-
Triple Alliance formed with italy & Austria-Hungary
-
A rival bloc took shape
France and Russia became allies -
International events like the Olympic games in 1896 showed promise
-
France & Britain signed an entente
nonbinding agreement to follow common policies - not a treaty, but led to close military & diplomatic ties -
Balkan attacked Turkey
several Balkan states attacked Turkey & succeeded in taking a large area of land away from Turkish control. -
Balkan states fought among themselves
Balkan states fought among themselves over the spoils of war. These brief but bloody Balkan wars raised tensions to a fever pitch -
Europe had enjoyed a century of relative peace
-
Germany’s war plans propelled Britain's decision to enter the war
Schlieffen Plan -
“Pan-Slavism”
(all Slavic peoples shared a common nationality)
Russia stood ready to support Serbia, a proud young nation that dreamed of creating a South Slav state. -
Balkans were called the “powder keg of Europe”
a barrel of gunpowder that a tiny spark might cause to explode -
Italy & Britain were still uncommitted.
Italy wanted to remain neutral (neutrality - a policy of supporting neither side in a war) -
British & French troops pushed back the German drive along the Marne River
the first battle of Marne ended Germany's hopes for a quick victory on the Western Front -
Russian losses on the Eastern Front
Russian armies pushed into eastern Germany. Then the Russians suffered disastrous defeat at Tannnenberg, causing them to retreat. As the least industrialized of the great powers, Russia was poorly equipped to fight a modern war. -
Bulgaria joined Central Powers
Helped defeat it’s old rival Serbia. -
Archduke Francis Ferdinand is assassinated
-
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia, beginning World War I.
The partial refusal gave Austria the opportunity it was seeking -
Germany responded by declaring war on Russia
Austria has declared war, so Serbia turns to its ally, Russia who began to mobilize, or prepare its military forces for war -
Period: to
Germany invades Luxembourg and Belgium
The Germans embarked on the plan by invading Belgium - Schlieffen Plan required German armies to march through neutral Belgium and then swing south behind French lines - goal was to encircle and crush France’s army -
Britain declared war on Germany
Britain and other European powers had signed a treaty guaranteeing Belgian neutrality - Britain was outraged by the invasion of Belgium -
Austria-Hungary invades Russia.
-
The New Technology of Modern Warfare
1st Germany and then the Allies began using this. Blinded or choked it’s victims or caused agonizing blisters & burns; winds could move it around back on those who launched it -
Italy declared war
Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary, then later Germany. Italians & Austrians fought 11 battles. -
Allies attempt to open up strait
the Allies sent a massive force of British, Indian, Australian & New Zealander troops to attempt to open up the strait -
Period: to
Battle of Gallipoli
Turkish troops trapped the Allies on the beaches of the Gallipoli peninsula. After 10 months & 200k+ casualties, the Allies finally withdrew from the Dardanelles -
Stalemate on the Western Front
The human cost - because of the stalemate on the Western Front, both Allies & Central powers launched massive offensives
- the 11 month struggle cost more than a half a million casualties (soldiers wounded, killed or missing) -
Romania joined Allies
Romania, hoping to gain some land in Hungary but were crushed by Central Powers -
Arab nationalists led by Husayn ibn Ali
Arab nationalists led by Husayn ibn Ali declared a revolt against Ottoman rule. The British gov sent Colonel T.E. Lawrence - later known as Lawrence of Arabia - to support Arab revolt. Lawrence led guerrilla raids against the Turks, dynamiting bridges & supply trains. Eventually, the Ottoman empire lost a great deal of territory to the Arabs, including the key city of Baghdad. -
Austrains & Germans launched a major offensive against the Italian position at Caporetto
Italians retreated in disarray. British & French forces later helped stop the Central Powers’ advance into Italy. Still Caporetto proved as disastrous for Italy as Tennenberg had been for Russia
