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Period: to
WW1
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Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria Hungary
Archduke Ferdinand of Austria Hungary is killed by a group of Serbian terrorists called the Black Hand. Austria-Hungary is a ally of Germany and want to make Serbia a part of thier empire but Russia is a friend of Seriba and want to be a free country. Austria wanted to remove the Black Hand -
Austria-hungary declares war
On July 28, 1914 Ausrtia Hungary declares war on Serbia because of the killing of the Archduke. Russia is an ally of Serbia and goes to war to defend them. -
Germany declares war on Russia and France
August 1, 1914 Germany see Russia supporting Serbia as an act of aggression and declare war onthem then a day later on France who is an ally of Russia to execute the Schlieffen Plan. Germany sends troops through Belgium to attack France. -
Britain and Canada join the war
On August 4, 1914 Britian declares wars on Germany to defend Belgium who they promised would remain neteural. Because of this Canada like all members of the british empire automatically join the war. -
2nd Battle of Ypres
This was the first battle canadian soldiers had been involved in since the war started. This was the first succesful use of chlorine gas. The gas attack was on April 22, 1915 and created a gap in the lines. Canadians held line by urinating on clothes so they could breathe. They then started a counter-attack. The battle ended May 25, 1915. There were 70000 French, and British Empire casualties and 35000 German casualties. -
Battle of Verdun
The Battle of Verdun was from February 21, 1916 to December 18, 1916. It was one of the biggest battles on the western front. It was betwen French and German troops. There were an average of 70000 casualties on both sides each month. There were about 975000 casualties on both sides at the end. There were about 100000 more french casualties but ended in a french tactical advantage. -
Battle of Somme
The Battle of Somme was from 1 July to late November 1916. British, Canafian and French troops fought the Germans north of the Somme river in one of the bloodiest battles in history. The First Newfoundland Regiment was almost totally wipeout. After 5 months of fighting rain and snow brought the battle to an end. The Allies gained 13 kilometer of ground and Canadian losses were over 24,000 troops but it was much worse for the Germans as 660,000 of their troops were killed or wounded. -
Zimmerman Telegram
The Zimmerman telegram was a telegram sent by German Foreign Secretary, Arthur Zimmerman to the German ambassador in Mexico, Heinrich von Eckardt. It was a proposal for Mexico to go to war with America and they would help them win back lost territories. The message was intercepted by the british and decoded. Mexico did not accept the proposal. The US later declared war on Germany on April 6, 1916. -
Battle of Vimy Ridge
The Battle of Vimy Ridge was one of Canada's most famous battles in the first world war. The Candaians had taken the ridge in 4 days. The French had been trying to take it since 1914. The reason for their succes was the amout of plainning and preparation. This was the first time the Canadians fought as their own single corps. There were 10000 Canadian casualties and 4000 captured Germans. -
Battle of Passchendale
The battle of Passchendale was from July 11, 1917 to November 6, 1917. It is also known as the 3rd Battle of Ypres. Passchendale is very close to sea-level resulting it being very muddy and wet most of the time. There were 325000 allied casualties, 16000 of them were Canadians and 260000 German casualties. The allies gained 7 km of land. -
German Spring Offensive of 1918
On March 21 1918 German launched an offensive on the western front firing over one million artillery shells at the British sixth army. By the end of the first day there were 21000 british casualties and the British gave up the Somme region to the Germans. At first it was a success for the Germans because they advanced far into France but their soldiers advanced with little supplies to be able to move fast and in the end they did not have enough supplies for the frontlines and were pushed back. -
Battle of Amiens
Australian and Canadian troops fought Germany in the battle of Amiens between 8-11 August 1918. There were 22000 Allied casualties and 30000 German casualties.There was an aliied victory. The victory at this battle led to the start of the 100 days campaign which ended when the Germans surrending in November 1918. -
Hundred days campaign
The Hundred days campaign by the Allies started on 26 August 1918 and ended in the defeat of the Germans in the west. Canada's role started with a week long artillery attack on the Germans and loss 11,000 troops before breaking through the Drocourt-Queant line on Septemner 2 1918. Next the Canadian Corps the German strong points of Bourlon Woods and Cambrai on October 9 1918. Canada loss over 30,000 troops in the campaign but played an imprtant role in the retreat of the Germans. -
Germany Stops fighting
On November 11 1918 the Allies and German signed an Armistice to stop fighting in the forest Compiègne. The Germans did not actually surrender but it was agreed all fighting would stop and German soldiers would retreat back into Germany and arrange for the return of prisoners. They also promised to not to destroy any infrastructure. -
Treaty of Versailles
The fighting in WW1 stopped in November 1918 but the Treaty of Versailles to offically end the war between German and the Allies was signed in Versailles on June 28, 1919. The main parts of the treaty required German to take full responsibility for causing the war, pay what would be today US$442 billion to the Allies, give up land and disband the army.
