WWI

Bismark

Jan 18, 1871

Bismarck completes efforts to unify Prussia and the German kingdoms into a single nation and has King Wilhelm I proclaimed Kaiser.

Frances Signs A Treaty

May 10, 1871

France forced to sign humiliating treaty with Germany that ends the 1870-71 Franco-Prussian War.

Wilhelm II

Sep 17, 1888

After his father's untimely death, 29 year-old Wilhelm II becomes ruler, Kaiser Wilhelm II, of Germany.

Tsar

Dec 16, 1894

Nicolas is crowned Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, a position he did not want. Germany and Russia do not renew a friendship treaty and begin their adversary relationship.

Queen Victoria

Aug 15, 1901

Great Britain's Queen Victoria, whose bloodline runs through most of the ruling houses of Europe, dies.

Bloody Sunday Massacre

Jan 22, 1905

"Bloody Sunday Massacre" by Tsarist troops in St. Petersburg left Russian workers dead and cost Nicholas support among the workers and farmers.

Dreadnought

Dec 16, 1906

British launch first "dreadnought" class battleship.

Ferdinand

Jun 28, 1914

Archduke Franz Ferdinand heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and his wife are assassinated in Sarajevo.

War on Serbia

Jul 28, 1914

Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia.

Germany declares war

Aug 4, 1914

Germany declares war on neutral Belgium and invades in a right flanking move designed to defeat France quickly. As a result of this invasion, Britain declares war on Germany.

The battle of fronteirs

Aug 22, 1914

"The Battle of the Frontiers" -- 27,000 French soldiers die on this single day in an offensive thrust to the east of Paris, towards the German borders.

Germany army

Aug 26, 1914

German army, led by Erich Ludendorff and Paul von Hindenburg achieves its greatest victory of the war on the Eastern front against Russia at the Battle of Tennenberg.