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World War 1 - Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was killed in Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip, who was part of a Serbian nationalist group called the Black Hand. This assassination triggered a series of alliances and conflicts, starting World War 1. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, and Russia prepared to defend Serbia. Germany then declared war on Russia and its ally, France, and Britain joined the war to support Belgium and France. -
World War 1 - Battle of Marne
The Battle of the Marne (Sep. 5-12, 1914) was an important and early fight in World War 1 where French and British forces stopped the German advance into France. There were big troop movements and heavy fighting, causing many deaths on both sides. The Allies’ success made the Germans retreat and give up their plan for a quick victory. This battle started trench warfare, which lasted on the Western Front for the next four years. -
World War 1 - Sinking of the Lusitania
The British ship RMS Lusitania was hit and sunk by a German submarine near Ireland. The attack killed 1,198 people, including 128 Americans. This caused anger in the United States and made people more against Germany. It helped change American opinion to support the Allies, leading to the U.S. joining the war in 1917. -
World War 1 - Battle of Verdun
The Battle of Verdun (Feb. 21-Dec. 18, 1916) was a very long and deadly fight in World War 1, lasting almost 10 months. French and German armies fought, causing about 700,000 soldiers to be killed, hurt, or missing. The Germans wanted to weaken France by causing many deaths, but the French fought back strongly. Verdun became a symbol of French strength and pride, and its defense affected the war greatly. -
Frank Woodruff Buckles - Enlisted Underage
Frank Woodruff Buckles had difficulty enlisting because of his age. Frank was 16 in the summer of 1917 and he went to the state fair in Wichita, Kansas. He found a Marines recruiting station and told the sergeant he was 18, but he had to be 21. He went back a week later and gave his age as 21, but was told he wasn't heavy enough. Eventually, he was sent to Logan, Colorado, where he was sworn into the US Army. He was told to go into the ambulance corp if he wanted to get into France right away. -
Frank Woodruff Buckles - Training
After enlisting into the US Army, Frank was sent to Fort Riley, Kansas, where he trained for ambulance service and trench retrieval. In Fort Riley, he explained it to be quite different. They were first in tents, and the food was prepared differently, using the big GI cans with fire underneath it to prepare whatever it was. But in Fort Logan, he said it was very military. “You waited to sit down at the table until the sergeant arrived. That was the beginning there.” -
Frank Woodruff Buckles - Casual
Frank was a part of a group with 102 men called the First Ft. Riley Casual Detachment. (Casual in the military means unassigned). They were expecting to go directly to France but ended up in Winchester, England. During his stay in England, he drove a motorcycle sidecar, then Ford ambulances and cars. He enjoyed his time there but was eager to get to France. He began asking officers to be assigned in France and was eventually sent. -
Frank Woodruff Buckles - France
In the beginning of 1918, Frank got to France by joining the Army’s Ambulance Corps and volunteered to serve in Europe. In France, Frank took various assignments. His situation was different, he explained how most men belonged to a group, but he was alone. Some of his assignments included The Gironde Area, St. Andre de Cubzac, Basens, Bordeaux, and PanSulpice. -
World War 1 - Armistice Day
On November 11, 1918, the Allies and Germany signed an agreement to stop fighting, ending World War 1. They signed it on a train in the Forest of Compiegne in France. The fighting stopped at 11 a.m., on the 11th day of the 11th month. This day is remembered every year as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day. The end of the war brought big political changes and set the stage for major events in the 20th century. -
Frank Woodruff Buckles - Pow Escort Company
After the Armistice in 1918, Frank was with a POW Escort company to guard prisoners. These prisoners were being escorted back to Germany. He helped escort almost 650 prisoners. He was sent to Lindberg with prisoners and then went back to Koblenz later for an assignment.