1914 August 1914 – Russians moved into East Prussia, forcing the Germans to divide their troops of the Western Front. Even though the Russians defeated the Austrians and occupied Galicia, the Germans defeat them in Tannenberg and in the Masurian Lakes. These made the Germans more self-confident and forced Russia out of Germany. Austria-Hungary failed to occupy Serbia but Bulgaria entered the war on the side of the Central Powers. October 31st – Turkey joins the Central Powers aimed to create a blockade for Russia in the Dardanelles.

1915 June – Austro-German offensive in the Carpathians gains territory for the Central Powers. August – Germany defeats the Russians again and take Warsaw. By the end of the year Russia had lost some 450 km and a million soldiers, plus a million more were held prisoners. Russia established a new defense line that went from the Baltic Sea to Romania. Russia was also starting to suffer from a Turkish blockade of Dardanelles Italy joins the allies. Britain had promised them territory along the Eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea.

GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN The British planned to attack Turkey by water to get back control of the Dardanelles and supply Russia. November – After a couple of failed attempts the Allies dropped this campaign. The Allies tried to take the oil supplies of Turkey in Mesopotamia. The Arabs helped the Allies to drive the Turks back using guerrilla warfare tactics. T.E. Lawrence (British Intelligence officer aka Lawrence of Arabia) became military adviser to the Arabs and led guerrilla attacks on Turkish railways and supply lines.

1916 Due to a determined effort on the home front, the Russian army had a better equipment then the previous year. June 4 – General Aleksei Brusilov launched a massive offensive over a wide front against the Austrians. It was successful at the beginning and the Russian forces advanced 160 km. By August Germany stopped the Russian offensive and took the lives of a million Russian soldiers. The fighting caused the Austrians 340,000 casualties and 400,000 more prisoners, this made their morale hit the bottoms. Romania joins the Allies but was overrun by Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey and Bulgaria.

1917 February – The Romanov dynasty was facing huge opposition and finally the Tsar was forced to abdicate. The new provisional government in Russia continued the war, but they continued being defeated by Germany, and Russia faced an economic crisis. October – The previous events increased the people’s support to the Bolshevik Party who overthrew the Provisional Government. October – Austrian offensive in battle of Caporetto. The Italians were forced to retreat. Later the Powers were halted by the French and British. December – The Bolshevik government removed Russia from the war letting Germany fight only in the Western Front.

1918 September – Bulgaria surrenders. September – The British empire defeated the Turks at Megiddo. November 3 – the Turks surrender.