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Triple Alliance Formed
An alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy is formed, meaning that they would defend eachother if one was attacked. -
Entende Cordiale
England and Frcance sign an agreement, later known as the Entende Cordiale, to reslove disputes over egypt and morroco and provide dipolomatic support. When England agrees to a deal then, indirectly Australia, and all of the other commenwealth nations are signed on Englands behalf. -
Franz Ferinand assinated
Serbian nationalist Garvio Princip assinates the Archduke Franz Ferinand in Sarajevo. This event is aknolewaged as the trigger of WW1. Austria-hungary blamed the Serbian goverment, as did most of the world, and looked to attack, but didn't do so until the germans assured that in the event that russia, who supported Serbia, became involved, then germany would support Austria-Hungary, so, with german support, Austria-Hungary declare war on Serbia -
Russia prepares for war
Russia mobilises it giant army to intervene in Austria-Hugary's plan to invade serbia in favour of its ally -
Germany declares war on france (and vice-versa)
To move ahead with its two-front war against france and russia, concieved by Alfred Von Schlieffen, germany had to declare war on France, which it did. Hours later France did the same, and made to move it's troops into areas it had given up to germany in the franco-prussiun war of 1871.
Germany assembles its army on the belgium- germany border, demanding a passage through. Hours before the brittish decided that, if Belgiums neutratlity was violated by the germans then Brittan would give support -
Brittan declares war against Germany
After sending a ultimatium demading Germany leave Belgium by midnight on the third of August, which germany did not fufill, Brittan, lead by the prime minister Herbert Asquith, declared war on Germany.
This is often regarded as the start of WW1 -
the siege of leige
Germany begins its assult of the Belgium city Liege, one of the most heavily fortified cities in all of europe. Liege, built on a steep 500-foot slope with the miesue river at its base, which is protect by six forts either side of it.
Liege eventually fell to the germans on the 15 of august, same year, but it wasn't easy for the germans, having to use 3 armies, a total of one and a half million men and very powerful aresenal weaponary. -
Battle of Tannenberg
The battle of Tannenberg was fought between the germans and the russians. Despite being outnumbered by the Russians, the germans still inflicted a crippling victory over them.
The germans destroyed both of Russia's armys, resulting in 170,000 Russian deaths compared to just 12,000 german deaths. -
Battle of Bita Paka
The Battle of Bita Paka (11 September 1914) was fought south of Kabakaul, on the island of New Britain, and was a part of the invasion and subsequent occupation of German New Guinea by the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force shortly after the outbreak of the First World War. -
Australia defends CoCo's islands
After the Germans retreated from Bita Paka They left behind a light cruiser to destory radar on the CoCo's islands, they Australians traked the ship down and destroued it convincingly. This would be one of the young nations first military victories in world that still saw it as a colony of its motherland. -
Soldier settlement sceme
Australian states introduced a soldier settlement scheme, for soldiers when they have returned home for the war, meaning that an area of farmland is given to the returned soldiers. The States alos introduced them at staggered times, South Australia was the first in 1915 , then Queensland and NSW in 1916 and last of the participants Victoria in 1917. The soldier settlement scheme would have impolred poor families to send there sons of to war for the land they were gifted on return. -
Gallipolli Campian
Winston Churchhill sought to thrust turkey out of the war and provide Russia with much needed support through dardanelles. To do this Churchill moved the ANZAC troops to the gallipolli penisula to capture it and clear the way to the Constantinople. This campain would result in huge losses for the ANZAC's and after eight months a full scale retreat had to take place, leaving behind 8,115 dead Australains. -
Russia leaves the eastern front
After suffering heavy losses to the Central powers, Russia retreats from the Eastern front. Meaning that all the central powers troops are free to renforce the western front fighters, making life alot harder and bloodier for the Allied troops. -
Begining of Somme offensive
This offensive, which saw the loss of nearly 60,000 brittish troops alone lead to a more critical brittish view of the war and an advance in tactics. Brittish lost 420,000 troops and the germans lost 465,000 and the french lost 200,000 amogst these Australains lost 23,000. Australians, like the brittish, had devloped a more critical view to the war after the somme, and voulenteer numbers droped, lead the government to attempt to force a coscription reverendum through. -
USA enters WW1
USA enter the war for a number o reasons, most obvios among them was germany's attempt to display dominace in the seas, declaring open warfare against all ships, neutral or otherwise, that entered brittish waters, Germay contiued to sink ships with Americans on them, turning the American public opinion against germany.
When the US did declare war it marked a majour turning point, breaking 4 years of western front stalemate. -
Battle of Passchendaele
From the 31st of July to the 10th of November saw a battle to the east of Ypres that ultimately lead to a key, yet costly victory for the allies and the further recognision of Australia as a nation. The battle of Passchendaele was fought at a railroad junction that was key to the supply of germanies 4th army. This battle lead to 399,847 German losses and 244,847 allied losses, including 6675 Australian losses. -
Le Hamel
On the 4th of July an assualt force, mostly made up of Australians, along with a few american units took Hamel and it's surronds in less than a day. The assualt force, supported heavily by tanks were able to win the battle very quickly and force the germans back further, it was one of the first military expeditions Australian's had with the americans, in want would be a long and fruitful military alliance to this day. -
AIF mutinies
The flow of new recruits to Australian Imperial Force hadlowed right down and as sir Monash spur his dilapidated force onwards in hot pursuit of an even weaker German force. The brittish, seeing this offered Monash the chance to slow up by he refused, from this AIF troop resistance would have been increased, but so to would have the Brittish respect for John Monash. -
End of WW1
On the 11th day, of the 11th hour, of the 11th month the war to end all wars ends. After nine million deaths and 21 million wounded Germany signes an armistice agreemant with the allies. the German population, however was resentful of their loss, which effectively set the table for Hitler to begin WW2. Australia had made a name for itself in the first world war in what is widely seen as the build of a nation, despite losing over 60,00 soldiers. -
The treaty of Versailles
A treaty to decide the terms on Germany's 'punishment' for brining war to europe and the war, decided by the allies, including Australia, who are represented by our then prime minister, Hughes.
Germany was full of resentment of the harsh peace terms to wich they are bound. Australia representing itself during a large gathering of international leaders is really another step forward in being recognised as a nation.
