Austria-hungary, bulgaria, germany, and the ottoman empire became known as the allied powers. the eastern powers. the league of nations. the central powers. 4. the western front was characterized by the slow but steady advance of the german army. innovative strategies and tactics that fully utilized the new technologies available to both armies. decisive victories by the french army, quickly driving back the german forces. trench warfare that kept both sides in virtually the same positions for four years. 5. the schlieffen plan was germany’s plan for a two-front war with russia and france, which had formed a military alliance. austria-hungary’s attempt to negotiate a peaceful settlement with serbia. germany’s proposal for dividing up serbia between russia and austria-hungary. the black hand’s plan to assassinate the heir to the austro-hungarian throne.