<Tr> <Td> African </Td> <Td> Naval </Td> <Td> Air </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Politics </Td> <Td> Asian and Pacific </Td> <Td> Gallipoli </Td> </Tr> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Dates </Th> <Th> Events </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> June 28 </Td> <Td> Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, heir to the Austro - Hungarian throne, who was killed in Sarajevo along with his wife Duchess Sophie by Bosnian Serb Gavrilo Princip . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> July 5 </Td> <Td> Austria - Hungary seeks German support for a war against Serbia in case of Russian militarism . Germany gives assurances of support . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> July 23 </Td> <Td> Beginning of the "Black Week". Austria - Hungary sends an ultimatum to Serbia . The Serbian response is seen as satisfactory everywhere but in Vienna . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> July 28 </Td> <Td> Austria - Hungary declares war on Serbia . Russia mobilizes . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> The Netherlands declare neutrality . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> July 31 </Td> <Td> Germany warns Russia to stop mobilizing . Russia says mobilization is against Austria - Hungary . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> August 1 </Td> <Td> Germany declares war on Russia . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> France mobilizes . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Italy declares its neutrality . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Denmark, Sweden and Norway unitedly declare their neutrality . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Germany and the Ottoman Empire sign a secret alliance treaty . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> August 2 </Td> <Td> Germany invades Luxembourg . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Skirmish at Joncherey, first military action on the Western Front </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> August 2--26 </Td> <Td> Germany besieges and captures fortified Longwy "the iron gate to Paris" near the Luxembourg border, opening France to mass German invasion </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> August 3 </Td> <Td> Germany declares war on France . Belgium denies permission for German forces to pass through to the French border . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Switzerland declares its neutrality . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> August 4 </Td> <Td> Germany invades Belgium to outflank the French army . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Britain protests the violation of Belgian neutrality, guaranteed by a treaty; German Chancellor replies that the treaty is just a chiffon de papier (a scrap of paper). The United Kingdom declares war on Germany . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> The United States declares neutrality . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> August 4--16 </Td> <Td> The Germans besiege and then capture the fortresses of Liège, Belgium . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> August 5 </Td> <Td> First offensive action by Allied troops--German Steamer SS Pfalz surrenders after being fired on by Fort Nepean, south of Melbourne, Australia </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Montenegro declares war on Austria - Hungary . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> The Ottoman Empire closes the Dardanelles . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> August 6 </Td> <Td> Austria - Hungary declares war on Russia . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Serbia declares war on Germany . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> August 7 </Td> <Td> The British Expeditionary Force arrives in France . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Spain declares "the strictest neutrality ." </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> August 7--September 13 </Td> <Td> Battle of the Frontiers . The Germans obtain a victory against the British Expeditionary Force and France's Fifth Army . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> August 7--10 </Td> <Td> Battle of Mulhouse, a phase of the Battle of the Frontiers . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> August 8 </Td> <Td> Montenegro declares war on Germany . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> August 9 </Td> <Td> The Togoland Campaign begins . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> August 11 </Td> <Td> France declares war on Austria - Hungary . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> August 12 </Td> <Td> The United Kingdom declares war on Austria - Hungary . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Battle of Halen, a phase of the Battle of the Frontiers . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> August 14--25 </Td> <Td> Battle of Lorraine, a phase of the Battle of the Frontiers . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> August 16--20 </Td> <Td> The Serbs defeat the Austro - Hungarians at the Battle of Cer . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> August 17 </Td> <Td> The Russian army enters East Prussia . Battle of Stallupönen . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> August 20 </Td> <Td> The Germans attack the Russians in East Prussia, the Battle of Gumbinnen . The attack is a failure in addition to being a deviation from the Schlieffen Plan . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> The Germans occupy Brussels . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Battle of Morhange, a phase of the Battle of Lorraine . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Battle of Sarrebourg, a phase of the Battle of Lorraine . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> August 21 </Td> <Td> Battle of Charleroi, a phase of the Battle of the Frontiers . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> August 21--23 </Td> <Td> Battle of the Ardennes, a phase of the Battle of the Frontiers . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> August 23 </Td> <Td> Japan declares war on Germany . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Battle of Mons, a phase of the Battle of the Frontiers . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> August 23--30 </Td> <Td> Battle of Tannenberg: the Russian army undergoes a heavy defeat by the Germans . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> August 23--September 11 </Td> <Td> Battle of Lemberg . The Russians capture Lviv . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> August 23--25 </Td> <Td> Battle of Kraśnik, a phase of the Battle of Lemberg . The Austro - Hungarian First Army defeats the Russian Fourth Army . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> August 24 </Td> <Td> Action of Elouges . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Battle of the Mortagne, a phase of the Battle of Lorraine . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> August 24--September 7 </Td> <Td> The Germans besiege and capture the Maubeuge Fortress . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> August 24--September 28 </Td> <Td> The Allied Great Retreat to the River Marne . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> August 25 </Td> <Td> Japan declares war on Austria - Hungary . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Battle of Tepe: The Kamerun Campaign begins . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> August 26 </Td> <Td> British and French forces conquer Togoland, a German protectorate in West Africa . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Battle of Le Grand Fayt . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> August 26--27 </Td> <Td> Battle of Le Cateau . Allied retreat . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> August 26--30 </Td> <Td> Battle of Gnila Lipa, a phase of the Battle of Lemberg . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> August 26--September 2 </Td> <Td> Battle of Komarow, part of the Battle of Lemberg . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> August 26 - February 18, 1916 </Td> <Td> Siege of Mora . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> August 27 </Td> <Td> Battle of Étreux . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> August 27--November 7 </Td> <Td> Battle of Tsingtao: British and Japanese forces capture the German - controlled port of Tsingtao in China . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> August 28 </Td> <Td> The Royal Navy wins the First Battle of Heligoland Bight, North Sea . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Austria - Hungary declares war on Belgium . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> August 29--30 </Td> <Td> Battle of Saint Quentin, also known as Battle of Guise . Orderly Allied retreat . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> August 29 - 31 </Td> <Td> First Battle of Garua . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> August 30 </Td> <Td> New Zealand occupies German Samoa (later Western Samoa). </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> September 1 </Td> <Td> Action at Nery </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Saint Petersburg renamed Petrograd, removing German words "Burg" and "Sankt". </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> September 2--11 </Td> <Td> Austro - Hungarian defeat at the Battle of Rava Russka, a phase of the Battle of Lemberg . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> September 4--13 </Td> <Td> Battle of Grand Couronne, a phase of the Battle of the Frontiers . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> September 5--12 </Td> <Td> First Battle of the Marne . The German advance on Paris is halted, marking the failure of the Schlieffen Plan . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Battle of the Ourcq, a phase of the First Battle of the Marne . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Battle of the Two Morins . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> September 6 </Td> <Td> Battle of Nsanakong . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> September 6--12 </Td> <Td> Battle of the Marshes of Saint - Gond, a phase of the First Battle of the Marne . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Battle of Vitry, a phase of the First Battle of the Marne . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Battle of Revigny, a phase of the First Battle of the Marne . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> September 6--October 4 </Td> <Td> Battle of Drina . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> September 7 </Td> <Td> Fanning Raid . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> September 7--14 </Td> <Td> First Battle of the Masurian Lakes: The Russian Army of the Neman withdraws from East Prussia with heavy casualties . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> September 9 </Td> <Td> Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg lays out Germany's war aims . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> September 11 </Td> <Td> Battle of Bita Paka . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> September 13 </Td> <Td> Troops from South Africa begin invading German South - West Africa . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> September 14 - 17 </Td> <Td> Siege of Toma . Most German forces in New Guinea surrender to the Australians then or over the following year . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> September 13--28 </Td> <Td> The First Battle of the Aisne ends in a substantial draw . The Race to the Sea begins . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> September 14 </Td> <Td> Erich von Falkenhayn replaces Helmuth von Moltke the Younger as German Chief of Staff . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> September 15 </Td> <Td> Boer leader Manie Maritz revolts in South Africa . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> September 19--October 11 </Td> <Td> Battle of Flirey </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> September 20 </Td> <Td> Battle of Zanzibar, German naval victory . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> September 22 </Td> <Td> Bombardment of Papeete </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> German Light Cruiser Emden attacks Madras </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> September 22--26 </Td> <Td> First Battle of Picardy . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> September 24 </Td> <Td> The Siege of Przemyśl begins </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> September 25 </Td> <Td> Battle of Sandfontein . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> September 25--29 </Td> <Td> First Battle of Albert </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> September 28--October 10 </Td> <Td> The Germans besiege and capture Antwerp, Belgium . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> September 29 - 30 </Td> <Td> Japan occupies the Marshall Islands . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> September 29--October 31 </Td> <Td> Battle of the Vistula River, also known as Battle of Warsaw . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> October--July 11, 1915 </Td> <Td> Battle of Rufiji Delta, German cruiser Königsberg destroyed . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> October 1--4 </Td> <Td> First Battle of Arras . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> October 9--November 1 </Td> <Td> Central powers control Belgrade . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> October 10--November 2 </Td> <Td> Battle of La Bassee . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> October 12--November 2 </Td> <Td> First Battle of Messines . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> October 13--November 2 </Td> <Td> Battle of Armentieres . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> October 16--31 </Td> <Td> Battle of the Yser. French and Belgian forces secure the coastline of Belgium . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> October 19--November 22 </Td> <Td> The First Battle of Ypres ends the Race to the Sea . The Germans are prevented from reaching Calais and Dunkirk . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> October 19 - July 7, 1915 </Td> <Td> Clashes between German and Portuguese forces in the Angola - Namibia border, without declaration of war . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> October 28 </Td> <Td> Battle of Penang . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> October 29 </Td> <Td> The Ottoman Empire launches a surprise attack on the Russian Black Sea coast </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> November 1 </Td> <Td> Russia declares war on the Ottoman Empire . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Battle of Coronel . Von Spee's German cruiser squadron defeats a Royal Navy squadron under Christopher Cradock . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> November 2 </Td> <Td> The United Kingdom begins the naval blockade of Germany . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Serbia declares war on the Ottoman Empire . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> November 2--16 </Td> <Td> Bergmann Offensive, first military engagement in the Caucasus of the First World War . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> November 3 </Td> <Td> Montenegro declares war on the Ottoman Empire . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Battle of Kilimanjaro . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> November 3--5 </Td> <Td> Von Lettow - Vorbeck's German colonial forces defeat the British at the Battle of Tanga, German East Africa . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> November 5 </Td> <Td> France and the United Kingdom declare war on the Ottoman Empire . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> November 6 </Td> <Td> Fao Landing, British and Indians besiege the fortress at Fao . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> November 9 </Td> <Td> Battle of Cocos, northeast Indian Ocean . The Australian cruiser Sydney destroys the German cruiser Emden . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> November 11 </Td> <Td> Sultan Mehmed V declares Jihad on the Allies . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> November 11--21 </Td> <Td> Battle of Basra . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> November 11--December 6 </Td> <Td> Battle of Łódź (also known as Silesian Offensive). </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> November 13 </Td> <Td> Battle of El Herri: Worst French defeat in Morocco at the hands of the Zayanes . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> November 16--December 15 </Td> <Td> Battle of Kolubara, Austro - Hungarians leave Serbia . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> November 19 </Td> <Td> Bolshevik representatives at the State Duma arrested and exiled to Siberia . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> December 1--13 </Td> <Td> Battle of Limanowa . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> December 3--9 </Td> <Td> Battle of Qurna . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> December 8 </Td> <Td> Battle of the Falklands . Von Spee's German cruiser squadron is defeated by the Royal Navy . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> December 10 </Td> <Td> Hill 60 captured by the Germans . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> December 14 </Td> <Td> Ottomans occupy the Persian border town of Qotur as a bridgehead to the Caucasus, but withdraw after their defeat at Sarikamish . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> December 16 </Td> <Td> The German fleet shells Scarborough and Hartlepool, England . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> December 18--22 </Td> <Td> Battle of Givenchy . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> December 17--January 13, 1915 </Td> <Td> First Battle of Artois . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> December 20 </Td> <Td> Fighting begins at Perthes . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> December 20--17 March 1915 </Td> <Td> First Battle of Champagne . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> December 22 </Td> <Td> Fighting begins at Noyon . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> December 22--January 2, 1915 </Td> <Td> The Russians win the Battle of Sarikamish, Caucasia . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> December 24--25 </Td> <Td> In some sectors of the Western Front, an unofficial Christmas truce is observed between German and British forces . </Td> <Td> Details </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> December 25--January 18, 1915 </Td> <Td> Battle of Ardahan . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Dates </Th> <Th> Events </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr>

Who was the first country to declare war in ww1