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Austria-Hungary, facing threats from Serbian separatists, decided that the best response to the assassinations of Franz Ferdinand was to prepare for a military invasion of Serbia. After securing support from Germany, Austria-Hungary presented Serbia with a demand that the separatist propaganda be stopped. As well as the permission for them to investigate the killing of Franz Ferdinand. The night Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, they initiated a brief, unavailing attack on Belgrade. -
This war marked the limit of Germany's initial advance into France. German forces swung through Belgium and into France from the north. This caused a gap to open between the 2 armies on the German right wing. The Allies took this opportunity to attack that gap, which caused Germany to retreat. By the end of this battle, both armies had started using trench warfare.
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This was the largest Naval battle of WWI. This battle involved 250 ships and around 100,00 men. It was the only time that the British and German fleets of 'dreadnought' battleships met each other at battle. It confirmed British naval dominance, which allowed Britain to continue the implementation of the blockade that would contribute to Germany's final defeat in 1918.
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He visited an officer’s camp in Pennsylvania just to see how it worked. To his surprise, there was no one around. He learned it was the last day to apply, but the requirements disqualified him from being able to, so he went home. On his way home, he met a sergeant recruiter and got recruited as “a fighter.” He spent the next 10 days visiting family and packing. -
On Memorial Day, he left home at 10 in the morning for Elmira, having to report to the Erie depot at 11 p.m. That is when his sergeant informed him and the other recruits that they were headed to Fort Solcum. On the train, they were given lunch and told to eat it at breakfast time. He slept for most of the ride, but was woken by recruits playing with hard-boiled eggs. They arrived at Fort Solcum and explored their new bunks, then lined up for food -
He describes the uniforms and equipment issued before their trip. All the men were armed with rifles, but not very many had experience using them. The gear they got included packs, canteens, mess kits, and ammunition. He says the canteens did not hold as much as they said they did. He clearly states that the soldiers, including him, were not well prepared, poorly trained, and “ignorant of the first principles of modern warfare.” He anticipates a difficult interaction with the enemy. -
This war has shaped perceptions of World War I on the Western Front. By the first day, British and French forces made good progress, but the rain put a halt to it. The rain stopped for September and returned in October, but it didn't stop Haig from capturing Passchendaele Ridge. The Allies suffered 250,000 casualties, and it was a muddy and bloody battle.
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He describes all his experiences from when he was in France. He became an interpreter by learning the French language through connections rather than studying. He talks about the joy and significance of receiving mail and packages from home. He also vividly recalls the soldiers' first payday at Chateau Thierry. The soldiers experienced many things here, including dice games, drinking games, and a tragic incident where a drunk soldier accidentally shot and killed one of his own in a fight. -
He describes the intense train ride to Verdun, where his division had to get off the train in complete silence to avoid enemy planes spotting them. After taking a brief rest, they saw that a nearby supply depot had been bombed, so they began a torturous 20-mile hike. The hike was exhausting. The march was interrupted by rifle fire and flares, forcing them to jump into a ditch for cover as they watched a nearby village burn. -
The Armistice between Germany and the Allies was the first step to the end of World War I, after a more than 4-year-long fight. On Nov. 10th, the Germans received word that Kaiser Wilhelm had resigned, and the new government urged that they sign the Armistice. It was signed at 5 a.m. on Nov. 11th. The Allied commanders were informed they couldn't go beyond the line. The fight on the Western Front had come to an end.