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Franco-Prussian War
Beginning on July 19th, 1870, and ending on May 10th, 1871, the Franco-Prussian War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the German States of the North German Confederation. Prussia (future German Empire) claimed the victory. -
Accession of Wilhelm II to the German Throne
The German foreign policy became more bellicose with the accession of Wilhelm II to the German throne. He refused to renew the Reinsurance Treaty, which kept German safer than it would be without it. -
Russo-Japanese War
Beginning in 1904 and ending on September 5th, 1905, the Russo Japanese War resulted in the Russians almost losing all of the Baltic and Pacific fleet. This war was considered the first great war of the 20th century. -
Entente Cordiale
In early 1904, a series of agreements were signed between Great Britain and France, which started the alliance against Germany and Austria-Hungary. -
Moroccan Crises
Beginning in March 1905 and ending May the next year, the Moroccan Crisis was an international crisis over that staus of Morocco. This crisis made the relationship between Germany and France and the UK, and helped ensure the success of the new Anglo-French Entente Cordiale. -
Bosnian Annexation Crisis
Beginning in 1908 and ending the next year, the Bosnian Annexation Crisis reupted on October 6th, 1908, when Austria-Hungary announced the annexation of Bosnia Herzegovina -
Bleriot XI
In 1909, the first monoplane to receive much fame was born--the Bleriot XI. This place made its first flight across the English Channel, with wing-warping used to control the rolling of it. Although it was nice, it did serve in a limited capacity during the opening salvos of World War I. -
Italo-Turkish War
Beginning in 1911 and ending the next year, the Italo-Turkish War was a war undertaken by Italy to gain colonies in North Africa by conquering the Turkish provinces of Tripolitana and Cyrenaica. -
Balkan Wars
Beginning on October 8th, 1912 and ending on July 18th, 1913, the Balakn Wars were two conflicts between four Balkan states and the Ottoman Empire. The two wars took place in the Balkan Peninsula in south-eastern Europe. In the first war, Four Balkan states defeated the Ottoman Empire, and in the second, one of the four states, Bulgaria, was defeated in the second war. -
Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria
On June 28th, 1914, Gavrilo Princip killed both Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Hohenburg. These assassinations triggered the course of events that led directly to the outbreak of World War I. -
July Ultimatum
On July 23rd, 1914, Austria-Hungary delivered an ultimatum to Serbia. Vienna demanded things that were nearly impossible so Austria-Hungary could declare war on Serbia for the assasssination of Franz and Sophie Ferdinand. -
Rockwell Brothers
The Rockwell Brothers joined the French Foreign Legion in 1914, and by October they were in the trenches. One of the brothers, Kiffin, was shot twice during war, but he became a pilot later. He was killed in action in September 1916. -
Ottoman Empire and Germany Treaty
Ottoman Empire (Turkey) and Germany sign a secret treaty of alliance. -
Germany declares war on France
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Western Front
The Western Front of World War I consisted of Germany, who attacked many places during this war. They first invaded Luxembourg and Belgium, then they gained military control of important industrial regions in France. -
Christmas Truce
Along the western front of World War I, on Christmas Day of 1914, the gun firing and the bomb explosions stopped. German and Brisith soldiers began crossing into "no man's land" unarmed, celebtrating Christmas together. They exchanged items such as cigarettes for food, which was soon ended when people afar off began shooting again. Political officials later told their armies that these were used to be a distraction, and to not participate in any more of these truces. -
Sinking of the Lusitania
On May 7th, 1915, Germans waged submarine warfare against Great Britain and Ireland, sinking the RMS Lusitania. Nearly 2,000 people died. -
Eastern Front
The eastern front in World War 1 was between the Russian Empire and Romania on one side and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Bulgaria, Turkey and Germany on the other. It went from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, and included most of Eastern Europe. -
Zimmermann Telegram
In January of 1917, the Zimmermann Telegram is decoded. This telegram was a message from Germany to Mexico, wanting to start an alliance and bring Japan into the war if the US was to join the war. -
U-Boats
On January 31st, 1917, the Germans unleash the U-Boats for the first time. The average one was a little over 200 feet, it could hold 35 men and 12 torpedos, and could travel for two hours at a time. This invention was the device used to later sink the Lusitania. -
Bloody April
In April of 1917, British air support caused many casualties to Royal Flying Corps during the Battle of Arras, who were at the hands of the German Luftstreitkräfte. -
USA joins War
On April 6th, 1917, The United States of America joined World War I and its allies--Britain, France, and Russia. -
U-Boats in Outer Banks
In the summer of 1918, five German U-Boats (submarines) came near the North American coast, almost reaching the Outer Banks. The Germans sunk three ships near the Outer Banks. -
Armistice Day
On November 11th, 1918, an armistice was signed between the allies of World War I and Germany, at Compiègne, France, which ended the war. -
Cost of War
World War I cost many countries a lot of money. It cost the US about $32 billion, which was over 50% of the gross national product at the time. Germany was charged $37 billion, while other countries were charged at a price of $1 billion - $8 billion. The total cost for all countries was about $60 billion. -
Fatalities
World War I cost more than 9 million deaths, which included 5 million combatants and 4 million civilians. -
Personal Conclusion
I think that World War I had a great cost to the world. Not just monetarily speaking, but of lives. 9 million people died, and almost half were civilians. I believe the World War I had to happen for today to be like it is today, although so many people had to give their lives for that cause.
