World War I

(US) President Woodrow Wilson Inaugurated

Mar 4, 1913

President Woodrow Wilson, who would serve as commander in chief during World War I, officially becomes President for the first of two terms.

~(EU) Battle of Tannenberg

1914

The Russian army marched into Prussia. However, because of the differences in railway gauge between Russia and Prussia it was difficult for the Russians to get supplies through to their men. The Germans, on the other hand, used their railway system to surround the Russian Second army at Tannenberg before it’s commander could realise what was happening.

(EU) Archduke Franz Ferdinand Shot in Sarajevo

Jun 28, 1914

On this day, the Archduke of Austria-Hungary was shot by Gavrilo Princip. This event is often considered the spark for World War I, which would grow because of entangling alliances.

~(EU) Austria declares war on Serbia

Jul 28, 1914

Although Russia was allied with Serbia, Germany did not believe that she would mobilise and offered to support Austria if necessary.
However, Russia did mobilise and, through their alliance with France, called on the French to mobilise.

(EU) Germany attacks/declares war on France

Aug 3, 1914

Germany declared war on France because they were allies with Russia. France had refused to declare war on Germany, so they did.

(EU) Britain declares war on Germany

Aug 4, 1914

Belgium's ports were close to the British coast and German control of Belgium would have been seen as a serious threat to Britain. On 4 August 1914, when Germany attacked France through Belgium. Within hours, Britain declared war on Germany.

~(EU) Japan declares war on Germany

Aug 13, 1914

Japan declared war on Germany through her alliance with Great Britain, signed in 1902

~(EU) Russia declared war on Turkey

Nov 2, 1914

Because of the help given by Turkey to the German attack of Russia, Russia declared war on Turkey.

~(EU) Britain and France declare war on Turkey

Nov 5, 1914

Britain and France, Russia’s allies, declared war on Turkey, because of the help given to the German attack on Russia.

(EU) Christmas Truce of 1914

Dec 25, 1914

The sounds of rifles firing and shells exploding faded in a number of places along the Western Front in favor of holiday celebrations in the trenches and gestures of goodwill between enemies.

(EU) Armenian Genocide

Apr 24, 1915

There were large massacres of Armenian people. Many rich people from the United States without US government were helping those that were being affected by the genocides. Continued until 1917

(US) Sinking of the Lusitania

May 7, 1915

A German U-boat sank the Lusitania a British luxury ship. American passengers were on the ship and caused the United Sates to want to attack back.

(US) Election of 1916

1916

The election between Woodrow Wilson and Charles Evans Hughes. This was a very close election. Both were more on the intervention side of the

(US) United States chases Pancho Viila

Mar 14, 1916

Pancho Villa, a Mexican bandito had killed many American citizens. US tries to catch him but the military was to weak. They realized that if they could not catch this man they would not last very long in war. They were not militarily prepared.

(EU) Battle of Somme

Jul 1, 1916

The battle was preceded by a week long artillery bombardment of the German line which was supposed to destroy the barbed wire defences placed along the German line

~(US) Black Tom Explosion

Jul 30, 1916

The Black Tom explosion on July 30, 1916, in Jersey City, New Jersey, was an act of sabotage by German agents to destroy American-made munitions that were to be supplied to the Allies in World War I.

(US/EU) Zimmerman Telegram

Jan 19, 1917

Zimmerman(secretary of state) sent a message to German ambassador to form an alliance with Mexico. The plan was that Mexico would attack the USA so they would be distracted and so the US would not join into the European war. Great Britain figured out Germany's code and knew what they were planning.

(US) Woodrow Wilson asks Congress for a Declaration of War

Apr 2, 1917

President Woodrow Wilson asked Congress to declare war against Germany, saying, “The world must be made safe for democracy.”

(US) United States Declares War on Germany

Apr 6, 1917

The United States of America declared war on Germany in response to the sinking, by German U boats, of US ships.

~(US) Battle of Cantigny

May 25, 1918

The first major American battle and offensive of World War I. The U.S. 1st Division, the most experienced of the five American divisions then in France and in reserve for the French Army near the village of Cantigny, was selected for the attack.

~(US) Battle of Belle Wood fought by American soldiers

Jun 1, 1918

Battle of Belleau Wood begins. The first large-scale battle fought by American soldiers in World War I begins in Belleau Wood, northwest of the Paris-to-Metz road.

~(US) The battle of Château-Thierry

Jul 18, 1918

American Expeditionary Forces under General John J. "Black Jack" Pershing. It was a battle in World War I as part of the Second Battle of the Marne, initially prompted by a German Spring Offensive.