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The Triple Alliance and Triple Entente form rivalries
In 1879 the Dual Alliance formed between Germany and Austria-Hungary. Then, in 1881, Italy joined these two countries forming the Triple Alliance. These alliances were formed under Otto von Bismark, Prussia's chancelor, who wanted to maintain peace in Europe. Then, in 1907, Britain made an entente with France and Russia, forming the Triple Entente. By 1907, the Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy) and the Triple Entente (Great Britain, France, and Russia) became rivalries. -
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Most Important World War I Events
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Archduke Franz Ferdinand is shot and killed
The prince of Austria-Hungary, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, and his wife, Sophie, visit Sarajevo, Bosnia on June 28, 1914. When in an open car in a parade, the two were shot and killed by Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian. Princip was a member of the Black Hand, which was committed to getting rid of Austrian rule in Bosnia. Austria then used the murder as an excuse to punish Serbia, because Princip was Serbian. The two countries would later declare war. -
Serbia refuses Austria's ultimatum
Resulting from Franz Ferdidnand's murder, on July 23, 1914 Austria presents Serbia an ultimatum with many demands. Serbia agrees to many of the demands, but want to have an international conference to discuss others. Austria does not want to negotiate and declares war on July 28. Russia sided with their ally Serbia, and sent troops to the Austrian border. -
First Battle of the Marne
Germany had declared war on both Russia and France, and developed the Schlieffen Plan- to defeat France quickly and then defeat Russia. German forces went into France in September of 1914, for the First Battle of the Marne. The Germans reached the outskirts of Paris, but the allies then attacked the Germans northeast of Paris, in the valley of the Marne River and forced the Germans to retreat. This defeat of the Germans in this battle left the Schlieffen Plan in ruins. -
Russia's war efforts on Austria and Germany begin to collapse
In the beginning of the war, Russia launched attacks on Austria and Germany. The Germans completely crushed the Russians in the four-day battle and drove them to full retreat. In Austria, the Russians defeated the Austrians twice in 1914, but were eventually defeated by the Austrians. By 1916, Russia's war efforts began to collapse, but they did manage to tie up the German troops in Germany, preventing Germany from launching a full attack on France. -
Germans begin unrestricted submarine warfare
In January 1917, Germany declared that their submarines would sink any ship without warning that was in the waters surrounding Britain. They had this policy before in 1915, when they sank the "Lusitania", which killed 128 United States citizens on it. Germany then agreed to stop their policy after the United States got angered, but they returned to the policy in 1917 to try and defeat the allies. Ignoring warnings from President Wilson of the United States, Germany sank three American ships. -
The war becomes a total war and governments use propaganda
The countries start to devote all of their resources towards the war, making World War I a total war. In the countries, wartime government takes control of the economy, telling factories how much and what to produce. Every able body was put to work and governments started to use rationing so that people could only buy small amounts of goods and give the rest to the war effort. Governments also used propaganda, to persuade people to support the war. -
Germany and France meet and sign the armistice
After the Secod Battle of the Marne, the Allied forces began to advance to Germany. The Central Powers began crumble and many started to surrender. When Austria-Hungary was caught up in revolution, the public turned on Kaiser Wilhelm II, forcing him to step down. Germany then declared itself a republic and a representative from the new German government met with French Commander Marshal Foch near Paris. The two signed the armistice, agreeing to stop fighting on November 11. World World I ended. -
Treaty of Versailles is signed
In the Paris Peace Conference, Britain and France did not want to agree to Woodrow Wilson's terms for peace. The Treaty of Versailles was the compromise from the arguments that emerged from this. It was between Germany and the Allied Powers, signed on June 28, 1919. The treaty created a League of Nations for peace and also punished Germany. It punished Germany by having it lose territory and placing limitations on its military. It also blamed Germany for the war, having it pay the Allies. -
League of Nations is created
Created in the Paris Peace Conference by the Treaty of Versailles, the League of Nations was created to ensure peace among the nations. The international association administered all of Germany's territories in Africa and the Pacific, which was also a result from the Treaty of Versailles. The League of Nations was based in Geneva, Switzerland and would continue to maintain world peace and help to solve international disputes when they occured for many years to come, preventing another world war.
