World War 1 Timeline As 100 years passes since the start of Britain’s involvement in the First World War let’s take a look at the key dates of this Great War July 1, 1916: The Battle of the Somme, troops fought August 3, 1914: at the Somme in France for over four and half Germany declares war on France, and months where over 1 million men were wounded invades neutral Belgium. Britain then sends or killed, making it one of the bloodiest battles in an ultimatum to withdraw from Belgium human history. but this is ejected by the Germans. April 6, 1918: The USA joined the allied forces along with Britain and June 28, 1914: decalred war on Germany. November 1914: Archduke Franz Ferdinand Many months were spent in ‘Trench and his wife Sophie, the night Warfare’. Opposing armies conducted before their 14th wedding battle, at relatively close range, from anniversary, are killed in a series of ditches dug into the ground Bosnia and as a result to prevent the opposition from gaining Austria-Hungary declare war any more territory. on Serbia. 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 November 11, 1918: Four and half years later and the end of July 30, 1914: August 4, 1914: May 7, 1915: the War is finally announced (also referred to as Armistice Day). France and Germany who Great Britain declares war RMS Lusitania, a British ocean liner full of 16 million people had been killed and over 50 million injured; are already fighting over on Germany believing like civillians was sunk by the German army on people’s lives would never be the same again. land ownership begin to rally many of the allies that it its journey from New York, US to Liverpool, their troops along with Russia would over by Christmas UK and over 1000 people died. This in defence, fearing the 1914. Field Marshal Earl incident played a significant role in turning fighting may spread further. Kitchener did not and people opinion against Germany, both in Late 1916: introduced the need for a the United States and abroad. Peace talks began but were volunteer army. A now very refused and millions of people famous poster with a picture in Germany, due to lack of of Mr Kitchener was created supplies, were starving to death. to encourage the men in Britain to enlist in the British army and be prepared to go to war saying ‘Your King and Country need you: a call to arms’..