World War I Timeline

  • Three Emperor's League

    Linked monarchs of Austria- Hungary, Germany, and Russia in alliance against radical movements.
  • Congress of Berlin

    Bismarck's peaceful efforts angered Russian nationalists, ending his defensive military alliance with Austria (1879).
  • Triple Alliance/ Central Powers

    Austria, Germany, and Italy
  • Russian- German Reinsurance Treaty

    Both Russia and Germany promised neutrality if the other was attacked.
  • Alfred von Tirpitz

    Admiral of the German Navy. Took Imperial Navy and turned it into world- class force to threaten British Navy.
  • Bismarck's Resignation

    Asked to resign by William II. German leaders lost control of the international system.
  • Emperor William II

    Dismissed Bismarck. Refused to renew Russian- German Reinsurance Treaty.
  • Franco Russian Alliance

    Resulted from agreement between the two countries reached in 1891. In effect as long as Triple Alliance existed.
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    South African War

    British vs. Dutch Republics. Brought forth Anti- British feelings.
  • Theophile Delcasse

    Skilled French foreign minister who wanted better relations with Britain.
  • Balkan Nationalism

    Serbia became openly hostile toward Austria- Hungary and the Ottoman Empire. Slavic people looked to Slavic Russia for support of national aspirations.
  • Anglo French Entente

    Settled all outstanding colonial disputes between Britain and France.
  • Algreciras Conference

    Find a solution to the Moroccoan Crisis between France and Germany.
  • Anglo Russian Agreement

    Russia agreed to settle quarrels with Great Britain in Persia and Central Asia.
  • First Balkan War

    Serbia and Greece attacked the Ottoman Empire.
  • Destruction of Ottoman Empire

    Destroyed by nationalism.
  • Second Balkan War

    Austria intervened and made Serbia give up Albania.
  • Archduke Franz Ferdinand

    He and his wife were assassinated by Serbian Revolutionaries living in Bosnia.
  • Austria Hungary's Unconditional Ultimatum

    Presented to Serbia. Serbia given 48 hours to agree to demands that would amount to getting control of the Serbian state.
  • Blank Check

    Austria Hungary given support by Germany. Germany gave Austria Hungary a blank check and urged aggressive measures towards Serbia.
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    Russian Mobilization

    Austria Hungary bombards Belgrade. Tsar Nicholas II orders partial mobilization. Russia orders a full mobilization against Austria Hungary and Germany.
  • Subordination of Political Considerations to Military Strategy

    Germany was fighting a two front war. General Moltke demands Belgium lets Germany pass through to knock out France.
  • Triple Entente/ Allied Powers

    Great Britain, France, and Russia
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    Battles of Tannenberg and Masurian Lakes

    Battles fought between the Russians and Germans. Russians tried to move into Germany. Germans won.
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    Hindenburg and Ludendorff

    Two German generals who defeated the Russians in the Battles of Tannenberg and the Masurian Lakes.
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    Race to the Sea

    Central and Allied Powers were still at mobile warfare. After Battle of the Marne, the Allied Powers tried to go northeast to bring forces under British Admiralty. Ended on the North Sea.
  • Battle of the Marne

    France attacked a gap in the German line. For 3 days, France threw everything into the attack. Germans fell back.
  • Total War

    Planned economy. Free market capitalism abandoned. Government imposed rationing, price and wage controls, and restricted workers' freedom.
  • Trench Warfare

    Armies started building trenches to protect themselves from artillary. Defenders were protected by trenches, mines, and barbed wire. They went from Belgium to the Swiss frontier.
  • German Naval Policy

    Destroyed American ships suspected of carrying supplies to Britain. Submarine warfare.
  • Lusitania

    British passenger that was sunk by a German submarine. More than 1000 people died with 139 being Americans. Germany was forced to relax its submarine warfare.
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    Battle of Verdun

    Fought between German and French armies. Resulted in 698000 battlefield deaths.
  • David Lloyd George

    Prime Minister of UK. Saw a large navy as a detestable military challenge.
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    Battle of Somme

    Suffered more than 1 million casualties
  • Submarine Warfare

    After two years of being forced to relax its submarine warfare, Germany continued to use unrestricted warfare. It was the main reason the US entered World War I.
  • War Raw Materials Board

    Seg up by Walter Rathenau. Every useful material was inventoried and rationed. Produced substitutes need to make explosives,
  • Balfour Declaration

    British foreign secretary Arthur Balfour. Britain wanted a national home for Jews in Palestine without prejudicing civil and religious rights of existing non- Jewish communities. Believed it would appeal to German, Austrian, and American Jews helping Britain's war effort.
  • Georges Clemenceau

    Ruthless and effective wartime leader. Biggest concerns are punishing Germany and security for France. Gave up demand for Rhineland for alliance with US and Great Britain.
  • Wilson's 14 Points

    Peace proposal that stressed national self- determination and the rights of small countries.
  • Second Battle of Marne

    Stoppped General Ludendorff from invading Paris. American soldiers= 140000
    2 million armed men by August
  • German Revolution

    Masses of workers demonstrated for peace in Berlin. Emperor abdicated and fled to Holland.
  • Armistice

    Socialist leaders in Berlin claimed a German republic. Agreed to tough Allied terms of surrender.
  • Peace of Paris

    70 delegates representing 27 nations. Real powers= US, GB, and France.
    Germany not allowed to participate.
    Russia didn't attend, in civil war
  • Treaty of Versailles

    Between Germany and Allied Powers. Germany to accept responsibility for causing the war and reparations.
  • League of Nations

    Created by President Wilson. Believed it could protect member states from aggression and future wars.
  • All Quiet on the Western Front

    By Erich Remarque. Describes what soldiers were thinking mentally and how they were physically.