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The Triple Alliance Is Formed (Germany, Austro-Hungary and Italy)
Germany, Austro-Hungary and Italy form a mutual miltary agreement to aid the other in case of invasion. A sign of tensions growing in Europe. -
Franco-Russian Entente is Formed
As a reflex of the formation of the Triple Alliance, France and Russia team up both economically and in military. The schlieffen plan is later based around this action, forgetting to consider the possibility of Britain joining which was caused when the German military, invading France through Belgium, provoked Britain and Belgium's treaty. -
The Schlieffen plan is completed
The schlieffen plan, first instigated in 1914, was first drafted in 1897 and not completed until 1905. The war strategy relied on the assumptions that Germany would only be faced against the Franco-Russian alliance and that the French military was weaker than the Russian but would organise its troops faster.
The fact that the plan was somewhat outdated caused the German empire to make compromises. -
Franz Ferdinand Is Assasinated
Serbian terrorist Gavrilo Princip assasinates Franz Ferdinand by pistol, provoking Austro-Hungary to retaliate against Serbia as revenge for murdering their leader. -
The First Battle Of The Marne
The First Battle Of The Marne was won by a collaboration of British and French troops. The seven day battle cleared the path for years of trench warfare. -
Anzac's Defeat German New-Guinea
In 1884 Germany colonised the North Eastern section of Papua New Guinea where they forced the natives to work. However, the Anzac's abolished the colony in September 1914; the first enemy blood for the Australian military. The majority of the dead were from Papua New Guinea and had nothing to do with the conflict. -
Raid On The Suez Canal
After an arduos journey across the deserts of the middle east, the Ottoman Empire were swiftly defeated by the British. The German lead ottomans can be seen on camel back in this image.
The Suez Canal was important to the British as a line of communication. -
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The Gallipoli Campaign
The Gallipoli Campaign was the Allied Powers first attempt to take control of Constantinople. The first attack was lead by the British and French powers and aimed at the Souhern end of the Dardanelles. It was not successful.
However, Winston Churchill was determined not to give up. The Anzacs were commissioned to attack the Northern side of the straight and, due to poor commandment, were defeated. -
Sinking Of The Lusitania
German U-Boats mistake a British passenger vessel for a war ship and destroy it killing those onboard. This sparks great anger from the Allied Powers and the image is used in campaigns to recruit soldiers. -
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The Battle of Verdun
The Battle of Verdun was a German offensive on Verdun against the French. The Germans used the terrain well to their advantage but were still defeated due to their lack of judgment. The French had prepared better than they had expected.
The Battle of Verdun was one of the longest battles of the war and helped spark the British battle of the Somme. -
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The Brusilov Offensive
The Brusilov offensive was one of the greatest feits of violence in human history. A Russian lead attack against the Germans in what is currently the Ukraine, aimed to halt Germany's attack on Verdun and take the pressure off French and British armies.
The attack was successful. -
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The Battle of the Somme
The Battle of the Somme was one of the bloodiest battles in human history. Around 58,000 British troops were slaughtered, a third on the first day.
The British lead attack (also comprising of French soldiers) aimed to drain the German forces of resources through a large scale attack.
The commander of the attack, Douglas Haig, is often critisized for using poor strategy. However, others argue the battle was necessary in keeping Verdun safe. -
The Battle Of Fromelles
The Battle Of Fromelles was a British military operation about 50 miles North of the Somme, aimed to aid the soldiers further South on The Western Front by making use of a line of weak German defense.
The fighting only lasted two days and the Germans were victorious. Here you can see Australian soldiers fighting in Fromelles, only three survived. -
America joins the War
For the majority of the war America remained neutral; although the government did send resources to the entente. In 1914 the American public weren't even aware that war was imminent in Europe.
The government of America were content in staying neutral but things changed due to a series of events such as the sinking of the Lusitania which was used in propaganda to portray Germany as evil.
America's joining of the war gave the Alliance a necessary and crucial push. -
The Battle of Vimy Ridge
The battle of Vimy Ridge consisted mainly of Canadian troops on the Allied powers. The objective was to gain control of an escarpment occupied by the Germans to give the upper hand of the British lead battle of Arras to the Allied powers. The Battle of Vimy Ridge was successful. -
The Battle of Passchendaele
The Battle of Passchendaele was Sir Douglas Haig's strategy to break through Flanders. He had had similar ideas the previous year but was occupied with the battle of the Somme.
Those who fought in the battle know the confrontation as the battle of mud; in August the area was swept with long term rain and disease became more common as tanks were stuck in mud. -
The Fifth Battle of Ypres
As the Central powers were pushed back by the Allies, German morale waned. More American soldiers joined the cause and a strategy was implemented by the Allies known as 'The Grand Offensive' which spanned as far across the Western Front as possible. The Allies advanced roughly 29km. -
The End of WW1
After the Americans joined the war in 1917 the German navy went on strike, fighting for the November Revolution due to dissatisfaction with the current German government.
Germany was finally defeated at the Battle of the Somme. To the left is the image of a newspaper printed on that day. -
Germany Signs Versailles Peace Treaty
Germany is finally defeated and forced to vow peace and pay large compensation for the destruction its government had empoyed. An image of the treaty can be seen here. -
League Of Nations Formed
The league of nations was formed after the Paris peace conference in hope of uniting Europe. The idea was instigated by the United States however, they never joined.
The idea was originally very popular but the league's pacifist attitude got little done and they disbanded in 1946 after failing to prevent world war ii.
