Timeline: Marching Toward War | Timetoast

Period: Jan 1, 1864 to Dec 31, 1871

Otto von Bismarck used war to unify Germany.
Period: Jan 1, 1870 to Dec 31, 1879

Military alliances.

The creation of military alliances among the Great Powers, to keep peace in Europe.
Period: Jul 19, 1870 to May 10, 1871

Franco-Prussian War.

The Franco-Prussian War was between France and Prussia because of the loss of Alsace-Lorraine to Germany.
Period: Jan 1, 1872 to Dec 31, 1872

Otto von Bismarck declared Germany a "satisfied power".
Oct 7, 1879

Dual Alliance.

Otto von Bismarck formed the Dual Alliance between Austria-Hungary and Germany.
Period: Jan 1, 1881 to Dec 31, 1881

Treaty with Russia.

Otto von Bismarck made a treaty with Russia, another possible ally different from France.
Period: Jan 1, 1882 to Dec 31, 1882

Treaty between Germany and Russia.

Treaty between Germany and Russia which assured that Russia would not ally with France but neither support Germany during war.
May 20, 1882

Triple Alliance.

Italy joined Germany and Austria-Hungary, that union was known as the Triple Alliance.
Jun 15, 1888

Kaiser Wilhem II started his rule.
Period: Jan 1, 1890 to Dec 31, 1890

Germany treaty with Russia ended.
Period: Jan 1, 1890 to Dec 31, 1890

Kaiser Wilhelm II forced Otto von Bismarck to resign.
Period: Jan 1, 1890 to Dec 31, 1890

Germany's foreign policy changed drastically.
Period: Jan 1, 1892 to Dec 31, 1894

Military alliance.

A military alliance was formed between Russia and France.
Period: Jan 1, 1895 to Dec 31, 1895

Frédéric Passy expressed a common concern of society.

"The entire able-bodied population are preparing to massacre one another; though no one, it is true, wants to attack, and everybody protests his love of peace and determination to mantain it, yet the whole world feels that it only requires some unforeseen incident, some unpreventable accident, for the spark to fall in a flash... and blow all Europe sky-high."
Period: Jan 1, 1900 to Dec 31, 1909

The Ottoman Empire was in rapid decline.
Period: Jan 1, 1907 to Dec 31, 1907

Rival camps.

Two rival camps (Triple Alliance and Triple Entente) existed in Europe.
Aug 31, 1907

Triple Entente.

Britain formed an alliance with France and Russia that was known as the Triple Entente.
Oct 6, 1908

Austria took over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Period: Jan 1, 1914 to Dec 31, 1914

Militarism.

All the great powers except Britain had large standing armies.
Jun 28, 1914

The Murder.

Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie were murdered on a visit to Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia.
Jul 23, 1914

Ultimatum.

Austria presented Serbia an ultimatum that contained many demands.
Jul 28, 1914

Austria declared war.

Austria rejected Serbia's offer of negotiating and declared war.