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Franco-Prussian War
The war between France and Prussia (the future German Empire) that lasted from 1870 to 1871 ended with a humiliating defeat for France. It lost the regions of Alsace and Lorraine, and was forced to pay a huge indemnity to Prussia. The Franco-Prussian War led to creation of a powerful German Empire with a military and industrial potential to further disrupt the European balance of power on the one hand and widespread resentment and desire for revenge among the French (revanchism) on the other. -
Accession of Wilhelm II to the German Throne
With the accession of Wilhelm II to the German throne in 1888, the German foreign policy became more bellicose. The new German Emperor dismissed the skillful Otto von Bismarck as Chancellor. He also refused to renew the Reinsurance Treaty with Russia that maintained the fragile peace between Russia and Austria-Hungary as well as kept France isolated. That way Wilhelm II helped create an alliance between France and Russia that became the basis for the future Triple Entente. -
Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen (Red Baron) was Born
Born in Kleinburg, near Breslau, Lower Silesia on May 2, 1892, Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen was a member of an aristocratic Prussian family, in which it was expected that the men of the family would serve proudly in the military. -
Kiffin Rockwell is born
Kiffin Yates Rockwell was born in 1892 in Newport, Tennessee, the son of James Chester Rockwell and Loula Ayres. -
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Russo-Japanese War
Russo-Japanese rivalry over Manchuria and Korea reached its height with the Russo-Japanese War. The outcome of the war against the Japanese was a major blow for the Russians who lost almost entire Baltic and Pacific fleet. The defeat also provoked a serious political crisis that led to the Russian Revolution of 1905. But the Russo-Japanese War also made an end to the Russian ambitions in the Far East and as a result, the Tsarist government focused its attention to Europe, in the firs -
Gavrilo Princip assassinates Franz Ferdinand
Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian nationalist with ties to the secretive military group known as the Black Hand, propelled the major European military powers towards war by assassinanting Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary. -
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia
A month after the asassination of Franz Ferdinand, Autrria-Hungary declares war on Serbia. -
Ottoman Empire and Germany sign a secret treaty of alliance
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Germany declares war on France
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Germany invades Belgium
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Britain to declares war on Germany
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Austria-Hungary invades Russia
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The Christmas Truce
The Christmas Truce of 1914 is one of the most interesting events that occurred during World War I. In the midst of war and fighting, soldiers along the western front stopped fighting in an unofficial cease fire on Christmas. -
Sinking of the Lusitania
On May 7, 1915, A German U-boat sank the Lusitania because it was supposedly carring weaponry and/or gunpowder. -
Unrestricted Submarine Warfare
The use of unrestricted submarine warfare was announced by Germany on January 9th, 1917. Unrestricted submarine warfare had a major impact on World War One as it was one of the main reasons why America joined the war. -
The Zimmermann Telegram
The US press releases information about the Zimmermann Telegram, a proposition to Mexico about keeping the US out of World War 1. -
The United States joins the war.
The U.S. joined its allies, Britain, France, and Russia, to fight in World War I. Under the command of Major General John J. Pershing, more than 2 million U.S. soldiers fought on battlefields in France. Many Americans were not in favor of the U.S. entering the war and wanted to remain neutral. -
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Russain Revolution
By 1917 most Russian had lost faith in Czar Nicholas II. Russians formed a revolution in March and also in November, because of the milatary efforts in WW1. -
14 Points cont.
11- Self-determination and guarantees of independence should be allowed for the Balkan states.
12- he Turkish people should be governed by the Turkish government. Non-Turks in the old Turkish Empire should govern themselves.
13- An independent Poland should be created which should have access to the sea.
14- A League of Nations should be set up to guarantee the political and territorial independence of all states. -
Wilson's 14 Points
1- No more secret agreements
2- Freedom of the seas
3- No economic barriers
4- Reduce weapons
5- All decisions regarding the colonies should be impartial
6- German army should be removed from Russia
7- Belgium should be independent like before the war.
8- France should be fully liberated and allowed to recover Alsace-Lorraine
9- All Italians are to be allowed to live in Italy.
10- Self-determination should be allowed for all those living in Austria-Hungary. -
Last American Casualty
Private Gunter was killed only a minute before the cease fire. -
Cease Fire Declared!
On November 11, 1918 at 11:00, a cease fire was called. The armistice was an agreement to stop fighting, for peace. -
The Treaty of Versailles
The war officially ended with the Treaty of Versailles. It was signed by almost all countires involved in the war except the US. It was completely unfair to Germany. -
Personal Reflection
I think WW1 was a terrible excuse for war. The treaty of Versailles was completely unfair to Germany, and maybe WW2 could have been prevented if the Treaty was more fair. -
Cost of the War
The finacial cost of the war was over 100 billion. The Allies spent around $125,690,477,000 and the Central Powers spent about 60,643,160,000. There were over 37 million casualties and 16 million deaths.
