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The Triple Alliance consisted of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy, the countries in red.
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France, Great Britian, and Russia (the countries in blue), although former enemies, create the Triple Entente. The forming of these alliances creates tension all over Europe.
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Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo Francis Ferdinand, the Archduke of Austria-Hungary, was assassinated in Bosnian city of Sarajevo by a Serbian terrorist group known as the Black Hand. This sparked the beginning of World War I.
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Austria-Hungary, now backed by their allies in Germany, declares war on Serbia. Russia, supporters of Serbia, begin to mobilize troops. During these times, mobilization was considered an act of war.
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On May 7, 1915, a German submarine fired and sunk the British Lusitania, killing 1,195 people, 123 of whom were U.S. citizens. Germany believed the ship was carrying ammunition across the Atlantic Ocean to Great Britain. Although the U.S. did not immediately join the war, this was the initial push that would eventually bring them into World War I.
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Although Italy was part of the Triple Alliance, they had remained neutral during the first years of the war. However, upon signing the Treaty of London in April of 1915, Italy agreed to join with the Allies and in return would receive control over parts of Austria-Hungary. They then betrayed their former alliance, declared war and attacked Austria-Hungary. The map on the left indicates who were the Allies (Triple Entente) and who were the Central Powers (Triple Alliance) by 1915.
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Due to many protests from Russians back home and the abdication of Czar Nicholas II, the Russians were forced to withdraw from World War I, causing a huge blow to the Allies.
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At the beginning of 1917, the Germans were eager to break the deadlock in the war, began using unrestricted submarine warfare again in hopes to starve the British. Consequently, the U.S., led by President Woodrow Wilson, sided with the Allies and entered World War I after years of successfully remaining neutral. This provided a huge psychological and militarial boost for the Allies.
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On this date, Germany, now led by Friedrich Ebert under a democratic republic, signed an armistice to end the fighting in Europe. A peace settlement ensued in January 1919 in Paris, France and the Treaty of Versailles was later signed in June.
