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Dual Alliance between Germany and Austria-Hungary
A defensive alliance that would lead to the triple alliance of the First World War (Alliances of the cause of the war). -
European Imperialism
Countries raced to gather colonies in Africa and Asia and the Americas in the 19th and early 20th centuries (Imperialism as a couse of war). -
HMS Dreadnought is launched
New type of British battleship, sparked the Anglo-German naval arms race (Militarism as the cause of the war). -
Franz Ferdinand Assassinated
Franz Ferdinand was the Archduke of Austrio-Hungary, and was heir to the throne. He was killed by the Black Hand, a Serbian nationalist secret society, and this assassination set in motion a series of events that culminated in the world's first global war (Nationalism as a cause of war). -
Germany assures Support to Austria-Hungary
After the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo on June 28th, the Austrian government approached Germany for a vow of support in case of war with Serbia.
Germany promises support to Austria-Hungary in case of war. -
Ultimatum Issued to Serbia in response to Assassination
After the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, the Austria-Hungary government put together a list of conditions that Serbia had to meet within two days or war would be declared. -
Austria-Hungary Declares war on Serbia!
After the Serbian government failed to comply with the ultimatum issued by Austria-Hungary, war was declared. -
Russia Mobilizes its Army to support Serbia
Russia had a long standing alliance with Serbia, and immediately after Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia - the Russians began mobilizing their massive army to support their Serbian allies. -
Germany Warns Russia to Stop
Germany (who is allied with Austria-Hungary) warns Russia to stop mobilizing their army towards Serbia. Russia replies to the Germans that the mobilization is against Austria-Hungary only, and not against Germany. -
Germany Declares war on Russia
Russia refused to comply with the German demand that they stop their support for Serbia, so they immediately declared war on Russa. -
Germany signs secret Alliance with Ottoman Empire
Germany quietly signed a treaty with the Ottomans which would help them in South East Europe. -
Germany Declares War on France
Germany knew that France had an alliance with Russia, and they had just declared war on Russia days earlier. -
France declares war on Germany
Two days after declaring war on Russia, Germany declares war on France. -
Germany Invades Belgium
Germany had declared war on France, but rather than attack France through the heavily defended French/German border, the Germans pushed through the small peaceful country of Belgium to quickly get into France. -
UK Declares war on Germany
Once the Germans had invaded Belgium, the United Kingdom saw this as a clear violation of the Belgian Neutral Treaty and declared war on Germany in response. -
CANADA DECLARES WAR ON GERMANY
In 1914, Canada was still a dominion of the UK, so their involvement in WW1 was automatic once the UK declared war on Germany. The level of involvement was still up to the Canadian government so to show support of the war effort - the Governor General of Canada formally declared war on Germany on August 5, 1914. -
Battle of the Marne starts
The German offensive to capture Paris is haulted and the battlefield becomes static as lines of trenches are dug. -
Turkey entered the war on Germany's side
Turkey represented a threat to Russia, France, and Britain in the Middle East. -
Second Battle of Ypres
Canada's first major battle and also the first large use of poison gas. The Canadian's held the line. -
Gallipoli Campaign
The British Empire attacks Turkey, but suffers a major defeat. First battle for Newfoundlanders. -
The passenger ship "Lusitania" is sunk by German U-boat
1198 people were killed when the Lusitania was torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine off the coast of Ireland. This sinking sparked outrage against the Germans, and sparked the American entry into WW1. -
Italy declares war on Germany & Austria
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Conscription Introduced in Britain
In early 1916, the British government decided to draft all eligible men into the armed forces to fight against the Germans. This helped to increase the size of the army very quickly. -
Battle of Jutland
Only major naval battle of the war, no clear winner between British and Germans. -
Start of the Battle of the Somme
Major British offensive on the Western front, they suffered 60, 000
casualties on the first day. Battle ends November 18. -
Germany announces unrestricted submarine warfare
Britains food life line is in danger but this action draws United States into the war. -
Germany's Unrestricted Submarine Warfare Started
Germany decided to attack any type of allied ships, which put women and children at risk. This ruthless strategy by the Germans finally drove the Americans to enter WW1. -
Tsar Nicholas II abdicates the Russian throne
End of the Russian royal family and beginning of communists in Russia. -
USA Declares War on Germany
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US declares war on Germany
Signaled the United States entry to the war on the British side. -
Battle of Vimy Ridge
The Canadian corps captures the strategic Vimy Ridge in France. -
Battle of Passchendaele
Canadians fight for weeks in waist deep mud with little gained. -
Military Service Act passed in Ottawa
Conscripted Canadian men, bitterly divided Canadian society between English and French Canada. -
Armistice Signed Between Russia and Germany
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Canadian federal election
Prime Minister Sir Robert Borden wins the election after giving soldiers and women with family in the field a right to vote. -
Germany Starts Offensive in Flanders
Many Canadian soldiers were killed in Flanders.... -
The Murder of the Russian Royal Family
Tsar Nicholas II, his wife, and children, are murdered by the Bolsheviks. -
Start of the 100 Days
Beginning of major allied offensive pushing Germans back towards Germany. The Canadian corps is at the spear head. -
Germany Signs Armistice with Allies - War is Over!
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Paris Peace Conference
Allies redraw the map of Europe and place all blame for the war on Germany. They force Germany to pay reparations. -
Treaty of Versailles
Peace treaty for Germany and the allies. Article 231 (War Guilt clause) made Germany responsible for the war. Germany was forced to disarm and make territoral concessions and pay reperations $31 billion US. -
League of Nations
International organization intended to maintain world peace. Failed in its mission. -
The Founding of the Fascist Party
The National Fascist party was an italion right wing political party led by Benito Mussolini -
Joseph Stalin becomes the leader of the Soviet Union
After the founder of the communist party died, Stalin took control of the Russian communist party and became a dictator -
Treaty of Rapallo
Agreement between Germany and Russia (Soviet Union). Economic and political cooperation - both countries are outsiders in Europe. -
Benito Mussolini comes to power in Italy
Mussolini led a march on Rome, and was given the position of Prime Minister from the King of Italy -
The Munich Putsch
The Munich Putsh was a failed attempt to overthrow the givernment led by Adolf Hitler -
Hyperinflation in Germany
Germans couldn't pay so they started printing money that was worth nothing. Britain and Framce could not repay debt to the US, so US started to suffer which lead to the Depression. -
Hitler writes Mein Kampft
An autobiography where Hitler outlines his political ideology and future plans for Germany -
Japan invades Manchuri
The japenese invade Manchuria, Japanese imperialsim in Asia -
HItler comes to power as the head of the Nazi Party
Hitler's Nazi Party was the largest elected party in the German Reichstag and so Hitler was invited to become leader of Germany -
The Night of the Long Knives
A series of political murders of Hitlers apponants and critics -
Italian invasion of Ethiopia
Italy attempted to recreate the Roman Empire, and the League of Nations did nothing to oppose Missolini -
Remilitarization of the Rhineland
Violated the the Treaty of Versaillies and angered France. League of Nations does nothing (saw the treaty as too harsh on Germany). -
Remilitarization of the Rhineland
Hitler stations soldiers in the Rhineland against the French border which was against the ruling of the Treaty of Versaillies -
Japanese invasion of China
Japan invades China, imperialism in Asia -
Anschluss of Germany and Austria
Hitler ignores the rules of the Treaty of Versaillies and annaxes Austria -
The Munich Crisis
The German speaking a portion of Czechoslovakia is given to Germany to avoid war, British prime minister Neville Chamberlain announces that he and Hitler have achieved "peace in our time" -
Kristallnacht
A series of deadly attacks against Jews throughout Nazi Germany and Austria -
Absorption of the rest of Czechoslovakia
Germany takes the rest of Czechoslovakia and makes the Munich pact of a lie -
German-Soviet Non-aggression pact
Stalin and Hitler agreed not to fight each other, which was a huge shock to the world -
Germany invades Poland
Hitler invades Poland, Germany unleashes Blitzkrieg (lightning war - a fast paced mobile war) -
Britain, France declare war on Germany
After Hitler invades Poland, Briatin and France declare war on Germany -
Period: to
The Phony War
After Britain and France declare war on Germany, they do nothing for almost 8 months -
Period: to
Battle of the Atlantic
The big fight over the control of the Atlantic Ocean. The allies sent convoys of ships to Britain with soldiers, weaons, food, and German submarines tried to sink them -
Canada declares war on Germany
The Canadina Government are able to declare war as an independent country -
Establishment of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
A plan to train pilots in Canada, Britain, Australia, and New Zealand all participated -
Germany invades Denmark, Norway
Germany invades Denmark, Norway. This marks the end of the Phony War -
Germany invades the Netherlands and Belgium
Germans invade the Netherlands and Belgium, Britain and France prepare to defend Western Europe against the German blitzkrieg -
Germany invades France
Germany invades France, France unable to contain blitzkrieg -
Winston Churchill becomes British Prime Minister
Chamberlain resignes after British defeat in Norway and Churchill becomes Prime Minister -
Operation Dynamo
Also known as the Miracle of Dunkirk, evacuation of allied soldiers from France to Britain -
France surrenders
France surrendors to Germany and Britain stands alone -
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The Battle of Britain
A massive air battle over Britain in anticipation of German invasion, the importance of radar in British victory -
Germany invades Crete, Greece
Germany invades Greece -
Germany invades Russia
Germany invades Russia, breaks the non-aggression pact -
Japan attacks Pearl Harbour
Japan launches a surprise attack on the american hawaiian base -
The United States declares war on Japan
President Franklin Roosevelt signs the declaration of war against Japan, the US is now an active participant in the war -
Germany declares war on the US
Germany declared war on the US for no good reason, US didn't want anything to do with the war going on in Europe. The declaration of war brought the US into Europe which pleased Churchill -
The Fall of Hong Kong
Nearly 2000 Canadians are killed, wounded, or captured when the Japanese captured the British colony of Hong Kong, this is the first time Canadian soldiers see combat in WWII -
Beginning of internment of Japanese-Canadians by federal government
Japanese Canadians are forced to move away from the coast to prevent sabatoge in case of a Japanese invasion, family's were seperated, their property was confiscated and sold by the Canadian government -
Wannsee Conference
At this conference German leaders decide to impliment the Final Solution to the Jewish question by sending them to extermination camps. This is the beginning of the final phase of the Holocaust -
Battle of Midway
Americans stop Japanese advance across the Pacific Ocean, sinking 4 aircraft carriers -
D-Day
The liberation of France begins, with Canadians landing on Juno beach, one of 5 Allied invasion beaches in Normandy -
Dieppe Raid
5,000 Canadians involved in a failed raid on the French town of Dieppe, 3,500 casualties were either killed, wounded, or captured -
Period: to
Battle of Stalingard
Russians stop Germans advancing into Russia, German 6th Army is destroyed -
Period: to
Battle of El Alamein
Germans was trying to capture the Suez Canal in Egypt and the British army stopped them, this was the first time the British succeeded in stopping a German attack -
Canadians participate in the invasion of Sicily and Italy
The first invasion of mainland Europe by the allies, the invasion of mainland Itlay in september 1943 causing the Italians to overthrow Missiliani and surrender. Itlay joins the allies in the war agaisnt Germany -
Battle of Ortona
Canada's most significant battle, was a battle between Canadians and Germans. Known for its bloody street fighting -
Conscription crisis
Reoccurrence of conscription crisis in Canada due to heavy losses in Europe, conscripts begin to be sent overseas. Deep resentment between English and French Canadians -
VE-Day
Germany formally surrenders, ending the war in Europe -
Atomic Bomb dropped on Hiroshama
Beginning of the nuclear age when the US uses the atomic bomb for the first time, second atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki on August 9 -
VJ-Day
Japan surrenders, ending the WWII -
The Founding of the United Nations
The United Nations is astablished to promote international peace and cooperation, Canada is a founding member -
Period: to
The Nuremberg Trials
Military trials of the political, military, and economic leaders of Nazi Germany who allegedly participaated in the Holocaust and other war crimes
