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Three Emperor's League
On 22 October 1873, German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck negotiated an agreement between the monarchs of Austria-Hungary, Russia and Germany. The alliance constituted one of the early coalitions of European powers that ultimately created enough tension by 1914 to fuel World War I, sparked by the assassination in Sarajevo -
Triple Alliance/Central Powers
Germany and Austria-Hungary became allies and formed the Dual Alliance. Then on 20 May 1882, they were joined by Italy in what was known as the Triple Alliance. This was intended to be limited to defensive purposes only. When WWI broke out however, Italy backed out of the alliance on the grounds that Germany and Austria-Hungary weren't being defensive by declaring war on Serbia. The central powers were created after the outbreak of WWI and its members were Germany,Austria,Ottomans,and Bulgaria -
Bismarck and alliances
The key in Bismarck’s view to German interests lay in good relations with Russia and Austria. He didn't want a certain future war with France to become a two front war. -
Russian-German Reinsurance treaty
A secret agreement between Germany and Russia arranged by Bismarck after the German-Austrian-Russian Three Emperors’ League, collapsed in 1887 because of competition between Austria-Hungary and Russia for spheres of influence in the Balkans. The treaty provided that each party would remain neutral if the other became involved in a war with a third great power and that this would not apply if Germany attacked France or if Russia attacked Austria -
Emperor William II
Wilhelm II became Kaiser of Germany in 1888. He dismissed Bismarck in 1890; dismantled the alliance system which had helped to maintain peace and had encouraged an aggressive foreign policy which was to make the outbreak of a major European war more likely. -
Bismarcks Resignation
William II became Kaiser in 1888 and paid little heed to Bismark. Their most serious quarrel developed over the renewal of the anti-Socialist laws and the rights of subordinate cabinet ministers to personal audience with the Emperor. William II obtained Bismarck's resignation on March 18, 1890. The world was stunned at the sudden departure of the man credited with keeping the peace in Europe for two decades. This turned out to be a horrendous mistake on William's part. -
Alexander III and Franco-Russian Alliance
A military alliance between the French Third Republic and Russia under tsar Alexander III that ran from 1892 to 1917. The alliance ended the diplomatic isolation of France and undermined the supremacy of the German Empire in Europe -
South African War
The South African War, was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the inhabitants of the two independent Boer republics: the South African Republic and the Orange Free State. It ended with the annexation of the region under the British Empire, ultimately forming the Union of South Africa as part of the Commonwealth -
Theophile Delcasse and the Anglo-French Entente
Theophile Delcasse (1852-1923) was one of the principal architects of the Anglo-French Entente Cordiale of 1904.The Entente Cordiale is an agreement between Britain and France which resolved a number of longstanding disputes, and established a diplomatic understanding between the two countries, which however stopped short of binding each other militarily. -
Algeciras Conference
The Algeciras Conference of 1906 took place in Algeciras, Spain, and lasted from January 16 to April 7. The purpose of the conference was to find an issue to the First Moroccan Crisis between France and Germany, which arose as Germany attempted to prevent France from establishing a protectorate over Morocco. -
Triple Entente/Allied Powers
The Triple Entente was the name given to the alliance among Great Britain, France and Russia after the signing of the Anglo-Russian Entente in 1907. Formed the basis of the allied powers. -
Anglo Russian Agreement
An agreement where Britain and Russia settled their colonial disputes in Persia, Afghanistan, and Tibet. It defined spheres of influence in Persia, said that neither country would interfere in Tibet's internal affairs, and recognized Britain's influence over Afghanistan. The agreement led to the formation of the Triple Entente later on. -
1st and 2nd Balkan Wars and the destruction of the Ottoman Empire
The two Balkan Wars (1912-13) almost completed the destruction of the Ottoman Empire in Europe. All of the neighboring countries sourounding Balkans wanted control of it. This led to increased tension between them which resulted in much conflict. -
German Naval Policy
By practicing unrestricted submarine warfare during World War I, Germany intended to blockade Great Britain. In the process however, Germany violated the neutral United States' right to freedom of the seas, and the policy led to the taking of American lives and the sinking of American merchant ships at the hands of the German U-boats. These developments eventually forced the United States to enter the war against Germany. -
Blank Check
Germany gave support to Austrian foreign policy no matter what they chose. Their motive was the hope that they would go against Russia. -
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Submarine Warfare during World War One
Mostly used by the Germans during World War 1 the submarine revolutionized the way sea warfare was done. The Germans often used it to sink ships carrying supplies to Great Britain, When the orginal rules set up for submarine warfare became to extreneous for German forces they enacted unrestricted submarine warfare; where they would attack merchants and sea farers without warning. -
Hindenburg and Ludendorff
Both German Generals during World War One they worked together quite often. When Hindenburg was made Chief of the General Staff Ludendorff also gained power and together they formed; The Third Supreme Command. -
Balkans and Balkan Nationalism
Stressful relations between countries sourounding the Balkins eventually led to the death of Franz Ferdinad which was a key factor in the outbreak of WWI. -
Archduke Franz Ferdinand
On 28 June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, heir apparent to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife Sophie were shot dead in Sarajevo, by Gavrilo Princip. This plays a key role to the start of WWI -
Austria-hungary's unconditional ultimatum
Thier ultimatum was that either they give up the leadership of the black hand or we'll invade. Refusal led to invasion and onslaught of WWI -
Declaration of WAR
Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia. -
Total War
This was created in World War by many engaging countries when they would use everything they had to attack the enemy. This involves a draft where men were forcibly taken from their jobs and occupations and sent to the military. It led to a major loss of food production in Germany and Great Britain. -
Germany declares war
Germnay declares war on France -
Invasion against Belgium
Germany declares war on neutral Belgium and invades in a right flanking move designed to defeat France quickly. As a result of this invasion, Britain declares war on Germany. -
Battle of Tannenberg
Fought between Russia and Germany this battle severely injured the Russian Second Army. This fight left ninety-two thousand Russian troops captured, seventy-eight thousand killed, and ten thousand fleeing. It only killed twenty thousand German Soldiers. -
The First Battle of Masurian Lake
This offensive attack by German forces pushed the entire Russian First Army back accross the Eastern Front. -
Race to the Sea
This period during World War 1 was when two oposing armies; Germany and France tried outflanking each other on the Western front. They would try to move their entire army and go around the other but just ended up clashing heads everytime. It is called the race to the Sea because it ended only because they were not allowed to carry on because of the Sea. -
Battle of Marne
The Battle of the Marne was a battle fought between 5 and 12 September 1914. It resulted in an Allied victory against the German Army. The battle effectively ended the German offensive that had reached the outskirts of Paris -
Russian Mobilization
Russian mobilization along German border cause Germany to inact the Sclieffen plan. This plan was their strategy if there was ever the threat of war against Russia. Their goal was to take out France so that it didn't turn into a two front war with them in the middle. -
Subordination of political considerations to military strategy (Germany and Russia)
They used carefully planned out alliances during WWI. These resulted in the Central Powers for Germany and Russia becoming part of the Allies against Germany. -
blockade
Germany declares a submarine blockade of Great Britain. Any ship approaching England is considered a legitimate target. -
The Second Battle of the Mansurian Lakes
This attack by the Central Powers was along the northern part of the Eastern Front. It was made with intentions of getting rid of the Russians from the war. While it did kill many Russians, it did not kick them out of the war because they ended up winning. -
Lusitania
This liner ship was full of civilian passengers and departed from New York on May 1, 1915. On May 6 it was sunk by a German Submarine just outside of Ireland killing one thousand one hundred and ninety-eight civilians. It sparked outcry from countries all over the world, including and especially The United States. -
David Loyd George
British Prime Minister during WWI and ended up victorious -
The Battle of Verdun
Fought between German and French forces. It ended up being a victory for the French but at a high cost of men (they lost about 163,000 whereas the Germans lost only 143,000). -
Admiral Alfred Von Tirpitz
He was a German Admiral, Secretary of State of the German Imperial Naval Office from 1897 until 1916. He is considered to be the founder of the German Imperial navy. -
Battle of Somme
An attack by France and Britain on German forces at the Somme River. One of the bloodiest battles in history it caused 1.5 million casualities. The British lost 60,000 men in the first day of the battle, they learned slowly that crossing No Man's Land into enemy machine gun fire was not a good idea. -
Tsar Abdication
Tsar Nicholas II of Russia abdicates. Provisional government is declared. -
War Industries Board
This tool of the United State's Government was created on July 28th,1917. It promoted industrial companies to make items for the cause of war. It ended up giving the employees of various corporations high wages in order to avoid their strikes. -
Balfour Declaration
This statement made by James Balfour said that all Jews should have basic rights in Palestine and that "a national home for the Jewish people" should be created there. It arose from all the antisemitism plagueing the World. -
14 points
President Woodrow Wilson declares his 14 points as the path to permanent world peace. -
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
This treaty was signed by Russia and The Central Powers and it basically let Germany leave the war. -
Georges Clemencau
He served as the Prime minister of Great Britain multiple times and also became the main leader of France during the final year of World War 1. He was often called Le Tigre because of his dedication during wartime. -
Second Battle of the Marne
This attack by the Germans turned into an utter failure when French and British forces converged to fight against the enemy force. The Germans suffered the loss of; 139,000 men killed, 29,367 captured, and 793 guns taken. -
The Armistice
Signed on November 11, 1918, in the Forest of Compiegne just north of Paris, this Treaty equaled a victory for the Allied Powers and a horrible loss for Germany. It was signed due to general dislike of the war and pure exhaustion that had swept through all sides. -
The Russian Revolution of 1918
This event took place from November 1918 to July 1919 during which the current Imperial government was overthrown and the new republic was created. This republic was name the Weimar Republic. -
Trench Warfare
Brutal, dehumanizing, and disgusting trench warfare was unlike anything the world had ever seen before. What it consisted of was both armies digging a trench system on opposite sides of an area called "No Man's Land". It was called this because if traveled through you had a good chance of dieing (during the day death was almost a guarantee). They would often try to flank each other by building longer trenches, this however did not work as planned usually as best exemplified by "Race to the Sea". -
Paris Peace Conference
This conference was a meeting of the Allied Powers, which ended up totaling over twenty-nine countries. It decided the terms of which Germany and all other defeated countries were to be under. -
Treaty of Versailles
This Treaty between Germany and The Allied Powers made the Germans take full blame for the start of the war, pay for damages and lives lost, and also give up much of its territory. It is said that this peace treaty started the Second World War -
The League of Nations Comes Into Being
The League of Nations got its start during the Paris Peace Conference. It was the first international peace group to be created and was the building blocks for the United Nations. -
The War Guilt Clause
Otherwise know as Article 231 of the Treaty of Versailles, it explained why it was Germany's fault that war broke out and justifies any seemingly unfair accusations made by the treaty writers. This Article was written by US diplomats Norman Davis and John Foster Dulles. -
"All Quiet on the Western Front"
Written by Erich Maria Remarque this book explained what life was like for German soldiers who lived, and oftentimes died, in the trenches
