World War 1 (1914-1918)
1. Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand on June 28, 1914, in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (current-day Bosnia). This event sparked the outbreak of World War 1.
2. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28, 1914.
3. Germany declared war on Russia on August 1, 1914.
4. Germany declared war on France on August 3, 1914, and invaded Belgium, leading to Britain's declaration of war on Germany.
5. The conflict escalated into a global war, involving numerous countries and colonies from around the world.
6. The war was characterized by intense trench warfare, the use of new military technology, and large-scale destruction.
7. The United States joined the war on April 6, 1917, as an Allied Power.
8. The war ended with an armistice between the Allied Powers and Germany on November 11, 1918, marking the end of hostilities.
Aftermath of World War 1:
1. The Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, between Germany and the Allied Powers. The treaty included harsh provisions, including extensive territorial losses for Germany and significant limitations to its military strength.
2. The Russian Revolution of 1917 led to the overthrow of the Russian Empire and the establishment of the Soviet Union as a communist state.
3. The influenza pandemic of 1918-1920, also known as the "Spanish Flu," caused an estimated 50 to 100 million deaths worldwide.
4. The League of Nations was established on January 10, 1920, as an international organization aimed at preventing future wars through diplomacy and collective security.
5. The Treaty of Rapallo was signed on April 16, 1922, between Germany and the Soviet Union, normalizing relations and laying the foundation for future cooperation.
6. The rise of nationalist and fascist movements in Europe, particularly in Italy and Germany, paved the way for the conflicts and tensions leading to World War 2.
7. The worldwide Great Depression, which began in the late 1920s and continued through much of the 1930s, had devastating economic consequences and contributed to political instability in numerous countries.
8. The League of Nations failed to effectively address the challenges of the post war world, leading to its eventual decline and the outbreak of World War 2.