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The Austrian Empire reorganized as Austria-Hungary after its defeat by Prussia in the war. At the same time, France also lost status and territory to the new nation, Germany.
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Germany surpassed Britain to become Europe’s leading industrial power. These developments dramatically altered the balance of power in Europe.
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Great Powers put Austria-Hungary in charge of Bosnia-Herzegovina—a multi-ethnic region of Croats, Turks, and Serbs on Serbia’s border. Russia quickly formed close ties with Serbia and took on the role of Serbia’s protector.
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Germany's first chancellor, Otto von Bismarck, formed an alliance with Russia and Austria-Hungary to reduce the threat from Russia. This alliance was called the Three Emperors' Alliance.
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To protect its against France, Germany formed an alliance with Italy and Austria-Hungary called the Triple Alliance.
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Kaiser Wilhelm and other German leaders were more interested in creating an overseas empire. To help achieve this goal, Germany began strengthening its navy. Bismarck was forced to resign and the Reinsurance Treaty was allowed to expire. These developments increased tensions with both Russia and Great Britain. -
France took advantage of the Reinsurance Treaty’s end by forming an alliance with Russia. The French also provided money and other assistance to help Russia build railroads and modernize its army.
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First railroad to link Europe and Asia. It fueled Russian dreams for expanding trade, landholding, and influence in East Asia. -
The policy blocked European powers from increased control in Latin America to protect their investments and made the United States the major power in the region. It also caused much resentment in Latin America.
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The war went badly for Russia and ended in 1905 when the United States, with German and British support, forced a settlement. Manchuria was returned to China, and Russia agreed to respect Japan’s control over Korea. Russia decided to refocus its attention on European affairs.
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Russia, France, and Great Britain formed the Triple Entente in 1907 due to growing concerns about Germany.
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Many Serbs believed that Bosnia-Herzegovina should be part of Serbia. Russia supported this goal, hoping to weaken Austria-Hungary and increase its own influence in the Balkans. Russia also supported Serbia in two short Balkan Wars in 1912 and 1913.
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After defeating the Austrian Empire and France in war, Germany had become the strongest nation.
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A large Russian force was almost completely destroyed at the city of Tannenberg, just inside Germany’s eastern border. Of 150,000 Russian troops, some 130,000 were killed, wounded, or taken prisoner.
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Bosnian terrorists attacked the motorcade of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914. The assassination of Ferdinand ignited tensions in Europe. -
Ottoman Empire officially entered the war on Germany and Austria-Hungary's side to form the Central Powers.
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The Germans also demanded that France pledge neutrality in the event of war between Germany and Russia.
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Gained only 500 yards of ground and cost the lives of 50,000 men.
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This ends up dissolving the Eastern Front.
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In German East Africa some 12,000 African soldiers defended against 130,000 Allied troops for three years until finally being forced to surrender.
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For the next two months, they slowly pushed the British and French forces back in heavy fighting. By June, the German army was again within artillery range of Paris. Casualties on both sides were massive.
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Then, the Americans joined British and French forces to defeat the Germans in the month-long Battle of the Argonne Forest. These defeats pushed the German army back to the border of Germany.
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Wilfred Owen, a British poet and lieutenant in the British Army, wrote several poems about the war before he was killed in action at the age of 25. -
President Woodrow Wilson issued a statement of war goals called the Fourteen Points. -
In order for agreement to stop fighting.