Events leading to World War 1

Germany Declares War on Russia The Germany government reacted quickly to Russia declaring full mobilization on Germany.

Germany Declares War on France Germany had a military plan, known as the Schlieffen Plan, that called for a two-front war with France and Russia. Germany would have a small holding action against Russia while the majority of the German army did an invasion into France.

At the start of the First World War that squadron was under the command of Admiral Graf von Spee. On learning of the outbreak of war, he took the fleet out of Tsingtao to avoid getting trapping in port. They were destroyed at the battle of the Falkland Islands on 8 December 1914.