World War One
Timeline By: Claire Reinking
Triple Alliance - 1870
As part of its plan to unify Germany, Prussia forced France to give up territory along the German border. As a result, France and Germany became enemies. To protect itself, Germany signed alliances with Italy and with the huge empire of Austria-Hungary, which controlled much of southeastern Europe. This became known as the Triple Alliance.
Franco-Russian Alliance - 1894
Britain, France and Russian formed an alliance because of the common enemy, Germany. This is also called the Triple Entente.
Germany Began Building a Large Modern Navy - 1898
The buildup threatened the British, who rushed to build warships. By the early 1900s, Britain and Germany were engaged in an arms race.
Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia - 1908
Bosnia had belonged to the Ottoman Empire, outraging the Serbs. This annexation let Serbia and everyone know that they had no intention of allowing the Slavic people to have independence.
German sinks any U-boats in the sea - February 1915
Germany states they are going to sink any U-boats in the sea. Any boat in the water would be sunk because the country is at war.
- This decision went against the international treaty, signed to say that they would not sink any civilian ships
U-boat sunk the Lusitania - May 7, 1915
This killed over 1,000 passengers, including 128 Americans
Zimmerman Telegram - January 1917
Arthur Zimmerman sent a telegram to the German ambassador in Mexico, proposing a Mexican-German alliance.
Germans sank six more American ships - February 3 - March 23, 1917
This is one of the major events that caused America to enter into war.
Petitioning to Declare War - April 2, 1917
Wilson petitions to Congress to declare war on Germany.
United States Enters War - April 6, 1917
The US officially declares war on Germany
World War One 4 Why did the USA enter WWI
Selective Service Act of 1917
This Act required all men between 21 and 30 to register for the draft.
Riots Break out in Russia - March 1917
This caused Czar Nicholas the II, the leader, to abdicate the throne, beginning the Russian revolution
Vladimir Lenin's Bolshevik Party Seize Power - November 1917
Vladimir Lenin's Bolshevik Party seized power and established a Communist government
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk - 1918
With Russia and Germany
- Under this treaty, Russia gave the Ukraine it's Polish and Baltic territories, and Finland
-Germany could now concentrate its forces in the west
Germany's last offensive - March 21, 1918
Launched a large gas attack and artillery bombardment along the western front.
American and French Troops Block the Germans - June 1st, 1918
American and French troops blocked the German drive at Paris
German Final Efforts - July 15, 1918
The Germans launched one final massive attack to defeat Paris, but French and American troops held their ground
Battle of the Argonne Forest - September 26, 1918
Most massive American offensive from the AEF that was launched from the region from the Meuse River and the Argon forest. Although the Germans inflicted heavy casualties, their position slowly fell to the advancing American troops
Poland, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia declare independence - October 1918
Germany becomes a republic - November 9, 1918
Germany becomes a separate and independent nation
War Ends - November 11th, 1918
War is over
Treaty of Versailles - June 28, 1919
Negations on the treaty of Versailles lasted 5 months
- "Big Four"had the most influence when speaking about the treaty
- Signed reluctantly by Germans on June 28, 1919