New York Times, 12 August 1917.

The First World War spanned many complex days through out the years 1914 to 1918. The chronology section identifies these key dates and puts them in the context of the war.

-1914:

…         June 28^th --Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

…         August 3^rd --Germans invade Belgium

…         August 12^th --Austrians invade Serbia

…         August 14^th --Germans and the Allies engage in the Battle of the Frontiers

…         August 17^th --Russians invade Prussia (East Germany)

…         August 23^rd --Battles of Galicia and Tannenberg

…         September 5^th --1^st Battle of the Marne

…         September 18^th --The Race to the Sea begins

…         November 2^nd --Russians and Turks begin fighting in the Caucasus

…         November 6^th --British begin invasion of Mesopotamia

-1915:

…         February 2^nd --2^nd Battle of Masurian Lakes

…         February 4^th --Germans begin moving towards unrestricted submarine war

…         March 10^th --Allies begin a series of coordinated Offensives, none of which succeed.

…         April 25^th --Dardanelles Offensive begins.

…         May 1^st --Gorlice-Tarnow Offensive begins

…         May 23^rd --Italy joins the Allies

…         September 15^th --another series of failed Allied coordinated offensives

…         September 23^rd --Bulgaria enters war

…         November 10^th --Serbia is crushed

…         December 7^th --Seige of Kut-al-Amara begins

                                          -1916:

…         January 10^th --Erzerum Offensive begins

…         February 21^st --Battle of Verdun begins

…         May 31^st --Battle of Jutland

…         June 4^th --Brusilov Offensive begins

…         July 1^st --Battle of the Somme begins

…         August 17^th --Salonikan Front opens

…         December 13^th --British resume Mesopotamian Drive

…         December 23^rd --Turks driven into Palestine

                               -1917:

…         February 9^th --German troops retreat to the    Hindenberg Line

…         March 11^th --British forces capture Baghdad

…         April 6^th --United States enters the war on side of Allies

…         April 16^th --Neville Offensive

…         May 31^st --Battle of Jutland

…         June 4^th --Brusilov Offensive begins

…         July 1^st --Kerensky Offensive

…         July 31^st --Battle of Passchendaele

…         October 24^th --Battle of Caporetto

…         November 7^th --October Revolution

…         November 20^th --Battle of Cambrai

…         December 11^th --British forces capture Jerusalem

                                           -1918:

…                                      March 3^rd --Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

…                            March 21^st --Ludendorf (Spring) Offensive begins

…                                                           July 15^th --2^nd Battle of the Marne

…         August 8^th --Hundred Days Offensive begins

…         September 18^th --Hindenberg Line is breached

…         September 19^th --Battle of Megiddo

…         October 23^rd --Battle of Vittorio Veneto

…         November 11^th --the Armistice