Background Information on World War I and World War I Timeline

Timeline with World War I Information

June 28,1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and his wife are assassinated in Sarajevo. July 28 Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia. July 31 As an ally of Serbia, Russia announces full mobilization of their armed forces. August 1 Germany mobilizes her armed forces and declares war on Russia. August 3 Germany declares war on France. August 4 Germany declares war on neutral Belgium and invades in a right flanking move designed to defeat France quickly. As a result of this invasion, Britain declares war on Germany. August 6 Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia. August 22 "The Battle of the Frontiers" -- 27,000 French soldiers die on this single day in an offensive thrust to the east of Paris, towards the German borders. August 26-30 German army, led by Erich Ludendorff and Paul von Hindenburg achieves its greatest victory of the war on the Eastern front against Russia at the Battle of Tennenberg. September 5-10 First Battle of the Marne halts German invasion in France. September 15 First trenches of the Western Front are dug. December 25 Unofficial Christmas Truce declared by soldiers in the trenches along the Western Front. January, 1915 War becomes "Total War" with German Zeppelin air raid on England February 4 Germany declares a submarine blockade of Great Britain. Any ship approaching England is considered a legitimate target. April 25 Allies begin nine-month battle for the Turkish peninsula of Gallipoli. May 7 U-boat sinks the Lusitania. 1,198 civilians, including 128 Americans die. August 30 Germany responds to U.S. anger by ceasing to sink ships without warning. September 15 British use gas in battle near Loos, but shifting winds cause 60,000 British casualties. December 28 Allies begin withdrawal of troops from Gallipoli. February 21 - December 18 The longest battle of the war, the Battle of Verdun, is fought to a draw with an estimated one million casualties. April 19 US President Wilson publicly warns Germany not to continue unrestricted submarine warfare policies May 31-June 1 The Battle of Jutland, the only major naval engagement of the war is fought with no clear winner. July 1-November 18 The Battle of the Somme results in an estimated one million casualties and no breakthrough for the Allies. British introduce the tank, an effective weapon but far to few to make much of a difference. January 19, 1917- Reich Foreign Secretary Zimmermann's telegram to Mexico urging her entry into war against the United States is discovered and translated by the British. February1- Germany again declares unrestricted submarine warfare. April 6- President Wilson asks Congress for a declaration of war with Imperial Germany. April 16-29- French launch disastrous offensive at Chemin des Dames, advancing only 500 yards at the cost of 250,000 plus casualties. April - June- Over half a million French soldiers mutiny, or "go on strike" and refuse to continue the failed offensive. May 18- The United States passes the Selective Service Act empowering the Federal Government to draft men for the armed forces. July 1 - 16- Russian Army lead by Alexander Kerensky begins last -- and disastrous -- offensive in Galicia. July 3- The first wave of the American Expeditionary Force lands in France. July 31-November 10- Third Battle of Ypres, known as Passchendaele, results in minor gains, but still no breakthrough in the Western front at the cost of 700,000 casualties for both sides. October 23- American troops in France fire their first shot in trench warfare. December 3- The new Russian government, represented by Leon Trotsky, signs an armistice with Germany. December 9- British capture Jerusalem from the Turks and her Arab allies. January 8, 1918- President Woodrow Wilson declares his 14 points as the path to permanent world peace. March 21- Germans launch the first of five major offensives to win the war before American troops appear in the trenches. German advance is finally stopped in late June April 25- British and Australian troops stop the German advance near Amiens. May 23- German shells land on Paris. May 31- Germans on the banks of the Marne near Paris are stopped by American forces at Chateau-Thierry. July-German troops being shipped from the Eastern to Western Front begin to desert in large numbers from their transport trains July 16-17- Former Tsar Nicholas II, his wife, children, and members of his entourage are murdered by the Bolsheviks. August 3- President Wilson agrees to co-operate with Allies in sending "volunteer" troops into Russia. August 8- Allied counter offensives on the Somme push the German army back and into retreat September 27- Allied troops break through the German fortifications at the Hindenberg line. October 28-German sailors mutiny at port when asked to sail and fight a hopeless navel battle. October 30- Turks sign armistice November 10- A German republic is founded. November 11- At eleven o'clock on the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918, the war ends as Germany and Allies sign an Armistice. December 4- Woodrow Wilson sets sail for the Paris Peace conference. 1919- Demobilization of the armies, millions return home. 1919-1921- Russian civil war fails to unseat the Bolsheviks. January 10-15, 1919- A coup launched by German revolutionaries in Berlin is suppressed by paramilitary units. January 15-German socialist rebels Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg are murdered. February- Allies' military intervention in Russia is secretly agreed to. June 280- Peace Treaty signed by German delegates and Allies in Versailles. 1919- World War I comes to an end 1920-1922- War cemeteries created on the fronts; war memorials dedicated in villages and cities at home.

World War I Facts

World War I was started because of the assination of the archduke Franz Ferdinand, who was heir to the Austrian and Hungarian throne, on June 28, 1914. Austria and Hungary were upset about the assination of the heir and declared war on Serbia.

One of the reasons America entered the war was because the Germans kept attacking U.S. naval fleets and ships without warning. They had been warned before by the government but due to the lack to cease the attacks America entered the war.

Russia entered the war because they were in mobilization of the treaty that first bound them to Serbia.

Germany was allied to Austria and Hungary and entered the war under the fact that they saw the Russian mobilization as a threat and declared war on Russia.

France entered the war because of its treaty to Russia and was first at war with Germany but then extended to Austria and Hungary.

Great Britian entered the Great War because it was obliged to protect France and Belgum and declared war on Germany. Since Britian had control of other colonies, that were entered into the war also, including Austrailia, South Africa, Canada, India, and, New Zealand.

Japan entered the war honoring the treaty with Great Britian and declared war on Germany.

Italy was neutral in the war because of treaties with both Austria and Hungary and Germany and agreed to defend both if it came to a defensive war.

The war was started in 1914 and ended in 1929.

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Introduction

Artists and Propaganda Leaders of World War I

World War I Posters

Impact of World War I Artwork

Conclusion

Annonated Bibliography

Process Paper