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Triple Alliance is Formed
In 1882, Otto von Bismarck decided to isolate France. He formed a triple alliance with Austria-Hungary and Italy. These alliances showed other countries that they needed to secure themselves as well. -
Germany Joins Russia in Alliance
Germany and Russia join in an alliance. Germany did not want France to be able to ally with any other countries. -
Wilhelm Changes Foreign Policy
Kaiser Wilhelm II changed the foreign policy and forced Otto von Bismarck to resign. He made everyone see how powerful Germany was and that no one could bring them down from power. -
Wilhelm allows alliance with Russia to expire
Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany allowed the alliance between Germany and Russia to expire. Then Russia formed an alliance with France, which angered Wilhelm. -
Britain forms alliance with France
Britain formed an entente (alliance) with France because Germany's army was getting too strong for them alone. Other countries agreed and made their own alliances. -
Triple Entente is formed
Britain formed a Triple Entente with France and Russia. When this happened many other countries started to form alliances because they were too strong. -
Franz Ferdinand and Wife are killed
Franz Ferdinand and him wife Sophie went to visit Sarajevo and were assassinated by Gavrilo Princip. Princip killed them because Serbia was angry at Austria. This assassination was the start of the war. -
Austria presented Serbia with an ultimatum
After the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie, Serbia was given an ultimatum from A-H. Serbia had to give up their land and they did not fully agree with the terms so Austria declared war on Serbia. -
Austria declared war on Serbia
When Serbia did not accept all of the terms from the ultimatum Austria decided to declare war on them. Russia then ordered the mobilization toward Austrian border. -
Germany declared war on Russia
When Russia ordered the mobilization on Austria borders, Germany declared war on Russia. -
Germany declared war on France
Right after Germany declared war on Russia, they also declared war on France. -
Britain declared war on Germany
After Britain declared war on Russia and France, Britain declared war on Germany. Now most of Europe is at war. -
Allies attacked Germany
At the first battle of Marne the Allies attacked Germany. After only 4 days of fighting Germany gave up and left. The Germans now had to fight a 2 battle war. -
Ottoman Empire joins Central Powers
The Ottoman Empire formally joined the Central Powers because they wanted to regain the land they had already lost. The Ottoman Empire joining the Central Powers caused a much quicker war than normal. -
Allies launch Gallipoli Campaign
To end the stalemate, the allies invented the Galipoli campaign. This resulted in another stalemate and the allies gave up. -
Italy joins the Entente
Italy joined the Entente (Allies). They joined after they were promised Austrian lands. This left the US the only country that had not joined. -
Germany sinks the USS Lusitania
A German submarine sunk the USS Lusitania on May 7th, 1915. 128 Americans were killed along with the 1,198 other people. -
Battle of the Somme
In February 1916, Germany attacked the Allies at the battle of Somme. More than 20,000 were killed and many left injured. Both Germany and the Allies lost many of their men. There were 680,000 casualties. -
Germans announce policy of unrestricted warfare
In January 1917, Germany announced their policy of unrestricted warfare. Germany decided to sink Britain's submarines without notice because of the blockade. This was a huge cause of conflict with Britain. -
US intercepts the Zimmerman note
In February 1917, Germany intercepted a telegram that was going from Germany to Mexico asking Mexico to ally with them. The telegram was decoded and given to the US. As soon as America saw what the message said they wanted to go to war against Germany. -
Wilson asks Congress to declare war on Germany
On April 2nd, 1917, Woodrow Wilson asked congress to declare war on Germany. The US joined the allies, which made the allies much stronger. -
Vladimir Ilyich Lenin ends the war
In November 1917, Vladimir Ilyich Lenin of Russia ended their part in the war. Since Russia was a big part of the Allies they lost a lot of power. -
Singing the treaty
In March of 1918, Germany and Russia both singed the treaty of Brest-Litovsk. This treaty ended the war between them. Russia had to surrender. -
The second battle of the Marne
In July of 1918, the allies and Germany fought once again at the Marne River. The allies won the battle because the German army was so weak. -
Wilhelm steps down
On November 9th 1918, Kaiser Wilhelm II stepped down from power of Germany. Germany declared itself a republic. -
Signing the treaty to end the war
On November 11th 1918, German representative and French commander Marshal Foch met in a car and signed a treaty to stop fighting. This treaty was the end of WW1.
