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Period: to
WW1
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Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Ferdinand was assinated by the Black hand due to him being seen as a threat to Serbian independence. He was seen as a threat becuase AaSlavic kingdom could have been a bulwark against Serb irredentism, and Franz Ferdinand was therefore perceived as a threat. -
The Spark
WW1 broke out exactly 1 month after the assassination of Ferdinand. There were 3 alliance groups. Triple alliance had Austria-Hungary, Triple alliance Entente had Russia, France, and Britian, finally the neutral countries were Portugal, Spain, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Albania, Greece, Turkey, Norwa, and Sweden. -
Germany invades Belgium
The German army crossed into Belgium as a part of the Schieffen okan, which aimed to quickly defeat France by advancing through Belgium. The invasion violated Belgiums neutrality and brought the United Kingdom into the war against Germany. -
First Battle of the Marne
The Allied Forces primarily the French and British successfully halted the German advance towards Paris. The batltle ended the German hopes for a quick victory in the west and led to the establishment of trench warfare. -
First Battle of Ypres
The battle was marked by fierce fighting, trench warfare, and lots casualties on both sides, with the Allies ultimately managing to hold the territory. Despite their tactical victory, the battle resulted in a stalemate and established the static warfare that would characterize much of the Western Front for the years to come. -
Sinking of the RMS Lusitania
the attack occured off the coast of Ireland and resulted in the deaths of 1,198 passengers and crew including 128 Americans. the sinking of the Lusitania contributed to the growing anti-german sentiment in the United States and was a factor in the U.S. entering the war in 1917. -
Battle of Verdun
This battle was one of the longest and bloodiest lasting from February 21 to December 18. Fought between the German and French armies, it took place in NorthEastern France. The battle resulted in heavy casualties on both sides with an estimated 700,000 soilders killed, wounded, or missing. Verdun became a symbol of French determination and resistance, but it ended in a stalemate with no significant territorial gains for either side. -
Battle of the Somme
The first day of the battle remains the bloodiest in British military history, with nearly 60,000 British casualties. Over the course of the battle, both sides suffered massive losses, with about 1 million total casualties. The battle ultimately resulted in limited territorial gains for the Allies but highlighted the brutal realities of trench warfar -
Zimmerman Telegram
In the telegram, Germany proposed a military alliance with Mexico if the United States entered the war against Germany. Germany promised to help Mexico regain territories lost to the U.S. The British intercepted and decoded the message, sharing it with the U.S. which outraged the American public. -
Russian Revoloution
The February Revoloution resulted in Tsar NIcholas ll abdicating the throne, and a provisional government was established. Later, the October revoloutin saw the Bolsheiviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, seize power. This led to Russia withdrawing from the war and signing the treat of Brest-Litovsk with Germany in 1918. The Revoloution eventually led to the establishment of the Soviet Union. -
United States enters the war
The decisions was influenced by several factors, including germany's unrestricted submarine warfare, which led to the sinking of ships like the RMS Lusitania, and the interception of Zimmerman Telegram, in which Germany proposed a military alliance with Mexico against the U.S. The entry of American forces provided a significant boost to all the Allied Powers contributing to the eventual defeat of the Central Powers. -
German Spring Offensive
It consisted of a series of German attacks along the Western Front, aiming to break through Allied lines before American Forces could fully deploy. Despite initial success, the offensive ultimately failed due to logistical issues, heavy casualties, and strong Allied resistance, leading to a counteroffensive that pushed the Germans back and contributed to the end of the war. -
The Second Battle of the Marne
It was the last major German offensive on the Western Front. The Aliies, including French, British, and American forces, successfully counterattacked and pushed the Germans back. This battle marked a turning point in the war, leading to the eventual defeat of Germany and the end of World War l. -
Armistice
This was marked as the end of fighting on the Western Rront. It was an agreement between the Allies and Germany to cease hostilities and paved the way for peace negotiations. The Armistice led to the eventual signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 formally ending the war. -
Treaty of Versailles
It imposed harsh penalties and reparations on Germany, including significant territorial losses and military restrictions. The treaty aimed to prevent future conflicts but led to the economic hardship and political insatbibiltiy in Germany, contributing to the rise of Adolf Hitler and the outbreak of WWll