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Archduke Franz Ferdinand is Assassinated
On June 28th, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated by a Serbian nationalist named Gavrilo Princip. The assassination took place while Ferdinand and his wife were riding along the streets of Sarajevo in a motorcade. No one took this situation lightly, and it is deemed by many as the kick-starter of World War 1. After this tragedy took place, several other events were set off to make situations and relationships worse, slowly leading the world into war. -
Germans Invade Belgium
On August 4th, 1914, Belgium is invaded by Germany, which is the event that solidified Belgium's stance in the war. King George V and the Privy Council got together in Buckingham palace and authorized a declaration of war relatively quickly after the events rolled out. Britain and Germany became very bitter and irritable towards each other, which caused things to escalate, leading them right into the war. This event triggered the bloody battles that were soon to come. -
First Use of Poisonous Gas in Battle
On April 22nd, 1915, the first appearance of poisonous gas in battle took place. The Germans were the first to use this kind of warfare during the battle of Ypres. They fired about 150 tons of deadly chlorine gas; chlorine gas causes issues with breathing and makes battle incredibly difficult. Because there was no way to escape the gas-filled trenches without getting mowed down, many men had to sit and deal with the substance until it finally faded away. -
Germans Sink Lusitania
On May 7th, 1915, the Germans used a U-boat submarine to sink the Lusitania; a large ship that was secretly transporting arms and other war supplies to Britain. This attack killed 1,198 people, 128 of which were U.S. citizens. Germany’s actions were not taken lightly, and the American people used this event as their war cry. Unrestricted submarine warfare was difficult to avoid and fight. The waters were no longer safe, and it made many Americans question their neutrality. -
Germans Attack America's Black Tom Site
On July 30th, 1916, the Germans attacked America’s Black Tom site with a large explosion.This attack was a threat against America's way of life and sense of security. This unexpected attack was said to be Germany’s way of voicing their displeasure about the US constantly sending military supplies to the other allied forces. This caused America to pay more attention to Germany’s actions; especially since they were so quick to attack without considering the consequences. -
First Tanks are Used in Battle
On September 15th, 1916, tanks were first used in battle. These tanks were owned and employed by the British; they first let these machines onto the battlefield in Delville Wood. These machines did their job relatively well; they were capable of taking down barbed wire and creating a path for soldiers on foot. They also helped increase mobility on the Western Front, as well as offering additional protection and speed. However, they didn’t do too well when it came to having the instincts of man. -
The United States Joins the War
On April 6th, 1917, the United States officially joined the war; their neutrality was no longer existent because it didn’t benefit them when it came to attacks. They joined the sides of Britain and France. This decision caused a controversy in the states because some people were supportive and others said it was the worst decision we’ve ever made. The president knew that joining the war would benefit us in the long run and allow us to finally stand up against Germany’s unpredictable behavior. -
Espionage Act is Passed
On June 15th, 1917, the American Congress passed the Espionage act. This act prohibited people from talking negatively about the flag, the president, our troops, or our plans. The president wanted his citizens to be supportive of their country; he did not want to deal with protests while he was trying to protect the nation. Many people believed that this was an unjust attack on their free speech; activists tried to stand up against the act, but they were all arrested without question. -
Norvel Preston Clotfelter Goes off to War
On September 22nd, 1917, Norvel Preston Clotfelter went off to war. Leaving his wife, kids, and family was very difficult, but he knew that he had to serve his country in a time of such desperation. He quickly became accustomed to the daily routine of being a soldier; taking notes on his new schedule in his diary. He enlisted in the army as a ‘Company A, 344th Machine Gun Battalion, 90th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in the Company L, 357th Infantry Regiment.’ (Page 2) -
Sedition Act is Passed
On May 16, 1918, the US Congress passed the Sedition act. The Sedition act was created to prevent Americans from spreading false information about the country’s war plans, as well as spreading negative feelings about battle. It was directed at socialists more than anything because it was common for them to give anti-war speeches. America needed all the support they could get, and thousands of people going against their government was not beneficial. -
Norvel Preston Clotfelter and his Fellow Soldiers Experience a Barrage
On September 12th, 1918, Norvel Preston Clotfelter experienced a huge barrage of bullets around 1am. Guns of all calibres were being fired simultaneously, creating a horrid sound. When daylight came again, Clotfelter found men dead on the ground who had made an attempt to fight back. This was a wake up call to those who underestimated the power of the Allies’ enemies. It became difficult for him to sleep after that; he knew very well that an attack like this could happen at any time. (page 29) -
Trenchfoot Begins Spreading Around Norvel Preston Clotfelter
On September 15th, 1918, Norvel Preston Clotfelter began to notice trenchfoot going around within the troops. He and the other men were forced to stand on the ground for two hours straight, which is nothing compared to the amount of time they would stand on other days. Once the ground was wet, there was nothing they could do to dry it up. Not only did the men have to stand on the wet dirt, they also had to sleep on it. There seemed to be no escape. (Page 30) -
Norvel Preston Clotfelter Raids Germans
On September 24th, 1918, Norvel Preston Clotfelter pulled off a raid. They used their heavy artillery to fire a barrage of bullets upon the Germans. After the initial raid, the Germans proceeded to drop shells upon the trenches for the rest of the night. One shell landed about 10 feet away from Clotfelter. Germany’s attacks were silenced in the morning, but ended coming back the next night. Over this short amount of time, 3 men were killed and 8 were taken as prisoners. (Page 3) -
World War 1 Ends
On November 11th, 1918, World War 1 finally came to a close. After 4 years of disagreements, battles, and destruction, Germany was finally forced to request an armistice with the Allied forces; this decision was made relatively quickly. The Treaty of Versailles was soon put into action; which would eventually cause problems. This treaty was created to prevent future conflicts that could be initiated by Germany; It put them in a very poor economic and financial state. -
Norvel Preston Clotfelter is Discharged from the Military
On February 14, 1919, Norvel Preston Clotfelter was finally discharged from the military, along with a bunch of other men. Clotfelter went through several medical examinations before being sent home; he even ended up needing glasses. He bought his tickets for the ride home, and had a meal with his war friends one last time. He was incredibly excited to get back to see his wife and kids again. It is safe for him to say that the war changed his perspective on life. (Page 49)
