1839 | | Britain, along with the other major European powers, signs a pact that guarantees the sovereignty of Belgium. |
1848 | | Austria-Hungary, under Franz Josef, loses war with France. |
1860 | | Kingdom of Italy is founded. |
1861 | | American Civil War begins. |
1866 | | Austria-Hungary, under Franz Josef, loses war with Prussia. |
1870 | | Franco-Prussian War
France, under the leadership of Emperor Napoleon III provoked war with Prussia. France lost badly to Wilhelm I
(Wilhelm II's grandfather). Among the losses were the provinces of Alsace-Lorraine in western France which were annexed
to Germany. Bismarck was against this action fearing the French would never forgive it. Good call.
ø Moltke (the senior) summed it up well: "What our sword has won in half a year our sword must guard for half a century" |
18-Jan-1871 | | Wilhelm I crowned Emperor of Germany at the Hall of Mirrors in Versailles |
Jul-1872 | | France passes the law of Universal Service (the draft). |
1875 | | France establishes the "Ecole Superieure de Guerre", The War College. |
7-Oct-1879 | |
The Dual Alliance is struck between Germany and Austria-Hungary. Not enthusiastic about the alliance and feeling it may offend the Russia that had stood by Prussia, Wilhelm I commented upon signing:
"Thinking of what it means I feel like a traitor." |
18-Jun-1881 | |
The Three Emperor's League is formed. |
20-May-1882 | | Italy joins Germany and Austria-Hungary to form the Triple Alliance. |
18-Jun-1882 | |
ø The Russian Reinsurance Treaty is signed. |
9-Mar-1888 | | Wilhelm I dies.A diplomatic cable from Berlin on the Kaiser's death:
"Lord abide with us for the evening draws nigh." |
1888 | | Wilhelm II becomes Emperor (Kaiser) of Germany. |
1889 | | Emperor Franz Josef's son Rudolph commits suicide (after killing his 16 year old mistress). |
1890 | | Wilhelm II dismisses Bismarck. Why? Prince Bernhard von Bulow writes:
"The authentic reason was that Wilhelm wanted to play Bismarck himself." |
1890 | |
Germany refuses to renew the ø Russian Reinsurance Treaty of 1887. New Chancellor Georg Leo von Caprivi states:
"Bismarck was able to juggle with three balls but I can only juggle with two." |
1891 | | Russia and France agree to consult if either are attacked. |
18-Aug-1892 | |
The Franco-Russian Alliance comes into being. |
Jan-1893 | | Russia and France agree to mobilize together if threatened by any member of the Triple Alliance. |
1896 | | The Dreyfus Affair reveals incompetence, corruption and worse in the French army. |
1896 | | Italian army crushed by Ethiopia at the Battle of Adowa. |
1897 | | Emperor Franz Josef's wife is assassinated. |
1898 | | The Tirpitz Plan is started for the building of a major German fleet. |
1898 | | The Spanish-American War begins. |
1904 | |
Britain becomes somewhat allied with the Franco-Russian combine with the entente cordiale with France. |
1904-5 | | Russo-Japenese War. The Russians lose badly in Manchuria and Korea. |
1905 | | Revolution in Russia is put down. |
Mar-1905 | | The Morocco Crisis |
1906 | | The Pig War between Austria-Hungary and Serbia begins. |
1907 | |
Anglo-Russian reconciliation. |
1908 | |
Austria-Hungary annexes the Turkish provinces of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bulgaria proclaims independence from Turkey. |
8-Oct-1908 | | The Kaiser is involved in the Daily Telegraph Affair. |
1910 | | Edward VII dies and George V is crowned King of
Britain. |
1911 | | Italy wins war with Turkey to gain Tripoli. |
1911 | | Second Moroccan Crisis. |
1912 | | Britain and France agree on paper only to consult each other if faced with an unprovoked attack. |
1912 | | Widespread strikes and disturbances in Russia. |
8-Dec-1912 | | Kaiser calls the "War Council". |
1913 | | French pass bill extending military service to three years. |
Jun-Jul-1913 | | Second Balkan War between Serbia and Bulgaria. |
26-May-1914 | | The Home Rule Act is passed in Britain. Civil war with Ireland becomes a possibility. |
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