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Archduke Ferdinand assassinated
On his way to visit some of his attendants in the hospital after being injured in a failed assassination attempt, Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophia assassinated by a Serbian terrorist named Gavrilo Princip. This was the first spark in the fireworks known as World War I. -
Archduke Ferdinand
He was the heir to Austro-Hungarian Empire. So he was a pretty important guy. But a lot of people wanted him dead. They wanted him to die so they could break off Austria-Hungary’s south-slave provinces so they could combine into Yugoslavia. -
Period: to
World War 1
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Austria-Hungary declares war
Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia. -
Russia announces full mobilization
In support of Serbia in their war against Austria-Hungary, Russia announces full mobilization of her army. This is just Russia being a good ally and supporting Serbia. -
Germany declares war
In retaliation to Russia mobilizing her army and supporting Serbia, Germany officially mobilizes her armed forces. Germany also declares war on Russia in retaliation mobilizing her army. -
War declared on France
Germany declares war on France -
Belgium attacked
Germany declares war on Neutral Belgium. Then invades France with a right flanking move designed to defeat them quickly. As a result of this invasion, Britain declares war on Germany. -
Austria-hungary declares war on Russia
Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia!!! AHHH -
First Trenches were dug
The first trenches of the western front are dug. This was important because the majority of the battles were fought in trench wars. Trenches were used mainly for defensive purposes.
http://www.pbs.org/greatwar/chapters/ch2_overview.html
http://www.pbs.org/greatwar/chapters/ch1_trench.html -
Christmas Truce
There was an unofficial truce between the soldiers. -
Total War
At the beginning of this year the war became a total war.
http://www.pbs.org/greatwar/chapters/ch2_war.html -
Submarine Blockade
Germany’s continues it’s aggressive naval policy, and Kaiser Willhelm proclaims the North Sea a war zone. With this proclamation all merchant ships, including those from neutral countries, were liable to sunk without warning. -
Nine Month Battle
The allies begin a nine-month battle for the Turkish peninsula of Gallipoli. The British and French were stout on capturing the Ottoman capital of Istanbul, also referred to as Constantinople, and secure a sea route to Russia. This attempted capture of Gallipoli was the first step in this operation. -
Nicholas Takes Command
After ruling Russia for 11 years, Tsar Nicholas takes command of the Russian army. This will in some terms destroy their army because of how aggressive he is in his military strategy. -
Tsar Nicholas
Started his rule of power in 1894, he would then be in power until his abdication. He helped Russia go from a great power to an economy that struggled greatly. He had a wife, a son (next in line to the throne), and four daughters. He lived well while his country struggled, which made them not like him that much and finally pushed him to abdicate. -
Allies Withdraw
After nine months of battling for the Turkish Peninsula of Gallipoli, the allies withdraw their troops in defeat. The allies still ascertain their goal of capturing the capital of the Ottoman Empire in Constantinople. -
British Conscription
Britain establishes conscription laws. These laws are the equivalent of our “draft” in the US. Britain is short on military servicemen and this is the only way that they can add to their forces. -
Battle of Verdun
The largest and longest battle of the war, the Battle of Verdun, is fought. It is the first total war with little to no trenches because of bombardments. The battle was fought to a draw with an estimated one million casualties. -
Wilson Warns Germany
President Wilson publicly warned Germany to not continue with their unrestricted submarine warfare policies. -
Woodrow Wilson
He was the 28th president of the United States. He was the leader of a new world order and was the one to decide for the United States to enter World War 1. He would say that the reason for entering the war was to make the world “safe for democracy.” He was also a part of the “big four.” -
Battle of Jutland
The largest and most important naval engagement, the battle of Jutland, is fought in the North Sea of near Jutland, Denmark. It was the only full-scale clash of battleships in the war. With a combined 250 combat ships, the battle claimed 8,600 lives, and wounded over a thousand. -
End of Battle of Jutland
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Battle of the Somme
Another large scale battle, the battle of Somme, had one million casualties. The allies barraged the German troops with over 100,000 shells per day. After weeks of this, the allies left the trenches going towards the Germans in no-mans land thinking that they had been defeated. The Germans took this opportunity to bring out their heavy machine guns and destroy everything in front of them. The allies ended making no overall advances. -
End of the Battle of the Somme
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End of the Battle of Verdun
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Rasputin assassionated
After riots and inner conflict in allied Russia, the drunkard monk Rasputin is finally murdered by relatives of the tsar. They finally succeed in doing this after trying to poison him, and even shoot him, both times failing to kill him. -
Rasputin
Known as the “Holy Man.” He was chosen to be a supreme mystic at court; because how he was able to heal the Tsars son. But Rasputin was everything but the “Holy Man” because he was a raging alcoholic and a sexoholic. He was always involved in sexual engagement because he thought that being exhausted from prolonged sex was the best way to get close to God. -
Nicholas Abdicates
A few months after Rasputin’s assassination, Tsar Nicholas II was forced to abdicate his throne. This happened after his army joined rioting workers that were demanding socialist reform. He and his family were currently being held waiting on a decision from the leaders. -
Strike
After the failed offensive at Chemine des Dames, and the overall lack of allied success, over half a million French soldiers go on strike. This obviously reduces Frances military power, as the soldiers blatantly refuse to continue the offensive. -
Wilson Declares War
Despite President Wilson’s hope to stay neutral in that war, he asks for congress for a formal declaration of war on Germany. He did this in retaliation to Germany sinking the ship Lusitania, in which 1,198 civilians, including 128 Americans died. -
French Launches Offense
The allied French forces launch a large scale offensive at Chemine des Dames. This attack was relatively unsuccessful with 250,000 friendly casualties. The worst part was they only advanced roughly 500 yards. -
Selective Service Act
The United States, low on military power itself, passes the Selective Service Act. This allows the Federal Government to select individuals and enlist them in the armed forces. This is the draft. -
End of Strike
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First Wave
With our full involvement in the war, America’s first Expeditionary Force lands in France. Our involvement in the war helped Germany’s decision to surrender. It was not necessarily our in-battle success, but they realized how fast we could move large amounts of troops across the Atlantic and onto the battle field. -
Third Battle of Ypres
Another large scale battle with minimal results, the Third Battle of Ypres, also known as Passchendale, has over 700,000 casualties on both sides. This battle still ends with no breakthrough on the western front. -
First Shot
After being transported from America to France, the first American shots were fired in trench warfare. American Generals witnessing the killing of millions of allied forces led them to bring a new military strategy into effect. They tried to get troops to be more aggressive and mobile by moving into no-man’s land. Almost by design, the German machine gun completely wasted troops in no-man’s land. -
Overthrow
The large lower class party of Bolshevik socialists overthrows the Russian government. This leads to the rise of communism in Russia. Which later turns out to be unsuccessful, who knew? -
Vladimir Lenin
He was the man that led the Russian October revolution in 1917. He was the leader of the Bolshevik party and he established the first Communist government. He achieved this by overthrowing the Provisional government. Lenin actually changed his name in his younger years because he was running from the secret police. Vladimir had said that he would make the government pay for killing his brother and that’s what motivated him to become a revolutionist. -
End of Third battle
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Armistice
The new Socialist government, led by Trotsky, signs an armistice, or temporary cease-fire, with Germany. This action could be taken one of two ways. The allies get angry with their ally not fighting, or they are pleased that we are moving closer to peace negotiations. -
14 Points
President Woodrow Wilson brings forth his fourteen points. These can be best described by him, who calls them “a program for a world without imperialism or secret treaties, where self-determination and democracy would flourish, and where the voices of weak nations would be heard as loudly as those of the strong.” -
First of Five
In retaliation to America’s involvement in the war, Germany launches the March Offensive, which was an attempt to win the war in a hurry by a blitzkrieg offensive. Germany’s blitzkrieg basically consisted of them concentrating and mobilizing all their forces in an attempt to drive back Britain before the majority of American troops arrived in the trenches. -
German Shells Land
Germany sends shells that land on Paris.
http://www.pbs.org/greatwar/chapters/ch3_overview.html -
Germans Stopped
Germans are stopped by American forces on the banks of the Marne near Paris. -
Tsar Family Killed
After being held by the Russian government, former Tsar Nicholas II, his family, and members of his political party are murder by the Bolsheviks. They were murdered after rumors of attempts to rescue them and insert them back into power. -
Wilson Agrees
President Wilson agrees to co-operate with Allies in sending volunteer troops into Russia. -
Counter Offensives
After a long battle, the allied counter offensives on the Somme in France push the German army back and into a retreat. This victory is rejoiced as it is one of the first signs of allied victory. -
Break Through
One of the largest fortified areas for the German was the Hindenburg Line. This was one of the main points the allies needed to breech to have a fighting chance in this war. And on September 27th, they did this and captured the Knoll, Gillemont Farm, and Quennement Farm. -
Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicates
After mutiny in some ranks of Germany’s imperial navy, Kaiser Willhem comprehends abdicating Germany’s throne thinking that he would still retain the Prussian Kingship. He is forced to abdicate without retaining control over any country. -
Kaiser Wilhelm II
Kaiser Wilhelm II was Germany’s last Kaiser. He strongly believed in making Germany’s military the strongest military in the world. The biggest thing that he wanted to do was make
Germany’s navy equal to Britain’s royal navy. After the archduke was assassinated he helped push Austria-Hungary to seek revenge on Serbia. This helped start the First World War. -
War Ends
With no real progress being made on either side, the allies and Germany decide to sign an armistice. This was made possible by Kaiser Willhelm’s abdicating of the German throne. The armistice was signed on the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. -
Wilson sets Sail
Following the armistices, a peace conference was set in Paris. President Woodrow Wilson on this day left for this conference via sailing. This conference involved diplomats from over 32 countries and nationalities, and was set up to discuss the latter armistices. -
Home Sweet Home
Demobilization of the armies. Millions of people get to return home to their families.
http://www.pbs.org/greatwar/chapters/ch4_war.html -
Military Intervention
Allies military intervention in Russia is secretly agreed to. -
Peace Treaty
The Treaty of Versailles is signed by German delegates and allies. The Treaty of Versailles was the only one of the treaties that ended the war. This treaty was only to end the war between the allied powers and Germany, the other Central Powers were dealt with in separate treaties.
http://www.pbs.org/greatwar/chapters/ch4_hatred.html -
Lloyd George
An intelligent child that went on to do very well in school, he went onto college and became a lawyer. He joined the liberal party and was always involved in elections. He was a part of the “big four” and played a major role in the Peace Conference. To a large extent Lloyd basically shaped the final agreements that the conference came up with. -
Vittorio Orlando
Vittorio Orlando was an Italian diplomat and a great political figure. He was also Italy’s prime minister during the ending of World War One. The Fourth member of the “big four” he wanted territorial concessions. But was unable to obtain them, he then left the conference early because of it. -
George Clemenceau
He was the French prime minister twice. One term before the war and another one starting in November, 1917. As a part of the “big four” he wanted to completely humiliate Germany. He was actually unsatisfied with the agreements through the whole process and even afterward.
