-
The Triple Entente
The Triple Entente formed in 1907 including the countries France, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and Russia. It made France an alliance with Russia and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. This would be an advantage to any countries in the entente if they are in need of help. -
Period: to
WWI
-
The war begins
On August 1, 1914, four days after Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, two more great European powers—Russia and Germany—declare war on each other. The same day, France orders a general mobilization. The Allies versus The Central Powers. -
Schlieffen Plan
Germany planed a two front war with France and Russia. The plan for the war was create in 1904 and was used in 1914.Germany would face France in the west and Russia in the east, and would need to defeat France within six weeks before Russia mobilized her troops. -
Battle of the Frontiers
The Battle of the Frontiers consisted of five offensives, commanded and planned by French Commander-in-Chief and German Chief-of-Staff. It was fought in August 1914. These five offensives, Mulhouse, Lorraine, Ardennes, Charleroi, and Mons, were launched almost simultaneously. They were the result of the French XVII (the name of the plan) and the German plans colliding. -
Western Front
Germany marched through neutral Belgium as part of the Schlieffen Plan to invade France, and by August 23 had reached the French border town of Maubeuge. Maubeuge was a major railway junction and was consequently a protected city. It had 15 forts and gun batteries, totaling 435 guns, along with a permanent garrison of 35,000 troops, a number enhanced by the British Expeditionary Force. -
The Battle of Guise
The Battle of Guise, launched on August 29, was an attempt by the French Army to capture Guise, they succeeded, but later withdrew on August 30. This delayed the German Second Army's invasion of France. Victory seemed close, the First German Army was given orders to surround Paris, unaware the French government had already fled to Bordeaux. -
Battle of Verdun
The battle started after a plan by German General to capture Verdun was executed. Many military historians consider Verdun the "most demanding" and the "greatest" battle in history. The German attack on Verdun began with one million troops, facing only about 200,000 French soldiers. The following day, the French were forced to withdraw to the second line of trenches,and they were pushed back to the third line, only 8 kilometers from Verdun. -
The Battle of Somme
The Battle of the Somme, fought along a 30 kilometres (19 mi) front from north of the Somme River between Arras and Albert. It was fought between July 1 and November 18 and involved over 2 million men. The French suffered 200,000 casualties. Little territory was gained, only 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) at the deepest points. -
Nivelle Offense
In October 1916, troops under Robert Nivelle's command captured Douaumont and other Verdun forts, making him a national hero. Nivelle formulated a plan using his "creeping barrage" tactics that would supposedly end the war in 48 hours with only 10,000 casualties. War Minister Hubert Lyautey, General Philippe Pétain and Sir Douglas Haig were all opposed to the plan, although Aristide Briand supported the "Nivelle Offensive". -
The war ends
The Armistice of 11 November 1918 was an armistice during the First World War between the Allies and Germany – also known as the Armistice of Compiègne after the location in which it was signed – and the agreement that ended the fighting on the Western Front. It went into effect at 11 a.m. Paris time on 11 November 1918 ("the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month"), and marked a victory for the Allies and a complete defeat for Germany, although not formally a surrender.
