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Triple Alliance is formed between Germany, Asutria-Hungary, and Italy
Germany was thought of as a "satisfied power" declared by Bismark. Bismarks goal was to create peace within Europe. However, he believed France would get in the way of his goal. He thought that France would diisrupt the peace. His first and main objective was to isolate France. Bismark formed and alliance with Austria-Hungary in 1879. Three years after this alliance had been made, Italy joins. This formed the "Triple Alliance". -
Germany Joins Russia in an Alliance
Bismark made a treaty with Russia; becoming their allies. -
Kaiser Wilhelm II changes foreign policy, forced Bismark to resign.
Germans foreign policy was changed at this time. This changed the nation forever. The ruler of Germany; Wilhelm II, forced Bismark to resign in 1890. He did this because he did not wish to share his power with any other nation; for instance Russia. -
Wilhelm II allows allows alliance with Russia to expire
Wilhelm II allowed an expiration to occur on Germany's alliance with Russia in 1890. He did not want to share his power with any other nation. -
Russia formed defensive military alliance ith France
As a result to Germany expiring the alliance between them, Russia established a military alliance with France in 1892. This alliance had been Otto Van Bismarks greatest fear and German faced many dangers ahead of them. -
Britain formed alliance with France
In 1904 Great Britain formed an alliance with France and Russia. They did so because their naval system was being threatened by Germany. The Germans had held a shipbuilding program in order to crush the British fleet. -
Britain made another alliance with France and Russia, forming the Triple Entente.
Britain made another alliance with France in 1907 but this time around Russia was part of the Alliance; forming the Triple Entente. This however did not force Great Britain to fight along side its two friends. This treaty did ensure that they would not be fighting against each other. -
Ferdinand and Sophie visit Sarajevo and are assasinated by Gavrilo Princip
Visiting the Bosnian capital, the Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie was shot in an open car. The assasin was planned by a nationalists group called the Black Hand. The plan was followed through by a 19 year old named Gavrilo Princip. This triggered the start of the war. -
Austria presented Aerbia with an ultimatum
On July 23, 1914 Austria presented Serbia with an ultimatum. This ultimatum consisted of many demands. Choosing between war against Austria; who was much more powerful than the serbs, or giving into their demands they decided to give in to their demands. Although the Serbs wanted to negotiate and some terms settled in an international conference but Austria did not agree with this. -
Austria declared war on Bosnia. Russia aslo ordered mobilization toward the Austrian border.
The Serbs thought it better to give into Austrai's demands rather to fight with them. They urged a negotiation about the demands that Austria was forcing on them but Austria had no intention of negotiating. The Austrians were determined to go to war against Serbia. The Serbs offer for negotiation was denied on July 28, 1914 and Austria declared war on Serbia. -
Germany declared war on Russia
After war had been declared on Austria and Russia, the Serbs moved towards the Russian-Austrian border in order to help Russia, their Ally. Russia mobalized along side Germany because they expected to two ententes to join together and help each other fight, This mobilization fueled war. On August 1st, 1914 Germnay declared war on Russia. -
Germany declared war on France
Soon after the Germans declared war on Russia, they expected that France would rush to Russia's side and join them in the fight. Before France could make any sudden move, Germany declared war on France. This was only two days after they had declared war on Russia. -
Britain declared war on Germany
With most of its allies in war against Germany, Great Britain came to the aid of their allies by declaring war on Germany on August 4th, 1914. -
Allies attack Germany at the first Battle of the Marne
German had bordered the outskirts of Paris by early September. They knew they had to act fast. It seemed that a victory was soon to come for the Germans. However, the Allies took action on September 5th and attacked the Germans on the north east of Paris in the valley of the Marne River. After four tiresome days of fighting, German forces retreated. This battle was known as The First Battle of Marne. -
Ottoman Empire formally joins Central Powers
The ottoman empire finaylly entered the war on October 28,1914. This formed a tripple Alliance. They signed the Turco-German Alliance treaty in August 1914. -
Italy joins the Allies
In 1915 Italy joined the allies. Unfortunately, this caused more conflict in the war and this gave them no advantage at first. -
Germany sinks the U.S.S. Lusitania
T On May 7, 1915 the Germans sunk a british passenger ship while using a U-boat. This passenger ship was called Lusitana. This brutal attack killed 1,198. This included some US citizens. Germany tried to cover up their brutal deed by claiming that their U-boat was carrying amunition which was a false acqusation. The US was still greatly disturbed. -
Germany attackes the Allies at Verdun in the Battle of Somme
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Germans announce their policy of unrestricted submarine warfare
On this day, Germans announced their unrestricted submarine warfare policy. Without any warning, German U-boats would sink any ship close to Britains waters. -
U.S. intercepts Zimmerman note
This incident was the last straw for the US. This pushed them into war. In February Britain intercepted a telegram that was sent to Mexico from Germany. The Germans had explained in the letter that they would help the Mexicans gain their lost territory back from the US. The British passed this message on to the US. -
Wilson asks congress to declare war on Germany
The Zimmerman note was the straw that broke the camels back for the US. They had enough of Germany and their tricks. On April 2, 1917 President Woodrow Wilson asked congress to declare war on Germany. The US joined the allies. -
Vladimir Ilyich Lenin ended Russia's involvement in WWI
Their had been to much conflict and Russia, and withdrawal from the war was necessary. They were short on fuel and food. The Czar's government was crumbling. Czar Nicholas, fearful of a revolution, abdicated his throne on March 5th. By November 1917, Vladmir Ilyich Lenin took control over Russia. He wanted out of the war. And he did just that. He offered Germany a truce. By March 1918, the treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed, which ened Russias involvement in the war. -
Germany and Russia sign the treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Lenin offered a truce to Germany. He wanted to end all of Russias involvement in the war. They agreed. In March of 1918 the two countries signed the treaty of Brest-Litovsk. Unfortunatley the treaty wasn't very beneficial to Russia. This treaty forced Russia to give up some of their lands to Germany including, Finland, Poland, Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. -
Second Battle of the Marne
The Germans made a massive attack on the allies and then made their way bacl to the river of Marne. Marne was extremely close to Paris. It looked as if Germany was going to win the last battle. But by this time their army had weakened and 140,000 new American soldiers were just sent in to fight. By July 1918 the two enemies met in Marne for their final battle. With more powerful weapons and 2 million new US soldiers the allies crushed the central powers. -
Kaiser Wilhelm II stepped down from power, Germany declared itself a republic
Wilhelm stepped down from power on November 9th, 1918. Germany became a republic and was now going to elect their own leader. -
A German representative and French commander Marshal Foch signed an armistice
After the Kiaser had stepped down and Germany declared themselve a republic the two allies new that peace needed to be made. A representative from Germany met wit Marshal Forch. They signed the agreement, or an armistice, that was to be an end to fighting. World War I had ended.
