-
In 1914 Austria Hungary had control of Bosnia which happened to make several people there mad. They believed that the land should be a part of Serbia. A Serbian terrorist organization called the Black Hand decided it would be smart to kill the archduke. Archduke Franz Ferdinand was visiting Bosnia to inspect the imperial armed forces in Bosnia, he decided it was a great idea to ride around in an open car in a place full of people who wanted him dead. So, obviously, they shot him.
-
-
Following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Germany declared war on France. Von Schlieffen had the plan to invade Belgium in efforts to avoid the defenses put in place by France on the France/Germany border. The plan was to push through Belgium and invade France from the side. Belgium, however, decided to resist the Germans even though they were outnumbered. This went poorly for them and Germany had taken most of Belgium by the end of September.
-
The battle of Tannenberg was a very short but important battle. The battle took place along the eastern front between Germany and Russia. This battle is significant mostly because it was the first battle for Russia but also because the Russians were horribly defeated by the Germans in only 4 days. The Russians were attempting a 2 army invasion pushing from 2 different sides. The Germans managed to capture 95,000+ soldiers and six trains worth of guns and other supplies.
-
The first battle of Marne was a quick French victory over the Germans on the western front that left the Schieffen plan in ruins. This battle ultimately marked the beginning of trench warfare which was an enormous part of World War I. The battle lasted 6 days and pushed the Germans out of France and made a quick victory in the west seem out of reach to the Germans. The British also played an important role alongside France in the offensive against Germany.
-
The second of three costly battles of Ypres that lasted from April 22, 1915, to May 25, 1915. The battle was between the British Empire, Canada, India, United Kingdom, France, Algeria, Morocco, Belgium, and Germany. This battle was the first time Germany used poison gas in its attack. The Germans made no significant gains. The gas was highly significant and others started the development of their own gasses shortly after.
-
A German U-boat torpedoed the British owned passenger ship RMS Lusitania. The torpedo sunk the ship and killed 1,195 civilians including 128 Americans. The ship was armed but without intent to attack and it was a known passenger ship even after the war started. The Germans knew it was carrying weapons from America to Europe for the allies and the Germans sank it, bringing the USA into World War I. Germany also broke international naval prize laws and didn't warn ships of submarine presence.
-
In February of 1916, the French were tasked with defending from a major German offense that lasted all the way to December of 1916. The battle was among the longest and bloodiest of World War I resulting in 750,000 casualties and 300,000 deaths. The fortress of Verdun was chosen because it threatened the main German communication lines and the loss of it would dramatically affect the French morale and defenses. Unfortunately for the Germans, the end result was a French victory.
-
After Germans sank yet another passenger liner in march of 1916, the USA threatened to halt German diplomatic relations if Germany stopped all attacks on passenger liners and let the crew of enemy merchant ships evacuate before any attacks are made. Germany agreed and it was known as the "Sussex pledge." In 1917 German politicians decided it would help win against great Britain if they broke the pledge since the USA couldn't be considered neutral anymore. Immediately after the USA declared war.
-
Sep. 22,
Norvel P. Clotfelter woke up early and packed his stuff. He was recently drafted into the United States military and he was shipping out today.
Sep. 23,
Clotfelter rose early again to roll call. Got on the train heading for San Antonio at 11 AM and rode all day and night without sleep. He often mentions his family at home and has trouble with the separation.
Page 2-3 of Clotfelter's diary. -
Aug. 25,
The gas alarm was sounded for the first time, no gas but everyone put their gas mask on. Norvel P. Clotfelter was moved to the front line later that day. Clotfelter then had to stay up all night and experienced gas and artillery attacks.
Aug. 26,
The enemy front was only 1/2 a mile from where Clotfelter was stationed. 1 man was gassed and 1 was captured.
Page 27 of Clotfelter's diary -
Sep. 2,
Not a lot happened for Clotfelter today but at least 8 enemy balloons were stopped which proved quite important for the following days.
Sep. 3,
An enemy aircraft flew over that morning and took out 2 balloons while Clotfelter was in the open drilling. Later that day artillery starting dropping in the exact spot that the Aviator had spotted him earlier.
Information from page 28 of Clotfelter's diary -
Sep. 12,
"Hell broke loose at 1 am." says Clotfelter in his diary, followed by the explanation that they were surrounded by the largest barrage he had witnessed to date and heavy gunfire. Members of Clotfelter's party were lost that night and he recalls seeing all the bodies the next morning.
Sep. 14,
Americans on this front had advanced 5 miles and taken 8,000 prisoners. Dead Germans and some Americans scattered through the woods.
Page 29 of Clotfelter's diary. -
On November 11, 1918, Germany surrendered to the allied forces. All nations agreed to stop fighting while the terms of peace were being negotiated. On June 28, 1919, Germany and the allied nations signed the treaty of Versailles formally ending the war.
Norvel P. Clotfelter wrote exactly what he experienced that day. Armistice was signed the previous day and hostilities were to cease at 11 AM. Until then heavy barrage proceeded and at 11 everyone was celebrating.
Page 39 of Clotfelter's diary.
