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Archduke Franz Ferdinand Assassination
On June 28, Franz Ferdinand had his wedding anniversary and was touring Sarajevo with his wife. Serbian nationalist Nedjelko Cabrinovic threw a bomb into their car but it rolled off the back and wounded an officer and bystanders. On his way to visit the wounded officer; the archduke's driver took a wrong turn. Gavrilo Princip was waiting for them when they came down the street. Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie were shot in the car by Gavrilo Princip and died within the hour. -
Germany invades Belgium
The Germans invaded Belgium on August 4, 1914. The Germans needed passage through Belgium so they could declare war on France. The Government sent Belgium a letter requesting free passage through Belgium. Free passage through Belgium would make the attack on France easy for Germany. Belgium was neutral so they didn't know what to do. Germany told Belgium that if they refused, they would become an enemy of Germany. -
German submarine sinks Lusitania
The Germans had been attacking boats around the area where the Lusitania was heading and the Birtish warned the captain to try zig zagging to confuse the U boats but he refused. On May 7, at 2:12 pm, the ship was hit by an exploding torpedo on its starboard side. The torpedo blast was followed by a larger explosion, assumed to be the ships' boilers. The Lusitania sank in 20 minutes. -
First tanks on the battlefield
The tank was first used at the Battle of Flers. It was then used with less success at the Battle of the Somme. Although the tank wasn't reliable due to it being new in the battlefield, it helped to end trench warfare and helped mobilize the Western Front. Senior military commanders were hostile to the use of armoured vehicles, as they would have challenged the use of cavalry in the field. -
US enters war
On April 6, 1917, the U.S. joined Britain, France, and Russia to fight in World War I as an alliance. Major General John J. Pershing lead the US. More than 2 million U.S. soldiers fought on battlefields in France. Many Americans were not in favor of the U.S. entering the war and wanted to remain neutral. However, the U.S. eventually did enter the war. -
Frank Buckle Enlists in Army
Frank Woodruff Buckle at the age of 16 was living in Oakwood, Oklahoma. Then the United States entered World War I, and he tried to enlist in the Marine Corps. The Marines turned him down as under-age and under the required weight. The Navy did not want him; saying he had flat feet. Finally the Army took him in August 1917 after he lied about his age. He had heard that being an ambulance driver was the quickest way to serve in France, so he volunteered as an ambulance driver. -
Frank enters Europe
He sailed for Scotland in December of 1917 on the ship that saved Titanic survivors; named the Carpithia. The ship docked in Glasgow Scotland. -
Frank Relocates to England
Frank's unit relocated to Winchester, England, to wait for cross-channel shipment to France. The 6th Marines unit was operating Camp Hospital No. 35 near Winchester. Frank's unit was forced to replace the Marines who were sent on to France. -
Frank relocates to France
Frank got an assignment to escort an officer to France who had been left behind by his original unit. In France, he had various assignments and was at several locations. -
Peace between Germany and Russia
Russia signs the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with the Central Powers; giving Polish and Baltic territories, the Ukraine, and Finland their independence. Russia’s part in World War I was a large factor that led to Vladimir Lenin’s successful Marxist revolution in November 1917. In December 1917, Germany agreed to an armistice and peace talks with Russia, and Lenin sent Leon Trotsky to Brest-Litovsk to negotiate a treaty. Lenin authorized the signing of the Treaty on March 3, 1918. -
Battle of Cantigny
In the first American offensive battle, 4,000 United States soldiers captured the village of Cantigny, on the Somme River in France, from the Germans. United States entered World War I on the side of the Allies in April 1917, but they were not prepared to send numbers of troops into battle until a full year had passed. By May 1918, large numbers of American soldiers had arrived in France, just in time to face German offensive attack. -
Battle of Belleau Wood
The first big American fought battle was the Battle of Belleau Wood.
In late May 1918, the Germans executed another attack near Paris. U.S. forces lead by General John J. Pershing helped push back the Germans, and on June 6 Pershing ordered a counter to push the Germans out of Belleau Wood. U.S. Marines lead by General James Harbord led the attack against the Germans and resulted in 1,000 deaths. -
Battle of Belleau Wood ends
After three weeks of fighting and winning no matter what, the Marines became known as the most fierce military force. The Germans called the Marines Devil Dogs as a result of the ferocity and bravery in which the Marines fought with. -
The German Kaiser Wilhelm abdicates
The German Kaiser Wilhelm II, leader of Prussia, had an important role in WWI. Wilhelm held his generals from starting conflict. Wilhelm was thought to be more controlled by his generals and he somewhat kept his political power. In 1918 he was forced to abdicate. -
Armistice Day
On November 11th, 1918, World War I ends. At 5 a.m. that morning, Germany signed a peace agreement with the Allies in a railroad car in France. World War I killed 9 million people and injured 21 million. Germany, Russia, France, England, and Austria-Hungary each lost 1 million lives. 5 million civialians died from disease, starvation, and exposure. -
Frank goes home
After Armistice Day, Frank was assigned to a prisoner-of-war escort company to return prisoners back to Germany. After two years with the American Expeditionary Force, Frank returned home on the USS Pocahontas in January 1920. Frank was paid $143.90, including a $60 bonus.