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By Linda Corbin
1870-71
Franco-Prussian War: France loses Alsace-Lorraine to Germany.
This territory remains a point of contention into the 20th
century.
1872
The Three Emperor’s League was formed by Bismarck in
an effort to diplomatically isolate France. It was an alliance
between Germany, Russia, and Austria-Hungary.
1882
France occupies Tunisia. Bismarck takes advantage of Italian
resentment toward France and creates the Triple Alliance between
Germany, Italy, and Austria-Hungary.
1887
Bismarck has to repair some damage to his previous treaties
when Russia and Austria-Hungary became suspicious of each
other over conflicts in the Balkans. The Reinsurance Treaty
with Russia is signed.
1890
Kaiser William II fires Bismarck. Many of the treaties created
by Bismarck begin to break down.
1891
Franco-Russian Entente is formed when the treaty between Russia
and Germany is not renewed. It becomes a formal alliance in
1894.
1904
Britain and France form the Entente Cordiale. This is due
to the mounting British distrust of Germany because of the
actions of William II.
1906 British launch the Dreadnought, a battleship
that was invented by Admiral Sir John Fisher.
1906
First Moroccan crisis is settled by an international conference
in Algeciras, which makes Morocco a French protectorate.
1907
Russia, Great Britain, and France form The Triple Entente.
1908
Bosnian Crisis
1911
Second Moroccan Crisis starts when Germany sends a warship
to Agadir claiming that the French had violated the agreement
at Algeciras.
1914
Archduke Francis Ferdinand is assassinated in Sarajevo on
June 28, 1914. This triggered a chain of events that resembled
falling dominoes, resulting in World War I.
1914
The first Battle of the Marne took place on September 6-9th.
The German advance was stopped and the Germans retreated.
The first Battle of Ypres was fought from October through
November of 1914. It was won by the British.
Russians invaded East Prussia and fought August through
September of 1914. They were defeated badly.
Germans invaded Poland and by 1915, they were holding a
line extending from Riga to Chernovtsy.
1915
The second Battle of Ypres was fought from April 22, 1915
until sometime in May. The Germans used poison gas for the
first time in war. Again, the Germans were defeated.
On May 7, 1915, a German submarine sunk the Lusitania, killing
1,198 people, 128 of them were Americans.
1916
Battle of Verdun began in February 1916 when the Germans attempted
an assault on Verdun. Despite massive losses, the British
and French were the ones who could claim victory in that battle
in December.
1917
The United States declared war on Germany on April 6, 1917
The third Battle of Ypres was fought from July 31, 1917 until
November. The British managed to advance 5 miles in the mud
and rain, but they lost 300,000 lives.
The United States declared war on Austria-Hungary on December
7, 1917.
1918
The second Battle of the Marne was fought from July through
August of 1918.
Bulgaria was invaded and surrendered on September 30th.
Turkey agreed to an Armistice on October 30th.
Austria-Hungary surrendered on November 4th.
After revolution had broken out in Germany the armistice was
at last signed on Nov. 11th at Compiègne.
1919
The Treaty of Versailles was signed by Germany and the Allies
on June 28, 1919. This was one of five peace treaties signed
that ended World War I.
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