World War One timeline

  • Revolution overthrows Austria-Hungarian emperor

    The revolts lead to German national unity and other places seeking independence.
  • France loses Alsace and Lorraine to Germany.

    The significance of this event was that it caused France to hate Germany until about 1914 and caused France to lose valuable iron ore deposits in the Alsace Lorraine territory.
  • Germany officially unified

    This lead to Germany to become the most advanced country in Europe.
  • The triple alliance was formed.

    This alliance was between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. If Italy was ever attacked by France without Italy provoking them, then Germany and Austria-Hungary would assist them. Italy would do the same if Germany was attacked, and if Austria-Hungary was ever attacked by Russia, Italy promised to stay neutral.
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    Russo-Japanese war February 8 1904-September 5, 1905

    This war was between the Russian empire and the Japanese empire. The reason this was significant is because the Japanese, a non-European power, defeated a European power in the modern era.
  • Triple entente alliance formed

    Similar to the triple alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy, the triple entente alliance was between the Russian empire, the French Republic, and the U.K. This served as a counter to the other triple alliance and some historians speculate that this could have started the war as well.
  • Austria-Hungary annexes Bosnia

    This lead to Austrian fears of Russian expansion in this area.
  • Archduke Franz Ferdinand assassinated

    This was the event that was said to have started World War One.
  • Austria declares war on Serbia.

    One month after Franz Ferdinand was assassinated, Austria declared war on Serbia, thus beginning the First World War.
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    Battle of Tannenberg August 26-30 1914

    This was between Russian forces and Germany, who won the battle. This was significant because it was the wars first major battle in the east.
  • Ottoman-Germany alliance was formed

    This alliance was formed in order to help the collapsing Ottoman Empire and to allow Germany a safe and easy passage into British colonies.
  • Schlieffman plan put into action

    This was Germany's plan of attack on France and Russia, but also led to Britain declaring war on Germany.
  • Japan declares war on Germany

    This was considered important because it helped Russian forces in defending against Germany.
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    Battle of Marne September 5-12 1914

    This battle was the first victory for the allies in World War One. It also saved Paris, and put and end to Germany's plan to take over France.
  • Russian troops run out of ammunition

    This happened during the battle of Tannenberg, where the Russian troops ran out of ammunition and were left only to use their bayonets. Although the Russians had great amounts of courage, they still lost to the Germans giving them the victory in the first major battle in the east.
  • Unrestricted submarine warfare commences

    The significance of submarine warfare beginning is that it was good at disturbing the flow of merchant marines. This also gave the Germans a head start and an advantage in the war.
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    Battle of Gallipoli 1915- January 9 1916

    This was the result of British landing on the Gallipoli peninsula and planning to shorten the war by knocking out Turkey and to give Russia ammunition.
  • Lusitania sinks

    Not only was this a loss for the British, it also showed how the use of submarine warfare was increasing.
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    Battle of Verdun February 21st - December 18th

    This was the longest battle and had many casualties for the French army. The outcome of this battle is what prompted Britain to begin the battle of Somme.
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    Battle of Jutland May 31- June 1st

    This battle left the Germans navy was never in a position again to go out in the seas during the war.
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    Battle of Somme July 1st- November 18, 1916

    This battle had no clear reason of the way the war was fought but it did kill almost 300,000 people on both sides. Although, some historians say that it greatly weakened Germany's army.
  • Vladimir Lenin seizes power in Russia

    Lenin led what was known as the October Revolution, which was simply a coup d'état.
  • Zimmerman telegraph found

    This was a telegram that was sent from Germany to the German ambassador in Mexico asking for an alliance in a future US-German war. Britain intercepted it and gave the news to the U.S. and prepared the United States in case of a war.
  • Tsar Nicolas II abdicates

    Tsar Nicolas II abdicating led to Russia receiving a provincial government and kept them out of costly battles caused by Nicolas.
  • The United States declares war on Germany

    The United States declares war on Germany after Woodrow Wilson asked congress.
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    Battle of passchendaele July 31-Nov 10 1917

    This battle involved Canadians capture the city of Passchendaele, which was taken over by the Germans.
  • Bolsheviks emerge as a political group

    Over time the Bolshevik party refused to share power with any other revolutionary groups and eventually suppressed any rival political organizations.
  • Balfour declaration

    This led to the foundation of the Jewish threat that was threatening world peace. Although it led to the formation of the Jewish state of Israel.
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    October Revolution November 7-8 1917

    The October Revolution led to a Russian civil war and led to Russia becoming the first communist state.
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    Influenza epidemic 1918-1919

    This epidemic was so significant because it killed more people than World War One.
  • Fourteen points proposed

    These fourteen points were proposed by president Woodrow Wilson were created in order to give courage to the allied forces.
  • Russia signs the treaty of Brest litovsk

    This was a peace treaty that ended Russia's participation in World War One.
  • Russia-German pact violates Versailles

    This was one of the treaties that end the world war and forced Germany to pay reparations to France.
  • Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicates

    The German emperor who some blame for having Germany be involved in the world war was forced to abdicate.
  • Armistice signed

    This is the treaty signed by Germany, that ultimately ended the war.
  • Treaty of Versailles signed

    This is another one of the treaties that ended the war.
  • Treaty of Saint germain signed

    This laid the groundwork for the League of Nations.
  • New economic policy

    This new policy was created by Lenin and made Russia more capitalized.
  • Stalin takes over Russia

    Stalin instills fear into millions around the world but also kills millions himself.
  • Trotsky fled Russia

    Trotsky lived his life in many other countries after being expelled from Russia for his radicalism.
  • Germany stops reparation payments to France

    After over 90 years of paying it off, Germany finally paid the last amount of their reparation to France in 2010.