last casualties of the First World War.
League of Nations approved
At the Paris Peace Conference a proposal to create the League of Nations, an open diplomatic forum, is accepted.
Paris Peace Conference begins
A peace conference opens in Paris to negotiate treaties between the Allies and the defeated Central Powers. Many view the terms of the treaties as excessively punitive.
Yugoslavia formed
Yugoslavia is formed by merging Serbia with several territories of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Germany evacuates Belgium
German fleet surrenders to British
Hungary proclaimed a republic
End of fighting in East Africa
Three days after the armistice between Germany and the Allies, fighting ends in East Africa. General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck agrees a cease-fire on hearing of Germany’s surrender.
Czechoslovakia formed
Czechoslovakia is formed by merging several territories of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Austria proclaimed a republic
Germany signs armistice with Allies
At 6.00am Germany signs an armistice with the Allies at Compiègne in northern France. Fighting on the Western Front ceases at 11.00am.
Kaiser Charles I abdicates
The Austro-Hungarian Kaiser Charles I abdicates, marking the end of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicates
The German Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicates and the Weimar Republic is proclaimed, marking the end of the German Empire.
Battle of the Sambre
Part of the Hundred Days Offensive: The Allied victory at the Battle of the Sambre is the final operation of the Hundred Days Offensive.
Austria-Hungary signs armistice with Italy
Over a million women workers in Britain
By November 1918 over a million women have been formally added to the British workforce since the outbreak of war.
Ottoman Empire signs armistice with Allies
The Ottoman Empire signs the Armistice of Mudros with the Allies.
Groener appointed Hindenburg’s deputy
General Wilhelm Groener replaces General Erich Ludendorff as Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg’s deputy.
Battle of Vittorio Veneto
The Italians defeat the Austro-Hungarians at the Battle of Vittorio Veneto.
Battle of Sharqat
British-Indian troops secure a decisive victory at the Battle of Sharqat in Mesopotamia (now Iraq).
Germany suspends submarine warfare
Battle of the Selle
Part of the Hundred Days Offensive: The Allies are victorious at the Battle of the Selle.
Battle of Courtai
Part of the Hundred Days Offensive: The Allies are victorious at the Battle of Courtrai.
British enter Damascus
British Empire troops enter the Ottoman-controlled city of Damascus in Syria.
Bulgaria signs armistice with Allies
Battle of St Quentin Canal
Part of the Hundred Days Offensive: Australian and British troops secure victory at the Battle of the St Quentin Canal.
Battle of the Canal du Nord
Part of the Hundred Days Offensive: British, Canadian and New Zealand troops enjoy success at the Battle of the Canal du Nord.
Meuse-Argonne Offensive
Part of the Hundred Days Offensive: The Allies launch the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, the final phase of the Hundred Days Offensive.
Battle of Megiddo
British Empire troops conquer Palestine following the decisive victory at Megiddo (including the Battles of Sharon, Nablus, Nazareth and Haifa).
Battle of Épehy
Part of the Hundred Days Offensive: The Allies secure victory at the Battle of Épehy.
Third Battle of Doiran
The Third Battle of Doiran sees the Bulgarians temporarily halt the Allied advance.
Vardar Offensive
The Allies launch the Vardar Offensive, the decisive attack against the Bulgarians on the Salonika front.
Battle of Havrincourt
Part of the Hundred Days Offensive: British and New Zealand troops secure victory at the Battle of Havrincourt.
Battle of Mont Saint Quentin
Part of the Hundred Days Offensive: Australian troops secure victory at the Battle of Mont Saint Quentin.
Battle of the Scarpe
Part of the Hundred Days Offensive: Canadian forces enjoy success in the Battle of the Scarpe.
Dunsterforce in Baku
The Dunsterforce, formed of British Empire troops, arrives at Baku in Azerbaijan to secure the oil fields from the Bolsheviks and Ottomans, and protect British interests in the region. It is forced to evacuate in the face of overwhelming Ottoman opposition.
Second Battle of the Somme
Part of the Hundred Days Offensive: British Empire and American troops are victorious during the Second Battle of the Somme.
Battle of Amiens
Part of the Hundred Days Offensive: The Germans are defeated at the Battle of Amiens, the first stage of the Hundred Days Offensive.
Hundred Days Offensive begins
The Allies launch a decisive counter-attack on the Western Front.
Second Battle of the Marne
The final phase of the Spring Offensive (also known as the Second Battle of the Marne) fails when the Germans are counter-attacked by the French.
Second Battle of the Piave
An Austro-Hungarian offensive is repulsed at the Second Battle of the Piave in Italy.
Battle of Matz
During the fourth phase of the Spring Offensive (also known as Operation Gneiseau), the German attack is defeated by the Allies.
Battle of Belleau Wood
Part of the Spring Offensive: The Allies halt another German attack at the Battle of Belleau Wood.
Battle of Cantigny
The first major American attack of war takes place at the Battle of Cantigny.
Third Battle of the Aisne
During the third phase of the Spring Offensive (also known as Operation Blücher-Yorck or the Third Battle of the Aisne), the German advance is halted after early gains.
Second Battle of Kemmel
Part of the Spring Offensive: The British and French resist another German attack at the Second Battle of Kemmel.
World’s first tank battle
The world’s first tank battle occurs at Villers-Bretonneux on the Western Front when British Mark IVs engage German A7 tanks.
Battle of Bethune
Part of the Spring Offensive: German attacks are repulsed by the Allies at the Battle of Bethune.
First Battle of Kemmel
Part of the Spring Offensive: German attacks are repulsed by the Allies at the First Battle of Kemmel.
Battle of Bailleul
Part of the Spring Offensive: Despite stiffening resistance, the Germans make further gains following the Battle of Bailleul.
Haig’s ‘Backs to the Wall’ special order
Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig issues his ‘Special Order of the Day’, often known as his ‘Backs to the Wall’ communiqué, calling on Allied troops to stand firm against the German Spring Offensive.
Battle of Estaires
Part of the Spring Offensive: The Germans enjoy success against British and Portuguese forces at the Battle of Estaires.
German offensive in Flanders
The second phase of the Spring Offensive (also known as Operation Georgette or the Battle of the Lys) sees German advances in Belgium.
Battle of the Ancre
Part of the Spring Offensive: A final German thrust towards Amiens is checked during the Battle of the Ancre.
Battle of the Avre
Part of the Spring Offensive: Despite nearly reaching Amiens, the Germans are held at the Battle of the Avre.
Royal Air Force formed
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is founded by combining the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service.
First Battle of Arras
Part of the Spring Offensive: The First Battle of Arras sees German attacks slowed down by the Allies.
Battle of Rosières
Part of the Spring Offensive: The Germans enjoy further gains following the Battle of Rosières.
Marshal Foch made Supreme Allied Commander
French Marshal Ferdinand Foch is appointed Supreme Commander of all Allied forces in response to the German Spring Offensive.
First Battle of Bapaume
Part of the Spring Offensive: German forces enjoy further success at the First Battle of Bapaume.
Paris shelled
The Germans bombard Paris with long-range guns.
Battle of Saint Quentin
Part of the Spring Offensive: German forces enjoy success at the Battle of Saint Quentin.
Germans launch Spring Offensive
During the first phase of the Spring Offensive (also known as Operation Michael) on the Western Front, the Germans make sweeping early gains towards Amiens.
‘Spanish flu’ outbreak
The first case of ‘Spanish influenza’ is recorded in the United States. In the next two years well over 50 million people die as the movement of soldiers and civilians spreads the disease globally.
Brest-Litovsk Treaty
Leon Trotsky signs a punitive peace treaty with Germany on behalf of Bolshevik Russia.
Capture of Jericho
British Empire troops capture the Ottoman-controlled city of Jericho in Palestine.
British women given vote
The Representation of the People Act 1918 is given Royal Assent, giving the vote to women over 30.
President Wilson’s Fourteen Points
US President Woodrow Wilson publishes his ‘Fourteen Points’ outlining a post-war world based on free trade, open diplomacy, democracy and self-determination.
Russian-German armistice
The Germans agree an armistice with Bolshevik Russia.
Battle of Jaffa
British Empire forces are victorious over the Ottomans at the Battle of Jaffa in Palestine.
United States declares war on Austria-Hungary
Battle of Cambrai
After initial success, the British attack on German positions at Cambrai results in stalemate.
Battle of Jerusalem
British Empire forces launch a successful offensive against the Ottomans in Palestine, culminating in General Edmund Allenby’s entry into the city of Jerusalem.
Second Battle of Heligoland Bight
The Second Battle of Heligoland Bight, a naval engagement between Britain and Germany in the North Sea, ends in stalemate.
Battle of Mughar Ridge
British Empire troops are victorious over the Ottomans at the Battle of Mughar Ridge in Palestine.
Third Battle of Ypres ends
The Third Battle of Ypres (also known as Passchendaele) ends in stalemate.
First Battle of the Piave
The Austro-Hungarians and Germans fail to force a river crossing during the First Battle of the Piave against the Italians.
Diaz made Italian Commander-in-Chief
General Armando Diaz replaces General Luigi Cadorna as Commander-in-Chief of the Italian Army.
October Revolution
The Bolsheviks seize power in Russia during the October Revolution.
Allies establish Supreme War Council
The Allies agree to establish a Supreme War Council at Versailles.
Clemenceau appointed French Prime Minister
Georges Clemenceau replaces Paul Painlevé as French Prime Minister.
Third Battle of Gaza
The Allies break through the Ottoman lines at the Third Battle of Gaza in Palestine.
Battle of Beersheba
British and Australian troops enjoy further success over the Ottomans at the Battle of Beersheba in Palestine.
Orlando appointed Italian Prime Minister
Vittorio Emanuele Orlando succeeds Paolo Boselli as Italian Prime Minister.
Battle of El Buggar Ridge
British and Australian troops are victorious over the Ottomans at the Battle of El Buggar Ridge in Palestine.
Second Battle of Passchendaele
Part of the Third Battle of Ypres: The Second Battle of Passchendaele, the final phase of the Ypres operations, ends in deadlock.
Battle of Caporetto
The Austro-Hungarians and Germans defeat the Italians at the Battle of Caporetto (also known as the Twelfth Battle of the Isonzo).
Battle of Malmaison
A French success at the Battle of Malmaison captures much of the strategically important Chemin des Dames ridge.
Battle of Mahiwa
The Germans secure victory over British forces at the Battle of Mahiwa in German East Africa (now Tanzania).
First Battle of Passchendaele
Part of the Third Battle of Ypres: A British Empire and French attack at the First Battle of Passchendaele ends in a German defensive success.
Battle of Poelcappelle
Part of the Third Battle of Ypres: British, French and Australian assaults are repulsed by the Germans during the Battle of Poelcappelle.
Battle of Broodseinde
Part of the Third Battle of Ypres: British, Australian and New Zealand forces enjoy success at the Battle of Broodseinde.
Battle of Ramadi
British-Indian troops are victorious at the Battle of Ramadi in Mesopotamia (now Iraq).
Battle of Polygon Wood
Part of the Third Battle of Ypres: British and Australian troops secure limited gains during the Battle of Polygon Wood.
Battle of the Menin Road Ridge
Part of the Third Battle of Ypres: British forces enjoy success at the Battle of the Menin Road Ridge.
First use of mustard gas on the Western Front
The Germans use mustard gas against British troops for the first time during the Third Battle of Ypres.
Battle of Langemarck
Part of the Third Battle of Ypres: The British and French are repulsed during the Battle of Langemarck.
Battle of Hill 70
The Battle of Hill 70 near Lens sees limited Canadian success against the Germans.
First advanced plastic surgery
Petty Officer Walter Yeo, badly burned during the Battle of Jutland (1916) on HMS ‘Warspite’, becomes the first person to undergo advanced plastic surgery when he is treated by Sir Harold Gillies.
Battle of Pilckem Ridge
Part of the Third Battle of Ypres: A British attack is repulsed during the Battle of Pilckem Ridge.
Third Battle of Ypres begins
Allied forces launch an offensive in Belgium, but in appalling weather conditions the Third Battle of Ypres (also known as Passchendaele) soon becomes an attritional slogging match.
Tank Corps formed
The Tank Corps is formed to co-ordinate the growing use of tanks in the British Army.
Royal Family changes name
King George V changes the Royal Family’s name from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to the less German-sounding Windsor.
Arab rebels take Aqaba
Arab rebels led by Colonel TE Lawrence (also known as Lawrence of Arabia) seize the Ottoman port of Aqaba.
Kerensky Offensive
The last Russian attack of the war, the Kerensky Offensive, is defeated by the Central Powers.
Pioneering facial injury hospital founded
The Queen’s Hospital in Sidcup, Kent is opened to specialise in the treatment of soldiers’ facial injuries.
First blood bank established on Western Front
US Army doctor, Captain Oswald Robertson, sets up the first blood bank on the Western Front.
First American troops land in France
British capture Messines Ridge
British, Australian, Canadian and New Zealand forces capture the Messines Ridge from the Germans.
Pétain appointed French Commander-in-Chief
General Philippe Pétain replaces General Robert Nivelle as Commander-in-Chief of the French Army.
Introduction of convoy system
The Royal Navy introduces the convoy system to protect shipping from German U-Boats.
Third Battle of the Scarpe
Part of the Battle of Arras: British attacks on German positions are repulsed at the Third Battle of the Scarpe.
Second Battle of Bullecourt
Part of the Battle of Arras: A British and Australian assault is repelled during the Second Battle of Bullecourt.
Mutinies in French Army
A series of mutinies weakens the French Army. From this point onwards the British Empire takes on a greater role in the fighting.
Battle of Arleux
Part of the Battle of Arras: The British and Canadians secure limited gains during the Battle of Arleux.
Second Battle of the Scarpe
Part of the Battle of Arras: British and Newfoundland troops launch an unsuccessful attack in the Second Battle of the Scarpe.
Second Battle of Doiran
The Second Battle of Doiran on the Salonika front ends in a Bulgarian victory over the Allies.
Second Battle of Gaza
The Ottomans resist another British attack at the Second Battle of Gaza in Palestine.
Second Battle of the Aisne
The Second Battle of the Aisne (or the Nivelle Offensive) ends in disaster for the French Army and its commander General Robert Nivelle.
Battle of Lagnicourt
Part of the Battle of Arras: The Germans mount a counter-offensive against Australian forces at the Battle of Lagnicourt.
First Battle of Bullecourt
Part of the Battle of Arras: A British and Australian attack is beaten off by the Germans at the First Battle of Bullecourt.
Battle of Vimy Ridge
Part of the Battle of Arras: The Canadians obtain a significant victory over the Germans in the Battle of Vimy Ridge. This engagement sees the first successful use by British Empire forces of flash-spotting and sound-ranging techniques to detect and suppress enemy batteries.
First Battle of the Scarpe
Part of the Battle of Arras: Despite heavy casualties at the hands of the Germans, British forces secure limited gains.
Battle of Arras
The Arras offensive sees British, Australian, Canadian, Newfoundland and New Zealand troops attack heavily fortified German lines without obtaining any strategic breakthrough.
United States of America declares war on Germany
Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps arrives on the Western Front
The first detachment of the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) arrives on the Western Front, under the command of Assistant Controller Helen Gwynne Vaughan.
First Battle of Gaza
British and Australian troops are defeated by the Ottomans at the First Battle of Gaza in Palestine.
Tsar Nicholas II abdicates
The Russian Tsar Nicholas II abdicates. A provisional government is appointed.
Samarrah Offensive
The British mount a successful offensive against the Ottomans at Samarrah in Mesopotamia (now Iraq).
British take Baghdad
British-Indian forces capture Baghdad in Mesopotamia (now Iraq).
Straussenberg appointed Austro-Hungarian Chief of Staff
General Arz von Straussenberg replaces General Conrad von Hötzendorf as Austro-Hungarian Chief of Staff.
Germans retreat to Hindenburg Line
German forces on the Western Front withdraw to strongly defended positions along the Hindenburg Line.
Second Battle of Kut
British-Indian forces recapture the city of Kut in Mesopotamia (now Iraq) from the Ottomans.
Germany resumes unrestricted submarine warfare
Battle of Nahr-al-Kalek
The British enjoy success against the Ottomans at the Battle of Nahr-al-Kalek in Mesopotamia (now Iraq).
Battle of Rafa
The British drive the Ottomans out of Sinai following the Battle of Rafa.
Battle of Magdhaba
British, Australian and New Zealand forces are victorious at the Battle of Magdhaba in the Sinai peninsula.
Battle of Verdun ends
Fighting at Verdun, the longest battle of the First World War, comes to an end.
Nivelle appointed French Commander-in-Chief
General Robert Nivelle replaces General Joseph Joffre as Commander-in-Chief of the French Army.
Lloyd George becomes British Prime Minister
David Lloyd George replaces Herbert Asquith as British Prime Minister.
Charles I becomes Austro-Hungarian Emperor
The Austro-Hungarian Emperor Francis Joseph I is succeeded by Charles I.
Battle of the Somme ends
The Battle of the Somme ends after months of attritional fighting.
Mohmand Operations begin
The Indian Army begins a punitive expedition against Mohmand tribal raiders on the North-West Frontier of India (now in Pakistan).
Battle of the Ancre
Part of the Battle of the Somme: The Battle of the Ancre, the last British attack on the Somme, ends in limited gains.
French recapture Fort Douaumont
The French recapture Fort Douaumont from the Germans at Verdun.
Battle of Le Transloy
Part of the Battle of the Somme: The Battle of Le Transloy ends in stalemate.
Craiglockhart War Hospital begins treating shell-shock
The Craiglockhart War Hospital in Edinburgh begins treating officers with shell shock (neurasthenia).
British capture Karajakois
The British capture Karajakois (now Monokklisia in northern Greece) from the Bulgarians on the Salonika front.
Battle of Thiepval Ridge
Part of the Battle of the Somme: The Battle of Thiepval Ridge sees British gains.
Battle of Morval
Part of the Battle of the Somme: The Battle of Morval sees British-French gains.
Battle of Flers-Courcelette
Part of the Battle of the Somme: The Battle of Flers-Courcelette sees the British use tanks for the first time in history.
Monastir Offensive
An Allied offensive against the Bulgarians at Monastir (now Bitola in the Republic of Macedonia) ends in limited gains.
Battle of Ginchy
Part of the Battle of the Somme: The British enjoy limited success at the Battle of Ginchy.
Battle of Guillemont
Part of the Battle of the Somme: The Battle of Guillemont sees limited British success.
Hindenburg made German Chief of Staff
General Paul von Hindenburg replaces General Erich von Falkenhayn as German Chief of Staff.
Romania joins the Allies
Romania enters the war on the Allied side, but is defeated within a few weeks.
Italy declares war on Germany
First Battle of Doiran
The First Battle of Doiran on the Salonika front ends in a Bulgarian victory over the Allies.
Battle of Romani
An Ottoman attack on the British at Romani in the Sinai peninsula fails.
First creeping barrage
The British use the creeping artillery barrage for the first time during the Battle of the Somme.
Battle of Pozières
Part of the Battle of the Somme: The Battle of Pozières sees limited Australian and British gains.
Battle of Fromelles
Part of the Battle of the Somme: The Battle of Fromelles ends in a German victory.
Battle of Bazentin Ridge
Part of the Battle of the Somme: The Battle of Bazentin Ridge ends in tactical gains for the British.
Battles for Longueval and Delville Wood
Part of the Battle of the Somme: The Battle of Delville Wood sees limited South African and British gains.
Battle of Albert
Part of the Battle of the Somme: The initial phase of the Somme offensive sees French success in the south but heavy British casualties for little gain in the north.
Battle of the Somme begins
The Battle of the Somme, a Franco-British attack aimed at relieving the pressure at Verdun, is part of a combined Allied offensive against the Central Powers.
Death of Lord Kitchener
Field Marshal Lord Kitchener drowns when HMS ‘Hampshire’ is sunk by a German mine off the Orkney Islands while bound for Russia.
Arab Revolt begins
The Arab Revolt against the Ottomans begins in Hejaz (now part of Saudi Arabia).
Brusilov Offensive begins
The Russians launch the Brusilov Offensive against German and Austro-Hungarian forces on the Eastern Front.
Battle of Mont Sorrel
A German attack at Mont Sorrel in the Ypres Salient is repelled by British and Canadian forces.
Attack on Namema
A British-Rhodesian force captures Namema in German East Africa (now Tanzania).
Battle of Jutland
The Battle of Jutland between Britain and Germany ends in stalemate, but the Royal Navy’s control of the North Sea continues.
Germany suspends unrestricted submarine warfare
British occupation of German East Africa begins
Three British columns invade German East Africa (now Tanzania) from the north, south and west, but fail to defeat the Germans. A long guerrilla war ensues.
Box respirator introduced
The box respirator is introduced as the British Army’s standard gas mask.
British surrender at Kut
The besieged British-Indian force at Kut in Mesopotamia (now Iraq) surrenders to the Ottomans.
Easter Rising
Irish Republicans mount an unsuccessful rising in Dublin against British rule in Ireland.
Early blood transfusion on Western Front
Major Lawrence Robertson of the Canadian Army performs one of the earliest blood transfusions on the Western Front.
First sinking of U-Boat with depth charges
The Royal Navy destroys Germany’s U-68, the first submarine to be sunk with depth charges.
Darfur Expedition begins
British-Egyptian forces successfully invade and annex the Sultanate of Darfur (now part of Sudan), whose ruler was suspected of having Ottoman sympathies.
Germany declares war on Portugal
Following the seizure of German ships in Lisbon, Germany declares war on Britain’s ally Portugal.
Battle of Dujaila
The British fail in another attempt to relieve the besieged town of Kut in Mesopotamia (now Iraq).
Conscription begins in Britain
The Military Service Act comes into force in the United Kingdom. Men from 18 to 41 years old are liable to be called up for Army service.
Germany resumes unrestricted submarine warfare
Battle of Verdun begins
The Battle of Verdun begins, an attritional German offensive intended to ‘bleed France white’.
German Kamerun surrenders
The Allies complete the conquest of German Kamerun (now Cameroon).
Battle of Hanna
The Battle of Hanna in Mesopotamia (now Iraq) ends in an Ottoman victory over British-Indian forces.
Battle of Wadi
The Battle of Wadi in Mesopotamia (now Iraq) ends in an Ottoman victory over British-Indian forces.
Corfu occupied
The Mediterranean island of Corfu is occupied by the Allies to receive the evacuated Serbian Army.
Gallipoli evacuation complete
The Allies complete the evacuation of Gallipoli. The campaign ends in an Ottoman victory.
Battle of Shaik Saad
British forces, marching to relieve the besieged town of Kut in Mesopotamia (now Iraq), defeat the Ottomans at the Battle of Shaik Saad.
Haig appointed commander of British Expeditionary Force
Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig replaces Field Marshal Sir John French as commander of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF).
First use of phosgene gas
The Germans use phosgene gas for the first time against the British at Wieltje, near Ypres.
Siege of Kut begins
The Ottomans besiege British-Indian forces at Kut in Mesopotamia (now Iraq).
Battle of Kosturino
The Battle of Kosturino on the Salonika front ends in a Bulgarian victory over the Allies.
Introduction of new Lee Enfield rifle
The Short Magazine Lee Enfield (SMLE) Mk III*, a cheaper mass-produced version of the British Empire’s iconic Mk III Rifle (adopted in 1907), is introduced for general service.
Serbs defeated
The Serbians are defeated by the invading Central Powers and remnants of their army are evacuated by Allied navies to regroup.
Battle of Ctesiphon
The Battle of Ctesiphon, fought between British and Ottomans forces in Mesopotamia (now Iraq), is inconclusive.
Senussi Revolt begins
Senussi tribesmen, backed by the Ottomans, rise up against the Allies in Italian Libya and Egypt. Although suppressed by the British, the revolt rumbles on until 1917.
Italy and Russia declare war on Bulgaria
France declares war on Bulgaria
Britain declares war on Bulgaria
Bulgaria declares war on Serbia
Machine Gun Corps formed
The British Army forms the Machine Gun Corps to make more effective use of heavy machine guns (primarily the Vickers) on the Western Front.
Serbia invaded again by Central Powers
Serbia is invaded by Germany, Austria-Hungary and their new ally, Bulgaria.
Allies begin landing at Salonika
French, British and Italian troops begin landing at Salonika (now Thessaloniki, in Greece) in the Balkans.
Introduction of Lewis Gun
The British Army officially adopts the Lewis Gun for both land and aircraft use.
Capture of Kut-al-Amara
Following victory at Es Sinn, British-Indian forces capture the town of Kut in Mesopotamia (now Iraq) from Ottoman forces.
Battle of Es Sinn
The Battle of Es Sinn ends in a British-Indian victory over the Ottomans in Mesopotamia (now Iraq).
Battle of Loos
The Battle of Loos on the Western Front sees the British offensive fail at German hands. The 50-watt Trench Set (or BF Set), the British Army’s first reliable radio, was first used during this engagement.
Tsar Nicholas II assumes command of Russian Army
The Russian Tsar Nicholas II replaces Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolayevich as Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Army.
Germany suspends unrestricted submarine warfare
Introduction of Brodie helmet
The British Army adopts the Brodie helmet as its standard head protection for soldiers.
Battles of Scimitar Hill and Hill 60
The last attempt by the British to seize the Gallipoli peninsula is unsuccessful.
Operations in the Swat Valley
The Indian Army defeats a series of tribal uprisings in the Swat Valley on the North-West Frontier of India (now in Pakistan).
Battle of Chunuk Bair
Part of the Gallipoli Campaign: The Battle of Chunuk Bair at Anzac Cove ends in an Ottoman victory.
Battle of the Nek
Part of the Gallipoli Campaign: The Battle of the Nek at Anzac Cove ends in an Australian defeat.
Battle of Sari Bair
Part of the Gallipoli Campaign: The Battle of Sari Bair follows new landings at Suvla.
Battle of Lone Pine
Part of the Gallipoli Campaign: The Battle of Lone Pine ends in an Australian victory.
Germany occupies Warsaw
Pope appeals for peace
Pope Benedict XV appeals to all governments to cease hostilities.
Battle of Shaikh Othman
British-Indian forces defeat the Ottomans at Shaikh Othman near Aden.
German South-West Africa captured
The German forces in South-West Africa (now Namibia) surrender at Khorab.
Battle of Lahij
Ottoman forces secure victory over the British at Lahij near Aden.
Formation of British gas warfare units
The Royal Engineers form Special Companies to oversee Britain’s gas warfare effort.
First aircraft destroyed by synchronised machine-gun
A German Fokker, the first aircraft to be fitted with a device enabling the pilot to fire his machine gun through the arc of the propeller, shoots down a French aircraft.
First use of flamethrowers
The first large-scale use of flamethrowers takes place at Hooge in Belgium, during a German attack on the British lines.
Battle of Gully Ravine
Part of the Gallipoli Campaign: The Battle of Gully Ravine at Cape Helles secures limited British gains.
Battles of the Isonzo
Fighting takes place between the Italians and Austro-Hungarians along the Isonzo (now the Soča) valley. A total of 12 battles are fought in this location, wearing down the armies of both nations over the following two years.
Third Battle of Krithia
Part of the Gallipoli Campaign: The Third Battle of Krithia fails to secure an Allied breakout.
Maudsley psychiatric hospital established
The Maudsley Military Hospital is set up in London to treat cases of shell shock (neurasthenia).
Italy declares war on Austria-Hungary
Battle of Festubert
The Battle of Festubert on the Western Front secures limited British gains at German expense.
South Africans capture Windhoek
Windhoek, the capital of German South-West Africa (now Namibia), is occupied by South African troops.
Battle of Aubers Ridge
A British offensive at Aubers Ridge on the Western Front ends in a German victory.
Lusitania sunk
The British liner ‘Lusitania‘ is sunk off the south coast of Ireland by a German U-boat. The loss of over 120 American lives causes a storm of protest in the United States.
Second Battle of Krithia
Part of the Gallipoli Campaign: The Second Battle of Krithia results in an Allied failure at the hands of the Ottomans.
Introduction of Mills Bomb
The No 5 Grenade (Mills Bomb) is introduced. This is the standard grenade used by British Empire forces for the rest of the war.
First Battle of Krithia
Part of the Gallipoli Campaign: The First Battle of Krithia sees the Allied advance repelled by the Ottomans.
London Pact between the Allies and Italy
The Allies offer Italy territorial gains in any post-war settlement in return for their support.
Gallipoli landings
Allied forces land at Cape Helles on the Gallipoli peninsula to support naval attempts at forcing the Dardanelles.
First British gas mask
Scottish physiologist John Scott Haldane invents the veil respirator, the first British gas mask.
Second Battle of Ypres
The first large-scale use of poison gas by the Germans fails to end the stalemate on the Western Front.
Battle of Shaiba
British-Indian troops stop the Ottomans re-capturing Basra in Mesopotamia (now Iraq).
Introduction of Thomas splint
The introduction of the Thomas splint, named after the Welsh surgeon Hugh Owen Thomas, drastically cuts the numbers of British soldiers dying from broken femurs.
Battle of Neuve Chapelle
After initial success, a British-Indian offensive is halted by the Germans at Neuve Chapelle.
Allies fail to force Dardanelles
The British and French navies unsuccessfully attempt to force the Ottoman-controlled Dardanelles Strait.
Second Battle of the Masurian Lakes
The Second Battle of the Masurian Lakes, in East Prussia, ends in a Russian defeat to the Germans.
German U-boats start attacking merchant shipping
Germany begins submarine warfare against merchant vessels.
Formation of British tunnelling units
The Royal Engineers form Tunnelling Companies to oversee underground warfare.
Ottoman attack on Suez Canal
The Ottomans fail to capture the Suez Canal, a British-controlled shipping route linking the Mediterranean to the Red Sea.
Battle of Dogger Bank
The Royal Navy is victorious against the Germans at the Battle of Dogger Bank in the North Sea.
First Zeppelin raid on Britain
The first Zeppelin (airship) raid on Britain sees King’s Lynn and Great Yarmouth bombed by the Germans.
Invention of Stokes Mortar
The 3-inch Stokes Mortar is invented and soon becomes the standard British Army mortar of the war.
Christmas truce
An unofficial Christmas truce takes place along some sections of the Western Front.
First use of underground mines on Western Front
The Germans detonate ten mines under the British lines at Givenchy. This is the first large-scale use of underground mines on the Western Front.
Naval bombardment of Scarborough
The German navy shells the English coastal towns of Scarborough, Whitby and Hartlepool.
Battle of the Falklands
The Royal Navy is victorious against the Germans at the Battle of the Falklands in the South Atlantic.
Capture of Qurna
British-Indian troops capture Qurna in Mesopotamia (now Iraq).
Operations in the Tochi Valley
British-Indian forces defeat a tribal uprising in Waziristan on the North-West Frontier of India (now part of Pakistan).
Battle of Basra
The Battle of Basra in Mesopotamia (now Iraq) ends in a British-Indian victory against the Ottomans.
Sultan Mehmed V declares jihad on the Allies
The ruler of the Ottoman Empire, Sultan Mehmed V, declares holy war on the Allies.
Battle of Cheikh Saïd
British-Indian troops drive back an Ottoman force threatening the British base at Aden.
Battle of Cocos
The Australian navy secures victory over the Germans at the Battle of Cocos, in the eastern Indian Ocean.
British-Indian troops land at Fao
British-Indian troops land at Fao in Mesopotamia (now Iraq), a territory of the Ottoman Empire.
Britain and France declare war on the Ottoman Empire
Battle of Tanga
Colonel Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck’s German colonial forces defeat British-Indian troops at the Battle of Tanga in German East Africa (now Tanzania).
Battle of Kilimanjaro
The Germans secure victory over the British at the Battle of Kilimanjaro in German East Africa (now Tanzania).
Hostilities begin on the Caucasus front
The Russians launch an offensive against the Ottomans on the Caucasus front.
Naval blockade of Germany
The Royal Navy begins blockading the coast of Germany.
Battle of Coronel
The Germans win a naval victory against the British at the Battle of Coronel off the coast of Chile.
Russia declares war on the Ottoman Empire
First Battle of Ypres
The First Battle of Ypres ends the ‘Race to the Sea’. The Germans are prevented from reaching the Channel ports, but the original British Expeditionary Force (BEF) is almost destroyed.
Battle of the Yser
French and Belgian forces secure the Belgian coast with British naval support.
Battle of Armentières
Part of the ‘Race to the Sea’: The Battle of Armentières, fought between British and German forces, is inconclusive.
First Battle of Messines
Part of the ‘Race to the Sea’: The First Battle of Messines, fought between British and German forces, is inconclusive.
Battle of La Bassée
Part of the ‘Race to the Sea’: The Battle of La Bassée, fought between British and German forces, is inconclusive.
Germany besieges Antwerp
The Germans besiege and capture the city of Antwerp in Belgium.
Battle of Sandfontein
The Germans are victorious against South African forces at the Battle of Sandfontein.
Maritz Rebellion
A Boer rebellion, led by General Manie Maritz against South Africa’s support for Britain and its invasion of German South-West Africa, is eventually suppressed.
Falkenhayn appointed German Chief of Staff
General Erich von Falkenhayn replaces General Helmuth von Moltke the Younger as German Chief of Staff.
First Battle of the Aisne
Allied attacks on the Germans during the First Battle of the Aisne end in stalemate. Both sides dig in. This leads to attempts at outflanking each other northwards in a so-called ‘Race to the Sea’.
Invasion of German South-West Africa
Pro-British South African forces, under the command of General Louis Botha and General Jan Smuts, invade German South-West Africa (now Namibia).
New Guinea captured
Australia, a British ally, occupies German New Guinea (now part of Papua New Guinea).
Second Austro-Hungarian invasion of Serbia
The Austro-Hungarians fail in a second attempt at invading Serbia.
First Battle of the Masurian Lakes
The Russians withdraw from East Prussia following defeat by Germany at the First Battle of the Masurian Lakes.
Development of wire defences
In the aftermath of the First Battle of the Marne, thick belts of barbed wire appear on the Western Front as both sides dig in.
First Battle of the Marne
The German advance on Paris is stopped at the First Battle of the Marne. This Allied victory marks the failure of the Schlieffen Plan and condemns Germany to a war on two fronts.
First British use of armoured cars
The Royal Naval Air Service deploys its vehicles on the Western Front, marking the first British combat use of armoured cars.
Battle of Nery
Part of the Battle of the Frontiers: The British are victorious at the Battle of Nery during the Retreat from Mons.
German Samoa captured
New Zealand, a British ally, occupies German Samoa (now Samoa).
Battle of Saint Quentin
Part of the Battle of the Frontiers: French success at the Battle of Saint Quentin (or the Battle of Guise) slows the German advance.
Battle of Heligoland Bight
The Royal Navy is victorious against the Germans at the Battle of Heligoland Bight in the North Sea.
Battle of Tsingtao
British and Japanese forces capture the German port of Tsingtao in China.
Battle of Tannenberg
The Russians suffer a heavy defeat at German hands at Tannenberg in East Prussia.
Battle of Le Cateau
Part of the Battle of the Frontiers: The British and French fight a successful holding action at Le Cateau during the Retreat from Mons.
Allies conquer Togoland
British and French forces conquer Togoland (now Togo), a German protectorate in West Africa.
Japan declares war on Austria-Hungary
Japan declares war on Germany
Battle of Mons
Part of the Battle of the Frontiers: The first major engagement of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) leads to a retreat from Mons in Belgium.
Germany occupies Brussels
The Germans capture Brussels, the capital city of Belgium.
Battle of Gumbinnen
A German attack at the Battle of Gumbinnen fails to stop the Russian advance in East Prussia. It also leads to reinforcements being transferred east from the Western Front, thus weakening the Schlieffen Plan’s chances of success.
Battle of Stalluponen
The Russians invade East Prussia, but are temporarily checked by the Germans at the Battle of Stalluponen.
Battle of Cer
The Serbs defeat the invading Austro-Hungarians in the first major Allied victory of the First World War. This battle also sees the first aerial dogfight when the pilots of Serbian and Austro-Hungarian reconnaissance aircraft engage each other with small arms.
First large-scale overseas deployment of Royal Flying Corps
Four squadrons from the Royal Flying Corps join the British Expeditionary Force in France.
Austria-Hungary invades Serbia
Britain declares war on Austria-Hungary
France declares war on Austria-Hungary
Battle of the Frontiers
The Germans’ Schlieffen Plan meets with initial success in a series of engagements fought against the Allies in southern Belgium and eastern France.
British Expeditionary Force arrives in France
Field Marshal Sir John French’s British Expeditionary Force (BEF) arrives in France.
Lord Kitchener’s appeal for new recruits
The British Secretary of State for War, Lord Kitchener, calls for 100,000 volunteers for his ‘New Armies’.
Serbia declares war on Germany
Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia
Germany captures Liège
The Germans besiege and then capture the fortresses of Liège in Belgium.
Ottomans close the Dardanelles
The Ottomans close the Dardanelles Strait, a shipping route linking the Black Sea and the Mediterranean.
Britain declares war on Germany
Britain declares war on Germany following the latter’s violation of the Treaty of London (1839), which guaranteed Belgian neutrality.
Germany invades Belgium
As part of its plan to attack France, Germany invades Belgium aiming to outflank and encircle much of the French Army.
Sir Edward Grey addresses Parliament
Foreign Secretary, Sir Edward Grey, addresses Parliament on the war in Europe and outlines the pros and cons of a British intervention.
Germany declares war on France and Belgium
Germany declares war on France (an ally of Russia) and neutral Belgium. The Germans’ Schlieffen Plan is based on a quick strike against France while Russia is slowly mobilising.
Germans and Ottomans sign treaty
Germany and the Ottoman Empire (now Turkey) sign a secret alliance treaty aimed against Russia.
Germany declares war on Russia
Germany warns Russia
Germany warns Russia to cease mobilisation despite the latter’s claim that this is only aimed against the Austro-Hungarians.
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia. Russia mobilises in support of its Serb ally.
Austro-Hungarian ultimatum rejected
Austria-Hungary sends Serbia an impossible ultimatum, which is rejected.
Germany backs Austria-Hungary
Germany assures Austria-Hungary of its support against Russia should the latter oppose Austria’s planned attack on Serbia.
Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
The heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, is assassinated by a Bosnian Serb in Sarajevo. The Austro-Hungarians blame the Serbs and seek revenge.