-
The Triple Alliance
The Triple Alliance was formed as a result of Otto von Bismarck’s attempt to isolate France. He felt that France posed a threat to Germany’s peace because France wanted revenge for their defeat in the Franco-Prussian War. After Germany and Austria-Hungary formed the Dual Alliance in 1879, Italy joined Germany and Austria-Hungary in the alliance in 1882. -
The Triple Entente
The Triple Entente was a result of Kaiser Wilhelm II trying to make the German navy as strong as the British navy. Great Britain grew fearful of this and decided to form an alliance with France. Russia was added to the alliance in 1907. It did not obligate Britain to fight with France and Russia, but it did guarantee that the countries would not battle against one another. -
Assasination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
During times of tension between Serbia and Austria, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife Sophie traveled to Sarajevo in Austria on June 28, 1914. They were assassinated by Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian. Austria used this as an excuse to justify Serbia’s punishment. On July 23, Austria proposed demands to Serbia, who agreed to most of them. Austria did not want to negotiate, so they declared war on Serbia on July 28. -
The Schlieffen Plan
The Schlieffen Plan was created by Germany’s General Alfred Graf von Schlieffen as a battle strategy to defeat France and Russia on the Western and Eastern Front. According to this plan, Germany would battle and defeat France and hurry to Russia. The Germans needed to defeat France very quickly for the Schlieffen Plan to be successful. However, this would not be possible after the Germans were forced to retreat from France. As Germany was retreating, Russia had already entered Germany. -
The Gallipoli Campaign
The Allies decided to attack the Dardanelles, a region in the Ottoman Empire. If they could control the Dardanelles, the Allies would be able to capture Constantinople, defeat the Turks, and give supplies to Russia. In February 1915, the Allies started the Gallipoli Campaign, and attempted to capture the Dardanelles strait. They continuously attacked the western side of the strait, while the Turkish troops protected it. Both used trench warfare until the Allies decided to surrender in December -
Unrestricted Submarine Warfare
In January 1917, the Germans began to use unrestricted submarine warfare, which was the policy where German submarines would sink any ship they found around Britain. While the Germans knew that the warfare might bring the Unites States into the war, they hoped they could cut off Britain’s supplies and defeat them before the US could take action. The Germans disregarded President Wilson’s warning and sank three US ships. This convinced the United States to declare war on Germany. -
The Fourteen Points
The Fourteen Points was written by President Wilson in January 1918. It was a series of peace proposals that contained a plan for a just and lasting peace. The points included the stop of secret treaties, freedom of seas and trade, smaller national armies and navies, change colonial borders while considering the natives, change of borders, making of new nations, and the creation of an organization that could peacefully agree to solutions for world conflicts. -
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Eight months after the establishment of Russia’s new government, Vladimir Ilyich Lenin took power in November 1917. He demanded that Russia would stop fighting in the war. To do this, he proposed a truce with Germany. In March 1918, the signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk ended the war between Germany and Russia. Because of this, Germany could send all its troops to the Western Front. -
Second Battle of the Marne
After Germany regained all its forces, they launched an attack on the Allies in France in March 1918. Although very close to victory, Germany had become very weak on their journey to Paris. Aware of Germany’s weakness, the Allies attacked Germany. They fought at the Second Battle of the Marne. Eventually, all the Central Powers fell apart. A representative from Germany met with French Commander Marshal Foch on November 9, 1918, and both signed an agreement to stop fighting. -
The Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was an agreement between the Allies and Germany that was signed on June 28, 1919. It established a League of Nations meant to maintain peace among the nations. Germany faced harsh consequences, such as a loss of large territories and severe restrictions on their military. They also had to take full responsibility for the war and pay $33 billion to the Allies.
