This comment was posted to reddit on Feb 01, 2017 at 3:15 pm and was deleted within 15 minutes.
[Serious] Timeline of recent events?
June 28 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.[1] Details
July 5 Austria-Hungary seeks German support for a war against Serbia in case of Russian militarism. Germany gives assurances of support.[2]
July 23 Austria-Hungary sends an ultimatum to Serbia. The Serbian response is seen as unsatisfactory.[3] Details
July 28 Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia. Russia mobilizes.[4] Details
The Netherlands declare neutrality.
July 31 Germany warns Russia to stop mobilizing. Russia says mobilization is against Austria-Hungary.[5]
August 1 Germany declares war on Russia.[6]
Italy declares its neutrality.
Denmark declares its neutrality.[7]
Germany and the Ottoman Empire sign a secret alliance treaty.[8] Details
August 2 Germany invades Luxembourg. Details
Skirmish at Joncherey, first military action on the Western Front
August 2–26 Germany besieges and captures fortified Longwy "the iron gate to Paris" near the Luxembourg border, opening France to mass German invasion
August 3 Germany declares war on France. Belgium denies permission for German forces to pass through to the French border.[9]
Switzerland declares its neutrality.[10]
August 4 Germany invades Belgium[11] to outflank the French army. Details
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.[12] Details
The United States declares neutrality.
August 4–16 The Germans besiege and then capture the fortresses of Liège, Belgium. Details
August 5 First shot fired by Allied troops – German Steamer SS Pfalz surrenders after being fired on by Fort Nepean, south of Melbourne, Australia[13]
Montenegro declares war on Austria-Hungary.[14]
The Ottoman Empire closes the Dardanelles.
August 6 Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia.[15]
Serbia declares war on Germany.[15]
August 7 The British Expeditionary Force arrives in France.[16] Details
August 7 – September 13 Battle of the Frontiers. The Germans obtain a victory against the British Expeditionary Force and France's Fifth Army.
August 7–10 Battle of Mulhouse, a phase of the Battle of the Frontiers.
August 8 Montenegro declares war on Germany.[15][17]
August 9 The Togoland Campaign begins.
August 11 France declares war on Austria-Hungary.
August 12 The United Kingdom declares war on Austria-Hungary.[15]
Battle of Haelen, a phase of the Battle of the Frontiers.
August 14–25 Battle of Lorraine, a phase of the Battle of the Frontiers.
August 16–20 The Serbs defeat the Austro-Hungarians at the Battle of Cer.[18] Details
August 17 The Russian army enters East Prussia. Battle of Stalluponen. Details
August 20 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.[19] Details
The Germans occupy Brussels.
Battle of Morhange, a phase of the Battle of Lorraine.
Battle of Sarrebourg, a phase of the Battle of Lorraine.
August 21 Battle of Charleroi, a phase of the Battle of the Frontiers.
August 21–23 Battle of the Ardennes, a phase of the Battle of the Frontiers.
August 23 Japan declares war on Germany.[15] Details
Battle of Mons, a phase of the Battle of the Frontiers.
August 23–30 Battle of Tannenberg: the Russian army undergoes a heavy defeat by the Germans.[20] Details
August 23 – September 11 Battle of Lemberg. The Russians capture Lviv. Details
August 23–25 Battle of Kraśnik, a phase of the Battle of Lemberg. The Austro-Hungarian First Army defeats the Russian Fourth Army.[21] Details
August 24 Action of Elouges.
Battle of the Mortagne, a phase of the Battle of Lorraine.
August 24 – September 7 The Germans besiege and capture the Maubeuge Fortress. Details
August 24 – September 28 The Allied Great Retreat to the River Marne.
August 25 Japan declares war on Austria-Hungary.[15]
August 26 British and French forces conquer Togoland, a German protectorate in West Africa.[22] Details
Battle of Le Grand Fayt.
August 26–27 Battle of Le Cateau. Allied retreat. Details
August 26–30 Battle of Gnila Lipa, a phase of the Battle of Lemberg.
August 26 – September 2 Battle of Komarow, part of the Battle of Lemberg. Details
August 27 Battle of Étreux. Details
August 27 – November 7 Battle of Tsingtao: British and Japanese forces capture the German-controlled port of Tsingtao in China. Details
August 28 The Royal Navy wins the First Battle of Heligoland Bight, North Sea. Details
Austria-Hungary declares war on Belgium.[15][23]
August 29–30 Battle of Saint Quentin, a.k.a. Battle of Guise. Orderly Allied retreat. Details
August 30 New Zealand occupies German Samoa (later Western Samoa). Details
September 1 Action at Nery Details
September 2–11 Austro-Hungarian defeat at the Battle of Rava Russka, a phase of the Battle of Lemberg. Details
September 4–13 Battle of Grand Couronne, a phase of the Battle of the Frontiers.
September 5–12 First Battle of the Marne. The German advance on Paris is halted, marking the failure of the Schlieffen Plan.[24] Details
Battle of the Ourcq, a phase of the First Battle of the Marne.
Battle of the Two Morins.
September 6–12 Battle of the Marshes of Saint-Gond, a phase of the First Battle of the Marne.
Battle of Vitry, a phase of the First Battle of the Marne.
Battle of Revigny, a phase of the First Battle of the Marne.
September 6 – October 4 Battle of Drina.
September 7–14 First Battle of the Masurian Lakes: The Russian Army of the Neman withdraws from East Prussia with heavy casualties. Details
September 9 Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg lays out Germany's war aims. Details
September 11 Australian forces occupy German New Guinea.[25] Details
September 13 Troops from South Africa begin invading German South-West Africa. Details
September 13–28 The First Battle of the Aisne ends in a substantial draw. The Race to the Sea begins. Details
September 14 Erich von Falkenhayn replaces Helmuth von Moltke the Younger as German Chief of Staff. Details
September 19 – October 11 Battle of Flirey
September 20 Battle of Zanzibar, German naval victory.
September 22 Bombardment of Papeete
German Light Cruiser Emden attacks Madras Details
September 22–26 First Battle of Picardy.
September 24 The Siege of Przemyśl begins Details
September 25–29 First Battle of Albert Details
September 28 – October 10 The Germans besiege and capture Antwerp, Belgium. Details
September 29 – October 31 Battle of the Vistula River, a.k.a. Battle of Warsaw. Details
October–July 11, 1915 Battle of Rufiji Delta, German cruiser Königsberg destroyed.
October 1–4 First Battle of Arras. Details
October 9 – November 1 Central powers control Belgrade. Details
October 10 – November 2 Battle of La Bassee.
October 12 – November 2 First Battle of Messines. Details
October 13 – November 2 Battle of Armentieres.
October 16–31 Battle of the Yser. French and Belgian forces secure the coastline of Belgium.[26] Details
October 19 – November 22 The First Battle of Ypres ends the Race to the Sea. The Germans are prevented from reaching Calais and Dunkirk. Details
October 29 The Ottoman Empire launches a surprise attack on the Russian Black Sea coast Details
November 1 Russia declares war on the Ottoman Empire.
Battle of Coronel. Von Spee's German cruiser squadron defeats a Royal Navy squadron under Christopher Cradock.[27] Details
November 2 The United Kingdom begins the naval blockade of Germany. Details
November 2–16 Bergmann Offensive, first military engagement in the Caucuses of the First World War.
November 3 Montenegro declares war on the Ottoman Empire.
Battle of Kilimanjaro.
November 3–5 Von Lettow-Vorbeck's German colonial forces defeat the British at the Battle of Tanga, German East Africa. Details
November 5 France and the United Kingdom declare war on the Ottoman Empire.[15]
November 6 Fao Landing, British and Indians besiege the fortress at Fao.
November 9 Battle of Cocos, northeast Indian Ocean. The Australian cruiser Sydney destroys the German cruiser Emden.[28] Details
November 11 Sultan Mehmed V declares Jihad on the Allies.[29] Details