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Triple Alliance is Formed
The Triple Alliance was formed between Germany, Austria- Hungary, and Italy. These alliances created tension across Europe and supported the idea of war to create national glory. -
Russia Formed Defensive Military Alliance with France
Russia forms an alliancec with France to help protect them from other major European powers. Because Wilhelm II formed many alliances, it left Russia feeling alienated, prompting them to sign with France. -
Russia Formed Entente (Alliance) with France
Russia forms an alliancec with France to help protect them from other major European powers. Because Wilhelm II formed many alliances, it left Russia feeling alienated, prompting them to sign with France. -
Britain Makes Another Entente- Triple Entente
Feeling threatened by Germany's enhanced naval power, Britain joins France and Russia in the Triple Entente. -
Ferdinand and Sophie are Assassinated
Archduke Ferdinand and his wife Duchess Sophie are assassinated in Sarajevo, Bosnia by Gavrilo Princip, a member of the Black Hand. The war broke out starting with this assassination. -
Austria Presents Serbia with the Ultimatum
Austria was furious with Serbia because of the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand and Duchess Sophie. They presented Serbia with a severe ultimatum. There had to be suppression of all anti-Austrian activity in Serbia, the dismissal of all Serbian officials that Austria- Hungary objected to, and the right for Austrian officials to enter Serbia to investigate the assassination. -
Austria Declared War on Serbia
When Serbia refuses to let Autrian officials run an investigation in Serbia, Austria- Hungary declares war on Serbia. -
Russia Ordered Mobilization Towards the Austrian Border
Russia orders mobilization towards the Austrian border after, using the Schlieffen Plan, Russia was attacked. This caused a reaction around the world which led to World War 1. -
Germany Declared War on Russia
Russia begins to move along the German border when they hear about the declaration of war. Russia was trying to protect serbia, its ally, whom Germany had just declared war on. Germany felt threatened by this movement and declares war on Russia. -
Germany counterattacked the Russians at Tannenberg. Four day battle.
At the end of August, Germany counterattacked the Russians at Tannenberg. During the four- day battle, the Germans pushed the invading Russian army into full retreat. More than 30,000 Russian soldiers were killed. -
Germany Declared War on France
After Germany declares war on Russia, they then also declare war on France. France and Russia are allies. -
Britain Declared War on Germany
Great Britain declares war on Germany after Germany declares war on Russia and France. Great Britain, France, and Russia are allies in this war. The ties of the allies create a web of tension which lead to the war. -
Allies attack Germany at the 1st Battle of the Marne
At the First Battle of the Marne, the French and British forces succeded in beating the German army. While fighting, they managed to recapture lost ground in the process. It ended the hopes of the German's ending the war early. -
Ottoman Empire formally joins Central Powers
The Ottoman Empire formally joins the Central Powers in hope of regaining lost territory. They joined the Central Powers to form the triple alliance.The Ottomans entered the War after the Western Front had settled down to trench warfare. -
The Allies launch the Gallipoli campaign
The effort to take the Dardanelles strait. British, Australian, New Zealand, and French troops made repeated attacks on the Gallipoli Peninsula on the western side of the strait. After a year of fighting, in December, the Allies gave up the campaign and began to evacuate. -
Italy joins Entente
Italy joins the Entente after having a secret agreement with France, nullifying their alliance with Germany. Britain and France wanted Italy to join in on their side so that a new front could open up the south side of the Western Front. -
Germany sinks the U.S.S. Lusitania
A German submarine, or U-boat, had sun the British passnger ship Lusitania. The attack left 1,198 people dead, including 128 U.S. citizens. Germany claimed that the ship had been carrying ammunition- which turned out to be true. The American public was outraged. President Woodrow Wilson sent a protest to Germany. After two more attacks, Germany agreed to stop attacking neutral and passenger ships. -
Germans attack the Allies at Verdun in the Battle of the Somme
The Germans launched an attack against the French near Verdun. Each side lost more than 300,000 men. In July, the British army tried to relieve the pressure on the French. British forces attacked the Germans northwest of Verdun, in the valley of the Somme River. By the time the Battle of the Somme ended, each side had more than half a million casualties. -
Germans announce their policy of unrestricted subarine warfare
The Germans return to unrestricted submarine warfare. They knew it might lead to warfare with the United States because they had previously told the US that they would stop attacking ships. They thought that their naval blockade would starve Britain into defeat before the US could mobilize. Ignoring warnings from President WIlson, German U--boats sank three American ships. -
U.S. intercepts the Zimmerman Note
The British intercepted a telegram from Germany's foreign secretary, Arthur Zimmermann, to the German ambassador in Mexico. The message said that Germany would help Mexico "reconquer" the land it had lost to the U.S. if Mexico would ally itself with Germany. The British decoded the message and gave it to the U.S. government. -
Woodrow Wilson asks Congress to declare war on Germany
Woodrow Wilson asks Congress to declare war on Germany because of all the events that created tension between the U.S. and Germany. These events include unrestricted submarine warfare and the Zimmermann Note. The United States enters the war on the side of the Allies. -
Vladimir Ilyich Lenin ended Russia's involvement in WW1
In November 1917, Communist leader Lenin siezed power. Lenin insisted on ending his country's involvement in the war. One of his first acts was to offer Germany a truce. -
Germany and Russia sign the Treaty of Brest- Litovsk
When Russia wanted to end their involvement in the war, one of Lenin's first acts was to offer Gerany a truce. Germany and Russia signed the Treaty of Brest- Litovsk, which ended the war between them. The treaty was very hard on Russia because it required the Russian government to surrender a lot of land to Germany. -
Second Battle of the Marne
In July 1918, the Allies and Germans clashed at the Second Battle of the Marne. The Central Powers began to crumble. The Bulgarians and Ottoman Turks surrendered. -
Kaiser Wilhelm II stepped down from power, Germany declared itself a republic
In Germany, soldiers mutinied and the public turned on the Kaiser. Kaiser Wilhelm II was forced to step down from power. Germany declared itslef a republic. -
A German representative an French Commander Marshal Foch signed an armistice
A representative of the new German government met with Marshal Foch. In a railway car in a forest near Paris, the two signed an armistice, or an agreement to stop fighting. On November 11, World War I came to an end.
