Flanders fields

20th Century History

  • Period: to

    Causes and Consequences of WWI

  • Militarism: France and Germany begin increasing size of armies

    Militarism: France and Germany begin increasing size of armies
    France and Germany begin increasing size of armies
    armies doubled size between 1870 and 1914
  • Nationalism

    Nationalism
    Nations in Europe had a firm but excessive belief in its own cultural, economic and military supremacy. This overconfidence gave birth to a fatal misconception: that in the event of war in Europe, one’s own country would be victorious inside a few months. European populations were convinced of two things: that their nations and governments were right and that their military would win any conflict. Royals, politicians and diplomats actively contributed to Nationalism with provocative commentary o
  • Alliances: Three Emperor’s League

    Alliances: Three Emperor’s League
    In order to diplomatically isolate France, Bismarck, representing the German Empire, formed an alliance between Germany, Russia and Austria-Hungary
  • imperialism

    imperialism
    In the late 1800s Britain, France and Germany competed for new colonial possessions, especially in Africa. France sought to expand its influence in Morocco and the Germans tried to prevent this, bringing France and Germany to the brink of war
  • Alliances: The Triple Alliance

    Alliances: The Triple Alliance
    When France occupied Tunisia, Bismarck took advantage of Italy’s resentment towards France and created an alliance between Germany, Italy and Austria-Hungary
  • Militarism: Britain begins naval expansion

    Militarism: Britain begins naval expansion
    Britain wanted to have a navy two and a half times the size of Germany’s. In response, Germany increased the size of their navy
  • Alliances: Franco-Russian Entente

    Alliances: Franco-Russian Entente
    Became a formal alliance in 1894
  • Alliances:1904 8 april Entente Cordiale

    Alliances:1904 8 april Entente Cordiale
    Britain and France over looked all major imperialistic conflicts between them and formed the Entente Cordiale
  • Militarism: German Schlieffen Plan

    Militarism: German Schlieffen Plan
    was the operational plan for a designated attack on France once Russia had started to mobilize her forces near the German border
  • Alliances: 1907 31 august Russia Britain Entente

    Alliances: 1907 31 august  Russia Britain Entente
    Russia formed an entente with Britain after they had reached an understanding with Britain’s ally Japan
  • Alliances: The Triple Entente

    Alliances: The Triple Entente
    an informal coalition between Great Britain, France and Russia now countered the Triple Alliance
  • Assassination: the Archduke of Austria.

    Assassination: the Archduke of Austria.
    Gavrilo Princip (a Serbian) assassinated the Archduke of Austria. Germany supported Austria, Russia supported Serbia. Russia and her allies (France and Britain) went to war
  • US Turning Points In The War: United States Joins The War

    US Turning Points In The War: United States Joins The War
    The German Navy was threatening US shipping. The US President stated that they needed to “make the world safe for democracy”
  • Canada: Vimy Ridge

    Canada: Vimy Ridge
    Single most important Canadian operation in the War. The Canadian soldiers achieved a first-class reputation as one of the most effective formations on the Western Front. The Canadian victory at Vimy Ridge was a key point in shaping Canada as a nation.
  • Canada: Conscription

    Canada: Conscription
    Canadian Government imposed conscription: this sharply divided the country as French Canadians and farm and labour groups opposed it
  • Canada: Battle of Passchendaele

    Canada: Battle of Passchendaele
    Canadians overcame almost unimaginable hardships to capture this strategic Belgium village and once again demonstrated to the world their military effectiveness
  • Russia Turning Points In The War: Russian Revolution

    Russia Turning Points In The War: Russian Revolution
    Russian Revolution leads to new Russian government signing armistice with Germany
  • Turning Points In The War: 1918 july German Troops Desert

    Turning Points In The War: 1918 july German Troops Desert
    Large numbers. German civilians withdrew their support for the war and cities experienced civil riots
  • Allied Turning Points In The War: Allied Success

    Allied Turning Points In The War: Allied Success
    With the help of the Americans, the Allies succeeded in a number of rapid offensives starting with the Battle of Amiens
  • German Turning Points In The War: German Navy mutinies

    German Turning Points In The War: German Navy mutinies
    Navy refuses to participate in a battle they know they will lose
  • Consequences Of The Treaty of Versailles: Hyperinflation

    Consequences Of The Treaty of Versailles: Hyperinflation
    In the period from 1919 to 1923, Germany experienced a period of hyperinflation. The Versailles treaty required Germany to pay for damages in the war, it lost land and colonies and hence lost access to raw materials and cheap imports and the Weimar Government printed MORE money.
  • The Treaty of Versailles

    The Treaty of Versailles
    One of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. The armistice, signed on 11 November 1918, ended the actual fighting, but it took six months of negotiations at the Paris Peace Conference to conclude the peace treaty.
  • The League of Nations

    The League of Nations
    Formed as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first international organisation whose principal mission was to maintain world peace. Its primary goals, included preventing wars through collective security and disarmament and settling international disputes through negotiation and arbitration.
  • Consequences Of The Treaty of Versailles:The Munich Putsch

    Consequences Of The Treaty of Versailles:The Munich Putsch
    The arrest of the Nazi leadership after the uprising allowed Adolf Hitler to make long speeches and transformed him from a little known politician to the obvious leader of the Right Wing opponents of the Weimar Republic.
  • Japan army invaded Manchuria

    Japan army invaded Manchuria
    Japanese army invaded Manchuria in China. China appealed to the League. The Japanese government were told to order the army to leave Manchuria but the army took no notice of the government.The League then called for countries to stop trading with Japan but no one agreed to the request. The League then made a further call for Japan to withdraw from Manchuria but Japan's response was to leave the League of Nations.
    image from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_invasion_of_Manchuria
  • Consequences Of The Treaty of Versailles: Hitler appointed Chancellor

    Consequences Of The Treaty of Versailles: Hitler appointed Chancellor
    The German people had a very strong sense of national pride and the treaty of Versailles humiliated them and fueled their hostility and resentment towards the Allies. This made them vulnerable to manipulation by Adolf Hitler who promised to solve all of Germany’s problems and reinstate it as a great empire and led to his appointment as leader of the government.
  • hitler increased army size

    hitler increased army size
    hitler increased the size of the army, began building warships and created a German air force. Compulsory military service was also introduced.
    image from http://wizards-of-the-past-fave-jinghan.blogspot.ca/2012/07/our-hero-hitler.html
  • German troops enter Rhineland

    German troops enter Rhineland
    Hitler ordered German troops to enter the Rhineland. violating the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. At this point the German army was not very strong and could have been easily defeated. Yet neither France nor Britain was prepared to start another war.
    image from http://www2.uncp.edu/home/rwb/hst430_p2.htm
  • the Anti-Comintern Pact

    the Anti-Comintern Pact
    the Anti-Comintern Pact was an anti-communist pact concluded between Nazi Germany and the Empire of Japan on November 25, 1936 .In case of an attack by the Soviet Union against Germany or Japan, the two countries agreed to consult on what measures to take "to safeguard their common interests"
    image from http://www.corbisimages.com/stock-photo/rights-managed/HU052448/signing-of-the-germanjapanese-anticomintern-pact
  • Expansionism: Austria.

    Expansionism: Austria.
    The Austrian leader was forced to hold a vote asking the people whether they wanted to be part of Germany.The results of the vote were fixed and showed that 99% of Austrian people wanted Anschluss (union with Germany). The Austrian leader asked Britain, France and Italy for aid. Hitler promised that Anschluss was the end of his expansionist aims and not wanting to risk war, the other countries did nothing.
    Image from “Mit den deutschen Soldaten im befreiten Österreich,” Die Wehrmacht,
  • Expansionism: The Munich Agreement

    Expansionism: The Munich Agreement
    Hitler demanded that the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia be handed over to Germany. Neville Chamberlain, Prime Minister of Britain, met with Hitler three times during September 1938 to try to reach an agreement that would prevent war. The Munich Agreement stated that Hitler could have the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia provided that he promised not to invade the rest of Czechoslovakia image from http://althistory.wi
    image from http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/triumph/tr-czech.htm
  • expansionism: Czechoslovakia

    expansionism: Czechoslovakia
    Hitler in invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia. Despite calls for help from the Czechoslovak government, neither Britain nor France was prepared to take military action against Hitler
    image from http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/gallery.php?ModuleId=10005439&MediaType=PH
  • Anglo-Polish Military Alliance

    Anglo-Polish Military Alliance
    believing that Poland would be Hitler's next target, both Britain and France promised that they would take military action against Hitler if he invaded Poland. Chamberlain believed that, faced with the prospect of war against Britain and France, Hitler would stop his aggression.
    image from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Poland
  • The Pact of Steel

    The Pact of Steel
    The Pact of Steel known formally as the Pact of Friendship an Alliance between Germany and Italy
    image from http://www.germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org/sub_image.cfm?image_id=1998
  • The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact

    The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact
    The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, officially the Treaty of Non-aggression between Germany and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, was a non-aggression pact
    image from http://www.hot.ee/evlliit/okup_2.htm
  • Expansionism: Poland

    Expansionism: Poland
    German troops invaded Poland
    image from http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005070
  • Phoney War

    Phoney War
    The months following Britain's declaration of war are referred to as the 'phoney war' because Britain saw no military action. Image from http://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/sep/06/second-world-war-phoney-london
  • Britain and France declared

    Britain and France declared
    Britain and France declared war on Germany following Germany's invasion of Poland.
    image from http://www.rafbombercommand.com/timeline/1939_sept_until_may_1940.html
  • Canada declares war on Germany.

    Canada declares war on Germany.
    Canada declares war on Germany. Image from http://www.italiancanadianww2.ca/tour/year/1939
  • Canada trains countries air crews.

    Canada trains countries air crews.
    The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan created by an agreement in December 1939 between Canada, Britain, Australia, and New Zealand, which called for Canada to train these countries’ air crews.
    imagefrom http://www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/exhibitions/chrono/1931air_training_plan_e.shtml
  • Canadians sail for Europe

    Canadians sail for Europe
    First Canadians set sail for Europe.
    image fromhttp://forum.tealounge.info/viewtopic.php?f=54&t=458
  • Hitler invades Denmark and Norway

    Hitler invades Denmark and Norway
    Hitler invaded and occupied Denmark and Norway to safeguard supply routes of Swedish ore and also to establish a Norwegian base from which to break the British naval blockade on Germany.
    image from http://ww2news.com/europe/germany-invades-denmark-norway/
  • Blitzkrieg

    Blitzkrieg
    Hitler launched his blitzkrieg (lightning war) against Holland and Belgium. Rotterdam was bombed almost to extinction. Both countries were occupied.
    image from http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005437
  • Chamberlain resigns

    Chamberlain resigns
    Neville Chamberlain resigned after pressure from Labour members for a more active prosecution of the war and Winston Churchill became the new head of the wartime coalition government. Chamberlain gave Churchill his unreserved support.
    image from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winston_Churchill
  • Dunkirk (Operation Dynamo)

    Dunkirk (Operation Dynamo)
    The British were forced to retreat to the coast at Dunkirk. The troops waited, under merciless fire, to be taken off the beaches. A call went out to all owners of sea-worthy vessels to travel to Dunkirk to take the troops off the beaches of Dunkirk. More than 338,000 men were rescued, among them some 140,000 French who would form the nucleus of the Free French army under a little known general, Charles de Gaulle.
    image fromhttp://www.warhistoryonline.com/war-articles/operation-dynamo-evacuation-
  • Italy entered the war

    Italy entered the war
    Italy entered the war on the side of the Axis powers
    image from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Italy
  • France signs armistice with Germany

    France signs armistice with Germany
    The French, signed an armistice with Germany taking France, which had been devastated, out of the war and into German occupation.
    image from http://facttrivia.blogspot.ca/2011/08/world-war-ii-axis-invasion-and-fall-of.html
  • Battle of Britain

    Battle of Britain
    The Battle of Britain comprised four phases:
    1. Luftwaffe bombers attack British ports.
    2. bombing raids were concentrated on RAF airfields.
    3. The Blitz - the city of London was heavily bombed..
    4. Hitler began a series of nightly bombing raids on London and other important industrial cities.
    image from http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/battle_of_britain
  • Tripartite Pact

    Tripartite Pact
    This pact of mutual alliance was signed by Germany, Italy and Japan.
    image from http://www.ww2incolor.com/dramatic/20110725200747_62562.html
  • fighter squadrons

    fighter squadrons
  • wage and price controls

    wage and price controls
    Canadian government imposed strict wage and price controls.
    image from http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/pages/exhibits/ww2/services/price.htm
  • Hitler attacks Russia

    Hitler attacks Russia
    Hitler sent 3 million soldiers and 3,500 tanks into Russia. The Russians were taken by surprise as they had signed a treaty with Germany in 1939. Stalin immediately signed a mutual assistance treaty with Britain and launched an Eastern front battle that would claim 20 million casualties.
    Image from http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/media_ph.php?ModuleId=10005164&MediaId=634
  • Canada declares war

    Canada declares war
    Japan declares war on Canada. Canada declares war on Finland, Hungary, Japan and Romania. Image from http://azamadnan.blogspot.ca/2011/01/world-war-ii-newspapers.html
  • Pearl Harbor

    Pearl Harbor
  • Britain and the United States declared war on Japan.

    Britain and the United States declared war on Japan.
    Britain and the United States declared war on Japan. Image from http://b1047.com/day-history-december-8/
  • Japanese-Canadians

    Japanese-Canadians
    Federal government forcibly removes 22,000 Japanese-Canadians from the coastal areas of British Columbia and relocated them inland.
    Image from http://www.rcinet.ca/patrimoine-asiatique-en/le-mois-du-patrimoine-asiatique-au-canada/lepopee-des-canadiens-dorigine-japonaise/
  • Japanese take Singapore

    Japanese take Singapore
    The Japanese captured Singapore from the British, taking some 60,000 prisoners.
    Image from http://factsanddetails.com/asian/ca67/sub427/item2534.html
  • Battle of Midway

    Battle of Midway
    The USA defeated the Japanese navy at the Battle of Midway. Following this victory, the US navy was able to push the Japanese back. Image from http://www.valuewalk.com/2014/06/the-battle-of-midway/
  • Dieppe

    Dieppe
    5,000 Canadian, 1,000 British and 50 Americans participate in raid on Dieppe, France. Canadians took 3,367 casualties including 907 killed. image from http://www.thefewgoodmen.com/thefgmforum/threads/canadian.231/
  • Battle of Stalingrad

    Battle of Stalingrad
    The Russians won their first victory against Germany at the Battle of Stalingrad. Image from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Stalingrad
  • Allies take Sicily

    Allies take Sicily
    The allied troops won the island of Sicily. Image from http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/july/10/newsid_3587000/3587283.stm
  • Italy surrenders

    Italy surrenders
    Mussolini had been thrown out of office and the new government of Italy surrendered to the British and the USA. They then agreed to join the allies. The Germans took control of the Italian army, freed Mussolini from imprisonment and set him up as head of a puppet government in Northern Italy.
    Image from http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/on-this-day/September-October-08/On-this-Day--Italy-Declares-War-on-Nazi-Germany.html
  • Rome liberated

    Rome liberated
    Although Italy had surrendered in September, it was only now that the allies were able to liberate Rome from the Germans. Image from http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/on-this-day/September-October-08/On-this-Day--Italy-Declares-War-on-Nazi-Germany.html
  • D-Day

    D-Day
    14,000 Canadians land on Normandy beaches apart of 'Operation Neptune.' 1,000 Canadian casualties. Image from http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/d-day-the-allied-invasion-of-normandy-1.775929
  • Canadians repel German attacks

    Canadians repel German attacks
    Canadians repel fierce German counter-attacks and hold the Normandy beach head.
    Image from http://www.junobeach.info/juno-5.htm
  • Caen

    Caen
  • Paris liberated

    Paris liberated
    The French capital of Paris was liberated from the Germans.
    image from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberation_of_Paris
  • Battle of the Bulge

    Battle of the Bulge
    Germany launched its final defensive through the Ardennes region of Belgium. However, they were beaten back by the allies. Image from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Battle_of_the_Bulge.jpg
  • Russians reach Berlin

    Russians reach Berlin
    The Russians reached Berlin shortly before the US forces.
    image from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Berlin
  • Mussolini captured and executed

    Mussolini captured and executed
  • Hitler commits suicide

    Hitler commits suicide
    The German leader, Adolf Hitler committed suicide in his bombproof shelter together with his mistress, Eva Braun, who he had, at the last minute, made his wife.
    image from http://www.ziuaveche.ro/exclusiv-zv/dosare-ultrasecrete-exclusiv-zv/eva-braun-sotia-lui-adolf-hitler-ar-fi-avut-origini-evreiesti-223285.html/
  • German forces in Italy surrender

    German forces in Italy surrender
    German forces in Italy surrendered to the Allies.
  • Donitz offers unconditional surrender

    Donitz offers unconditional surrender
    Hitler's successor, Admiral Donitz, offered an unconditional surrender to the allies. Image from http://martinmwh2011.wikispaces.com/H15-The+Unconditional+Surrender+of+Germany
  • V.E. day

    V.E. day
    Victory in Europe was celebrated.
    Image from http://www.rcinet.ca/en/2014/05/08/may-8-ve-day/
  • Atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima

    Atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima
    The Japanese generals refused to surrender. The US dropped an atomic bomb on the island of Hiroshima. Image from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Boy
  • Russia declares war on Japan

    Russia declares war on Japan
    Russia declared war on Japan and invaded Japanese-ruled Manchuria. Image from http://www.amazon.com/Times-Herald-Newspaper-August-Declares/dp/B005OQUOYC
  • Atomic bomb dropped on Nagasak

    Atomic bomb dropped on Nagasak
    The US dropped an atomic bomb on the island of Nagasaki as the Japanese had not surrendered following Hiroshima.
    Image from http://busanhaps.com/dispatches-nagasakis-atomic-bomb-museum/
  • Japanese surrender

    Japanese surrender
    The Japanese unconditionally surrendered to the allies ending the second world war.
    Image from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V-J_Day_in_Times_Square