Video: 'The Great War episode 2 Stalemate' (Aug. 26-30, 1914, at 27:10)

(Wednesday, August 26, 1914, morning local time; part of the Eastern Front of World War I) — The Battle of Tannenberg, an engagement between the Russian and the German Empires, began today near Allenstein, East Prussia (today Olsztyn, Poland), resulting in the almost complete destruction of the Russian Second Army.

(Sunday, August 23, 1914; during World War I) — The Emperor of Japan today declared war upon Germany. This action was taken at the expiration of the time limit of Japan’s ultimatum to Germany demanding the surrender of Kiao-Chau. The Japanese Government has ordered the beginning of operations on land and sea.

Video: 'The Great War episode 2 Stalemate' (Aug. 22, 1914, at 18:40)

(Saturday, August 22, 1914; during the Battle of the Frontiers of World War I) — On the same day Austria-Hungary declared war against Belgium, 27,000 French soldiers died in an offensive thrust to the east of Paris towards the German borders. It was the bloodiest day in the French Army’s entire history.

(Thursday, August 20, 1914; during World War I) — The German cavalry captured and occupied Brussels today without resistance, part of the German invasion of Belgium that began 16 days ago.

(Tuesday, August 18, 1914; during World War I) — U.S. President Woodrow Wilson issued his Proclamation of Neutrality today, aimed at keeping the United States out of World War I, saying, “The United States must be neutral in fact as well as in name during these days that are to try men’s souls.”

Video: 'The Great War - S01E02 - For Such a Stupid Reason Too' (Aug. 3, 1914, at 33:33, Germany declares war on France at 35:47)

(Monday, August 3, 1914, afternoon local time; during World War I) — Two days after declaring war on Russia, Germany declared war on France and prepared moved into Belgium today, moving ahead with a long-held strategy, conceived by the former chief of staff of the German army, Alfred von Schlieffen, for a two-front war against France and Russia.

Video: 'The Great War - S01E02 - For Such a Stupid Reason Too' (August 1, 1914, at 30:03)

(Saturday, August 1, 1914, 7:30 p.m. local time; during World War I) — The German Ambassador, in the name of his Government, sent a declaration of war to the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs at 7:30 o’clock this evening. Count von Pourtales and the entire staff of the German Embassy then left St. Petersburg.

Video: 'The Great War episode 1 Exposion' (July 31, 1914, at 48:31)

(Friday, July 31, 1914; during World War I) — Jean Leon Jaures, the French Socialist leader who tried to prevent the First World War, was assassinated tonight in a Parisian café, Le Croissant, 146 rue Montmartre, by Raoul Villain, a 29-year-old French nationalist.