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The Triple Alliance is Formed
Consisted of Germany, Italy, and Austria-Hungary. Each member promised mutual support in the event of an attack by any other great powers, or for Germany and Italy, an attack by France alone. -
Triple Entente
Triple Entente, an informal alliance among Great Britain, France, and Russia in the period before World War I. It opposed the Triple Alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. -
Austria-Hungary Takes Control of Bosnia
On October 6, 1908, the Dual Monarchy of Austria-Hungary announces its annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, dual provinces in the Balkan region of Europe formerly under the control of the Ottoman Empire.The announcement in October 1908 of Austria-Hungary’s annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina upset the fragile balance of power in the Balkans, enraging Serbia and pan-Slavic nationalists throughout Europe -
Archduke Franz Ferdinand is Assassinated in Sarajevo
Two bullets fired on a Sarajevo street on a sunny June morning in 1914 set in motion a series of events that shaped the world we live in today. He was visiting Bosnian capital, Sarajevo with his wife. -
Austria-Hungary Declares War on Serbia
This begins pulling each country into the war due to alliances. It was beginning of World War I. -
Germany Invaded Belgium
The Germans attacked on August 3rd. The next day, Great Britain declared war on Germany. -
A German U-Boat Sinks the Lusitania
At 2:10 in the afternoon a torpedo fired by the German submarine U 20 slammed into her side. One thousand one hundred nineteen of the 1,924 aboard died. The dead included 114 Americans. -
The First Battle of the Somme Begins
Took place during the First World War between 1 July and 18 November 1916 on either side of the river Somme in France. The battle saw the British Army, supported by contingents from British imperial territories including Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland, Canada, India and South Africa, mount a joint offensive with the French Army against the German Army, which had occupied large areas of France since its invasion of the country in August 1914. -
The Zimmerman Note is Discovered
On 16 January 1917, German Foreign Minister Zimmermann sent the German Minister in Mexico an enciphered message with a proposal to be presented to the Mexican government. Zimmermann proposed a German-Mexican alliance, with the payoff being Mexico's recovery of the territory lost in the Mexican-American War. British intelligence intercepted and deciphered the message, and turned it over to the Americans on 24 February. -
The United States Declares War on Germany
U.S. President Woodrow Wilson outlined the case for declaring war upon Germany in a speech to the joint houses of Congress on 2 April 1917. A formal declaration of war followed four days later, on 6 April 1917.
