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Russo-Japanese War
After Russia denied Japan the opportunity to make Manchuria and Korea spheres of influence, Japan launched a surprise naval attack against Port Arthur, a Russian naval base in China. In January 1905, the strategic naval base of Port Arthur fell to Japanese naval forces; in March, Russian troops were defeated at Shenyang, China; and in May, the Russian Baltic fleet was destroyed near the Tsushima Islands. These three defeats haulted any further Russian resistance. -
Bloody Sunday
On its way to losing a war with Japan Russia explodes with violence in St. Petersburg in what will be called Bloody Sunday. A group of workers led by the radical priest Georgy Apollonovich Gapon marched to the czar’s Winter Palace in St. Petersburg to make their demands. Imperial forces opened fire on the demonstrators, killing and wounding hundreds. Strikes and riots broke out throughout the country in outraged response to the massacre. -
Austria-Hungary annexes Bosnia
Though Bosnia and Herzegovina were formally under Ottoman control, Austria-Hungary gained these provinces in the Congress of Berlin. The annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina disrupted the fragile balance of power the Balkans had which enraged Serbia and pan-Slavic european countries. -
Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Archduke Ferdinand, heir to the Autro-Hungarian Empire, was shot and killed along side his wife by Serbian nationalist Gavrillo Princip. This event is believed to have initiated World War I. -
Russian army mobilization
In an attempt to support France, Russia mobilized their troops to Germany. Russia mobilized 5 million troops, the most of any country in the war, but their troops where unorganized and had many problems with transportation. This was a major factor in the causes of WWI. -
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia
Austria-Hungary declared war with Serbia after Serbian nationalist Gavrillo Princip killed Archduke Ferdinand. The black hand and Gavrillo Princip failed to assassinate Ferdinand the first time but somehow found Ferdinand and his wife later on that day and murdered them. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia the next day. -
Schlieffen Plan
The Schlieffen Plan was the operational plan for a designated attack on France once Russia had started to mobilise her forces near the German border. The execution of this plan led to Britain declaring war on Germany. -
Germany invades Belgium
Germany went through Belgium to try and outflank the French military. This was known as the "Schlieffen Plan". This plan soon backfired because Germany was unaware of the alliance between Belgium and Britain so once Belgium was attacked Britains navy moved in to assist their ally in combat. Britain reacted fast enough to help stop Germany from capturing Paris. -
Start of the Battle of Marne
This battle featured the use of radio intercepts and automotive transport of troops. After French commander Joseph Joffre ordered an offensive, General Michel-Joseph Maunoury’s French Sixth Army opened a gap between Germany’s First and Second Armies. Maunoury exploited the gap with help from the French Fifth Army and British force. This pushed Germany to retreat north of the Aisene River. -
Sinking of the Lusitania
Less than a year after the start of WWI a German U boat sank a British ocean liner, the Lusitania, that carried around 1,900 passengers (120 american). The sinking of the Lusitania played a major role in turning public opinion against Germany. -
Start of the battle of Verdun
This horrific battle started due to German forces attacking and taking over forts in the complex around Verdun. Once the Germans finally retreated and the French recovered their forts, there were more than 600,000 casualties on both sides, -
Start of Battle of Somme
The Battle of Somme, also known as the Somme Offensive, was one of the first and most deadly battles of WWI. On the first day of the Somme Offensive, the British military suffered more than 57,000 casualties. -
Zimmerman Telegram
This is a message from the Secretary, Arthur Zimmerman, of the German ambassador to Mexico proposing a German-Mexican alliance. This was sent to Mexico so Russia would have help if the U.S. got invokved. Mexico denied this offer. -
Czar Nicholas II abdication
On May 26, 1894, Nicholas was crowned with no training and was not inclined to rule. He tried to preserve an autocracy in an era that needed change. The horrible outcome of the Russo-Japanese War led to the Russian Revolution which was only solved by a manifesto signed by Nicholas that gave Russian people civil liberties that where later taken back. This swayed social support to revolutionary groups which later on led to the abdication of Czar Nicholas II. -
U.S. entered WWI
The US tried to stay neutral throughout the war; However, Woodrow Wilson's policy and public opinion changed in favor of the US entering WWI. The sinking of the Lusitania and the Zimmerman telegraph are two key factors that led to the US getting involved in the war. -
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Russian Civil War
The Russian civil war tore Russia apart for years. The war is between the Bolsheviks and the Socialist Revolutionaries in which they're fighting for there freedom. -
October Revolution
This revolution swept through Russia, ending imperial rule and making room for political and social changes which led to the formation of the Soviet Union. -
Fourteen points proposal
The fourteen points are principles that would be used to try and stop WWI and bring peace. These points were created and proposed by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson. -
Signing of Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
This treaty was the agreement between Russia and the Central Powers to remove Russia from participating in World War I. -
Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicates
As the Imperial army was defeated again and again by the allies the Kaiser begain to lose his followers. On November 9th, Wilhelm had started to consider relinquishing the title of German Kaiser but staying on as King of Prussia. Developments in Berlin, however, had long passed the point of no return, and the Chancellor, Prince Max von Baden, had by that time already announced the Kaiser’s abdication. -
Armistice Signing
This, the Armistice, is the end of the first World War. The Armstice was given by Allied powers and signed by Germany in Compiégne, France agreeing that the war is over. -
Treaty of Versailles signing
This is the document that ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied powers. This is only one of the peace treaties at the end of WWI. -
Stalin takes over Russia
Stalin outmaneuvered his way around his rivals to gain control of the party. He collevtiveized farming and killed or enslaved any of his enemies once he was put into power. Stalin ruled the people of Russia through fear, his power was gained sometime in the late 1920's.
