-
Three Emperor's League
Linked the monarchs of Austria-Hungary, Germany, and Russia in an alliance against radical movements. -
Period: to
Alliance of the Three Emperors
Secret alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia. -
Period: to
Triple Alliance
Alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. -
Russian-German Reinsurance Treaty
Germany and Russia promised neutrality if the other was attacked. -
Period: to
Two Power Standard
This policy first began under queen victoria and entailed that Britain would have a navy "to a standard of strength equivalent to that of the combined forces of the next two biggest navies in the world". -
Bismarck's Resignation
Otto von Bismarck resigns as 1st Chancellor of the German Empire at Emperor William II's request due to Bismarck's friendly policy toward Russia. -
End of the Reinsurance Treaty
Emperor William II refuses to reinstate the Reinsurance Treaty with Russia, wanting to ally Germany with Great Britain. -
Period: to
Franco-Russian Alliance
Alliance between France and Russia, intending to last as long as the Triple Alliance. -
A Change in German Naval Policy
German State Secretary of the Navy Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz accelerates naval construction with his "risk theory." Tirpitz planned to build a navy that would at least present a challenge to the British navy. Consequently, it creates an arms race. -
Period: to
South African War
War between Great Britain and the tiny Dutch republics of southern Africa for control of the region. It brought into the open widespread anti-British feeling due Britain's overextension around the world. -
Anglo-French Entente
French foreign minister Theophile Delcasse negotiates an agreement with Great Britain to settle all outstanding colonial disputes between the two nations. France receives British support in Morocco and accepts British rule in Egypt. -
1st Moroccan Crisis
Germany attempts to force France to take up an updoor policy when dealing with Morocco. -
Schlieffen Plan
Calls for Germany to invade France via Belguim if war is ever declared. -
Period: to
Algeciras Conference
An international conference called by Germany to settle the First Moroccan Crisis. Germany reasoned that France and Great Britain should be fighting over the territory. However, Germany left the conference empty-handed and isolated while France and Great Britain grew closer together. -
Alfred Von Tirpitz
He said that a strong navy was the legitimate mark of a great world power and a source of pride and patriotic unity. German nationalists followed this idea. -
David Lloyd George
He said that a large navy was a detestable military challenge. It forced the country to spend the “People’s Budget” on battleships instead of social welfare. -
Anglo-Russian Entente
Agreement between Great Britain and Russia which settled quarrels in Persia and Central Asia. -
Period: to
Triple Entente
Alliance between Great Britain, Russia, and France. -
Balkan Wars and Destruction of Ottoman Empire
In 1912, Serbia joined Greece and Bulgaria in the fight against the Ottoman Empire for the First Balkan War. After that, Serbia fought with Bulgaria over the victory, which led the Second Balkan War in 1913. Austria had intervened with Serbia and forced them to give up Albania. Nationalism destroyed the centuries old Ottoman Empire. -
Period: to
Balkan Wars and Destruction of Ottoman Empire
In 1912 Serbia joined Greece and Bulgaria in the fight against the Ottoman Empire for the First Balkan War. After that Serbia fought with Bulgaria over the victory, which led the Second Balkan War in 1913. Austria had intervened with Serbia and forced them to give up Albania. Nationalism destroyed the centuries old Ottoman Empire. -
Archduke Franz Ferdinand
The heir to the Austria-Hungarian empire. He was assassinated by Gavrilo Princip of the Black Hand. His death was the spark that set off World War I. -
Black Hand
Miltia group that most notably was the moving force behind Archduke Franz Ferdinand's assassination. -
"Blank Check"
Germany gave a “blank check” to Austria-Hungary which means that they would fully support them if they went to war. Germany gave Austria-Hungary troops, supplies, and money. -
Austria-Hungary's Unconditional Ultimatum
Austria held Serbia responsible for the assassination. They had said that the arms and explosives given to the murderer were provided by Serbian Officers and Officials of the Narodona Odbrana (group that promotes a Greater Serbia). Austria had sent a list of demands (ultimatum) to Serbia. One of the many demands was that the Serbian government immediately dissolves Narodona Odbrana. Austria-Hungary had also used this event as an excuse to settle the score with Serbia. -
Russian Mobilization
After Austrian armies bombarded Belgrade, Tsar Nicholas II tried to order a partial mobilization against Austria. He soon found that it was impossible to mobilize against one country without mobilizing against the other. So Tsar Nicholas II ordered a full mobilization of the Russian Army and declared a general war. -
Total War Effort
When aggression of World War I began, every country believed it was thier right to defend themselves from foreign aggression. Governments recognized that patriotism would not be enough for the war effort. Rationing, prices, wages, and restriction on freedoms had to be made to create the greatest possible military effort. -
War Raw Materials Board
Recommended to the German government by Walter Rathenau. Rationed and redistributed raw materials. Every useful material was inventoried and rationed. -
The Battle of Tannenberg
The Battle of Tannenberg was a battle between Russia and Germany. The week long battle greatly damaged both armies, in particular the Russians. -
Period: to
Hindenburg and Ludendorff
The two generals of the German Army who defeated the Russians in Tannenberg and at Masurian Lakes. -
Period: to
The Race to the Sea
An attempt by the French and British armies and also the German army to outflank each other to the sea. However, since both armies had the same idea, they would hit each other every time they moved. -
The Battle of Marne
The French army attacked a gap in the German army's line. They attacked until the Germans retreated three days later. The French army managed to save Paris and France. -
Masurian Lakes
The battle at Masurian Lakes was yet another Russian loss to the Germans. This battle was the second consecutive victory for the German military against the Russians, the first one being in Tannenberg. -
Period: to
Trench Warfare
As both militaries became stalled, they started to dig trenches to use for cover. Soon trenches filled the battlefield and both armies began to bombard each other with heavy artillery in an attempt to "soften up" the enemy. -
The Great Crime
Over one million Armenians are killed in what is commonly known as the world's first genocide attempt. -
Period: to
Gallipoli Campaign
Failed French and British attempt to wrench control of the Black Sea from Germany. -
Sinking of the Lusitania
In May 1915, a German U-20 submarine torpedoed the ship without any warning. The ship lost over 1,000 lives, including the lives of 139 Americans. President Woodrow Wilson protested vigorously. This forced Germany to relax its submarine warfare, rather than bringing the United States into the war. -
Period: to
Germany's Submarine Warfare
In 1915, Germany began using a counter-blockade using a new form of submarine. After the sinking of the Lusitania, they were forced to restrict their unrestricted submarine warfare. Early 1917, on the other hand, they resumed unrestricted submarine warfare and began cutting of Britian from commerce. This gamble resulted with the United States to tip the balance in favor of the Triple Entente. -
Battle of Verdun
German attack on Verdun, anticipated that the French would be weakest here. About 1 million lives were lost at this battle. -
Colonial Troops
Many armies make heavy use of colonial troops, especially France. -
Battle of Somme
Bleeded the British Army. Ultimately changed the way that armies are organized. This was because entire squads of men from the same town would be killed, leaving no veterans from that town. 2 million men killed. -
Auxiliary Service Law
Required all able bodied man to serve in army and restricted freedom of movement for factory workers. -
Unrestricted Warfare
Germany declares all ships in the ocean fair game for thier U-boats. -
Zimmermann Telegram
British army codebreakers decode a German telegram sent to Mexico offering U.S. territory in exchange for Mexican support of war against the U.S. -
Lawerence of Arabia
T.E Lawerence luanchs an Arab revolt eventually ending with the capture of Aqaba. -
Recycling Campaign
Nearly every country involved in the war udergoes some form of recycling program most extreme is Germany which even goes as far as to use hair! -
Ministry of Munitions
Later in the war, this ministry took over control of control of all airplane production as well as quality control on nearly all shells. -
The Balfour Declaration
A declaration made by British foreign secretary Arthur Balfour which stated that the British favored a "national home of the Jewish People." Arabs, needless to say, were not happy. -
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Agreement ending Russian involvment with WWI with very favorable terms for Germany. -
The Second Battle of the Marne
Significant Ally win. The belief that Germany had lost the war was finally believed by the Germans. -
Armistice
End of World War I where soldiers laid down their weapons at 11:11AM. -
George Clemenceau
George "the Tiger" Clemenceau was the leader of France that helped bring victory for the allies during WWI. He also wanted the harshest measure taken against Germany after the war to ensure French national security. -
1919 Peace Conference of Paris
Opened with seventy delegates representing all 27 of the victorious nations although the big powers were the United States, Great Britain, and France. There was inner fighting among them because Wilson wanted the League of Nations whereas Lloyd George of Great Britain and Clemenceau of France wanted mainly to punish Germany. Clemenceau wanted harsher penalties then the rest such as a buffer state between France and Germany but in the end compromised. because G.B. and the USA promised to aid -
Treaty of Versailles
- Alsace-Lorraine returned to France
- Parts of Germany inhabitated by Poles went to the new Polish state
- Army limited to 100,000 and no fortifications in the Rhineland
- Germany/Austria had to pay repartaions equal to all civilian damages caused by war
-
War Guilt Clause
The most contriversial part of the Treaty of Versailles (Articles 231-248) which forced Germany to take sole responsbility for the war. -
League of Nations
Wilson insisted that this would protect the members from foreign agression and also avoid future wars. -
All Quiet on the Western Front
A novel by Erich Maria Remarque that describes war on the western front. "We see men living with their skulls blown off; we see soldiers run with their two feet cut off..."
