WORLD-WAR-I

Kaiser Hopes for 25 More Years of Peace

“Twenty-five years of peace, Mr. Carnegie, and I hope there will be twenty-five more!” Thus Kaiser Wilhelm II greeted Andrew Carnegie, the world-famous industrialist and peace advocate, who had come to Berlin to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Kaise

Grand Vizier Assassinated, Serbia and Bulgaria Prepare for War

Falkenhayn Appointed Minister of War

First Balkan War Ends

Conrad Urges War Against Serbia

Serbia and Greece Ally Against Bulgaria

Montenegro Backs Down, Greeks and Bulgarians Clash

Austria-Hungary Mobilizes Against Montenegro

Montenegro Takes Scutari, Austria-Hungary Threatens War

Ceasefire in the Balkans, French War Council Approves Plan XVII

Massive Wartime Decoys and Camouflage Operations

The Fall of Adrianople

King George I of Greece Assassinated

Austria-Hungary and Russia Stand Down

The Arms Race Shifts into High Gear

Next Time France Won’t Back Down, Poincaré Vows

Origins of the Second Balkan War

Before the First Balkan War between the Balkan League and the Ottoman Empire was even over, another conflict was brewing—this time between the members of the Balkan League.

Poincaré Takes Office, Coup in Mexico

Installment #56: On February 18, center-right politician Raymond Poincaré took office in an inauguration ceremony at the Hôtel de Ville. Poincaré’s presidency was an important factor in the lead-up to the First World War for a number of reasons. Although

Coup in Constantinople

Installment #53: In January 1913 there was reason to hope the First Balkan War was winding down. After the Ottoman Empire suffered crushing defeats at the hands of the Balkan League—Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece and Montenegro—the two sides agreed to a ceasefi

Poincaré Elected President of France

Installment #52: On January 17, 1913, Raymond Poincaré, a leading conservative politician and the premier and foreign minister of France since January 1912, was elected President of France after a complicated, contentious five-way race, which at times pit

World War I Centennial: Rattling the Saber at Sea

Installment #15: One of the grand traditions of Britain’s Royal Navy was the royal review, in which all the vessels of the home fleet – the core force, responsible for protecting the British Isles from invasion – assembled for a ceremonial inspection by t

World War I Centennial: Dire Straits

Installment #13: Since the time of the Trojan War, the narrow straits between Europe and Asia have been crossed by merchants and armies, diplomats and traitors. Simple geography made whoever controlled the straits wealthy and powerful – but also a target

World War I Centennial: Gathering the Fleets

Installment #9: “We cannot conceal from ourselves the fact that we live in an age of incipient violence and strong and deep-seated unrest,” Winston Churchill warned the British House of Commons in a dramatic, defiant speech delivered in the gathering gloo

World War I Centennial: Balkan Secrets

Installment #8: Tensions were mounting in Western Europe in the first months of 1912, as French and British leaders reacted with alarm to German plans for an arms buildup. But unbeknownst to them, the next step towards war was being taken a thousand miles

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