World War I & Russian Revolution

France loses alsace & Loraine to Germany

May 10, 1871

Because of its ancient German associations and because of its large German-speaking population, Alsace-Lorraine was incorporated into the German Empire after France’s defeat in the Franco-German War (1870–71). The loss of Alsace-Lorraine was a major cause of anti-German feeling in France in the period from 1871 to 1914. France also suffered economically from the loss of Alsace-Lorraine’s valuable iron ore deposits, iron- and steelmaking plants, and other industries to Germany.

Russo-Japanese War

Period: Feb 8, 1904 to Sep 5, 1905

1904–05), military conflict in which a victorious Japan forced
Russo-Japanese War, military conflict in which a victorious Japan forced Russia to abandon its expansionist policy in the Far East, becoming the first Asian power in modern times to defeat a European power.

Bloody Sunday

Jan 22, 1905

a peaceful march in Russia over better working conditions turned into a bloody massacre when the Czar's police opened fire on the protestors.

Austria-Hungary annexes Bosnia

Oct 6, 1908

Austria-Hungary decided to formerly annex Bosnia. This caused a major European crisis at it upset the Austro-Russian entente of 1897 that had to a degree stabilized the Balkan situation. Russia protests over annexation were met with German backing for Austria.The Austrain to formally annex Bosnia-Herzegovina infuriated Serbian nationalists who longed to annex Bosnia-Herzegovina to Serbia.

Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Jun 28, 1914

[In an event that is widely acknowledged to have sparked the outbreak of World War I, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, nephew of Emperor Franz Josef and heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, is shot to death along with his wife by a Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo, Bosnia.](http??www.history.com/this-day-in-history/archduke-franz-ferdinand-assassinated)

Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia

Jul 28, 1914

Attack plan by Germans that was proposed by Schliffen, It was a lightning quick attack against France. Proposed to go through Belgium then attack France, Belgium resisted, other countries took up their aid, long fight, and they also used trench warfare.

Russia Mobilizes its Army

Jul 31, 1914

After facing defeat in the Franco Prussian War, Russia did not want to seem vulnerable to the other European countries. Therefore, Russia promised to support France when it found out that Germany had declared war on France. Soon after, France urged Russia to mobilize because it was afraid of immediate attack from the Germans

Schlieffen Plan put into action

Aug 2, 1914

Attack plan by Germans that was proposed by Schliffen, It was a lightning quick attack against France. Proposed to go through Belgium then attack France, Belgium resisted, other countries took up their aid, long fight, and they also used trench warfare.

Germany invades Belgium

Aug 4, 1914

After the assassination of the Archduke, Belgium put its army on its borders. Germany's ultimatum to Belgium was to fight or be conquered. Athough they were outnumbered they still decided to resist the German invasion. The Belgians were quickly defeated. By the end of September 1914, Germans ruled most of Belgium.

The Battle of Marne

Period: Sep 5, 1914 to Sep 12, 1914

Germans had taken over the River and pushed back Britain and France in a series of attacks; Battle near paris that ended Germany's hope of swift victory, the first battle of WWI happened where the French and British stopped the Germans and the Schlieffen Plan.

Sinking of the Lusitania

May 7, 1915

May 7 the 32,000-ton ship was hit by an exploding torpedo on its starboard side. It was revealed that the Lusitania was carrying about 173 tons of war munitions for Britain, which the Germans cited as further justification for the attack. The U.S. eventually protested the action, and Germany apologized and pledged to end unrestricted submarine warfare. Public opinion in the United States began to turn against Germany

The Battle of Verdun

Period: Feb 21, 1916 to Dec 18, 1916

Is considered some of the bloodiest fighting in WWI and the German offense was stopped; offensive battle on the western front initiated by Germany in which they hoped to crush France and taken them out of the war, however France was in a very good defensive position and French held it for 10 months. Nearly a million killed. French drew reserve troops from the Somme to help defend. No territory was gained. Battle in WWI that ended in massive casualties and had little direct result.

The Battle of Somme

Period: Jul 1, 1916 to Nov 18, 1916

A 5 month offensive between July and Nov.1916 in the Somme river area in France. It began with a massive week long British artillery barrage that proved futile, since the Germans just sheltered in their dug-outs until the shelling stopped, then machine-gunned waves of British troops who were crossing no-man's land. On the first day alone the British lost 60,000 men. The battle ended in a stalemate, after torrential rain turned the trenches into a quagmire. There were more than 650,000 casualties

Zimmerman Telegraph found

Jan 11, 1917

A note intercepted by the US, originally sent from Germany to Mexico saying that if Mexico can keep the US out of the Great War then Germany would help Mexico regain its territories taken from the US like New Mexico, Texas and Arizona.

Russian Czar Nicholas II abdicates

Mar 15, 1917

Crowned on May 26, 1894, Nicholas was neither trained nor inclined to rule, which did not help the autocracy he sought to preserve in an era desperate for change. The disastrous outcome of the Russo-Japanese War led to the Russian Revolution. During the February Revolution, Czar Nicholas II was forced to abdicate the throne by the Petrograd insurgents, and a provincial government is installed in his place.

U.S. Enters World War I

Apr 6, 1917

On April 6, 1917, the U.S. joined its allies--Britain, France, and Russia--to fight in World War I. Many Americans were not in favor of the U.S. entering the war and wanted to remain neutral. However, the U.S. eventually did enter the war. The sinking of the Lusitania was an encouraging reason for the U.S's entrance into the war.

Russian Civil War

Period: Oct 25, 1917 to Oct 12, 1922

When "white" anticommunists fought the "red" communists to decide how Russia would be governed.

October Revolution

Period: Nov 7, 1917 to Nov 8, 1917

The second and last major phase of the Russian Revolution of 1917, in which the Bolshevik Party seized power in Russia, inaugurating the Soviet regime.

Fourteen Points proposed

Jan 8, 1918

Fourteen Points a peace plan made by Wilson in January 1918 before the war ended which was ment to prevent international problems from causing another war - included having a League of Nations, ending secret agreements, freedom of the seas, free trade, a limit on arms, and support for national self-determination.

Russia signs the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

Mar 3, 1918

Treaty in which Russia lost substantial territory to the Germans. This ended Russian participation in the war.

Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicates

Nov 9, 1918

The last German emperor. He gave up his throne when Germany was defeated in World War I.

Armistices signed

Nov 11, 1918

The Armistice - an agreement to stop fighting - was signed between France, Britain, and Germany on 11th November 1918, bringing four years of fighting in the First World War to an end.

The Treaty of Versailles is signed

Jun 28, 1919

1) It stripped Germany of all military
2) Germany had to repair war damages ($33 billion)
3) Germany had to acknowledge guilt for causing WWI
4) Germany could not manefacture any weapons.

Stalin takes over Russia

Jan 21, 1924

Joseph Stalin ruled the Soviet Union for more than two decades, instituting a reign of terror while modernizing Russia and helping to defeat Nazism.