Chronology of the Great War

In order to move from the "Static ORBAT" through the "Fluid ORBAT" to the "Temporal ORBAT" (a characteristic that refers to the time at which a given data set was acquired) it is first necessary to have a detailed chronology of the Great War.  This Chronology Matrix Utility is the first step toward the development of the Temporal ORBAT. To achieve that goal, we need the input of many members in many countries, representing the allied and axis forces in play from 1914-1920. At the present time we have not included 1921, however we recognize that the CWGC (Commonwealth War Graves Commission) did set the reporting dates of casualties from August 4, 1914 to August 31, 1921.

The Chronology of the Great War that will developed here has to apply to all nations but then to develop the Temporal ORBAT it has to apply specifically to the Canadian Expeditionary Force.  As all can imagine, many of the documents tell of Canadian actions as if they were British actions.  We must separate the two, then also acknowledge those that are both British and Canadian, or perhaps even Commonwealth actions.

Declarations of War - Major Countries

Declarations of War - Minor Countries

Notes:

1. Romania capitulated to the Central Powers by the Treaty of Bucharest on May 7, 1918 and then re-entered the war on the side of the allies on November 10, 1918
2. Greece declarations are for the formal declarations of Greece and not the earlier declarations by the Provisional Government.

The Forum Topic that addresses this project is here: Chronology of War. Please join us there and add your comments, updates, corrections and suggestions.

The following reference sources have been used to create the information shown in the chronology tables:

Reference Texts:

1. Horne, C. F. and W. F. Austin. 1920. The Great Events of the Great War. Volume VII, Appendix II.  National Alumni Series.
2. Nicholson, G. W. L. 1962. Official History of the Canadian Army in the First World War: Canadian Expeditionary Force 1914-1919. Minister of National Defence, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
3. Duffy, M. 2004. The War to End All Wars: War Timeline. Website Version of "FirstWorldWar.com".
4. Duguid, A. F. 1938. Official History of the Canadian Forces in the Great War 1914-1919: General Series Volume I from the Outbreak of War to the Formation of the Canadian Corps August 1914-September 1915. Minister of National Defence, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
5. Commonwealth War Graves Commission. 2009. Designated War Years.
6. Cruttwell. 1936 & 1982. A History of the Great War 1914-1918: Appendix II Table of Principle Events. Granada Publishing Limited, London. England.
7. Livesay, J. F. B. 1919.  Canada's Hundred Days: With the Canadian Corps from Amiens to Mons, Aug. 8 - Nov. 11, 1918.  Thomas Allen, Toronto, Ontario Canada.
8. Ruoff, H. W. 1918.  Book of the War: A Concise View of Its Causes, Countries Involved, Theatre of Action, Leaders and Chief Events. Standard Publication Company, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Web Sites:

1. Declarations of War: From World War 1 Document Archive.
2. World War One: Declarations of War (United States, Department of State)