First World War Timeline of significant events
Royal British Legion formed.
The British Legion was formed on 15 May 1921, bringing together four national organisations of ex-Servicemen that had established themselves after the First World War.
Burial of Unknown Warrior at Westminster Cathedral
Cenotaph unveiled in London.
At first a temporary wooden structure, it is replaced in 1920 by the current version.
Treaty of Versailles signed.
(Exactly 5 years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, at Sarajevo)
Surrendered German naval fleet scuttled at Scapa Flow, Orkney.
Conference disposes of German colonies.
Conference accepts principle of League of Nations.
Peace conference meets in Paris.
American troops cross the Rhine and occupy the bridgehead at Coblenz
British troops cross the Rhine and occupy Cologne
British troops enter Germany
German Navy surrenders
Nine battleships, seven cruisers, five battle cruisers and 49 destroyers surrender at Rosyth. 39 U-boats surrender at Harwich.
German forces surrender in East Africa
Armistice Day
British capture Mons before dawn. Germany signs an armistice with the Allies at 5.10 am, agreeing to the punitive terms to end the War. The agreement comes into effect at 11am. The last British soldier to be killed in the War was Private George Edwin Ellison of the 5th Royal…
Kaiser William II abdicates and flees to Holland
Revolution begins in Berlin.
Armistice negotiations begin
The German peace delegation arrives at a railway siding in Compiegne Forest to negotiate the terms for an armistice. The Allies are in no mood to negotiate. Allied Supreme Commander, Ferdinand Foch, is there to dictate the terms to the Germans. The situation in Germany is desperate, the country faces…
Austro-Hungary signs an armistice
Austro-Hungary signs an armistice with the Allies leaving Germany isolated in the War. German Navy mutinies at Kiel.
Sailors in the German High Seas Fleet at Jade mutiny and refuse to obey a German Admiralty order to engage the British fleet.
Turkish army surrenders.
Turkey signs an armistice with the Allies after surrendering to the British in Mesopotamia.
