-
Triple Alliance is formed
In attempt to isolate France, an alliance was created between Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy. The nations agreed to assist eachother if they were attacked by France, their greatest threat to peace. Germany and Austria-Hungary were later known as the Central Powers. -
Triple Entente is formed
An alliance between France, Russia, and Great Britain. This alliance was formed in response to the formation of the Triple Alliance. It was to ensure mutual support for eachother if the Triple Alliance attacked them. The included nations in this alliance later became known as the Allied Powers (Allies). -
Murder of Archduke Franz-Ferdinand
Archduke Franz-Ferdinand and his wife were killed as they were riding through the streets of Sarajevo. Attempting to punish Serbia for the murder, Austria propsed demands upon the Serbians. The Serbians, even though they obeyed most demands, wanted to settle some with a conference. Resentless to the offer, Austria later declared war. -
Period: to
The Eastern Front
The Eastern Front was a stretch of battlefield along the German and Russian border. The Allies (Russia and Serbia) battled against the Central Powers (Germany and Austria-Hungary) here. Just like the Western Front, slaughter and stalemate were common. However, the wars fought in the Eastern Front were more mobile than the west. -
Period: to
The Western Front
The Western Front was a region in northern France where the Allies and the Central Powers collided in war. This battleground incorporated trench warfare, and quickly turned into a stalemate, with neither side making much progress. Both sides lost tragic amounts of men here. The western front served as a battleground for most of the war. -
First Battle of the Marne
Before the battle, Germans developed the Schlieffen Plan; a strategic plan to first win a quick defeat over France, then sweep westward to fight Russia. The Germans advanced to outside of Paris, in hopes of a victory. This prompted the Allies to attack Germans in the Valley of the Marne River. A few days after fighting, the Germans were commanded to retreat, leaving the Allies with a victory. -
Battle in the Trenches
Opposing armies in the Western Front, to defend themselves, dug mile long trenches stretching from the Belgian coast through northeastern France to Switzerland. Soldiers faced terrible conditions while the vast army suffered devastating losses of men. These losses did not justify to be worth the fighting because the armies only recieved small portions of land for winning battles. -
Period: to
Battle in the Trenches
Opposing armies in the Western Front, to defend themselves, dug mile long trenches stretching from the Belgian coast through northeastern France to Switzerland. Soldiers faced terrible conditions while the vast army suffered devastating losses of men. These losses did not justify to be worth the fighting because the armies only recieved small portions of land for winning battles. -
Unrestricted Submarine Warfare
Germans used unrestricted submarine warfare; a policy giving Germans permission to sink ships (with submarines), without warning, around Britain. Disregarding American protests to stop the policy, the Germans sank three U.S. ships. This pushed the US closer to war. -
The Zimmermann note
Arthur Zimmermann, a German foreign secretary, sent a secret telegram to Mexico proposing to create an alliance with them. The note offered to help Mexico take back lost US lands. The British Admiralty was able to decode the telegram and inform President Woodrow Wilson. It was later published. -
America joins the fight
The German actions of unrestricted submarine warfare and the Zimmermann Note angered the U.S., pushing them to the brink of war. On April 6, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson asked Congress to declare war on Germany. They joined with the Allies and entered the war. -
Treay of Best-Litovsk
Because the Czar Nicolas stepped down due to civil unrest within Russia, a temporary goverment took his place. After this new government was put into place, revolutions occurred throughout Russia. A leader by the name of Vladmir Ilyich Lenin took control and felt the need to withdraw the nation from the war. The Central Powers and Russia then signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, removing Russia from World War I. -
Second Battle of the Marne
Following the Russian withdrawl from the war, Germany rallied all their rescources into one final attack against the Allies in the Western Front. At first, Germany was very successful, destroying everything in their path. However, by the time the Germans reached the Marne River, they had a significantly less men and supplies. The Allies recognized their vulnerablity and launched a counterattck. Three days later, the Germans retreated to their former Aisne-Vesle lines. -
Armistice is Signed
On a railroad near Paris, a representative of the new German republic and a French Commander, Marshal Foch, signed an agreement to stop fighting. This armistice was between Germany and the Allied Powers. It stated that Germany was to withdraw from their enemies territories, disband their troops, release Allied prisoners, and hand over immense amounts of their war materials to the Allies. The agreement officially ended World War I. -
Treaty of Versailles
The treaty was peace document signed by the Allied Powers and Germany in the Palace of Versailles, Frence at the Paris Peace Conference. This was exactly 5 years after the assination of Franz Ferdinand. The treaty created a league of nations based on the idea's of Woodrow Wilson's fourteenth point. The league was to be an internation association, ensuring peace amoung the nations. The treaty also punished Germany.
