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Development of Alliances
In 1882 the triple alliance between the Austria- Hungary, Germany, and Italy. In the alliance if France attacked Italy unprovoked Germany and Austria-Hungary had to aid. Italy, and the same goes for If Germany was attacked by France. If Austria-Hungary and Russia end up in a war then Italy will stay neutral, so that Austrian and Italian troops don’t have to defend the border and Germany will send aid. The Treaty also was renewed three times in before World War One. -
Development of Entente
1904 Russia and Britain had created an alliance called the Entente Cordiale By 1907 the British Foreign Minister, Sir Edward Grey, had arranged for the all three Britain, Russia, and France to come together in an alliance known as the Triple Entente. This alliance was more lenient than the Triple Alliance because the countries involved were not forced to join in any war that the others were in. They were only “morally obligated”. -
Stalemate of the Western Front
The stalemate in the Western Front lasted for 2 months in the beginning of the war. The stalemate was between France and Germany. After Germany’s initial lose to France it created a trench warfare stalemate between the two armies. The defensive systems such as trenches, machine guns, mines, and barbwire had greatly surpassed the offensive systems of battle. Many soldier were sent out against machine guns into no man’s land to attack the enemy straight forward, which caused many casualties. -
The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand Carl Ludwig Joseph Maria, the archduke of Austria-Este, Austro-Hungarian and Royal Prince of Hungary, was assassinated in Sarajevo on 28 June 1914. He and his wife was killed by a student named Gavrilo Princip. The assassins were trained and supported by the a commander in Serbian Military. Austria Hungary asked Serbia to arrest and punish the murderers, but Serbia refused to do so. Austria Hungary then declared war on Serbia and the Great War began. -
Austria Declares war on Serbia
On 28 July 1914, the month after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Austria declared war on Serbia. Austria declared war with high confidence level because it was supported by Germany. After few days Austria declared war on Serbia, Germany declared war on Russia. Germany declared war to French after declaring war to Russia because French did not respond the request of it to be neutral. The Great War started from now on. -
Invasion of Belgium
On 24th July, Belgium announced that it would stay neutral. On 4 August 1914, the day after declaring war on French, Germany ignored the announcement of Belgium being neutral and invaded belgium. The invasion of Belgium was seen as a serious threat for the Great Britain which led the Great Britain to declare war on Germany in few hours. -
Technologies
U-Boats, Machine Guns, and Mustard Gas were some of major new technologies that appeared during World War I. U-Boats were the first to be recorded in September of 1914. Machine Guns and Mustard Gas followed. By 1914 the German army had 12,000 machine guns that at the time could shoot up to 450 to 600 bullets a minute. Chemicals Weapons like Mustard Gas were so deadly that protective gear against them was useless since the chemicals could seep through them. -
The First Battle of Marne
The Battle of Marne was knowns as the first allied victory in World War I. The plan of Germans marching to Paris was detected by the France. The french commander surprised German troops with coordinating the information. The Battle of Marne saved Paris and stopped Germany’s plan of controlling over France. -
Treaty of London
On 26 April 1915, Italy signed a secret treaty in London with French, Britain and Russia. It marked the turning point that Italy turned its back to Austria-Hungary and Germany with supporting the Alliance. As a price, Italy would get some territories after the war ends. -
Sinking of Lusitania
The sinking of Lusitania on 7 May 1915 marked the beginning point of the Submarine Warfare. In order to get control over the ocean and the supplies going to United Kingdom, Germany declared the seas around the Great Britain a war zone. 128 Americans were killed by the sinking of Lusitania. It also led to one of the reasons that America needed to join the war. -
Submarine Warfare
The Submarine Warfare was also known as the Underwater War. It was started by a German U-boat that attacked and sank the British luxury liner, the RMS Lusitania. In order to cut off the supporting items from other countries to Britain, Germany declared war zone on the seas around Britain. The Submarine Warfare killed many british and Americans which was one of the big reasons that America joined the war. -
Russian Revolution
After Czar Nicholas II, the last emperor of Russia, was forced to abdicate on 15 March 1917. The Russian Revolution began and caused Russia to step out of the war and focus on its own political problems. Vladimir Lenin created the Bolsheviks party in 1912 and had objected Russia’s involvement in World War I. He had gotten people to revolt against the capital and the leader. The movement of Russia step out of the Great War caused the disencouragement to french and British troops. -
America joins the War
Trying to keep America away from war, President Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president of America, kept America neutral until 1917. From 1915 to 1917, Germany’s unrestricted submarine warfare caused many deaths of American citizen. On January 1917, Germany also sent Zimmerman Note to Mexico stating that if Mexico gives aid they will help them gain back the American territory of Texas. In order to make “the world safe for democracy”, Wilson asked congress to declare war on Germany. -
America’s impact in WWI
The movement of America joining the war sped up the progress of defeating Central Powers. The industrial resources that America provided helped the Ententes to gain their military power. The arriving of the powerful American troops saved and encouraged French and British troops. Entente Powers were struggling with the Germany until America came in and brought them towards the victory. The entry of America into the Great War brought the war to the end. -
Armistice
On 11 November 1918, the Armistice which took place in Ferdinand Foch's railway carriage in the Forest of Compiègne was signed between France Britain and Germany. It marked the point that World War I had been ended. Both Central Powers and Allied Powers agreed to stop fighting. As a result, France, Great Britain, the United States, and Italy defeated Germany in the end of the Great War.
