c




  
͚No war is inevitable until it breaks out͛

1.Y {arch 1890: Bismarck resigned, the new Kaiser seeks a more active à

 the blunders of both
the new Kaiser and the Chancellors alienated other powers and increasingly gave influence to army
leaders in Germany
2.Y {arch 1980: German refusal to renew the Reinsurance Treaty w/ Russia made Russia suspicious of
German intentions (led to closed relations btw France and Russia ͚war on two fronts͛)
3.Y December 1893: France and Russia sign a military convention pledging to helped each other in the
event of a German attack.
4.Y December 1895: failure of Jameson raid and German intervention congratulating the Boer on dealing
with the attack ͚without appealing to the help of friendly powers.͛ infuriated British whilst gaining
nothing for Germany.
5.Y November 1897: Germany seized control of Kiao-Chow (Chinese port), Britain and Russia do likewise
imperial rivalries in region inflamed eventually lead to the Boxer Rebellion (1902)
6.Y {arch 1898: Germany introduces the navy Code Ͷ plan to increase the size of the nave Ͷ seen by
British as threatening. Seen as an immediate threat with the launching of the dreadnoughts in 1906.
7.Y 1898: Fashoda Incident: Increased tension in both countries.
8.Y 1899-1902: Boer War: British losses (and disillusionment at easy victory) meant Britain began to seek
allies to help protect her widespread empire.
9.Y January 1902: British-Japanese alliance
10.Y February 1904: Russo-Japanese war (Germany tried to obtain an alliance with Russia since Britain was
allied to Japan but Russians refused as they saw it would not help them against Japan and would
instead anger France)
11.Y April 1904: Anglo-French Entente (Entente Cordiale) settled colonial disputes seen in Germany as a
clear British alignment with France (and therefore Russia) against the Triple Alliance of Germany, A -H,
and Italy (1882)
12.Y {arch 1905: Germany assures {oroccan Sultan of his independence (attempt to challenge the Anglo-
French agreement concerning the region)
13.Y January 1906: Algeciras Conference: called by Kaiser / Anglo-French agreement over North Africa
recognized German humiliation Germany would be less likely to seek compromise through fear of
being seen as weak.
14.Y August 1907: Russia and Britain settle their differences over Persia and Afghanistan (seen as a Triple
Entente by Germany) fear of encirclement begin to motivate German policy.
15.Y 1908: Revolt in the Ottoman Empire: A-H annexes Bosnia-Herzegovina / obtains Russian agreement
by promising to support the ending of travel restrictions on Russian warships between the Black Sea
and the {editerranean / A-H ignores the agreement / Germany mobilizes forces in support of A-H /
Russian protest end. increased tension in the Balkans
16.Y April 1911: Italy seized control of Tripoli (Libya)
17.Y April 1911: {oroccan Sultan calls for French help against rebellion / French intervene / Germany
protests and sends a warship to Agadir convinces British that Germany wanted a naval base in west
Africe / brings to power in France the anti-Germany premier Poincaré (1912) / intensifies naval arms
race.
18.Y 1912: First Balkan War: Balkan states drive the Turks out of the Balkans.
19.Y 1913: Second Balkan War: Balkan states quarrel amongst themselves.

The 2 wars inflame national sentiment in the Balkans / Alarm A-H and convince her to act against
Balkan nationalism and in particular Serbia which would almost certainly bring her into conflict with
Russia.

th
20.Y June 1914 (28 ): Archduke Francis-Ferdinand assassinated.

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  : Heir to A-H throne assassinated in Sarajevo, Bosnia by a young Bosnian student (supplied in
weapons and training by the Black Hand Ͷ a secret Serbian society) leads A-H to assume Serbian guilt.

›Y Presented A-H with an opportunity to crush Serbia.


 : German Emperor and Chancellor give A-H a ͚blank cheque͛.

th
›Y Note: Kaiser leaves for a cruise in Baltic until 27 .



 : Ultimatum sent to Serbia (delayed to avoid Serbians receiving it while French President in visit to
Russia)

›Y Demanded full investigation into the assassination.

›Y Terms criticized by France, Britain, and Russia.


  : British Foreign secretary contacts on 4 occasions the Germans to propose some form of
arbitration. (Germany refused offers and delayed transmitting offers to A-H)


 : Kaiser returns and proposes the Halt in Belgrad by which A-H would seize the capital Belgrade until
Serbia fulfilled the terms of the ultimatum (but not seize the whole country)


 : A-H declaration of War on Serbia: Kaiser͛s proposal has come too late (his own ministers had been
encouraging declaration of war and concealing info. from him.)


 : German Chancellor contacts Britain to propose British neutrality / Britain refuses


 : Czar Nicholas II orders Russian mobilization to begin.



 : Full German mobilization is ordered.


   : British propose to ensure French neutrality

Kaiser orders the halt of any Western advance German army commander protests b/c of the Schlieffen
Plan

Germany asks Russia to halt mobilization / Russia refuses Germany declares war on Russia

France orders mobilization / Germany asks France to halt her mobilization and guarantee neutrality.


   : Germany declares war on France who refused demands.

   : Britain declares war on Germany when German troops invade Belgium (part of Schlieffen Plan)