From Alternative History

[edit] Timeline

1887. POD: Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm (soon to be Kaiser Friedrich III) is diagnosed with throat cancer. A risky and complicated procedure to remove the tumor is successfully completed.

1888. Wilhelm I dies. Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm accedes to the throne of German Emperor and King of Prussia as Friedrich III.

1890. Differing opinions on European security and internal policy lead to the dismissal of Bismarck. Leo von Caprivi is appointed Reichskanzler (Imperial Chancellor).

1898. Naval Bill narrowly defeated in Reichstag (Imperial Diet).

1899. Imperial Chancellor Leo Graf von Caprivi dies. After a bried interim, Bernhard Graf von Bülow is appointed Imperial Chancellor.

1899. The Ottoman Government awards a joint concession to the Deutsche Bank and the Bank of England for a railway from Konya to Baghdad and Basra.

1901. Colonial & Economic Treaty. Germany agrees to halt colonial expansion and open Tsingtao to British trade. Great Britain opens sphere in China to German trade. Tariffs on trade between the two nations are lowered.

1905. France, violating the 1880 Treaty of Madrid, demand control of the Moroccan Sultan's army and police. Whitehall and the Wilhelmstraße issue statements protesting the unilateral action.

The fear of war cost French Foreign Minister Théophile Delcassé his job. Kaiser Friedrich, ecstatic over the diplomatic victory declares Chancellor von Bülow a Prince of the German Empire as reward.

1908. Naval Strength Treaty. German Imperial Navy to be limited to ¹/₂ the size of the Royal Navy.

State visit of Edward VII to Kiel.

Renewal of Colonial & Economic Treaty (1901). Non-Agression Pact. Based on discussions between Edward and Friedrich at Kiel in April, Germany and the British Empire conclude a non-agression pact in which each side pledges to not join the other side in any future European conflict.

1909. His inability to bring about imperial finance reform leads to the downfall of Reichskanzler Bernhard Fürst von Bülow. Friedrich appoints Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg as his successor.

1910. An attempt to reform the Prussian three-class electoral law fails because of the inflexible position taken by the Conservatives.

[edit] July Crisis

28 Jun 1914. Assassination of the heir to the Hapsburg throne, the Archduke Franz Ferdinand, in Sarajevo by the Bosnian student, Gavrilo Princip, who was under orders from the secret 'Black Hand' organization.

6 Jul 1914. Assurance of unconditional German loyalty to the alliance with Austria-Hungary (carte blance).

20 Jul 1914. French President Poincaré and Prime Minister Viviani arrive in St. Petersburg, for a three-day visit. They assure the Russian government that they will adher to their alliance.

23 Jul 1914. Timed to coincide with the departure of Poincaré and Viviani from St. Petersburg, Austria presents Serbia with an ultimatum, to be acted on within 48 hours. It demands action with Austrian participation against the anti-Austrian movements in Serbia and the punishment of the guilty.

25 Jul 1914. Serbia responds to the Austrian ultimatum, objecting only to violations of its rights of sovereignty. Serbia orders partial mobilization. Council of Krasnoye Selo: Russia decides to support Serbia.

28 Jul 1914. Despite British and German attempts to mediate (proposal of a conference of ambassadors and direct negotiations between Russia and Austria-Hungary), Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia.

29 Jul 1914. Partial mobilization of Russia.

30 Jul 1914. General mobilization of Russia. German Chief of the General Staff, Helmuth von Moltke, urges his Austrian counterpart, Franz Conrad von Hötzendorf to effect general mobilization. He advises against attempts at mediation, which are undertaken once more by the German Imperial Chancellor von Bethman-Hollweg because of reservations on the part of the Kaiser; there was no coordination between the military and the political leadership in Germany.

31 Jul 1914. Germany declares Kriegsgefahr Zustand [Danger of war - a state of pre-mobilization]. Germany issues an ultimatum to Russia: demobilize fully within 12 hours or Germany would begin mobilization and declare war on Russia. Germany issues an ultimatum to France: declare neutrality within 18 hours and hand over the frontier forts at Liege and Namur in a show of good faith. The French cabinet authorizes full mobilization.

1 Aug 1914. In light of Russia failing to meet the terms of the demobilization ultimatum, Germany mobilizes and declares war on Russia.

2 Aug 1914. French request free passage through Belgium. Germany and Turkey sign a secret treaty of alliance. Italy declares neutrality.

3 Aug 1914. Germany declares war on France. The Belgians refuse the French army passage through their country.