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Archduke of the Austro-Hungarian empire and the Duchess, his wife Sophie, were strategically assassinated by nationalist Gavrilo Princip. He shot both of them while their carriage was stopped because the driver went in the wrong direction.
This is an important event in the war because the Austro-Hungarian government grew angry over their leaders loss and started to suspect Serbia was responsible. -
With the Austro-Hungarian Empire still mourning over the assassination of the Archduke and Duchess, their suspicions of Serbia grew stronger. A month after the assassination, Austria declares war on Serbia and ignites the fire that starts World War I. This war declaration brings Russia into the fight because they are allies with Serbia, but also involves Germany and every other European power in the war.
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Kaiser William II (Germany) signs a secret alliance with Turkey/Ottoman Empire and declares war on Russia (Tzar Nicholas II is emperor) because Germany controls Austria-Hungary. France supports Russia in the war.
Germany invades Luxembourg and Belgium; then declares war on France.
David Lloyd George (Britain), Japan, France, and Montenegro declare war on Germany. Montenegro and France declare war on Austria-Hungary
U.S. claims neutrality. Official date of the beginning of World War I -
The Schlieffen Plan was Germany's attack plan through Belgium into France. This plan was taken into action once Russia decided to move their forces into German territory. This plan became useless once France shut down their attack at the Battle of Marne
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The Battle of Marne took place 30mi NE of Paris, fought between Britain&France vs. Germany. Germany tried to invade France through Belgium, a neutral country, and digs trenches to protect themselves(which is used in the next 4 years of battle). By using radio intercepts for the first time, it helped separate German forces and have French and British forces on the Western fronts. This war is important because it was an Allied victory and it boosted the Allied Powers morale. Sept 5-9, 1914
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The CRB is an international organization that distributed millions of food to civilians in Belgium and Northern France due to the war being fought on their soil. Not only was it to feed the civilians, but also to restore their agricultural land being destroyed as well. Herbert Hoover, the leader of this organization, makes such a big impact on the world, he became the U.S. Food Administration in 1917, and was appointed by President Woodrow Wilson.
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On one side of No Man's Land, there was a murmur of German caroling that inspired the British to do the same. Oddly enough, after listening to each other, one soldier from each side hesitantly climbed out of their 3ft tall and 3ft wide trench to talk to one another. Other soldiers started to follow, and a Christmas miracle happened, No Man's Land finally had men on its territory. There were ceasefires across the Western Front too; and these unofficial armistice's lasted for a couple of days
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During the second battle of Ypres, Germans use chlorine gas on their French enemies to gain the upper hand. The gas makes the soldiers blind, "drown" them with their own saliva as if they're having a seizure, and demobilizes the soldiers completely. Both the Allied and Central Powers in the war used mustard gas and chemical warfare to their advantage, and ultimately caused approx 1,300,000 casualties and approx 91,000 fatalities.
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This was an unsuccessful attempt by the Allied Powers to control the sea routes from Europe to Russia and take over the Ottoman Empire. The Allied Powers started attacking by landing on the Gallipoli's peninsula, which was a disaster from the start, and ANZAC came to support. This was the first attack Germans use chemical warfare, and it successfully obliterates the Allied forces. On Dec 7, the Allies retreat and suffer defeat with approx 250,000 casualties. Not all troops were pulled until Jan.
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This was an unsuccessful attempt by the Allied Powers to control the sea routes from Europe to Russia. The Allied Powers continue their attack by landing on the Gallipoli's peninsula on Apr 25, which is a disaster from the start and ANZAC comes to support. This is the first attack Germans use chemical warfare, and it successfully obliterates the Allied forces. On Dec 7, the Allies retreat and suffer defeat with approx 250,000 casualties.
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Germany had unrestricted submarine warfare, no one comes in or out, mainly to cut off Allied resources. Unfortunately, in the process of sinking ships, Germany's U-Boat sunk the Lusitania killing 1,198 people, 128 people being U.S. citizens. The U.S. was devastated for losing innocent lives in a war they declared themselves neutral, they held onto their neutrality act and did not declare war on Germany. Although, it does not mean the U.S. was naive about them inevitably entering the war.
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The Sussex Pledge was an agreement between America and Germany on German's end to unjustly attacking merchant ships. A German submarine torpedoed the Sussex that killed 2 American citizens. Unfortunately, Germany saw this pledge as impractical and unnecessary, and disregarded the pledge February 1917.
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The Sussex Pledge was an agreement between the U.S. and Germany regarding Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare. After torpedoing another merchant ship, that killed 2 American citizens, the U.S. made Germany pledge to no longer attack ships. Germany disregarded this pledge until February of 1917 because they thought it was unnecessary.
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This was the longest war in WWI and was on the Western Front between France and Germany. At the end of the first week of battle, the Germans gained a six mile radius, then more over the next few days. However, once Germany did not see the results they anticipated, they called off their offensive position. France used this opportunity to gain back all of the ground they lost the past 6 months, and they did. Leading to a French victory in the end.
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This was the first major naval battle against the 2 largest and most powerful naval forces in the world. British Admiral John Jellicoe advanced his ships into the faded daylight to damage German Admiral Reinhard Scheer with direct shots. Germany retreated and Britain regained control of the North Sea. It is unclear who won the battle because both sides claimed victory.
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The objective of the Battle of Somme is to distract German forces from the Battle of Verdun. Britain and France fought against Germany, who demolished 20,000 soldiers with a machine gun in one day. It continues throughout the summer and fall, ending on Nov 18 with British gaining a total of six miles. The casualties on both sides calculate up to 1,000,000.
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Arthur Zimmermann was a German Foreign Secretary who sent a message to the Mexican ambassador. The Zimmermann Telegram was a secret diplomatic message proposing that the Mexican government forms an alliance with Germany and joins the war by their side. However, British code breakers intercepted the message and immediately told the U.S. This one event along with the German's unrestricted submarine warfare convinced President Wilson that it was necessary to enter WWI.
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In 1917, Tzar Nicholas II renounces his throne after weeks of rioting at the Russian capital. This led to the overthrow of the Romanov dynasty led by Vladimir Lenin and the Bolsheviks who promoted the Communist Party. This is an important turn of events in Russia during WWI because they completely abolish the monarchy and spread twisted ideals such as communism, socialism, nationalism, and more.
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President Woodrow Wilson clearly stated the Zimmermann Telegram and Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare were the key reasons behind his decision.Over the next 2 years of combat, over a million men were brought into the war and experienced basic training. Long after abandoning isolationism, on June 15th, the Espionage Act of 1917 was signed in order to secure America's victory and prevented citizens to promote the enemies victory.
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The Harlem Hellfighters was a regiment from the NY National Guard being sent into war with French troops because John Joseph Pershing (American General) did not want to be associated with African American soldiers. To his regret, Henry Johnson (an American) is injured, but face-to-face fought against 30 German soldiers with no gun, but managed to have them screaming and running in the opposite direction. The French were very impressed with him and bestowed him with the Croix de Guere medal.
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Throughout the war, women started to demand women's rights at the White House, where suffragists stood day and night. Alice Paul advocated for the Women's Suffrage movement and secured the spot of the 19th Amendment to grant women the right to vote. This also prohibits sex discrimination in voting.
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The Sedition Act extended the right from the Espionage Act of 1917 that created more security measures around American citizens. They were not allowed to bash the American government in any public form. This act essentially stripped American citizens from their First Amendment rights of freedom of speech, freedom of expression, and freedom of press. This benefited no one other than the government to prevent the public from shining negative light on them.
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This battle was the turning point in the war that fully secured the Allied victory. It was strategically planned with several combined forces that barely lasted a week. With British, Canadian, French, and Australian troops tallying up to 75,000 men against Germany's defense of 37,000 men. German forces were unorganized and unprepared for this attack leaving them to suffer an important battle in the war.
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After being denied an armistice a month earlier, the Allied Powers presented Germany with an armistice while being in combat with France. German delegates agreed to the harsh terms because they were already loosing the war. The terms stated that they accept complete defeat and dismember Germany's militia. Not only do they abolish Germany's militia, they completely band them to start any military action again.
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The League of Nations is in place to promote international peace and cooperation with each country that takes part in the organization. The goal is to discuss and resolve all problems to prevent a unnecessary war from starting. Unfortunately, U.S. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge and other Republicans disproves of this because they believed it contradicted their nations sovereignty in creating foreign policies.
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This treaty is important because it brought an official end to WWI. It forces Germany to permanently disarm their military, surrender all of their territories to the League of Nations, and pay full reparations of the war. This was a tremendous ask from the U.S., Britain, France, and Italy because the reparations Germany had to pay for was an outrageous number to reach and would bring them into an economic depression. However, Germany had to accept defeat.
