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The Triple Alliance Forms
The Triple Alliance was the military alliance between Germany, Austria–Hungary, and Italy. This alliance lasted from 1882 until the start of World War I in 1914. Each member signed a treaty stating that they would defend each other if one of them was engaged in war. Ultimatly this lead to all three countries engaged in World War One. -
3. 1890 Kaiser Wilhelm II changes foreign policy, forced Bismarck to resign
When Wilhelm II became kaiser, he thought that Otto Von Bismark had to much power so he forced him to resign. Once Bismark was out of the way, Wilhelm changed the foreign policy that Bismark set up. Bismark had acheived a fragile balance of interests between Germany, France and Russia—peace. Instead of keeping peace, Wilhelm focused on building Germany's army and navy. -
Wilhelm II allows alliance with Russia to expire
Earlier, Bismark had negotiated a peace treaty with Russia. When Wilhelm came to power, he cut off Germany's treaty with Russia. This resulted in Russia allying with France, which is exactly what Bismark did not want. -
Russia forms military alliance with France
After Germany failed to renew their contract with Russia, Russia formed a military alliance with France. This was an attempt to conteract the triple alliance. -
Britain formed entente (alliance) with France
The entente was a series of agreements signed on by France and Britain. This document marked the end of a long list of conflicts between the two countries. It settled many long standing arguments and helped the two countries bond together to fight against opposing countries. -
The Triple Entente forms
This alliance was formed among Britain, France and Russia after the signing of the Anglo-Russian Entente in 1907. This alliance, along with other powers were a poweful counterweight aginst the central powers. -
Ferdinand and Sophie visit Sarajevo and are assassinated by Gavrilo Princip
When Arch Duke Franz Ferdinad and his wife Sophie visited Serbia, the Serbs were enraged. June 28th was the day that they had lost some of their land many years ago, and Serbia had just been annexed. By visiting, the Serbs found this as disrespectful. Ultimately, The Arch Duke and his wife were assasinated. -
Austria presents Serbia with an ultimatum
Seizing the oppurtunity after the assasination, Austro-Hungary sent Sebia an ultimatum. This was a list of demands. Serbia, not wanting to enter war, responded to most but not all of Austro-Hungarys demands. Unfortunately for Sebia, Austro-Hungary already had its heart set on war. -
Austria declared war on Bosnia
After the tension building for awhile, Austria finally declares war on Bosnia. This lead to Russian mobilization toward the Austrian border. -
Germany declared war on Russia
Germany had lost all of its efforts to keep peace with Russia. Russia had begun to mobilize its forces on both sea and land, and Germany had no choice but to attack. -
Germany counterattacked the Russians at Tannenberg
The Russian army marched into Prussia. However, because of the differences in railway gauge between Russia and Prussia it was difficult for the Russians to get supplies through to their men. The Germans however used their army to surround the Russians before they realized what was happening.This battle was a heavy defeat for the Russians with thousands of men killed and 125,000 taken prisoner. Although the Germans won the battle, 13,000 men were killed. -
Germany declared war on France
Germany declared war on France. German troops poured into Belgium as directed under the Schleiffen Plan. The point of the Schleiffen Plan was to attack France first, then attack the main enemy, Russia. -
Britain declared war on Germany
Britain wrote a note to Germany, declaring that if they did not withdraw from Poland then they would declare war against Germany. Germany persisted, and this led to war. -
Allies attack Germany at the 1st Battle of the Marne
was a First World War battle fought between 5 and 12 September 1914. It resulted in an Allied victory against the German army. The battle ended the month long German offensive that opened the war and had reached the outskirts of Paris. -
Ottoman Empire formally joins Central Powers
The Ottoman Empire entered World War I on 28 October 1914 with the bombing of Russian Black Sea ports. The Triple Entente, or Allied Powers, declared war on the Ottoman Empire on November 4. -
Battle of Limanowa
Austrians, with German assistance counter the Russians at the Battle of Limanowa. Austro-Hungaria had assumed that the German success would weaken Russian forces in the north, but this assumption was incorrect. In fierce battles around the towns of lapanow and Limanowa, the Russian army was beaten and forced to retreat east, ending its opportunity to reach Krakow. To avoid being surrounded, another Russian Army also had to retreat, stopping its advance toward the Hungarian plains. -
Allies launch the Gallipoli campaign
The Gallipoli campaign took place at the peninsula of Gallipoli in the Ottoman Empire. A joint British and French operation was mounted to capture the Ottoman capital of Istanbul and secure a sea route to Russia. The attempt failed, and many people died on both sides. -
Italy joins Entente
Italy joins Britain, France, and Russia. -
Germany sinks the U.S.S. Lusitania
Germany sank a British passenger ship, claiming that it had ammunition on it (which it did). This not only enraged Britain, but the USA too because it carried 135 american passengers. -
Germans attack the Allies at Verdun in the Battle of the Somme
The battle consisted of an offensive by the British and French armies against the German Army, which, since invading France in August 1914, had occupied large areas of the country. This was one of the largest battles of the war; involving more than 1 million casualties. -
Germans announce their policy of unrestricted submarine warfare
Germany returns to the policy of unrestricted submarine warfare it had stopped because of pressure from the United States and other neutral countries. This angers the U.S. -
U.S. intercepts the Zimmermann Note
The Zimmermann Note was a diplomatic proposal from the German Empire to Mexico to make war against the United States. The proposal was intercepted by British. It was then shared to the U.S. Americans were outraged. -
Woodrow Wilson asks Congress to declare war on Germany
President Wilson addressed Congress to announce that diplomatic
relations with Germany were messed up. In a Special Session of Congress held on 2 April 1917, President Wilson delivered this 'War Message.' Four days later, Congress overwhelmingly passed the War Resolution which brought the United States into the Great War. -
Vladimir Ilyich Lenin ended Russia’s involvement in WWI
After he came to power in Russia in October 1917, Lenin insisted that Russia withdrew from the war, freeing up many troops for a final, failed push against Britain, France and the US in the West. -
Kaiser Wilhelm II stepped down from power
Germany forms a republic. The republic emerged from the German Revolution, where a new constitution was written.
