World war 1World war 1

A Timeline of 1914A Timeline of 1914June 28 - Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to Austria-Hungary's June 28 - Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to Austria-Hungary's throne, and his wife, Sophie, are assassinated by Serbian nationalist throne, and his wife, Sophie, are assassinated by Serbian nationalist Gavril Principe while the couple were visiting Sarajevo, Bosnia.Gavril Principe while the couple were visiting Sarajevo, Bosnia.July 28 - Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia.July 28 - Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia.August 1 -- Germany declares war on Russia.August 1 -- Germany declares war on Russia.August 3 - Germany declares war on France.August 3 - Germany declares war on France.August 4 - The United Kingdom declares war on Germany, after August 4 - The United Kingdom declares war on Germany, after Germany invades Belgium.Germany invades Belgium.August 6 - Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia and Serbia August 6 - Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia and Serbia declares war on Germany.declares war on Germany.August 26 - The Battle of Dannenberg begins.August 26 - The Battle of Dannenberg begins.August 19 - U.S. President Woodrow Wilson announces the U.S. will August 19 - U.S. President Woodrow Wilson announces the U.S. will remain neutral.remain neutral.September 5 - The First Battle of the Marne begins. Trench warfare September 5 - The First Battle of the Marne begins. Trench warfare begins as soldiers on both sides dig in.begins as soldiers on both sides dig in.October 19 - Battle of Ypres begins.October 19 - Battle of Ypres begins.November 3 - The United Kingdom announces that the North Sea is November 3 - The United Kingdom announces that the North Sea is a military area, effectively creating a blockade of goods into a military area, effectively creating a blockade of goods into Germany.Germany.December 24 The unofficial December 24 The unofficial Christmas truceChristmas truce is declared. is declared.

A timeline of 1915A timeline of 1915February 4 - Germany declares a "war zone" around Great February 4 - Germany declares a "war zone" around Great Britain, essentially effecting a submarine blockade where even Britain, essentially effecting a submarine blockade where even neutral merchant vessels were to be potential targets.neutral merchant vessels were to be potential targets.February 19 - The Dardanelles Campaign begins.February 19 - The Dardanelles Campaign begins.April 22 - The Second Battle of Ypres begins. It is during this April 22 - The Second Battle of Ypres begins. It is during this battle that the Germans first use poison gas.battle that the Germans first use poison gas.April 25 - The Battle of Gallipoli begins.April 25 - The Battle of Gallipoli begins.May 7 - The British ocean liner May 7 - The British ocean liner RMS LusitaniaRMS Lusitania is sunk is sunk by German by German U-boat, U-20U-boat, U-20September 5 - Tsar Nicholas II takes personal control over September 5 - Tsar Nicholas II takes personal control over Russia'sRussia's armies.armies.

A timeline of 1916A timeline of 1916

February 21 - The Battle of Verdun begins. The Battle of Verdun February 21 - The Battle of Verdun begins. The Battle of Verdun was the longest battle of World War 1 and was one of the was the longest battle of World War 1 and was one of the bloodiest.bloodiest.

May 31 - The Battle of Jutland, the major naval battle of the war, May 31 - The Battle of Jutland, the major naval battle of the war, begins.begins.

July 1 - The Battle of the Somme begins. During the Battle of the July 1 - The Battle of the Somme begins. During the Battle of the Somme, tanks are first introduced into battle. Somme, tanks are first introduced into battle.

A timeline of 1917A timeline of 1917

January 19 - Germany sends the secret Zimmerman January 19 - Germany sends the secret Zimmerman Telegram to Mexico in an effort to entice Mexico to join the Telegram to Mexico in an effort to entice Mexico to join the war. The British intercept and decipher the coded message.war. The British intercept and decipher the coded message.March 15 - Russian Tsar Nicholas II abdicates.March 15 - Russian Tsar Nicholas II abdicates.April 6 - The United States declares war on Germany.April 6 - The United States declares war on Germany.July 31 - The Battle of Passchendaele (also known as the July 31 - The Battle of Passchendaele (also known as the Third Battle of Ypres) begins.Third Battle of Ypres) begins.November 7 - The Bolsheviks successfully overthrow the November 7 - The Bolsheviks successfully overthrow the Russian government.Russian government.December 17 - The armistice agreed upon between the new December 17 - The armistice agreed upon between the new Russian government and the Central Powers goes into Russian government and the Central Powers goes into effect.effect.

A timeline of 1918A timeline of 1918January 8 - U.S. President Woodrow Wilson issues his January 8 - U.S. President Woodrow Wilson issues his Fourteen Points to peace.Fourteen Points to peace.March 3 - Russia signs the Treaty of Brest Liatos, which is March 3 - Russia signs the Treaty of Brest Liatos, which is a peace treaty between Russia and the Central Powers.a peace treaty between Russia and the Central Powers.March 21 - Germany launches the Spring Offensive.March 21 - Germany launches the Spring Offensive.April 21 - German flying ace, Baron Manfred von April 21 - German flying ace, Baron Manfred von Richthofen (more commonly known as the Richthofen (more commonly known as the Red BaronRed Baron), is ), is shot down.shot down.July 15 - The Second Battle of the Marne begins.July 15 - The Second Battle of the Marne begins.November 9 - German Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicates and November 9 - German Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicates and flees Germany.flees Germany.November 11 - Germany signs the armistice at November 11 - Germany signs the armistice at Compiegne, France. Fighting ends on the 11th hour of the Compiegne, France. Fighting ends on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month (i.e. 11 a.m. on November 11th day of the 11th month (i.e. 11 a.m. on November 11).11).

A timeline of 1919A timeline of 1919June 28 - The Treaty of Versailles officially ends World War 1June 28 - The Treaty of Versailles officially ends World War 1. .

Random factsRandom factsGermans were the first to use flamethrowers Germans were the first to use flamethrowers in WWI. Their flamethrowers could fire jets of in WWI. Their flamethrowers could fire jets of flame as far as 130 feet (40 m).flame as far as 130 feet (40 m).

More than 65 million men from 30 countries More than 65 million men from 30 countries fought in WWI. Nearly 10 million died. The fought in WWI. Nearly 10 million died. The Allies (The Entente Powers) lost about 6 Allies (The Entente Powers) lost about 6 million soldiers. The Central Powers lost million soldiers. The Central Powers lost about 4 million.about 4 million.

There were over 35 million civilian and soldier There were over 35 million civilian and soldier casualties in WWI. Over 15 million died and casualties in WWI. Over 15 million died and 20 million were wounded.20 million were wounded.

Nearly 2/3 of military deaths in WWI were in battle. Nearly 2/3 of military deaths in WWI were in battle. In previous conflicts, most deaths were due to In previous conflicts, most deaths were due to disease.disease.During WWI, the During WWI, the Spanish fluSpanish flu caused about 1/3 of caused about 1/3 of total military deaths.total military deaths.Russia mobilized 12 million troops during WWI, Russia mobilized 12 million troops during WWI, making it the largest army in the war. More than 3/4 making it the largest army in the war. More than 3/4 were killed, wounded, or went missing in action.were killed, wounded, or went missing in action.In August 1914, German troops shot and killed 150 In August 1914, German troops shot and killed 150 civilians at Earshot. The killing was part of war civilians at Earshot. The killing was part of war policy known as policy known as SchrecklichkeitSchrecklichkeit (“frightfulness”). Its (“frightfulness”). Its purpose was to terrify civilians in occupied areas so purpose was to terrify civilians in occupied areas so that they would not rebel.that they would not rebel.During WWI, British tanks were initially categorized During WWI, British tanks were initially categorized into “males” and “females.” Male tanks had into “males” and “females.” Male tanks had cannons, while females had heavy machine guns.cannons, while females had heavy machine guns.

““Little Willie” was the first prototype tank in WWI. Little Willie” was the first prototype tank in WWI. Built in 1915, it carried a crew of three and could Built in 1915, it carried a crew of three and could travel as fast as 3 mph (4.8 km/h)travel as fast as 3 mph (4.8 km/h)Artillery barrage and mines created immense noise. Artillery barrage and mines created immense noise. In 1917, explosives blowing up beneath the German In 1917, explosives blowing up beneath the German lines on Messines Ridge at Ypres in Belgium could lines on Messines Ridge at Ypres in Belgium could be heard in London 140 miles (220 km) away.be heard in London 140 miles (220 km) away.The Pool of Peace is a 40-ft (12-m) deep lake near The Pool of Peace is a 40-ft (12-m) deep lake near Messines, Belgium. It fills a crater made in 1917 Messines, Belgium. It fills a crater made in 1917 when the British detonated a mine containing 45 when the British detonated a mine containing 45 tons of explosives.tons of explosives.During WWI, During WWI, dogsdogs were used as messengers and were used as messengers and carried orders to the front lines in capsules attached carried orders to the front lines in capsules attached to their bodies. Dogs were also used to lay down to their bodies. Dogs were also used to lay down telegraph wires.telegraph wires.

Tanks were initially called “landslips.” However, in an attempt to disguise them Tanks were initially called “landslips.” However, in an attempt to disguise them as water storage tanks rather than as weapons, the British decided to code as water storage tanks rather than as weapons, the British decided to code name them “tanks.”name them “tanks.”

The most successful fighter of the entire war was Rittmeister von Richthofen The most successful fighter of the entire war was Rittmeister von Richthofen (1892-1918). He shot down 80 planes, more than any other WWI pilot. He died (1892-1918). He shot down 80 planes, more than any other WWI pilot. He died after being shot down near Amiens. France's René Funk (1894-1953) was the after being shot down near Amiens. France's René Funk (1894-1953) was the Allies’ most successful fighter pilot, shooting down 75 enemy planes.Allies’ most successful fighter pilot, shooting down 75 enemy planes. Margareta Zell (1876-1917), also known as Mata Hair, was a Dutch exotic Margareta Zell (1876-1917), also known as Mata Hair, was a Dutch exotic dancer accused of being a double agent. Though she always denied being a spy, dancer accused of being a double agent. Though she always denied being a spy, the French executed her in 1917.the French executed her in 1917.French Second Lieutenant Alfred Jobsite wrote in his diary about WWI just before French Second Lieutenant Alfred Jobsite wrote in his diary about WWI just before he died that “Humanity is mad! It must be mad to do what it is doing. What a he died that “Humanity is mad! It must be mad to do what it is doing. What a massacre. What scenes of horror and carnage! I cannot find words to translate massacre. What scenes of horror and carnage! I cannot find words to translate my impressions. Hell cannot be so terrible! Men are mad!”my impressions. Hell cannot be so terrible! Men are mad!”Some Americans disagreed with the United States’ initial refusal to enter WWI Some Americans disagreed with the United States’ initial refusal to enter WWI and so they joined the French Foreign Legion or the British or Canadian army. A and so they joined the French Foreign Legion or the British or Canadian army. A group of U.S. pilots formed the Lafayette Escadrille, which was part of the French group of U.S. pilots formed the Lafayette Escadrille, which was part of the French air force and became one of the top fighting units on the Western Front.air force and became one of the top fighting units on the Western Front.In early 1917, British cryptographers deciphered a telegram from German Foreign In early 1917, British cryptographers deciphered a telegram from German Foreign Secretary Arthur Zimmermann to Germany's minister in Mexico. The telegraph Secretary Arthur Zimmermann to Germany's minister in Mexico. The telegraph encouraged Mexico to invade U.S. territory. The British kept it a secret from the encouraged Mexico to invade U.S. territory. The British kept it a secret from the U.S. for more than a month. They wanted to show it to the U.S. at the right time to U.S. for more than a month. They wanted to show it to the U.S. at the right time to help draw the U.S into the war on their side.help draw the U.S into the war on their side.

by Kevin o Gradyby Kevin o Grady