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Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
This event is commonly referred to as the spark that lit WW1 on fire. The formation of many alliances meant widespread combat at the first conflict. That is exactly what happened, and after Ferdinand was assassinated, the chain reaction of war declarations began. -
US Officially Joins the War
After trying to stay out of the soon to be Great War, the US intercepts the ZImmerman telegram, which was a secret message from Germany to Mexico to attempt to make an alliance, very likely resulting in an invasion of the US. The US intercepts the message and officially declares war. -
FIghting of WW1 Ends
The fighting of WW1 officially ends, "War" was still going on for another 7 months after this date, but there was no fighting, Germany accepted a complete surrender, and peace was declared at the end of June 1919. -
Treaty of Versailles signed, officially ends the first World War
Germany signs the treaty of Versailles,ending the first World War as an allied victory. Peace was signed exactly 5 years after the assassination of Franz Ferdinand. -
The Attacks on Pearl Harbor
This was the event that led the United States to join the forces of World War II and put a stop to the Axis powers of Asia and Europe. An unprovoked attack on a US Military site by the Japanese, that sparked a famous speech from FDR, with a statement that this was "A date that will live in infamy" -
Normandy Beach Landings (D-Day)
Over 160,000 Allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy, France to get a major force into Europe to being fighting Nazi Germany on their own soil. It was a very bloody battle, and ended up being one of the most recognized events of the war. -
Hitler Commits Suicide
Adolf Hitler knew he could not win the war. To him, being caputured as a result of the Allies winning the war, or any other consequences for the things he has done, was unthinkable and he would not stand for it. As a resut, he committed suicide. The day after, Germany surrenders. -
Victory in Europe Day
Victory in Europe Day is a recognition of the day the Allied forces accepted the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany's armed forces, and led to a swift ending of World War II, -
The First Atomic Bomb was Tested
In New Mexico, the Manhattan Project was running in full swing. The first atomic bomb was tested, and this would lead to the two great bombs that would eventually bring an end to Japan's war effort. -
Little Boy was Dropped on Japan
The first of two nuclear bombs were dropped on Japan on Hiroshima. -
Japan Surrenders and World War II's Fighting Is Over
Japan brings to the public their formal surrender, marking the end of fighting in WWII, as the German surrender was months before Japan's. -
Korean War Begins
Thousands of troops from North Korea push into the US-Sponsored South Korea. This was an act of war and as a result involved us, as South Korea was an ally. -
Inchon Landing
US Marines landed in Inchon as support, and this was a turning point in the war which resulted in the Allied Forces retaking Seoul. Previously, the allied couldn't hold Seoul or much of the Southern Korean Peninsula -
Battle of Ia Drang Valley
This was the first major battle between the US and the North Vietnamese. This taught the US troops what they were up against. The Vietnamese greatly preferred to use the cover of the trees, leaves, and natural cover. They also knew the land, so they used the nighttime to their advantage. The United States could hold the nighttime pushes, but they didn't know the land enough to make them. The United States also heavily relied on their Artillery to cover them, as well as reveal enemy positions. -
Tet Offensive starts
The Tet Offensive was a military plan taken on by the North Vietnamese against the US/South Vietnam. It was a coordinated attack on over 100 cities, bases, and other holds of the South. It was overall a Military Victory for the US/South, but the Tet Offensive was the beginning of the end of public support of our involvement in Vietnam. -
My Lai Massacre
The My Lai Massacre was yet again one of the final straws for US War support. US Soldiers went into My Lai, and gunned down somewhere between 340 - 500 unarmed, innocent civilians. Someone tried to stop the Massacre, but he wasn't enough. One person was eventually charged for this, but only served house arrest. -
Vietnamization begins
The US wanted to get out of Vietnam. We thought that an effective solution would be to train the ARVN troops how to use our equipment, and then they could fight without us. That's not quite how it went, as the South Vietnamese didn't fare too well after we left. -
Woodstock Music Festival
As a sort of peaceful protest in the US, Woodstock was a marvel of its own, where over 400,000 people joined for 3 days of peace and music. -
The Military Draft
Many of the soldiers who fought in Vietnam were selected by the military draft. Roughly 2.5 Million people served in Vietnam. Many of the Soldiers who fought were selected by the draft. -
The Final Troops Withdraw from Vietnam
After the Vietnamization process, the final US troops that were in Vietnam were withdrawn and brought home to the US. -
North Vietnam Releases American POW's
As a part of the peace resolutions, the United States requested that all of our prisoners be returned. This was a part of a longer standing operation for the US, Operation Homecoming. At the end of Operation Homecoming, all 591 prisoners of war were returned to the United States, and any bodies of killed POW's were returned as well. -
Nixon Resigns the United States Presidency
Richard Nixon resigns from the duty of President of the United States following the controversy of the Watergate Scandal. Gerald Ford assumes position for the Presidency. -
Saigon falls to the North
After the United States has left the battle, the North go against their peace accords, and proceed to flood the South.Without the US troops to defend, this is a lost cause for the South. North Vietnamese soldiers quickly got into Saigon and overtook it, along with the Southern Government, and it is now known as Ho Chi Minh City. -
Hatred Sparks in Yugoslavia
Slobodan Milosevic uses his power to spark religious hatred towards Bosnian muslims -
Hussein Invades Kuwait
In the Early 1990's, Saddam Hussein, the dicator of Iraq, invades Kuwait for supposedly drilling Iraq's oil reserves. -
UN Steps In
United Nations asks for Iraqis to withdraw from Kuwait -
Hussein Says No
The United States asks Hussein to withdraw his troops from Kuwait, and he disagrees -
Starvation begins in Somalia
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Deadline Date
This is the date that Hussein must be out of Kuwait by, if he wants to prevent US Intervention. -
Operation Desert Storm
Aerial Assaults begin under the command of Norman Schwarzkopf, who is given credit for much of the success for these air raids, because they weakened the Iraqi land efforts severely. -
Operation Desert Sabre
Ground assaults begin by US forces, storms Kuwait and the southern part of Kuwait. -
Cease Fire Goes Into Effect
A cease fire issued by the UN goes into effect, ending 42 days of battle and ending the gunfights. -
Slovenia and Croatia depart
Slovenia and Croatia declare their independence from the country of Yugoslavia, sparking the first few of many wars/conflicts in Yugoslavia -
Bosnia Declared Independence
Serbian snipers attack Sarajevo after Bosnia declares independence, killing a large amount of civilians and over 3,500 children. They also systematically gathered and killed Muslims in Sarajevo and labeled it as an "ethnic cleansing" -
Operation Provide Relief began
UN Forces sent planes and people to make sure the food being sent to Somalia was getting to the starving civilians, not the warlords. -
Task Force Ranger deployed
Task Force Ranger, consisting of 160 troops of Army Rangers and Delta Force were sent to Mogadishu. -
Battle of Mogadishu
Combat broke out in Mogadishu when US Forces tried to capture Aidid -
Mogadishu losses
US troops suffered 19 troop casualties during the combat of Mogadishu. There were roughtly 70 troops injured. There were between 300-2000 casualties on the Somalian side of battle. -
Black Hawk #1 goes down
Super 6-1, the first Black Hawk to go down, is taken out by Somalian RPG fire at 6:20 PM. -
End of the Battle of Mogadishu
Battle ends with US troops withdrawing from the city, without Aidid -
Sarajevo recieves another attack
More civilians are killed by Serbs in Sarajevo, this time images and coverage getting out and outcry for help reaches larger countries -
UN Forces take a stand
NATO and UN forces start seeing success in their bombings, and their military effectiveness takes hold. -
Peace talks begin
Milosevic announces that he is ready to seek peace. Talks begin at an Air Force Base in Dayton Ohio. Bosnian Serb Republic and Muslim-Croat Federation were being established, with democratic elections.
