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Germanay's Blank Check
Austria-Hungary sent an envoy to meet personally with the German emperor, Kaiser Wilhelm II, to convey Austria’s concerns about Russia. The kaiser felt that Russia was unlikely to respond militarily, as its forces were utterly unprepared for war. He also had a close personal relationship with Tsar Nicholas II, so he hoped to smooth things over diplomatically. Nevertheless, the kaiser pledged that if Russian troops did in fact advance on Austria-Hungary, Germany would defend them. -
World War I Starts
World War I began when Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia.his seemingly small conflict between two countries spread rapidly: soon, Germany, Russia, Great Britain, and France were all drawn into the war, largely because they were involved in treaties that obligated them to defend certain other nations. -
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World War I
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Battle of Tannenberg
Rising on the Eastern front, Germany crushes Russia's secondary army at Tannenberg, taking over 92,000 prisoners in the process. -
The First Battle of Ypres
Ypres, a Belgian city, was a neutral city that was essential to both sides ot the war. The Allies entrenched themselves to fight off the incoming German assualt. With much effort the Germans finally gave up and retreated on November 24, after a heavy storm set in. -
Germany threatens to fire at Merchant ships
Germany threatens to fire at the merchant ships that travel through the British waters which causes much strife in the international community. -
Germans Fire the first shot
The Germans fire shells filled with chlorine gas at Allied lines. This is the first time that a large amount of gas was used in battle, and the result of it being the near-collapse of the French lines. However, the Germans were unable to take advantage of the breach. -
Lusitania Sinks
A German submarine sinks the passenger liner Lusitania. The ship carried 1,198 innocents, 128 of them being American citizens. -
The Discovery of the Zimmerman Telegram
British intelligence gives Wilson the Zimmermann Telegram, a message from German foreign secretary Arthur Zimmermann proposing that Mexico side with Germany in case of war between Germany and the United States. In return, Germany promises to return to Mexico the "lost provinces" which were Texas, California and much of the American Southwest. Mexico declines the offer, but the outrage at this interference in the Western Hemisphere pushes American public opinion to support entering the war. -
The US joins the fight
Congress authorizes a declaration of war against Germany. The United States enters World War I alongside France and Britain. -
The Eruption of the Spanish Flu
During mid-1918, Europe was hit by Spanish flu and an estimated 25 million people died. This added to the feeling of bitterness that ran through Europe and most of the anger was know primarily directed at Germany. -
The Fourteen Points is created
The Fourteen Points was a statement of principles pertaining to world peace that would be used in hopes of a peacful negotiation to end World War I. -
Treaty of Versailles
With the end of the war, Germany was severely punished with hefty economic reparations, territorial losses, and strict limits on its rights to develop its militarily. -
Dawes Plan
Germany’s annual reparation payments were to be reduced, increasing over time as its economy improved; if the full amount was to be paid however, was left undetermined. France and Belgium would evacuate the Ruhr and foreign banks would loan the German government $200 million to help encourage economic stabilization. The money paid by Germany was used to rebuild Britain and France -
Beer Hall Putsch
The Beer Hall Putsch took place, in which Adolf Hitler unsuccessfully lead the Nazis in an attempt to overthrow the current German government. It is crushed by police the very next day though. Adolf Hitler was then sentenced to 5 years in jail for his participation in the Beer Hall Putsch though he only served 8 months of those 5 years. -
Death of Vladimir Lenin
Leader of the Soviet Union Vladimir Lenin was declared dead, and Joseph Stalin began purging rivals to clear the way for his leadership. -
All time employment low
Thankfully the unemployment rate averages at a 3.2% for the year an all time low. -
Young's plan
The Young Plan was a program set into place that would set German reparations debts after World War I written in 1929 and formally adopted in 1930. -
Wall Street Crashes!!!
The American stock market collapses, signaling the start of the Great Depression. The Dow Jones Industrial Average peaks in September 1929 at 381.17—a level that it will not reach again until 1954. The Dow will bottom out at a Depression-era low of just 41.22 in 1932. -
Smoot-Hawley Tariff
In response to the crash Congress passes the Smoot-Hawley Tariff, steeply raising import duties in an attempt to protect American manufactures from foreign competition. The tariff increase has little impact on the American economy though, but plunges Europe further into crisis. -
A rise in unemployment
The unemployment rate averages out 16.3% for the year. -
Food riots
Food riots began forming all over the U.S due to food being so expensive, and as a result, people were starving. In Minneapolis, several hundred men and women raided a grocery store. They assaulted the shopkeep who was simply trying to defend himself. Hundreds of police officers were needed to detain everyone at the scene, only being able to arresting seven of the riotiers. -
Major Bank collapse
The New Yorks Bank of the United States collapses was the largest bank failure to date in American history. $200 million in deposits disappear. -
The continuing rise of unemployment
Unemployment rises even further to an average of 24.1% for the year. -
Roosevelt is elected
Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt defeats the incumbent Republican President Herbert Hoover with a landslide victory for presidency. -
An all time high in unemployment
Unemployment spikes to an all time high of 24.9% for the year. -
Fall Weiss
Adolf Hitler orders the German military to start planning for Fall Weiss, the codename for the attack on Poland, planned to be launched on August 25, 1939. -
World War II starts
Germany invades Poland, and begins World War II.