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The Archduke and his wife were assassinated by Bosnian Serb nationalist Gavrilo Princip.
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Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia
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Germany begins to declare war on Russia, France, and Belgium. Britain decides to declare war on Germany. Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia. France and Britain declare war on Austria-Hungary. Japan declares war on Germany. The U.S. declares neutrality.
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Italy declares war on Austria-Hungary. They enter on the ally side
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This battle was very bloody and one of the biggest in WWI. It began in July and ended on November 18, 1916. On the first day, the British had already gained about 50,000 casualties.
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U.S. President Woodrow Wilson sends a war message to Congress, saying "the world must be made safe for democracy."
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After President Wilson's declaration, the U.S. officially goes to war with Germany, finally joining WWI.
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President Wilson began a draft in the U.S. in hopes to make America's Military as big as the armies in Europe. This was the first draft used since the Civil War.
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Otto was 23 when he got drafted in October 1917. He was assigned to the 90th Infantry Division and served in the 357th Regiment. He left his home in Newkirk, Oklahoma, and traveled to Camp Travis in Texas.
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Otto wrote to the family for the first time to tell about his experiences as a soldier. Otto was always perceived as positive and charming in his letters home. He would talk about the places he's seen and the people he met. He never let the harshness of war take down his good attitude.
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Russie and Germany sign the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. Russia is now officially removed from WWI.
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The deadly pandemic "Spanish Influenza" started to spread around the globe infecting around 500 million people. Although it did not begin in Spain, the country covered the news about the pandemic because of neutrality. Suspicions point to the U.S., France, Britain, and China for the start of the illness. The first known case was in Camp Funston at Fort Riley, Kansas.
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Otto's wrote his letter on September 27th, 1918. He was responding to all of his family's letters. He was very cheerful in his writing as well as heartfelt. Telling his mother how much he missed her and to always keep writing to him because he misses home. Unfortunately, Otto did not get the chance to read all of the sweet letters from his family who loved him very very much.
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Mrs. Leven received a letter from the Red Cross regarding her son. It read that he was separated from his fellow troops and was severely wounded. The cause was unknown and he died two days later in the hospital on October 4th, 1918. They wrote a very heartfelt and mournful letter for the grieving mother and family. "you must think of him as sleeping in the fields of France, on which he fought so bravely." The family also received a letter from his captain with condolences. He was a brave man.
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A treaty was made and signed. Germany ceded Alsace-Lorraine to France. They recognized Belgian sovereignty, disarmed, and agreed to pay war reparations. The U.S refused to ratify the Treaty of Versailles and prevented the country from joining the League of Nations.
