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The Triple Alliance is Formed
(ignore the day and month). military alliance between Germany, Austria–Hungary, and Italy, (as opposing the Triple Ententewhich consisted of an alliance between Britain, France and Russia), that lasted from 1882 until the start of World War I in 1914.
Each member promised mutual support in the event of an attack by any other great powers, or for Germany and Italy, an attack by France alone. -
The Triple Entente is Formed
Exact date is unknown. It was the name given to the alliance among France, Britain and Russia after the signing of the Anglo-Russian Entente in 1907. (effectively nullifying their alliance with Germany.)
Historians continue to debate how important was the alliance system in igniting the First World War. \entered it as Allies against Germany and Austria-Hungary. -
Austria-Hungary Takes Control of Bosnia
Austria-Hungary announced the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Russia, the Ottoman Empire, Britain, Italy, Serbia, Montenegro, Germany and France took an interest in these events.
The crisis permanently damaged relations between Austria-Hungary on the one hand and Russia and theKingdom of Serbia on the other. The annexation and reactions to the annexation were contributing causes of World War I. -
Franz Ferdinand is Assassinated
Princip stepped forward and fired two shots from a distance of about five feet using a Belgian-made 9x17mm (.380 ACP) Fabrique Nationale model 1910 semi-automatic pistol.[citation needed] Pistol serial numbers 19074, 19075, 19120 and 19126 were supplied to the assassins; Princip used #19074.According to Albertini, "the first bullet wounded the Archduke in the jugular vein, the second inflicted an abdominal wound on the Duchess." Princip was immediately arrested.
Both victims died seated up. -
Austria-Hungary Declares War on Serbia
Threatened by Serbian ambition in the tumultuous Balkans region of Europe, Austria-Hungary determined that the proper response to the assassinations was to prepare for a possible military invasion of Serbia.
One month to the day after Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife were killed by a Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo, Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia, effectively beginning the First World War. -
Germany Invaded Belgium
In some places, particularly Liège, Andenne and Leuven, but firstly Dinant, there is evidence that the violence against civilians was premeditated.
But in Dinant the German army believed sincerely that the inhabitants were as dangerous as the French soldiers themselves. -
A German U-Boat Sinks the Lusitania
The British ocean liner RMS Lusitania, famous for its luxurious accommodations and speed capability, primarily ferried people and goods across the Atlantic Ocean between the United States and Great Britain.
May 1, 1915, the Lusitania left port in New York for Liverpool to make her 202nd trip across the Atlantic. On board were 1,959 people, 159 of whom were Americans. -
The First Battle of the Somme Begins
The opening day of the battle saw the British Army suffer the worst day in its history, sustaining nearly 60,000 casualties.
The plan for the Somme offensive evolved out of Allied strategic discussions at Chantilly, Oise in December 1915. -
• The Zimmerman Note is Discovered
• The message came as a coded telegram dispatched by the Foreign Secretary of the German Empire, Arthur Zimmermann, on 16 January 1917 to the German ambassador in Mexico, Heinrich von Eckardt.
• Zimmermann sent the telegram in anticipation of the resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare by Germany on 1 February, an act which Germany predicted would draw the neutral U.S. into war on the side of the Allies. -
The United States Declares War on Germany
President Wilson appeared before a joint session of Congress and asked for a declaration of war against Germany in order to "make the world safe for democracy.
In January 1917, Germany renewed its policy of unrestricted submarine warfare that it had abandoned in 1915 after the sinking of the Lusitania.
