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Germany Declares War On Russia
Resulting in the deaths of some 20 million soldiers and civilians and the physical devastation of much of the European continent.
Historical Signficiance - The event that was widely acknowledged to have sparked the outbreak of World War I -
Period: to
World War 1
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Germany Declares War On France
Cause and Consequence- Belgium denies permission for German forces to pass through to the France/Belgium border. Germany invades Belgium to outflank the French army. -
The United Kingdom declares war on Germany, after Germany invades Belgium
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Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia and Serbia declares war on Germany
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U.S. President Woodrow Wilson announces the U.S. will remain neutral
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The First Battle of the Marne begins
Trench warfare begins as soldiers on both sides dig in -
Battle of Ypres begins
- In the first week of April 1915, the Canadian troops were moved from their quiet sector to a bulge in the Allied line in front of the City of Ypres. 1)Historical Perspective - The troops fought in trenches, living in filfthy conditions making it hard for them to live. 2)Continuity & Change - Chlorine gas was introduced.
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Turkey entered the war on Germany’s side.Trench warfare started to dominate the Western Front
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The Second Battle of Ypres begins
It is during this battle that the Germans first use poison gas. HIstorical Signficiance- They relased 160 tons of chlorine gas, some troops stood in shock and died, other fled and left a 4 mile long gap. The Germans threatened to push forward and that would mean giving up 50,000 Canadian and -
The Battle of Gallipoli begins
This battle strenghtened the alliance between New Zleand, Turkey and Austrualia. HIstorical Significiance- The battle encouraged the alliance between countries. Continuity & Change- battle has been deemed useless and a waste of time and men -
The Allies started the evacuation of Gallipoli
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Conscription introduced in Britain
- The Military Service Act states that men 18 to 41 yearsold who are phycically able have to join the army.
- With the exception of married, widowed with children, serving in the Royal Navy, a minister of religion, or working a specific job such as a farmer which is needed back in Canada to tend to crops and livestock to send out to where they are fighting. Historical Perspective - People at that time did not want to join the war due to the high rates of casualities
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Battle of Verdun
- The Battle of Verdun was the longest battle of World War I and was one of the bloodiest. Cause & Effect - tThe French lost approximately 550,000 men, while the Germans lost close to 430,000 men. It was a brutal, long and harsh campaign, one which lasted over eleven months and created many problems for the Germans as a result.
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Battle of Somme
- This was symbolised as the horrors of trench warfare in WW1.
- Tanks are first introduced into battle. Cause & Effect - The British facedmuch criticism about the huge number of casulties in this battle. In the first day alone, the British army sees 60 000 casulties had 420 000 in total. Historical Signficiance - The significant amount of men loss, symbolizes the horror of trench warfare
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turning point #1
In April 1917, President Wilson petitioned Congress to declare war against Germany and ordered troops to fight in Europe. The effect of the U.S. military forces on the ground war was minimal, but the ability to move such large numbers of troops gave German forces the impression of a limitless supply of Allied manpower. -
The United States declares war on Germany
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Battle of Vimy Ridge
The Canadians bring 42,600 tons of ammunition and 2,500 tons of daily rations. All four Canadian divisions are together for the first time. It took three days and 34,000 men but they captured Vimy Ridge. Most of the men who came out were Canadian, so this was a great win. casualties: 10,602 -
The Battle of Passchendaele (also known as the Third Battle of Ypres) begins
- Three thousand artillery guns fired over four million shells.
- The British had lost 310,000 men and the Germans 260,000. Cause & Effect - The ferocity of the fighting, combined with the swamped landscape, produced an enormous casualty rate for both sides.
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Germany broke through on the Somme
- At the start of its ‘Spring Offensive’. Cause & Effect - The German Air Service launched a major campaign against the Royal Flying Corps but it failed.
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turning point #2
Also known as the Battle of the Marne, in which German General Erich von Ludendorff advanced too far and too fast ahead of his artillery and allowed the Allies to win the battle by depleting his forces. -
turning point #3
Allied forces breached the Hindenburg Line and forced the German troops to retreat. As the Central Forces experienced growing battlefield shortages and dwindling support on the home front, Germany was left with no option but to call for an armistice and end the war in November 1918. -
The official date of the end of World War One
-Germany signed an armistice with the Allies
-Fighting ends on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month 1) Continuity & Change - Now honourly known as Rememberance Day 2)Cause & Effect - Many countries began to adopt more liberal forms of government, and a hostile Germany was forced to pay for a large deal of war reparations, which ultimately led to the start of World War II.
