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Wilhelm II Rose to the Throne
Wilhelm II refused to renew the treaty with Russia, which had always left France isolated. This set up the alliance between France and Russia that became the basis for the Triple Entente. -
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Franco-Prussian War
After the Franch defeat, this war left France with a lust for revenge against Prussia (later Germany). -
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Russo-Japanese War
This war stopped the Russian ambitions in the east and wounded Russian pride, in addition it intensified the rivalry between Austria-Hungary and Russia. -
Entente Cordiale Signed
The Entente Cordiale was signed, forming the alliance between Great Britain and France, making the basis for the Triple Entente. -
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Moroccan Crisis
The Moroccan Crisis, a debate over the status of Morocco, caused tensions to build between the European powers of France, Germany, and Great Britain. -
Bosnian Annexation Crisis
Austria-Hungary announced its annexation from Bosnia and Herzegovina. It permanently damaged the relationship between Russia and Austria-Hungary and Russia and Serbia, also while Russia was humiliated. -
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Italo-Turkish War
This war revealed the weakness of the Ottoman Empire. -
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Balkan Wars
The Balkan Wars made Austria-Hungary determined to prevent Serbia from becoming more powerful. All of Europe, namely Russia, France, and Great Britain. Everyone knew Serbia was getting stronger. -
The Assassination of the Duke
Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated with his wife in Sarajevo. -
The July Ultimatum
Austria-Hungary presented an ultimatum to Serbia. -
Austria-Hungary Declared War on Serbia
After the July Ultimatum, Serbia did not agree and Austria-Hungary chose war, declaring it on Serbia. -
Battle of Tannenburg
The Battle of Tannenburg was fought on the Eastern Front and resulted in nearly complete obliberation of the Russian Second Army. -
Kiffin Rockwell Enlisted
Kiffin Rockwell and his brother Paul enlisted in the French Foreign Legion. They were concerned with the war in Europe and wanted to do their part. -
Germany and the Ottoman Empire Sign a Secret Alliance Treaty
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Germany Declares War on France
Germany not only declared war on France, but also crossed the Belgian border, entering the neutral country as had been planned in the Schlieffen Plan. -
France and Great Britain Declared War
After Germany declared war on France and invaded Belgium (one of Great Britain's allies), both France and Great Britain declared war on Germany. -
Austria-Hungary Invades Russia
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Russia Invaded East Prussia
Russia Invaded Prussia on the Eastern Front. -
Battle of the Masurian Lakes
This battle was a German offensive on the Eastern Front resulting in the second defeat of the Russian army. -
The First Battle of Marne
The First Battle of Marne happened as German forces wanted to invade France. This battle stopped the Germans from taking Paris. This was a part of the Western Front and troops sought cover in the trenches. -
First Battle of Ypres
The First Battle of Ypres began and didn't end until November. It took place on the Western Front. This was also Germany's first attempt at chamical weapons. -
The First Ship Was Sank With A U-Boat
The SM U-17 was the first U-Boat to sink a merchant ship. -
Kiffin Rockwell is Wounded
After being injured by an exploding shell, Kiffin had to recover. His brother later convinced him to join the Air Force because of his injuries. -
The 1914 Christmas Truce
Soldiers rose from the trenches and went out into no-man's-land. Both sides mingled and shared on Christmas. -
Battle of Bolimov
This was an inconclusive minor battle fought on the Eastern Front between the Russian Second Army and the German Ninth Army. -
The Sinking of the Lusitania
The US passenger ship called the Lusitania was sank by a German U-Boat, infuriating the US, still neutral in the war. -
Kiffin Rockwell Became a Pilot
Kiffin Rockwell was entered into the Escadrille Americaine squadron of the Service Aeronautique and later became the first American pilot to down an enemy plane. -
Battle of Verdun
The Battle of Verdun lasted from February to December. It is the longest single battle in WWI and took place on the Western Front. -
Battle of Lake Naroch
An unsuccessful offensive launched by the Russians, this battle was fought on the Eastern Front. -
The Battle of the Somme
This battle lasted from July to November and is cheifly famous for the loss of 58,000 British troops. It took place on the Western Front. -
Kiffin Rockwell's Death
Rockwell's plane was downed by a German gunner in an Albatross observation plane. -
Unrestricted Submarine Warfare Resumed
Germany had been forced by the US to restrict it's submarine warfare, but now it was once again unrestricted. Two days later, the US dropped diplomatic relations with Germany. -
The British Presented The Zimmerman Telegram to the US
The British presented the Zimmerman Telegram to the US, letting them know the intentions of Germany. The telegram was a message from Germany to Mexico asking for assistence to take down the US if they joined the Allies. -
The US Adds Naval Presence
The extra naval presence brought by the USA helped to defeat the German U-Boats. -
The US Joined the War
After the British shared the information from the Zimmerman Telegram with the US, it wasn't long before the US dropped their neutrality and declared war on the Triple Alliances. -
Battle of Passchendaele
Also called the Third Battle of Ypres, this battle lasted from July to November on the Western Front. -
Battle of Riga
In the Gulf of Riga on the Eastern Front, this battle was a clash between Russian and German naval forces. -
Battle of Cambrai
This battle, taking place in November of 1917, was fought on the Western Front. It is widely known for the British military offensive use of tanks, which marked the first large-scale use of tanks. -
The Death of the Red Baron
A German fighter pilot whose real name was Manfred von Richthofen, the Red Baron was shot and killed in France. -
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The U 140 German U-Boat Sank Many Ships
This U-Boat sank many ships off the coast of Viginia and North Carolina (Outer Banks), accounting for some 30,000 tons of shipping. Two of the ships it sank were the Diamond Shoal Light Vessal (just off the coast of Hattaras) and the Merak, a cargo ship from Norfolk, Virginia. -
Second Battle of Marne
Also called the Battle of Reims, this was the last major German offensive on the Western Front. The Germans knew they couldn't win out-right, but if they captured Paris the French capitol might be a bargaining chip. The French, supplimented with vigorous American troops, not only defended Paris, but also pushed the German troops farther back than they originally were. -
The Death of Private Gunther
Private Gunther was the last American to die in WWI. A ceasefire was to be at 11:00 and yet Gunther was on a mission and was killed by German men at 10:59. -
The Signing of the Armistice
A Link to Woodrow Wilson's 14 Points
A Link to the conditions of the Armistice. The Armistice was signed at 5:00 in the morning, but the first condition stated that the conditions would be effective six hours after it was signed, at 11:00.
