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Archduke Assassinated
more detailArchduke Franz Ferdinand is assassinated in Serbia by the Black Hand, a Serbian terrorist group. The assassination ignites the long-standing tension between Serbia and Austria-Hungary to start the war. -
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World War I Timeline
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Russia Takes Action
more detailRussia mobilizes its army towards Austria-Hungary to protect their ally, Serbia. The mobilization causes a chain reaction in Europe between the major powers and causes hostilities between the nations. Russia’s massive army is the only force that holds the Eastern Front of the war. -
Germany Puts the Schlieffen Plan in Effect
more detailThe Chief of the German General Staff, Alfred von Schlieffen created a two-front war plan in case a war were to break out in Europe. The Schlieffen Plan's objective was to fight France, whom they considered a major threat, with most of their military. Simultaneously and if needed Germany would leave a smaller army to hold off the Russians until they had defeated France. The enactment of this plan caused Britain to declare war on Germany. -
WWI Officialy Begins
more detailGermany invades Belgium to officially start WWI. Though the Germans didn’t want a war, the Austrian-Hungarian citizens believed they did when Germany gave them the blank check. Because Austria-Hungary believed that Germany wanted a war, they delivered. -
Germans Use Gases in War
more detailGermans use chlorine on allied forces. The large amounts of gases used nearly cause the French lines to collapse. The initial use of gases by the Germans leads to a war fought with large amounts of poisonous gases. -
Lusitania is Sunk by Germans
more detailThe Lusitania, a passenger ship carrying 1,198 passengers, 128 of them being Americans, is sunk by a German submarine. Secretly, the Lusitania is carrying supplies for the British under the cover of a passenger ship. The American people are angered at the fact that an innocent passenger ship is sunk by the Germans. -
Italy Changes Sides
more detailAlthough Italy starts the war as a Central Power, on May 23, 1915, they declare war on Germany and Italy. Britain and France wanted Italy to join them, so they proposed the Treaty of London which gave Italy large territories near the Adriatic Sea. Britain and France planned to use Italy to spread out the German troops and weaken the two fronts, but Italy failed to have any significant military value in the war effort. -
First Tanks Used in War
more detailThe British become the first to send the newly developed tank. The tanks could roll through barbed wire to clear a path for infantry and roll over trenches. Though the tanks helped largely with the trench warfare they still were not powerful or effective enough for a decisive victory over the Germans. -
Germany Restricts Submarine Usage
more detailGermans stop the unrestricted submarine use in an attempt to prevent the U.S. from entering the war. The restricted use of submarines makes it harder for the Germans to cut off supplies from reaching Britain. Their effort to prevent the U.S. from entering war by restricting the submarine usage only postpones the U.S. from entering the war for only a little over a year. -
Germany Resumes Unrestricted Submarine Use
more detailGermany resumes unrestricted submarine warfare in European waterways. This decision by the Germans causes the Americans to join the war. The U.S. joining the war effort against Germany leads to their inevitable defeat. -
Germany Tries for Allies Near the U.S.
more detailBritish intelligence gives President Wilson a message from Germany’s foreign secretary Arthur Zimmermann to Mexico proposing that Mexico sides with Germany so they have an ally near the U.S.. In turn for their cooperation Germany promises Mexico to return their lands lost to the U.S.. Although Mexico declined the offer, the U.S. was angered that the Germans were interfering with affairs in the Americas, and inclined the Americans opinions to go to war Germany. -
Gillet Joins the U.S. Air Service
more detailGillet joins the United States Air Service. When the United States joined the war he was discharged because he was “too young to be commissioned.” He went to Canada and joined the Royal Flying Corps so he could fight in the war. -
U.S. Enters the War
more detailsThe U.S officially enters the war. They side with the Allied Forces to fight against Germany. The U.S. eventually breaks the stalemate on the Western Front in Europe to give the Allies a strong push to end the war. -
Selective Service Act Draft
more detailThe U.S. enacts a draft with hopes for a final push to defeat the Triple Alliance. The draft was called the Selective Service Act, and it angered many Americans. The American people thought that the draft was “destroying democracy at home.” -
Gillet Receives His Aero Club Aviator's Certificate
more detailGillet receives his Aero Club Aviator’s Certificate 7017. He completed his training in England, he was inducted into the 79 Squadron In France on March 29, 1918. He fought under Britain throughout WWI. Gillet had the second most victories in WWI for the U.S.A., only falling behind Eddie Rickenbacker. -
Germans Lose on the Eastern Front
more detailThe Russians defeat the Germans on the Eastern Front and they sign a peace treaty. Although the Germans were defeated, they were allowed to mobilize their army to provide support to their other forces on the Western Forces. The Germans were also given Poland and Ukraine out of the peace treaty. -
Battle of Cantigny
more detailThe Battle of Cantigny was the first major offensive action the Americans participated in. Even though the battle was small in size, it lead to the Americans becoming involved in battles that were more important to the war effort. The battle served as an icebreaker for the Americans to come into the war. -
Americans Attack the Germans at Chateau-Thierry
more detailThe Americans attack the Germans at Chateau-Thierry. Three days later the attack changes into the major battle of Belleau Wood. The battle begins when the U.S. Marine Corps attack the Germans through an open field of wheat. There was a large amounts of casualties. -
Battle of Belleau Wood Ends
more detailThe Battle of Belleau Wood ends when the German line breaks and they retreat. This battle marked the farthest advance that the Germans made on Paris. After the three week long battle, there is nearly 10,000 American casualties suffered. -
Gillet Scores His First Victory
more detailGillet scores his first victory as an air ace. He flew a Sopwith Dolphin throughout his WWI career. Although he came into the war late, he managed to score a total of 20 victories as an air ace. -
Kaiser Wilhelm Abdicates
more detailAfter a lot of peer pressure, Kaiser Wilhelm gives up the throne. Kaiser Wilhelm’s abdication leads to the inevitable defeat of Germany. Wilhelm and his associates flee across the border to Netherlands where he lives out the remainder of his life. -
Gillet Scores Final Victory
more detailGillet scores three victories in one day, and more notably his last victory as an air ace against a Fokker D.VII. He won these battles only one day before the armistice. At the end of the war Gillet was recognized as one of the few great fighter pilots of that era. -
Armistice Signed
more detailAn armistice is signed to bring the fighting to a halt. The armistice brought about peace in Europe to settle the terms of the war-ending treaty to be signed. Eventually, The Treaty of Versailles is signed in the Hall of Mirrors in the Versailles Palace in Paris, France. -
Treaty of Versailles Signed
more detailThe Treaty of Versailles is signed exactly 5 years after Archduke Franz Ferdinand’s death. The treaty officially ended the war then known as the Great War. The Germans were angered with the treaty because it ruined their economy and halved their military. The harsh conditions of the treaty created a buildup of anger from Germany, and eventually led to WWII in 1940 and the Great War to be renamed to WWI. -
Francis W. Gillet Dies
more detailFrancis W. Gillet, an accomplished WWI veteran, dies. Once he was released from the U.S. Army Signal Reserve Corps, he became a liquor distributor. He also participated in thoroughbred horse racing when he was released. He is buried at the Saint John's Episcopal Church Cemetery located in Reisterstown, Maryland, USA
