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Franz Ferdinand, the Archduke of Austria, and his wife visit the capital of Bosnia, Sarajevo. There they are shot dead by a Serbian nationalist, Gavrilo Princip. The assassination adds to the tension in Europe, becoming the most immediate cause of the war.
[https://www.britannica.com/biography/Franz-Ferdinand-Archduke-of-Austria-Este] -
The Austro-Hungarian government declares war on Serbia.
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Germany Declares War on Russia.
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Germany declares war on France.
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Britain declares war on Germany.
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Austria declares war on Russia.
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Japan declares war on Germany.
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Austria declares war on Japan.
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The RMS Lusitania, a British ship, is sunk by a German U-Boat. 120 Americans out of 1,100 passengers died.
[https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/lusitania] -
Woodrow Wilson is inaugurated as president for the second time. People liked him because he kept the U.S. out of the war, but little did they know.
[https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/woodrow-wilson/] -
The Sussex Pledge is made by Germany to America. Germany promises to stop indiscriminate attacks on ships after several previous attacks.
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The German Zimmermann note to Mexico is intercepted by Britain. The note is an alliance proposal to Mexico. Britain informs America.
[https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwigmYPqg4TfAhVJ0KwKHZviAyUQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theworldwar.org%2Fexplore%2Fcentennial-commemoration%2Fus-enters-war%2Fzimmermann-telegram&psig=AOvVaw3qJN04-XIhO5MTBQaE6j8r&ust=1543939189445983] -
The U.S. declares war on Germany.
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Earle Covington Smith, who anticipated that the U.S. would join the war, is called into service in Washington after requesting a commision in the Ordnance Officers Reserve Corps.
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Smith goes to the Army Proving Ground at Sandy Hook, N.J. to test ammunition.
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The U.S. declares war on Austria-Hungary.
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Smith arrives in France, where he will become a gas officer and visit a French font line to install Livens projectors.
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The Battle of Cantigny against the Germans becomes America’s first full battle and offensive.
[https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwja-9mLhITfAhVLUK0KHWjlAdoQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.historyonthenet.com%2Fbattle-of-cantigny&psig=AOvVaw2ghPpOjKEIHDcOUm0qwFMa&ust=1543939245550683] -
The Battle of Cantigny ends with an allied victory.
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Having been transferred to Chemical Warfare Service, Defense Divison, Smith arrives at the German lines. He then joins the 7th infantry and is able to supervise training.
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The Treaty of Versailles is signed and formally ends the war between Germany and the Allied Powers.
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After the Germans bombard with a long range gun the previous day, they develop an offensive. According to Smith, one of the greatest battles (Marne) starts.
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The Second Battle of The Marne begins. Germans begin their last offensive on the Western Front. It would be stopped by allied forces, including Americans.
[https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwis8ZqbhITfAhVLUK0KHWjlAdoQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.iwm.org.uk%2Fcollections%2Fitem%2Fobject%2F205246727&psig=AOvVaw3zkYGcbBQmr_taaYoDTUdV&ust=1543939291811668] -
The Second Battle of The Marne ends.
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The Battle of St. Mihiel, the only American offensive without the other allies, was a successful attack that caught the Germans by surprise. It is the first military use of the terms “H-Hour” and “D-Day”.
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The Battle of St. Mihiel ends
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The Meuse-Argonne Offensive begins. It will become the biggest, most expensive operation for the American Expeditionary Force of WWI. It is the deadliest battle in American history.
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The Meuse-Argonne Offensive ends.
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A ceasefire comes into effect after an armistice with Germany is signed at 5:00 a.m., unofficially ending the war.
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President Warren G. Harding signs the Knox–Porter Resolution, officially ending U.S. involvement in WWI. Stephen Porter (in the picture) and Philander Knox wrote a separate resolution each. The bill was derived both.
