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German States Become One
A fairly young nation, Germany was gripped with new nationalism after becoming a whole country in 1871. Although other countries were feeling similarly about their culture, “Pan-Germanism” pride banned the German countries together. Just like with other European powers, nationalism unified the nation and pitted it against others. -
Germany and Austria-Hungary Create the Dual Alliance
In 1879, Germany and Austria-Hungary formed the Dual Alliance, pledging support for each other in times of war. An original alliance in 1873 included Russia as well, but Russia withdrew in 1878. Although they didn’t know it yet, the Dual Alliance could be considered a main catalyst to the war. -
Germany Gains Territory in the Togolands, Cameroons, and South West Africa
When Germany acquired Togoland, the Cameroons, and South West Africa in 1884, the new resources and introduction to the imperialist world were well-received by Germany's population, but not by the rest of Europe. France and Britain, other imperialist nations, were unhappy about Germany gaining this territory. Britain hoped to build a railway through Africa and Germany had compromised this goal. -
Russia Defeated by the Japanese
On September 5, 1905, the Japanese officially defeated Russia. This loss was embarrassing enough for the country that it prompted the tsar to launch into a massive fit of militarism. A dramatic 45 percent of government spending was directed to military funding by 1910, opposed to the minescule 5 percent directed towards education. -
Archduke Franz Ferdinand is Assasinated
On June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of the Austro-Hungarian Empire was assassinated along with his wife, Sophie. A Bosnian Serb nationalist, Gavrilo Princip, shot the couple, prompting the Austrian government to hold Serbia responsible. As Germany had an alliance with Austria-Hungary and Russia had one with Serbia, the murders lead to two more countries becoming involved and taking sides. -
Germany Writes Blank Check to Austria-Hungary
In support of their alliance with Austria-Hungary, Germany promised it would support them in whatever action they chose to take against Serbia on July 5, 1914. Only a week after Franz Ferdinand's murder, Kaiser Wilhelm II took the opportunity to take on it’s conflict with Serbia, a long-time rival. -
Germany Declares war on Russia
On August first, 1914, Germany declared war on Russia. Germany had noticed Russia’s general mobilization and saw it as an immediate threat. Russia was allied with France, so Germany launched an attack on France through Belgium. However, this attack violated Belgian neutrality and brought Belgium's ally, Britain, into the war as well. -
The Sinking of the Lusitania
On May 7, 1915, a German submarine sunk the British passenger ship RMS Lusitania. Headed on a journey to Liverpool, England, from New York, the ship contained 1900 passengers, 1100 of whom were killed in the wreck. 114 of those passengers were American. Not only did this tragedy infuriate Britain, but Americans as well. It became more and more difficult for America to stay neutral in what they hoped to consider a European war. -
The Battle of Verdun
From February 21st to December 18th, the longest battle of the war, the Battle of Verdun, was fought in France. Even though it was on French soil, the German soldiers had gained the element of surprise. One of the bloodiest battles of the war, there were over one million casualties. The carnage of this battle shows just how intense the fighting had become, the heavy artillery developed in this era was the beginning of a whole new form of war. -
Germany's resumption of Unrestricted Submarine Warfare
On February 1, 1917, Germany resumed their policy of unrestricted submarine warfare. Although they feared retribution from the US, the Kaiser was convinced that their U-boats would win them a quick victory. They believed it was key to their war strategy, but it infuriated the American public. -
The Zimmermann Telegram is Made Public
On March 1, 1917, a telegram sent from Arthur Zimmermann, the German foreign secretary, to the German ambassador to Mexico was printed in papers across America. This telegram, intended to be private, suggested that if the United States was to declare war on Germany that Mexico should take Germany’s side. In exchange for Mexico’s loyalty, Germany would reward the country with they land they lost in Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico. This telegram was the final straw for many Americans, pushing the p -
The USA Enters the War
Four days after President Woodrow Wilson appeared before Congress with his request, the United States entered World War 1 by declaring war on Germany. Senate voted 82 to 6 to enter the war, so on April 6, 1917 the USA officially became part of the fighting. America’s well-trained and well-equipped forces were a huge asset to the Allied Powers; by the end of the war, over two million American soldiers had taken part in the fighting. Specifically, they ended a four year stalemate in France. -
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
On March 3, 1918, the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed between Russia and Germany. Terms were set by Germany to end the fighting, and it was not kind to Russia. Russia gave up 32% of it’s farmland, 32% of it’s population, 50% of their industrial holdings, and 90% of their coalmines. -
German Troops Mutiny at Port
On October 28, 1918, German troops mutiny at port. Believing the battle they would be sent into would be hopeless, they refused to fight. German morale was very, very, very low and as the public suffered economically at home, the troops were not the only ones wanting to end the fighting. -
Treaty of Versailles
On June 28, 1919, Germany and the Allies signed the Treaty of Versailles, ending World War 1. Terms were set by the Allies with little German participation. Germany lost Eupen-Malm[eacute]dy to Belgium, Alsace-Lorraine to France, substantial eastern districts to Poland, Memel to Lithuania, and parts of Schleswig to Denmark. Germany’s military supplies had to be kept very low and she was stripped of all her colonies. The "guilt clause" held Germany financially responsible for the war. -
The Dawes Plan
In April of 1924, Charles G. Dawes proposed his “Dawes Plan” to the Reparation Commission. Under this plan, Germany’s war debts would be reduced and the United States would loan Germany the money to help it make it’s reparation payments. Then, European countries would use the money from Germany to help pay their debts to the United States. -
The Young Plan
In 1929, a committee headed by Owen D. Young proposed a plan, known as the Young Plan, to reduce German debt to 29 billion dollars. It established the Bank of International Settlements, floated a loan of $300 million into the foreign market, and supervision of German finances and the occupation of German soil would end. However, the Great Depression doomed this plan as it was heavily reliant on American loans. -
The Great Depression
On October 29, 1929, the Great Depression began with the crash of the stock market. A small recession turned into a depression when consumer spending slowed and more goods went unsold, all the while stock prices rose. When the scale tipped, millions of investors were wiped out, and those who purchased stock on the margin lost everything. Consumer spending and investment dropped sharply, causing entrepreneurs to fall further into debt. Europe,highly reliant on American investments, was also hurt. -
The Rise of Hitler
On January 30, 1933, Adolf Hitler was appointed chancellor of Germany by the president of Germany, Paul von Hindenburg. Hitler had taken advantage of the low moral cultivated after the loss of WW1 and the heavy economic toll it took on the country; promising a better life for the German people with his Nazi Party. After the Great Depression hit and further hurt the country, more and more people found his promises appealing.
