-
Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria is asassinated
Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria is asassinated
A Serbian nationalist assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in Sarajevo, Bosnia. This incident leads to string of threats and orders to mobilize troops, and by the end of august, to full out war. -
Period: to
America Entering World War 1
-
RMS Luisitania
RMS Lusitania
The U.S. ship RMS Lusitania was identified and torpedoed by a German U- Boat off the coast of Ireland. It killed 1,198 people and left 761 adrift in the ocean. The sinking turned many public opinions to opposition to Germany.
More about the RMS Lusitania<a -
Submarine Warfare
href='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2CbYjruTcI' >Russian Submarine</a> Germany issues Unrestricted Submarine Warfare, and begin to fire upon non-military ships including freighters and tankers, most of which belonged to the U.S. and Britain. This was ordered because of frustration with the British blockade. More about Unrestricted Sub Warfare<a -
U.S. Ends Diplomatic Relations With Germany
Diplomatic Communications EndedUS ends diplomatic relations with the Germans. Germany had been taking out American submarines and killing hundreds of Americans without warning, which was against the neutral sea rights. Germany halted attacks for a little while, but later stated that they would continue submarine warfare. President Wilson then decided to end diplomatic relations with the Germans in order to maintain the integrity of the United States. -
German Telegram Intercepted
Zimmermann Telegram
Britain sends a telegram to President Wilson they had intercepted from Germany and decrypted. The telegram, sent from Arthur Zimmermann to the German Ambassador in Mexico, told him to request Mexico to declare war on the U.S. if they joined the Allies. -
America Enters the War
America Enters war
United States joins Britain, France, and Russia (the Allies) to fight in World War 1. Many Americans did not want to join the war, but wanted instead to remain neutral. The Allies were fighting the Axis, which was made up of Germany and Austro-Hungary. -
United States Deploys Troops
U.S. Deploys Troops
American Naval forces reach Britain, just three days after the declaration of war. In contrast, General John J. Pershing, the man appointed to command the U.S. army in Europe, did not arrive in Europe until June 14; roughly a week later , the first 14,000 U.S. troops arrived in France to begin combat training. -
Selective Service Act
Sighning of Document
Six weeks into the war, the United States President Wilson signed the Selective Service Act. Anyone between the ages of 21-30 were required to sign up for the army. -
German and Russian Treaty
German and Russian TreatyGermany and Russia sign the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. The treaty officially ended all involvement of Russia in World War 1, and included Russia relinquishing a huge amount of land to the germans and Austro hungarians. -
Treaty of Versailles
Treaty signing
The Treaty of Versailles. A peace settlement between Germany and the Allied Forces that officially ended World War I. The Germans were given three weeks to accept the treaty that was supposed to punish them. They found many faults in the treaty, but they accepted it. However, the treaty did not hurt the Germans very much and is said to have laid the foundation for the eventual rise of the Nazis in World War II.
