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.