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Balkan Wars
The Balkan states of Eastern Europe, as they became more and more volatile, waged war with the Ottoman Turks. Russia saw the establishment of a Balkan League as essential if they were ever to fight the Austro-Hungarians. On the other hand, Germany was officially opposed to the conflict, but saw that the Ottoman Empire was on the brink of collapse and looked for ways to gain the upper hand with Serbia. The complexities of the war led to Serb-Austrian conflicts after its conclusion and resulted in -
Franz Ferdinand assassinated
One of the results of the Balkan Wars, the Archduke’s assassination was a turning point in history. Because of the secret deals of European powers, after Ferdinand’s death, the whole of Europe was waging war on one another. -
Austria-Hungary place ultimatum on Serbia
Austria-Hungary places ultimatum on Serbia and seeks German assurance- Germany, despite being warned to not involve itself, agrees to help Austria in the Balkans. This results in a domino effect as countries rush to the sides of their allies and soon have chosen sides as war erupts throughout Europe. WWI has officially begun. -
U-Boat Blockade
The World War I naval campaign fought between German U-boats and Allied forces was heavily based upon the imports the two countries were receiving to feed their nations. Because Britain was still receiving supplies from the US, Germany issues a blockade of all English ports. -
Battle of Tannenberg
Germans defeat Russian forces after Russia goes on the offensive. This battle, and the ones that followed, resulted in the deaths of millions of Russians and contributed to the end of Tsarist Russia. 31 1916 -
German Air Raids- Total War
Germany’s strategic bombing of England during World War I, with the use of Zeppelins, resulted in the World War I officially being a total war in which civilians were now involved as well. -
Lusitania Sinks
A result of the U-boat blockade, German U-boats torpedoed the ocean liner sinking it and causing uproar in the United States as 28 passengers who died were American. This event is seen as a contributing factor towards the USA’s involvement in WWI -
First trenches are dug
On the Western Front, French troops employ the use of trenches, a tactic that would be used throughout the war. The conditions of the trenches resulted in the deaths of many soldiers and was seen as an outdated tactic by the war’s end. -
Battle of Verdun
Beginning in 1916, the battle of Verdun was the longest single battle of WWI. Fought over a small part of land, the earth was ravaged and living conditions on both sides rapidly deteriorated as both armies were faced with desertions. -
Battle of Somme
A decisive French victory, the Battle of Somme resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people and symbolized the horror the war. The land gained by the French contributed toward their momentum in beating Germany back off of the front. -
USA Joins War
Considered by many to be the tipping point of the war, America’s entrance into WWI guaranteed the arrival of 2 million more soldiers to the European front as Germany became desperate in the final year of battling. -
Wilson's 14 Points are issued
Woodrow Wilson issues his famous 14 points that were meant to be used for peace negotiations in an effort to promote world peace at the end of World War I. They are the focal point of Wilsonian Idealism. -
German Offensive of 1918
Realizing that the USA’s arrival would result in German defeat, General Ludendorff launched a full scale offensive on France. It resulted in the gratest advance made by either sie since the beginning of the war, but was soon erased as the exhaus ted German armies were hit with allied reinforcements -
Armistice- End of War
The cessation of hostilities between the central and allied powers which marked the end of World War I. -
Treaty of Versailles
signed exactly five years after the Franz Ferdinand’s assassination at the Paris Peace Conference, the treaty imposed severe reparations and punishments on Germany. In many ways this foreshadowed the events that would take place 20 years from its signing.
