World War I

Reason - 1

Mar 1, 1914

• Wilhelm told Franz Joseph, the Austrian emperor, that he no longer expected a general European war.

Reason - 2

Apr 1, 1914

• Wilhelm rejected an Austro-Hungarian proposal that Habsburg forces occupy the ministate of Montenegro, an ally of Serbia.

Reason - 3

May 26, 1914

• The Home Rule Act is passed in Britain. Civil war with Ireland becomes a possibility.

Reason - 4

Jun 28, 1914

• Archduke Francis Ferdinand is assassinated

Reason - 5

Jun 28, 1914

• Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia, beginning World War I

Battle of Tannenberg

Aug 26, 1914

• Multiple ambushes were conducted by the Russian army on August 26th, 1914, in one of the first battles of World War I.
• This military strategy failed because the Russian side's miscommunication spread and weakened the army, led by General Samsonov of the Second Army and General Lenenkamp of the First Army.
• Colonel Hoffman and General Ludendorff block Russian supplies and take enough guns and equipment back to Berlin

First Battle of Marne

Sep 6, 1914

• In the first Battle of Marne, radio intercepts and power transport were used for the first time in a documented war, so this was an important war.
• During the Paris Battle of Sept. 5, 1914, the French 6th Army commander Joffre drove a bus and taxi through the cracks between the French and British forces.

Battle of Gallipoli

Apr 25, 1915

• In World War I, the Allies attempted to gain the upper hand at Gallipoli but were unsuccessful.
• It was the beginning of a naval attack on Turkey's Dardanelles, which lasted from February 1915 to January 1916.
• It is estimated that more than 500,000 soldiers were lost in the battle that lasted until January, most of them in the retreating Allies.

Battle of Verdun

Feb 21, 1916

• One of the longest battles of World War I was the Battle of Verdun.
• German general von Falkenhayn's tacit desire to take as many French lives as possible led to the Battle of Verdun on February 21, 1916.
• Due to the deaths on both sides exceeding 600,000, the German commander removed General von Falkenhain from his post on December 18, 1916, allowing the Germans to flee.

Battle of Jutland

Apr 30, 1916

• This was important battle for Germany because this battle changed the course of the First World War. In WW1, they were unable to regain their former power and control.
• Although Germany retreated on the 1st of June, they claimed victory because they took down 14 British ships and 6,784 British soldiers compared to Germany’s 3,058 death.
• After the battle, the British claimed victory since they were able to maintain their blockade against the Germans.

Battle of the Somme

Jul 1, 1916

• This was a major battle on the Western Front involving Germany since it was a joint operation between British and French forces that badly damaged on German positions in France.
• As German pressure on the French at Verdun intensified, more action on the Somme became urgent. As the joint attack, the British would then take the lead in the offensive.

Battle of Vimy Ridge

Apr 9, 1917

• The attack was the first time that all four divisions of the Canadian Corps attacked together
• Vimy Ridge was essential to the British Third Army's advance to the south and of exceptional importance in 1918 in checking German attacks in the area.
• The success of the Canadians had a profound impact on the planning of the Allies.
• The number of Canadian casualties was 10,602, with 3,598 deaths

Battle of Passchendaele

Jul 31, 1917

• Canada’s great victory costed 4,000 of death and 12,000 injured.
• Despite heavy rain, mud, and enemy fire, Canadian bravely fought at Passchendaele where nie Canadians earned the Victoria Cross( “the highest award for military valour that a Canadian could earn”) (Veterans Canada).
• Canada’s victory at Passchendaele further enhanced its reputation as the best offensive fighting force on the Western Front. Thie led Canada to gain respext on the international stage.

Battle of Amiens

Aug 8, 1918

• The Battle of Amiens began on August 8, 1918, with the Hundred Days Campaign, a four-month period of Allied success.
• After surviving the German Spring Offensive, Allied forces launched their own counterattacks and advanced continuously into the fall of 1918.
• The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) combined the most scientific artillery methods with flexible infantry firepower, tanks, and aircraft at the time, setting the bar for future warfare.