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Triple Alliance is formed between Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy
An alliance formed between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy in 1882 until World War I. Each member promises to support the other countries in the alliance in an attack from other great powers. -
Germany joins Russia in an alliance
This was a secret alliance, stating that each country would remain neutral if the other was attacked from other great powers, was created by Otto Von Bismarck. This did not apply if Russia attacked Austria-Hungary, or if Germany attacked France. -
Russia formed defensive military alliance with France
Wilhelm II ended the treaty of Germany and Russia in 1890. Then, Russia formed a defensive military alliance with France, thus making Germany fight in a two front war if fighting broke out. -
Britain formed entente (alliance) with France
When Germany started to build ships in order to compete with Great Britain’s strong military forces. Feeling threatened, England decided to from an alliance with France for protection from Germany -
Britain made another entente with France and Russia, forming the Triple Entente
Britain, Russia and France all made alliances with one another, thus creating the Triple Entente. In states in their agreement that each country does not have to help the others fight but will never fight against them. Now that there is the Triple Entente and Triple alliance (Germany, Italy, and Austria-Hungary), if battle was to break out most of Europe will be thrown into the war. -
Ferdinand and Sophie visit Sarajevo and are assassinated by Gavrilo Princip
The Archduke France Ferdinand went to Sarajevo, capitol of Bosnia, with his wife Sophie. There they were shot and killed. This angered the Austria-Hungarians and decided Serbia needed to be punished. -
Austria presented Serbia with ultimatum
Austria-Hungary gave Serbia and ultimatum. Serbia one denied one demand, to investigate the murder of Ferdinand and his wife, heirs to the Austria-Hungary thrown. -
Austria declared war on Bosnia. Russia also ordered mobilization toward the Austrian border
With the refusal of the demand to investigate the murder form the ultimatum Austria gave Serbia, Austria-Hungary declared war. On the same day Russia, an alliance of Serbia, ordered their troops to head toward the Austrian border. -
Germany declared war on Russia
When mobilizing toward the Austria-Hungary border, Russia also mobilized Germany’s border too, thinking that Germany would join in the fight. To the German’s this mobilization was a declaration of war. So on August 1st Germany confirmed war against Russia. -
Germany declared war on France
After Germany’s declaration of War, Russia sought their ally France’s help, but Germany was already on top of this and two days later they declared war on France too. -
Britain declared war on Germany
After Germany had declared war on Russia and France, Great Britain declared war on Germany. At this point most of Europe was engaged in war, thus battle lines were formed. -
Germany counterattacked the Russians at Tannenberg. Four day battle
During the battle at Tannenberg, that last for four days, Germany counterattacked the Russians. In the end the Germans won and there were many casualties. -
Allies attack Germany at the 1st battle of Marne
The Germans came up with the Schlieffen Plan which consisted of Germany attacking France in the west and then rushing east to invade Russia. The plan required a quick win over France. While preparing for the next couple battles the Germans were attacked by France northeast of Paris. The Germans were defeated along with the Schlieffen Plan. -
Ottoman Empire formally joins Central Powers
After Germany winning many battles in the beginning of the war and their pressure on all the other countries, the ottoman empire joins the Central Powers officially. -
Austrians, with German assistance counter the Russians at the Battle of Limanowa
With the help of Germany the Austrian respond to the Russians at the battle of Limanowa. This ended Russians plan to invade Germany through Austria-Hungary. -
Italy joins Entente
Italy joined Britain, France and Russia in the Allied Powers after leaving the Triple Alliance because Italy thought Germany and Austria-Hungary had started the war unjustly. -
Germany sinks the U.S.S. Lusitania
The Germans submarine sunk the British ship, Lusitania, kill thousands of people including 128 American citizens. The American people were furious. Wilson sent a protest to Germany and after two more attacks the Germans finally agreed to stop killing impartial ships. -
The Allies launch the Gallipoli campaign
The Gallipoli campaign was the effort to take the Dardanelles strait. The British, New Zealand, Australian and French troops had many assaults on the Gallipoli peninsula on the west side of the strait. Trenches were dug and the fighting lasted for the rest of the year. By December of 1915 the allies gave up and started withdrawing because of their many casualties. -
Germans announce their policy of unrestricted submarine warfare
The Germans decided to create a naval blockade so that England could not trade, thus allowing them to have less good and food shortages. The Germans announced they would sink any ships in the water around Britain with any warning. -
U.S. intercepts the Zimmerman Note
The British intercepted a note from Germany’s foreign secretary that was being sent the German ambassador in Mexico. The not said that if Mexico would make an alliance with Germany they would help win back the land Mexico lost to the U.S.. The British gave this note to America. -
Woodrow Wilson asks Congress to declare war on Germany
After the ships with many American citizens on them, had been sunk by the Germans and after the interception of the Zimmerman note, Wilson asks Congress to declare war on Germany. The congress accepted and the U.S. joined the war and the Allied powers. -
Vladimir Ilyich Lenin ended Russia’s involvement in WWI
World War I was causing lack of supplies and food shortages in Russia. And from the provisional government established by Czar Nicholas 5.5 million Russian soldiers were killed. Lenin seized power, signed an armistice with the central powers and withdrew from the war. -
Germany and Russia sign the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed by Germany and Russia, when Russia was withdrawing from the war. Germany gained a lot more out of this treaty by making Russia give up a lot of land. Even though this treaty became invalid after the war the countries that were turned over still gained their independence. -
Kaiser Wilhelm II stepped down from power, Germany declared itself a republic
During the second battle of Marne the Central Powers started to fall apart. The Austrian-Hungary empire was brought to an end from a revolution, and the German public turned on Wilhelm II who was forced to step down, then Germany declared itself a republic. -
A German representative and French Commander Marshal Foch signed an armistice
A German Representative and Marshal Foch signed an armistice, an agreement to stop fighting, right outside of Paris. On November 11th World War I came to an end. Later a leader form each triumphant nation gather outside of Paris to work out the peace terms.
