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Balkan Wars
The Balkan wars were two successive military conflicts that deprived the Ottoman Empire of all its remaining territory in Europe except part of Thrace and the city of Adrianople. The second conflict erupted when the Balkan allies Serbia, Greece, and Bulgaria quarreled over the partitioning of their conquests. The result was a resumption of hostilities in 1913 between Bulgaria on the one hand and Serbia and Greece, which were joined by Romania, on the other. -
Balkan Wars
The First Balkan War was fought between the members of Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece, and Montenegro, and the Ottoman Empire. The Second Balkan War began when Serbia, Greece, and Romania quarreled with Bulgaria over the division of their joint conquests in Macedonia. -
Assassanation of Archduke Ferdinand
Archduke Ferdinand was assassinated on June 28, 1914, in Sarajevo, Bosnia. The assassin, Gavrilo Princip, a member of the nationalist group "Black Hand," shot the Archduke and his wife, Sophie, while they were in a motorcade. This event triggered a chain reaction of political tensions and alliances, leading to the outbreak of World War I. -
Assassanation of Archduke Ferdinand
The assassination symbolized the fragility of the geopolitical landscape at the time, and led to the connection of European powers. The fallout from this incident had far-reaching consequences, reshaping the course of history. -
World War I begins
World War I began on July 28, 1914, triggered by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, and the conflict quickly escalated as alliances were invoked. Germany declared war on Russia on August 1, and on France on August 3. Germany's invasion of Belgium prompted Britain to declare war on Germany on August 4, marking the official entry of the major powers into the conflict. -
World War I begins
The war's early stages were characterized by rapid mobilization, trench warfare, and the use of new technologies, setting the stage for a prolonged and devastating global conflict that lasted until November 11, 1918. -
Battle of Gallipoli, Somme
The Battle of Gallipoli occurred during World War I from April 25, 1915, to January 9, 1916, when Allied forces, including ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) troops, attempted to capture the Gallipoli Peninsula in the Ottoman Empire. The campaign aimed to open up a new front against the Central Powers. However, the Allies faced fierce resistance from Ottoman forces, challenging terrain, and bad weather conditions, leading to a long and ultimately unsuccessful campaign. -
Battle of Gallipoli, Somme
The Battle of the Somme, fought from July 1 to November 18, 1916, on the Western Front, was one of the bloodiest battles in history. British and French forces clashed with the Germans, resulting in extensive casualties on both sides, with little territorial gain. The Somme highlighted the devastating impact of modern warfare and the need for new strategies. -
Lusitania sinks
The Imperial German Embassy in Washington D.C. placed ads in American newspapers reminding Americans that Britain and Germany were at war. They warned potential travelers that vessels flying the flag of Great Britain or of any of her allies are liable to destruction and should be avoided. May 7, 1915, six days after leaving New York for Liverpool, Lusitania took a direct hit from a German U-boat submarine without any warning and sank within 20 minutes. -
Lusitania sinks
On May 7, 1915, a German U-boat torpedoed the British-owned luxury steamship Lusitania, killing 1,195 people including 128 Americans, according to the Library of Congress. The disaster immediately strained relations between Germany and the neutral United States, fueled anti-German sentiment and set off a chain of events that eventually led to the United States entering World War I. The Lusitania was scheduled to leave New York for Liverpool in early May 1915. -
Battle of Verdun
The Battle of Verdun occurred during World War I from February 21 to December 18, 1916, between French and German forces in the Verdun-sur-Meuse region of France. It was one of the longest and brutal battles of the war. The Germans aimed to bleed France white by capturing Verdun, while the French were determined to defend. -
Battle of Verdun
The fighting resulted with a lot of casualties, with estimates to about 300,000 on each side. The battle symbolizes the endurance and sacrifice required in the war. Ultimately, the French successfully repelled the German advance, and Verdun became a symbol of French resilience. -
Zimmermann Note
The Zimmermann Telegram coded telegram sent January 16, 1917, by German foreign secretary Arthur Zimmermann to the German minister in Mexico. The note had a plan to renew unrestricted submarine warfare and to form an alliance with Mexico, and Japan if the United States declared war on Germany. The message had been intercepted by the British and passed on to the United States. Its publication caused outrage, and contributed to the U.S. entry into World War I. -
Russian Revolution
The Russian Revolution were two revolutions bewteen March 8, 1917 and June 16, 1923. The first of which, in February (March, New Style), overthrew the imperial government. And the second of which, in October placed the Bolsheviks in power. What caused the Russian Revolution was corruption and inefficiency were widespread in the imperial government, and ethnic minorities were eager to escape Russian rule. -
Russian Revolution
The peasants, workers, and soldiers had risen up after the enormous and largely pointless slaughter of World War I that destroyed Russia's economy as well as its prestige as a European power. -
U.S. enters war
When World War I broke out across Europe in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson stated that the United States would remain neutral, and many Americans supported this. But, the public opinion about neutrality started to change after the sinking of the British ocean liner Lusitania by a German U-boat in 1915. Almost 2,000 people died, including 128 Americans. -
U.S. enters war
Along with news of the Zimmerman telegram threatening an alliance between Germany and Mexico against America. Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of war against Germany. The United States had officially entered the conflict on April 6, 1917. -
Russia withdraws from war
Russia had left World War 1 due to political turmoil, military failures, and economic struggles. The Russian army had suffered significant defeats on the Eastern Front and was plagued by desertions and low morale. The strain of the war also exacerbated existing economic issues, leading to food shortages and inflation. -
Battle of Chateau-Thierry
The Battle of Chateau-Thierry took place during World War I from May 31 to June 6, 1918. It was a significant engagement between the American Expeditionary Forces and German forces on the Western Front. Chateau-Thierry, a town along the Marne River in France, was a crucial location in the conflict. -
Battle of Chateau-Thierry
The battle marked a turning point as American forces, including the 3rd Division and the Marines, played a vital role in halting the German advance. The successful defense at Chateau-Thierry boosted American morale and demonstrated the AEF's combat capabilities. -
Battle of Argonne
The Battles of the Meuse-Argonne began September 26, 1918, and ended November 11, 1918. It was a series of final confrontations on the Western Front in World War I. There were more than 700 Allied tanks, followed closely by infantry troops, advancing against German positions in the Argonne Forest and along the Meuse River. -
Battle of Argonne
The Meuse Argonne offensive, carried out by 37 French and American divisions. Aiming to cut off the entire German 2nd Army. It would be the largest American-run offensive of World War I. -
Armistice of WWI
The world's reaction to the ending of the war was filled with relief, celebration, disbelief, and a profound sense of loss. People shared laughs and smiles as the war came to an end. And was happy they got to see their family and loved ones again. -
Armistice of WWI
On Nov. 11, 1918, after more than four years of fighting and the loss of millions of lives, the guns on the Western Front drew silence. Even though the fighting continued elsewhere, the armistice between Germany and the Allies was the first step to ending World War I. -
The Treaty of Versailles signed
The Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, officially ending World War I. It was negotiated at the Palace of Versailles in France, the treaty involved the Allied Powers, primarily represented by the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Italy. The treaty led to significant penalties on Germany, holding it responsible for the war and demanding territorial losses, disarmament, and reparations. -
The Treaty of Versailles signed
The harsh terms of the treaty are often considered a contributing factor to the rise of extremism in Germany and the eventual outbreak of World War II. The treaty aimed to establish a lasting peace, but its punitive measures and the redrawing of borders contributed to geopolitical tensions and a sense of injustice, complicating the post war era. -
First meeting of the League of Nations
The League of Nations officially came into existence on January 10, 1920. On November 15, 1920, 41 member states gathered in Geneva for the opening of the first session of the Assembly. The League of Nations was the first intergovernmental organization established to promote international cooperation to achieve international peace, and security. It is often referred to as the predecessor of the United Nations.