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Period: 1 CE to
Pre WWI
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The Formation of the Triple Alliance
Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy formed a defensive military alliance to counterbalance the growing power of France and Russia. The alliance sought to ensure mutual defense in case of an attack and was a key part of the intricate web of alliances that characterized pre-WWI Europe. -
The Formation of the Triple Entente
Britain, France, and Russia formed the Triple Entente as a response to the growing power of the Triple Alliance. This counter-alliance helped to solidify diplomatic and military ties, setting the stage for the alignment of these powers against Germany and Austria-Hungary. -
The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
On June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, was assassinated in Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb nationalist. This act of violence set off a chain of events that escalated into World War I. Austria-Hungary's declaration of war on Serbia set off a complex web of alliances, leading to the involvement of major European powers and ultimately a global conflict. -
Period: to
World War I
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The Outbreak of the War
World War I began in earnest after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Austria-Hungary’s declaration of war on Serbia triggered a chain reaction of alliances, pulling much of Europe into conflict. Germany supported Austria-Hungary, while Russia mobilized to defend Serbia, and soon the major European powers were at war. -
The Battle of the Somme
Fought between July 1 and November 18, 1916, the Battle of the Somme was one of the largest and bloodiest battles of the war. Over a million men were wounded or killed, but it ultimately failed to break the German lines. The battle highlighted the horrors of trench warfare and the massive loss of life on both sides. -
The Armistice
On November 11, the Armistice of Compiegne was signed, effectively ending the fighting in World War I. The terms of the armistice marked a victory for the Allied powers, with Germany agreeing to cease hostilities and surrender, though the formal peace treaty would not be signed until the following year. -
Period: to
Inter-war period
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The Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles officially ended World War I by imposing harsh reparations on Germany, stripping it of territory, and limiting its military capacity, causing resentment and economic hardship. It also reshaped Europe by dissolving empires (Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman, Russian, and German) and creating new nations like Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, and Poland. The treaty also established the League of Nations, an international body aimed at preventing future conflicts. -
The Great Depression
The Crash of 1929 marked the beginning of the Great Depression, a global economic crisis that caused widespread unemployment, poverty, and political instability. Countries across the world experienced severe economic decline, which led to social unrest and the rise of extremist political movements,. The U.S. responded with Roosevelt’s New Deal policies while in Europe the Depression fueled the appeal of fascist and communist ideologies. -
Hitler's Nazi Germany
Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in 1933 and established a totalitarian Nazi regime. Under his leadership, the Nazis implemented aggressive expansionist policies, persecuted Jews, and promoted Aryan racial superiority. -
Period: to
WWII
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Invasion of Poland
On 1939, Nazi Germany invaded Poland, marking the official beginning of World War II. This invasion prompted Britain and France to declare war on Germany two days later, as part of their commitment to defend Poland. The Soviet Union, in a secret pact with Germany (the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact), invaded Poland from the east on September 17, splitting the country between the two powers. -
The Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad was one of the bloodiest and most significant battles in history. The Soviet Red Army encircled and defeated the German 6th Army, marking the first major defeat for Nazi Germany in the war. The battle marked a turning point on the Eastern Front, with the Soviets beginning to push German forces back towards the west. -
The Fall of Berlin
In April 1945, Soviet forces captured Berlin, leading to the collapse of Nazi Germany. Later, On April 30, 1945, Adolf Hitler committed suicide in his bunker, and Germany formally surrendered in the next month, marking the end of the war in Europe. -
Period: to
Post WWII and the re-shaping of the countries
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The Founding of the United Nations
In April 1945, delegates from 50 countries met in San Francisco to establish the United Nations (UN), designed to prevent future wars, promote peace, and foster international cooperation. The UN replaced the failed League of Nations, becoming the central international body for diplomacy and peacekeeping. It also addressed issues like human rights, humanitarian aid, and the development of international law. -
The Division of Germany
At the end of WWII, Germany was divided into four occupation zones, controlled by the United States, the Soviet Union, Great Britain, and France. This division marked the beginning of a split between the Western allies and the Soviet Union, with tensions rising over the future of the country. Eventually, this division would solidify into West Germany (capitalist) and East Germany (communist), laying the foundation for the Cold War in Europe. -
The Nuremberg Trials
After WWII, the Allies conducted trials in Nuremberg, Germany, to prosecute Nazi war criminals for crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide. The Nuremberg Trials set precedents for prosecuting war crimes and established the principle of individual accountability for such crimes, influencing future international law and the creation of the International Criminal Court (ICC). -
Period: to
The Cold War
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The Truman Doctrine
The Cold War began in 1947, following the articulation of the Truman Doctrine, which committed the United States to preventing the spread of communism. The doctrine was first applied in response to communist threats in Greece and Turkey, but it marked the beginning of a broader geopolitical struggle between the U.S. and the Soviet Union for global influence. -
The Nuclear Arms Race and the Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cold War saw the U.S. and the USSR locked in a nuclear arms race. In 1949, the Soviet Union tested its first atomic bomb, intensifying global fears of nuclear war. The Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 brought the world to the brink of nuclear conflict when the Soviet Union secretly deployed missiles in Cuba. The crisis ended with a U.S.-Soviet agreement to remove missiles from Cuba and Turkey and the establishment of a direct communication line between the two superpowers. -
The Dissolution of the Soviet Union
The Soviet Union officially dissolved in December 1991, ending the Cold War. The 15 republics of the USSR became independent nations, with Russia being the largest successor state. The collapse of the Soviet Union ended the ideological and political confrontation between the East and West. It also led to the emergence of the U.S. as the world’s sole superpower and the reordering of global politics.