Dates |
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August 1
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Germany declares war on Russia.
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Italy declares its neutrality. Germany and the Ottoman Empire sign a secret alliance treaty.[1]
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August 2
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Germany invades Luxembourg.
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Skirmish at Joncherey, first military action on the Western Front
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August 2–26
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Germany besieges and captures fortified Longwy "the iron gate to Paris" near the Luxembourg border, opening France to mass German invasion
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August 3
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Germany declares war on France. Belgium denies permission for German forces to pass through to the French border.
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August 4
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Germany invades Belgium[2] to outflank the French army.
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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.[3]
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The United States declares neutrality.
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August 4–16
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The Germans besiege and then capture the fortresses of Liège, Belgium.
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August 5
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First Shot fired by Allied troops - German Steamer SS Pfalz surrenders after being fired on by Fort Nepean, south of Melbourne, Australia[4]
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Montenegro declares war on Austria-Hungary.
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August 6
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Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia.
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Serbia declares war on Germany.
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August 7
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The British Expeditionary Force arrives in France.
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August 7 – September 13
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Battle of the Frontiers. The Germans obtain a victory against the British Expeditionary Force and France's Fifth Army.
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August 7–10
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Battle of Mulhouse, a phase of the Battle of the Frontiers.
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August 9
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Montenegro declares war on Germany.
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The Togoland Campaign begins.
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August 11
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France declares war on Austria-Hungary.
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August 12
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The United Kingdom declares war on Austria-Hungary.
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Battle of Haelen, a phase of the Battle of the Frontiers.
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August 14–25
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Battle of Lorraine, a phase of the Battle of the Frontiers.
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August 16–19
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The Serbs defeat the Austro-Hungarians at the Battle of Cer.
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August 17
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The Russian army enters East Prussia. Battle of Stalluponen.
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August 20
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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.
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The Germans occupy Brussels.
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Battle of Morhange, a phase of the Battle of Lorraine.
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Battle of Sarrebourg, a phase of the Battle of Lorraine.
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August 21
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Battle of Charleroi, a phase of the Battle of the Frontiers.
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August 21–23
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Battle of the Ardennes, a phase of the Battle of the Frontiers.
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August 22
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Austria-Hungary declares war on Belgium.
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August 23
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Japan declares war on Germany.
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Battle of Mons, a phase of the Battle of the Frontiers.
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August 23–30
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Battle of Tannenberg: the Russian army undergoes a heavy defeat by the Germans.
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August 23 – September 11
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Battle of Lemberg. The Russians capture Lviv.
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Details
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August 23–25
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Battle of Kraśnik, a phase of the Battle of Lemberg. The Austro-Hungarian First Army defeats the Russian Fourth Army.
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August 24
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Action of Elouges.
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Battle of the Mortagne, a phase of the Battle of Lorraine.
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August 24 – September 7
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The Germans besiege and capture the Maubeuge Fortress.
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Details
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August 24 – September 28
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The Allied Great Retreat to the River Marne.
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August 25
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Japan declares war on Austria-Hungary.
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August 26
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British and French forces conquer Togoland, a German protectorate in West Africa.
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Details
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Battle of Le Grand Fayt.
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August 26–27
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Battle of Le Cateau. Allied retreat.
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August 26–30
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Battle of Gnila Lipa, a phase of the Battle of Lemberg.
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August 26 – September 2
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Battle of Komarow, part of the Battle of Lemberg.
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August 27
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Battle of Étreux.
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August 27 – November 7
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Battle of Tsingtao: British and Japanese forces capture the German-controlled port of Tsingtao in China.
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August 28
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The Royal Navy wins the First Battle of Heligoland Bight, North Sea.
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August 29–30
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Battle of Saint Quentin, aka Battle of Guise. Orderly Allied retreat.
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August 30
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New Zealand occupies German Samoa (later Western Samoa).
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September 1
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Action at Nery
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September 2–11
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Austro-Hungarian defeat at the Battle of Rava Russka, a phase of the Battle of Lemberg.
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Details
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September 4–13
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Battle of Grand Couronne, a phase of the Battle of the Frontiers.
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September 5–12
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First Battle of the Marne. The German advance on Paris is halted, marking the failure of the Schlieffen Plan.
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Battle of the Ourcq, a phase of the First Battle of the Marne.
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Battle of the Two Morins.
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September 6–12
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Battle of the Marshes of Saint-Gond, a phase of the First Battle of the Marne.
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Battle of Vitry, a phase of the First Battle of the Marne.
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Battle of Revigny, a phase of the First Battle of the Marne.
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September 6 – October 4
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Battle of Drina.
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September 7–14
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First Battle of the Masurian Lakes: The Russian Army of the Neman withdraws from East Prussia with heavy casualties.
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Details
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September 9
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Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg lays out Germany's war aims.
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September 11
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Australian forces occupy German New Guinea.
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September 13
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Troops from South Africa begin invading German South-West Africa.
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Details
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September 13–28
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The First Battle of the Aisne ends in a substantial draw. The Race to the Sea begins.
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September 14
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Erich von Falkenhayn replaces Helmuth von Moltke the Younger as German Chief of Staff.
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September 19 – October 11
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Battle of Flirey
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September 20
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Battle of Zanzibar, German naval victory.
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September 22
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Bombardment of Madras
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September 22–26
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Bombardment of Papeete
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September 26
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The Ottoman Empire closes the Dardanelles and British blockade of the Straits begins.
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First Battle of Picardy
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September 24
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The Siege of Przemyśl begins
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September 25–29
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First Battle of Albert
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September 28 – October 10
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The Germans besiege and capture Antwerp, Belgium.
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