World War I Timeline
By: Taylor Graham
Triple Alliance - 1870
France and Germany became enemies when Prussia forced France to give up some of its territory which happened to be on the border of Germany. Taking precautions, Germany allied itself with Italy and Austria Hungary. This formation of alliances became known as the Triple Alliance.
Franco-Russian Alliance - 1894
These two countries were brought together due to their mutual dislike of Germany. They were not likely to be allies, but overcame this because their hate was stronger for France. They were to aid each other against the Triple Alliance.
Triple Entente - 1898
Britain, France, and Russia came together and formed and unofficial alliance which became known as the Triple Entente. They formed this alliance because of the current arms race. The countries had a mutual understanding of what the other ones needed.
Germany Begins to Build an Army - 1898
Germany felt the need to build a large and strong army, so they proceeded in doing so.
Austria-Hungary Annexes Bosnia - 1908
Bosnia originally belonged to the Ottoman Empire before Austria Hungary annexed it. This event by Austria Hungary outraged the Serbians creating more tension and rivalries.
American Loans Money to the Allies - 1917
Even before the United States was officially in the war, they were loaning money to the Allies and showing their support for that side. The loan was well over 2 billion dollars.
Germany Began Sinking Boats - February 1915
Germany decided to take the war to a more aggressive and intense level when they took this step. With their U-Boats they sunk any boat that was in the water at this time because it was war. This included ships carrying many innocent passengers.
The Lusitania - May 7, 1915
A German U-Boat sunk a ship named The Lusitania which was a British passenger ship. This killed over 1,000 passengers and 128 of them were Americans.
"He kept us out of war" - 1916
This was Wilson' s campaign slogan when he was running for office in 1916. This slogan is ironic because he soon entered the United States into the war as a result of the sinking of the Lusitania
Zimmermann Telegram - January 1917
A German official by the name Arthur Zimmermann sent a telegram to Mexico. In this telegram he promised American land to Mexico if they decided to become allies with Germany. This got out and was publicized. It was even printed in American newspapers.
Germans Sink More Ships - February 3-March 23, 1917
Just like the Lusitania, many more ships went down in the same way. These acts outraged the Americans. The Germans took the war too far by killing innocent passengers on boats.
Wilson Petitions for War - April 2, 1917
After much unnecessary violence and the killing of many innocent people, Wilson decided it was time for things to get under control. He petitioned to Congress to declare war on Germany.
The United States Enters War - 1917
After Wilson petitioned to Congress for war, it was soon approved and the United States was officially a part of the war. We had a limited supply of men in the army. There were plenty of men who volunteered to go to war, but simply not an adequate amount.
Selective Service Act - 1917
Because of the shortage of men, all men who were between the ages of 21 and 30 were required by law to register for the draft. If they were drafted, they would have to go to war.
Beginning of the Russian Revolution - March 1917
In March of 1917 riots began to break out in Russia. This event caused the Czar, who was at the time Nicholas II, to renounce his throne and flee. This caused the Russian Revolution.
Bolshevik Party Seizes Power - November 1917
The Bolshevik Party, which was Vladmir Lenin's party, seized power in 1917. After they seized power, they created a communist government to take complete control. This was a major moment in the war.
AEF Arrives in Paris - July 4, 1917
AEF stands for the American Expedition Force. AEF was sent to Paris to fight along with the French and the British against the Germans. They were basically the secret weapon on the French side.
AEF Arrives in Paris - July Treaty of Brest-Litovsk - 1918
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was a peace treaty. It ended Russia's time in the war. The treaty was between the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire) and the Bolshevik government.
Germany's Last Offensive - March 21, 1918
The Germans launched a massive gas attack and artillery bombardment on the western front. They were able to strengthen their forces more since Russia backed out. They pushed deep into allied territory with this final attack.By early June, they were less than forty miles from France.
Germans Were Blocked in Paris - June 1, 1918
This massive and final drive by the Germans to Paris was blocked in June of 1918. The blocking of this drive was a major victory. This marked that the tides had turned immensely in the war.
Final Attack of the Germans - July 15, 1918
As an attempt to end the war, Germany planned a massive attack. This attack was to take control of Paris. Despite the strength of this attack, the Americans and French troops held their ground and kept the Germans out and Paris safe.
World War I: The Meuse-Argonne Offensive (1918) | Signal Corps Official Film
Battle of the Argonne Forest - September 26, 1918
This Battle was a part of the final offensive on the Western Front by the Allies. The battle lasted approximately 50 days. This battle was a massively large battle. It is known to be one of the largest in history. The battle was rough. Although the Germans inflicted heavy casualties, they slowly fell victim to the advancing Allies. The Germans began to retreat in early November.
Several Countries Declare Independence - October 1918
As a step towards the final days of war, several countries began to declare independence. These countries included Poland, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia. Countries were surrendering to the Allies.
Germany Becomes a Republic - November 9, 1918
Because of the constant riot and revolt in Germany, the leaders came to the conclusion that it was time for things to change. They became a republic in November of 1918 in an attempt to do away with the rioting.
End of War - November 11, 1918
Two days after they became a republic, Germany completely surrendered to the Allies and all of the fighting was stopped. It was now time for authorities to negotiate the peace terms
Meeting at Versailles - January 1919
The Allied victors came together in Paris to negotiate the terms of the peace treaty. Some major decisions from this meeting were the League of Nations, mandates to Britain and France, new boundaries between nations, and the Treaty of Versailles.
Treaty of Versailles was Signed - June 28, 1919
Negotiations with this treaty with Germany lasted about five months and the final product is known as the Treaty of Versailles. The group of men responsible for this document is the big four (Woodrow Wilson, David Lloyd George, George Clemenceau, and Vittorio Orlando). The treaty included a document named the fourteen points. The treaty was reluctantly signed by the Germans on June 28, 1919