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First shot that started the war!
A Serbian nationalist assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austrian throne. His name was Gavrilo Princip and he also killed the Archduke's wife Sophie. They were shot while driving through the Bosnian capital Sarajevo. -
First invasion
A strategy called the Schlieffen Plan was used when Germany invaded Belgium. The Schlieffen Plan was when they held out against Russia, quickly go through Belgium to Paris, and then those two German armies would defeat Russia. -
Lusitania
The British put up a blockade to stop the trading. This made Germany very upset. So they came back with their U-boats and would sink any British or Allied ship that they came across. Off the southern coast of Ireland, one of the biggest disasters occurred. One of the U-boats sank the Lusitania, a British liner, and killed 1,198 people including 128 Americans. This upset many Americans. -
First Battle of Somme which
This was the First Battle of Somme which and it lasted until mid-November. The number of men killed was unbelievable. The final number was about 1.2 million men, with the British losing about 60,000 men on just the first day. -
President Wilson's war resolution
Ambassadors, representatives, senators, members of the Supreme court, and many other guests filled the Capitol building on a rainy day in Washington. They were all gathered there to hear President Wilson give his war resolution speech. A few days after that Congress passed the resolution. -
US launches ships
The United States found themselves needing a way to transport food, men, and equipment across the ocean. So they decided to expand their fleet of ships. They hired many men to come and assemble the ships and on this day they launched 95 ships. -
Alvin York rules!
During WWl, Alvin York became one of the greatest war heroes in history! York came from Tennessee and was against warfare on moral grounds. He later decided that is was acceptable as long as the reason was just. On October 8, 1918 York killed 25 Germans and captured 132 as prisoners with only a rifle and revolver! -
Surrender!
With the help of the US, the Allies got Austria-Hungary to surrender. The German sailors mutinied against their government on that same day. Soon other German soldiers and workers joined in the mutiny. -
German Republic is established!
Just six days after the revolt, the German Republic was established. The socialist leaders established it in Germany's capital, Berlin. The throne was given up by the Kaiser. -
The war is over!
Just three days later at the 11th hour, the Germans surrendered. They agreed to cease fire and signed the armistice (truce). They were far too exhausted to continue the fight. The war was finally over!
