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Dual Alliance
Germany and Austria-Hungary form an alliance, in which they promised to support each other in the event that Russia attacked. This instilled peace because Germany knew Russia wouldn’t declare war on both Countries.
significance: These alliances were the whole reason WW1 was started. Had Germany and Austria not have been allies, WW1 would've never happened because Germany wouldn't have joined the war, causing Russia to join, and a series of other events. -
Alliances begin to Form in Europe
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Austro Serbian Alliance
Austria-hungary forms an alliance to keep Russia from gaining control of Serbia. -
Triple Alliance
Germany & Austria Hungary made an alliance with Italy, to keep it from siding with Russia. -
Franco-Russian Alliance
To protect itself from Austria-Hungary and Germany, Russia forms an alliance with France. -
Flamethrower idea
The first design for the Modern Flame Thrower was submitted by Richard Fiedler to the German Army.
Significance: Flamethrowers were mentioned later in the book, as paul sees two men carrying one. Then takes note of how the tank get shot and the two men fall and get burned. -
Triple Entente
An alliance made by Russia Britain and France. Britain didn't have to fight in the war, the alliance was just so they wouldn't fight against Russia or France. -
British invent modern grenade
Grenades are handheld explosives that release Shrapnel into the enemy. Sharpnel is it’s own making, but more metal could be added to the inside of grenades to make more shrapnel. The first grenades were long handled impact grenades that were invented by the British. The downside to these grenades were that they exploded if dropped, or jostled.
"On the Way without my having noticed it, Kat has caught a splinter in the head." (Chapter 12, pg. 290-291) -
Rifle Grenade
Special grenades developed by the Germans, that could be launched using a rifle. The Grenade was launched when the user placed the long explosive down the barrel of the gun, and fired a blank. The blank gives the Grenade a boost of speed into the air, that could sometimes severely damage the barrel of the rifle or even blow up in the users face. -
'Kugelhandgranate 1913'
The Kugelhandgranate was a first development of the previous centuries ball grenade. These cast iron grenades were made with deep grooves, drilled with a threaded tube for a transportation plug, or fuse. These grenades were commonly used by the German troops when Germany first entered the war in 1914. -
Trench Mortar
The germans had various versions of the minenwerfer a very hazardous mortar. These heavy weapons launched large canister bombs that could destroy many yards of trench.
"At several places there are tremendous craters. 'Great guns, something's hit that,' I say to Kat.
'Trench Mortars,' he replies..." -
Assasination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
19-year-old Gavrilo Princip, a member of a Serbian terrorist group known as the Black Hand, assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife while they were visiting Sarajevo to inspect to inspect the armed forces of Bosnia. After hearing the news of the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire moving out to Sarajevo, Bosnia, Princip and members of the nationalist Young Bosnia movement were supplied weapons, and moved out to Sarajevo. -
Austira declares war on Serbia
1 month After the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Austria-Hungary use his assassination as an excuse to declare war on Serbia, who had been threatening them prior to the assassination. -
Germany and France declare war on each other
Two days after Germany Declaring war on Russia, Germany Declares war on France. Germany then begins to mobilise using a long thought out plan. Hours later France declares war on Germany itself , and mobilises troops to Alsace & Lorraine.
Significance: The majority of the book is based around Germany's battles with the French -
Trench lines begin to be used in WW1
Trenches were the frontlines of the war, and the most dangerous place to be. Contrary to the belief that the majority of the Great War was fought in Trenches, only a small portion of the army actually served there. The Idea of digging into the ground to provide protection from heavy enemy fire was not new to wwi. It was used commonly in the American Civil War , Russo-Japanese war, and other wars that had recently took place before WW1. -
Period: to
Christmas truce
Battles all along the Western Front seized as Christmas day approached. German soldiers came out of the Trenches unarmed, greeting the enemy with Merry Christman at the crack of dawn, Christmas day. They exchanged gifts, and sang carols. -
Christmas Truce
Barely 5 months into the war, all along the Western Front German Soldiers came out of the Trenches unarmed, and greeted enemy soldiers with Merry Christmas's. Battles ceased, and everyone exchanged gifts, and sang carols with eachother. -
Kugel grenade Model 1915
This grenade had the same features as the Kugelhandgranate 1913, but with a simplified fragmentation pattern. The new pattern on the grenades was much easier to manufacture. -
Flamethrowers
Germans finally use FlameThrowers near Verdun. Unlike grenades, flamethrowers could neutralize soldiers confined in trenches without causing structural damage.
"Two fellows with a flamethrower are seen, one carries the tin on his back, the other has the hose in his hands from which the fire spouts." (Chapter 11, pg. 283) -
Tanks
Tanks are introduced late 1916 as a way to solve trench warfare stalemates. When first used in battle many of them broke down before getting far, and very few made it past enemy trenches. -
Paul Gets Drafted
Paul Bummer is a fiction version of Erich Remarque in his youth, Paul being Remarque real middle name. Remarque was drafted on this day at the age of 18, so by making a connection, one could infer Paul was drafted on the same exact day. He was also drafted along side his pupils just like Paul was.
Significance: This was the whole reason Pauls life changed forever, and why all of his friend's were dead, why he was dead. -
Egg Grenade
These grenades appeared in early 1917 to compensate for other grenades that might’ve been very difficult to carry. These small steel bodied grenades took the shape of an egg, giving it it’s nickname.
Significance: More than likely, these were the Grenades that paul sees getting thrown, and exploding everywhere throughout the book. -
Paul Encounters French Soldier
While laying in a Trench, waiting for his comrades to come and rescue him, Paul has an encounter with a French Man who was shot and falls into the Trench Paul is hiding in. Paul Can’t think, and out of fear, he repeatedly stabs the man until he hears gurgling. Paul then gets even more scared when he realises that the man barely hanging on to life, and so he tries to take care of him, until eventually the man dies. Paul finds his wallet and discovers the man had a family, and even worse, Paul fou -
Paul is injured
Remarque was injured in the neck, knee, and wrist, similar to Paul when in Chapter 10 he is wounded in the arm and his leg is broken, when a house Paul and his friends were feasting in gets bombed. -
Paul’s Mother Dies from Cancer
During the time that paul takes leave, he discovers his mother is terribly sick, and his sister is home taking care of her. Remarque’s mother was hospitalized from cancer, and passed away on this date. -
Tanks are Improved
After long work on bringing out the full potential, tanks were finally able to be used to break enemy lines effectively.
"...but these tanks are machines, their catepllars run on as endlessas was, they are annihilation..." (Chapter 11, pg. 282)
Significance: Tanks were a game changer when it came down to Trench warefare. As a matter of fact, Tanks were the reason Trench warfare was obliterated in 1918. -
Kat dies
Recognized as the summer of 1918 in the book, Kat dies on July 15 1918. The day that Erich Remarque’s friend Troske was carried out of the front line by Remarque to be treated of his battle injuries. He died of a Shrapnel injury to the head just like Kat. In the heat of the moment Paul refuses to believe Kat is dead, stating “Not possible. Only ten minutes ago I was talking to him. He has fainted.” -
Paul dies
“He fell in October 1918, on a day that was so quiet and still on the whole, that the army report confined itself to the single sentence: All quiet on the Western Front.” In his death he appeared calm, as though sleeping, and appeared to have a look on his face as though he was glad he had died. -
Kaiser resigns
Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicates. -
Armistice Day
Germany formally surrenders, and the fighting is stopped after the Armistice is signed by the Allies and Germany. The Armistice was signed at 6am, and fighting stopped at 11.
Significance: The fighting was over, and no more blood had to be spilled. Everyone could finally go home. -
Treaty of Versailles is signed
The Treaty of Versailles was signed in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles. The purpose was to formally instill peace after the war, and to put all of the wages of the war on Germany. Of course Germany didn’t want to sign the document but had no choice because they had no army to continue the war, and there were only 2 options. It was either sign the document or be invaded by the allies. The result being Germany’s economy being weakened from paying for the war, and the establishment of the League.
