1914 |
| 28 June |
Archduke Franz Ferdinand assassinated in Sarajevo. |
| 5/6 July |
Germany gives Austria-Hungary ‘blank cheque’ of support against Serbia. |
| 23 July |
Austro-Hungarian ultimatum to Serbia. |
| 25 July |
Serbia mobilises. |
| 26 July |
Austro-Hungarian mobilisation against Serbia. Russia enters ‘period preparatory to war’. |
| 28 July |
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia. |
| 29 July |
Germany demands immediate cessation of Russian mobilisation preparations. |
| 30 July |
Russia orders general mobilisation in support of Serbia. |
| 31 July |
Russian mobilisation begins. Germany proclaims ‘threatening danger of war’ and issues ultimatum to Russia. |
| 1 August |
Germany declares war on Russia and orders general mobilisation. France orders general mobilisation. |
| 2 August |
German ultimatum to Belgium demanding the right of passage through her territory. German troops invade Luxembourg. |
| 3 August |
Germany declares war on France. |
| 4 August |
Germany invades Belgium. Britain declares war on Germany. |
| 6 August |
French troops move into Upper Alsace. |
| 7 August |
Germans capture Citadel at Liège. |
| 14 August |
Battle of the Frontiers begins. |
| 23 August |
Battle of Mons. British Expeditionary Force begins retreat.
See Related reading: Mons 1914, The BEF's Tactical Triumph (Campaign 49) |
| 26 August |
Battle of Le Cateau. |
| 5–10 September |
Battle of the Marne. |
| 13–27 September |
Battle of the Aisne. |
| 14 September |
Falkenhayn takes over control of German operations from Moltke. |
| 15 September |
‘Race to the Sea’ begins. |
| 10 October |
Antwerp falls to the Germans. |
| 18–30 October |
Battle of the Yser. |
| 19 October–22 November |
First Battle of Ypres.
See Related reading: First Ypres 1914 The Graveyard of the Old Contemptibles (Campaign 58) |
| 29–31 October |
Turkey enters the war on the side of the Central Powers. |
| 3 November |
Falkenhayn succeeds Moltke as Chief of the German General Staff. |
| 5 November |
Britain and France declare war on Turkey. |
| 17 December |
French winter offensive begins in Artois. |
| 20 December |
French winter offensive begins in Champagne. |
