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Archduke Francis Ferdinand was assassinated by a Serbian nationalist, effectively beginning WW1. -
The sinking of the Lusitania was a major turning point in America's view of the war. The sinking of this ship killed more than 120 Americans. -
The Battle of the Somme was arguably the most deadly battle of WWI, this was the turning point in the war on the Western front, turning the tide against Germany. -
Hoke was sent to Europe in 1917. When they were on the train in Europe to get to the front, on the train they had little food, they had no bathrooms, and they traveled for 3 days. -
When Hoke arrived at the front, they were billeted in a French village. Many guys here lost shoes, wore them out, etc because of the harsh weather. They were running low on supplies, food, and clothes. -
Hoke's first time going over the top was easy for him, they were told to attempt to capture any German soldiers for information, in this rush on the German trenches, he lost a good friend he had known for a while. He also lost a few people he had recruited to join him on the front. -
Hoke was promoted to Sergeant after his first over-the-top. Shortly after his promotion, he and his company were assigned to reconnaissance missions in German trenches, armed with only a Colt 45 automatic, ammo, and a holster for his pistol. When they were sent to their first detail, nobody had been issues the Colt 45 yet, so they all got brand new ones from a Colonel commanding their Division. -
Hoke had recruited his younger brother to join their division, but he was in a different company. Hoke set off on a weekend to find his brother, and happened to come across his brother while he was lost, finding out his brother was also lost. -
The Ludendorff Offensive was one of Germany's last offensives on the Western Front, happening right after the turn of the year. This year would be the end of WWI. -
The Treaty of Versailles is the peace treaty that effectively ended WWI.