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Neoclassical Art
Many artists start returning to a more orderly and classical style after the end of World War 1.
20 -
Pablo Picasso and Cubism
Picasso is a Spanish abstract painter and sculptor. He produces tens of thousands of paintings in his lifetime, many of which are influenced by the many wars happening at the time.
20 -
Assassination of Franz Ferdinand
While on a visit to Serbia, the Duke of Austria-Hungary, Franz Ferdinand, was assassinated by a Serbian terrorist. This led to Austria-Hungary making near impossible demands of Serbia.
1,2,3 -
War Breaks Out
Austria-Hungary and her ally, Germany to declare war on Serbia, causing Russia to declare war on both of them.
1 -
Schlieffen Plan Fails
Germany's Schlieffen plan fails as Russia mobilizes before the German army can get through Belgium to reach Paris.
1,7 -
Battle of Tannerberg
The Russian Army suffers a major defeat by the Germany army.
7 -
Economic Boom in America
Early in the war, the U.S. sells many products to European powers at war, greatly increasing production and profits. After the U.S. joins the war, unemployment rates quickly decrease from 7.9% to 1.4%.
17 -
War Poets
Many young men who volunteer to fight in the war quickly become disillusioned when they realize the true nature of war. Some write poems reflecting the horrors they had witnessed, and the spread of these leads to widespread disillusionment in many countries.
19 -
British Blockade
Many countries, including Germany, rely on imports to sustain their war effort. Britain sets up blockades to try and prevent Germany from receiving supplies.
17 -
France Joins the War
Hoping to retake Alsace-Lorraine from Germany, which was lost in the Franco-Prussian War, France declares war on Germany (an ally of Austria-Hungary)
1,2 -
Britain Joins War
When Germany executed her Schlieffen Plan to invade Belgium, who was neutral, Britain declared war on Germany to support Belgium.
1 -
DORA
Defence of the Realm Act is passed by British Parliament. It Allows the government to arrest protestors as traitors, censor newspapers, take ownership of any land or building in order to further the war effort.
3,4,5,12 -
War Measures Act
This allows the federal government of Canada to suspend all rights of citizens. The government uses this later to suspend habeas corpus, impose widespread censorship, declare associations as unlawful, break strikes, and ban newspapers.
11,12 -
1st Battle of the Marne
The French drive the German Army back to the Aisne River, where they are ordered to start digging trenches. This started trench warfare and turned WWI into a war of attrition.
6,7,8,11 -
Total War
World War I quickly turned into a total war. Most countries involved resorted to complete mobilization of all resources and people. Factories were repurposed to create weapons, civilians were drafted to fight, many others volunteered.
5,11 -
Unrestricted Submarine Warfare
Germany practices unrestricted submarine warfare, sending out hundreds of U-Boats to sink all allied ships they came in contact with. 360 of these are built in total in WW1.
2,5 -
India’s Contribution
Britain receives 1.1 million soldiers and £100 million from India alone. Britain promised India independence in exchange for their assistance in WWI.
2,3,4,11 -
German Bomber Raids
Germany sends airships and bombers over the English channel to bomb Great Britain. They complete 103 total raids (mostly in the earlier years of the war).
5,8 -
Revolt in Van
Turkish troops attacked city of Van. Ottoman Government later claimed Armenians had fired on Turkish troops first.
12 -
Armenian Genocide
Ottoman government gathers and kills Armenian leaders, takes Armenians from their homes, and sends them to concentration camps. Over 1.5 million innocents are killed.
11,12 -
Lusitania and Zimmerman Note
Many U.S. ships were sunk by German submarines, one of them being the Lusitania, a passenger ship. This killed 128 Americans, outraging the public. Germany also sent a telegram to Mexico (the Zimmerman Note), urging them to attack the U.S.
1,2,10 -
German Deployment in Russia
Germany orders troops on the Western Front to dig trenches and provide defence. This allows Germany to shift its focus to the Eastern Front. By September of 1915, ⅔ Of the Germany Army were on the Eastern Front.
9 -
Planned Economies
Many nations set up organized, predictable economies to replace free market systems. Governments set prices, wages, rent controls, rationed food and materials, regulated imports and exports.
5,17 -
Battle of Jutland
The Royal Navy encounters the German High Seas Fleet. A large battleship battle ensues, resulting in a stalemate. This is the last large battleship battle.
6 -
Revolts in the Middle East
British send officials to assist in the Hejaz revolt in mid-1916. Later, Lawrence of Arabia (a british officer) is sent to encourage Arab princes to break free of Ottoman rule. In 1918, with the help of these revolts, British forces push the Ottoman Empire out of the Middle East.
3,4,18 -
Battle of the Somme
52,000 troops are lost on the first day. There are 420,000 British casualties total. The British bombardment failed to clear out German troops, resulting in a major loss for Britain. Also results in the end of Pals Battalions.
7 -
Riots in Russia
The Russian people are starving and losing the war. They start riots that are similar to those in the French Revolution. This later leads to the Russian Revolution.
3,9,19 -
Russian Revolution
A provisional government takes the place of the Tsar, however they are later overthrown by the Bolsheviks led by Lenin. This new government (led by Lenin) decides to pull out of the war.
3,7,9,19 -
Åland Islands
When Finland declares independence during the Russian October Revolution, they claim the Åland Islands as part of their territory, despite the islands having a mostly swedish population.
16 -
Kaiserschlacht
This "Emperor’s Offensive" pushes British forces back 40 miles, however results in heavy casualties on both sides. This is the last German offensive.
6,7 -
Peace in Russia
Lenin signs the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany. This means Russia is out of the war. However, civil war shortly ensued anyway.
9,16,19 -
Mines in the North Sea
American ships lay 56,000 mines in the North Sea to prevent German U-Boats from leaving port. The 100,000 Mark VI mines damaged 8 U Boats, and sunk another 16.
6,8,10 -
The "Lost Battalion"
The American “Lost Battalion” is sent into Argonne Forest to break German defences. They break through and were able to help allies push back Germany. However, the division is isolated from friendly troops. Allied planes sent in have trouble finding them in the trees.
6,7,8,10 -
The Black Day of the German Army
Canadian and Australian troops and tanks break through German lines and reach the Hindenburg line of defence. This pushes German army out of France.
6,7 -
Czechoslovakian Independence
Czechoslovakia declares independence from Austria-Hungary to become its own country.
3,4 -
The Central Powers Begin to Fall Apart
German sailors start mutiny and revolution in Kiel. Czechoslovakia declares independence from Austria-Hungary.
3,4,6 -
The End of the Great War
Germany signs an armistice with the Allied powers. As of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the Great War is officially over. -
French and British Want Revenge
European powers, especially France and Britain carve up previous Ottoman Empire into Mandates.
13,18 -
Self Determination in the Balkans
Austria-Hungary is split into many countries, one of which is Yugoslavia. It’s borders do not match cultural ones, and so it contains many different ethnic groups, which causes many wars for decades to come.
13,14,16,18 -
New Eastern-European States
Land is taken from western Russia, and given to newly created states. Poland, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, etc.
9,14,16,18 -
Reducing Arms
America wanted to limit the arms present in Europe, but only Germany’s weapons were actually limited.
10,13,14 -
Reparations
Allied nations demand £30 billion from Germany, ruining their economy for decades.
13,14,17 -
Ownership of Alsace-Lorraine
America wants Alsace-Lorraine to be returned to France. This contributes to Germany’s unrest.
10,13,14,18 -
U.S. Pulls Out From World Conflicts
Many Americans believe they should not involve themselves in Europe’s affairs.
15 -
League of Nations Covenant Draft
The members of Paris Peace Conference meet to discuss possible terms for the League of Nations agreement.
15 -
Wilson’s Perceived Failure
After Wilson’s failure to achieve his goals at Versailles, and how much the war in Europe had cost America, very few Americans want to support the LN.
15 -
The People of Alsace-Lorraine
During German control of Alsace and Lorraine, around 500,000 French people leave and return to French territory. When Alsace-Lorraine is returned to France after the war, there is a mix of German and French people living there.
16 -
Inflation
To try and pay for rebuilding after the war, many countries print a large amount of money, leading to inflation and greatly weakening the economy. This greatly contributes to the Great Depression.
17 -
Gulags
Lenin’s Soviet State has secret police (Cheka) and labor camps (Gulags) created to get rid of anti-communists. Over 200,000 are killed by secret police, and millions more sent to Gulags.
12 -
The Lost Generation
The “Lost Generation” is a group of American writers who lived in Paris in the 1920s and 1930s. They are disillusioned by World War 1, and are overall quite cynical.
19,20 -
Creation of Jazz
The “Lost Generation” of children coming of age during WWI shared the same disillusionment and idealism of the “Lost Generation” of writers in Paris, and many American musicians started to create a new form of music, Jazz.
19,20 -
Technological Advancement in Society
The “Lost Generation” grow up to see the first effects of new technologies made possible by the Industrial Revolution on society. They notice everything is becoming faster. Many novels written around this time reflect this change.
20 -
League of Nations Created
The League of Nations is created with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. Its purpose is to prevent future conflicts. However, without the assistance of the world’s most powerful country (the U.S.), the league has little true power.
14,15 -
Russian Famine
After Russia is forced to give up ⅓ of its population to the creation of new states (Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Poland, Estonia, etc.) Shortly after this, there is a severe drought across Russia, and very few farms in the remaining land produce any food at all, leading to millions of people starving.
8,9,17 -
Japan Invades China
Japan invades Manchuria, China, China asks for the help of the LN. After a year, the League orders Japan to leave, but Japan refuses and instead leaves the LN.
15 -
Italy Invades Abyssinia
Mussolini wants to start expanding Italy’s borders. He conquers Abyssinia, who ask the LN for help. The League bans weapon sales, and puts sanctions on rubber and metal, but was unable to stop Italy from taking over Abyssinia. This failure of the League convinces Hitler he can conquer other nations without consequence.
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