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The Triple Alliance is Formed
-In 1882 Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy formed the Triple Alliance. -The three countries agreed to support each other if attacked by either France or Russia. -31 Aug 1907-The Triple Entente is an informal coalition between Great Britain, France and Russia, now countered the Triple Alliance. International tension was greatly increased by the division of Europe into two armed camps. -
Austria-Hungary Takes Control of Bosnia
-Bosnia and Herzegovina were still nominally under the control of the Ottoman Sultan in 1908.-In January 1909, at the height of the Bosnia-Herzogovina crisis, Franz Conrad von Hotzendorff, the chief of staff of the Austrian army, approached Helmuth von Moltke, his German counterpart, to ask what Germany would do if Austria invaded Serbia and thus provoked Russia to intervene on the latter’s behalf -
▪Archduke Franz Ferdinand is Assassinated in Sarajevo
- Immediately following the assassination Germany pledged its full support to Austria-Hungary, pressuring them to declare war on Serbia. - Austria-Hungary issued Serbia an unacceptable ultimatum, to which Serbia consented almost entirely.
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Austria-Hungary Declares War on Serbia
-Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. -In response, Russia formally ordered mobilization in the four military districts facing Galicia, its common front with the Austro-Hungarian Empire. -On August 1, after its demands for Russia to halt mobilization met with defiance, Germany declared war on Russia. Russia's ally, France, ordered its own general mobilization that same day, and on August 3, France and Germany declared war -
Germany Invaded Belgium
-Belgium was neutral and its neutrality was protected by treaty with Great Britain. -The Germans attacked on August 3rd. The next day, Great Britain declared war on Germany -
The First Battle of the Somme Begins
- Battle of the Somme is famous chiefly on account of the loss of 58,000 British troops (one third of them killed) on the first day of the battle.- The attack was launched upon a 30 kilometer front, from north of the Somme river between Arras and Albert, and ran from 1 July until 18 November, at which point it was called off
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The Zimmerman Note is Discovered
- Zimmerman was assuming America would soon declare war on Germany anyway because, as was mentioned in his telegram, the Kaiser's navy was about to revive its policy of "unrestrained submarine warfare" - The British intercepted it and its contents hastened the entry of the United States into the war.- The British had intercepted the telegram as the message passed along American-owned cables through London to Johann von Bernstorff, the German ambassador in Washington, on Jan 16.
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The United States Declares War on Germany
-Opinion against Germany hardened after the sinking of the Lusitania.- William Jennings Bryan, the pacifist Secretary of State, resigned and was replaced by the pro-Allied Robert Lansing. -On 31st January, 1917, Germany announced a new submarine offensive. -Wilson responded by breaking off diplomatic relations with Germany
