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Diseases During the War
The unsanitary conditions of the trenches used in WWI caused the spreading of many diseases. A disease that was specific to World War I was “trench fever”, a condition that caused a fever. The origin of this disease was unknown, but it was speculated that the spread of lice had a contribution to the condition. Other diseases that were common during the war include “trench foot”, dysentery, paratyphoid fever, soldier’s heart, war nephritis, and gas poisoning. -
"Shell Shock"
“Shell Shock” was the name for the trauma in soldiers caused by the horrors of the first World War. Extreme cases of this trauma would even cause medical issues in some soldiers. Some soldiers affected by shell shock would experience extreme anxiety, diarrhea, muscle spasms or motor tics, stomach cramps, the loss of sight, and more. Vivid flashbacks were also very common for veterans and could appear for no reason or be triggered by something that reminded them of battle. -
The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
The assassination of the Archduke of Austria-Hungary, Franz Ferdinand, was one of the main events that sparked World War I. On June 28, 1914, the Serbian Nationalist Gavrilo Princip shot Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie. The assassination occurred in Sarajevo, Bosnia. Gavrilo Princip was a member of the Serbian Nationalist group called The Black Hand, who believed that Austria-Hungary should not have power over Bosnia and Herzegovina. -
Trench Warfare
Trenches were a new method of battling during World War I. Trenches were deep, thin lines of ditches in the ground, where soldiers would hide as a method of defense. This method caused a large amount of deaths when soldiers would exit the trenches and enter “no-man’s-land” to attack. Disease and PTSD were very common in the trenches. A common disease was a painful condition called “trench foot”, which was the spreading of dead skin across the feet due to constant exposure to moisture. -
The Christmas Truce
The Christmas Truce during World War I began on Christmas Eve, when German and British soldiers began singing Christmas carols to each other from the trenches. On Christmas day, German soldiers started coming towards the Allies through no-man’s-land, saying “Merry Christmas” to the Allies. When the Allies saw that the soldiers were unarmed and meant no harm, they came out as well and shook hands with the German troops. The soldiers exchanged gifts and played soccer during this truce. -
Poison Gas Usage
During World War I, German troops took advantage of poison gas and used it more than anyone has in battle ever before. On April 22, 1915, at the Second Battle of Ypres, German forces used 150 tons of chlorine gas against the Allied Forces. This was the first time the Germans attacked with poison gas at such a massive scale. German forces also used tear gas, xylyl bromide, and mustard gas in battle, which forced the Allied Powers to start developing gas masks for protection. -
Lusitania Sinks
Lusitania was a British Ocean liner that was traveling from New York to Liverpool. It was sunk by a German U-boat on May 7,1915. 1,100 passengers out of 1,900 died in the attack, and over 120 Americans were included in the majority that died. This caused the United States to join the war, declaring war on Germany on April 2, 1917. -
The Zimmerman Telegram
During the war, Germany sent a telegram to Mexico, proposing an alliance agreement. The message proposed that Germany would help Mexico restore the Southern American States that were taken from their land. Britain was able to hear the message and decipher it by connecting to Germany’s overseas cable lines. Britain let America know of this agreement on March 1, 1917, making this event the most significant reason for the U.S. to declare war on Germany. -
Veteran Event - Letter to Father and Visiting Brother
In a letter to his father, Forbes talks about how he was able to see his brother during his furlough. His brother, Andrew, was also a soldier in the war, so it was difficult for them to see each other often. He also describes the time he visited one of his friends and got to play a game of ball with him. -
Veteran Event - Letter to Father
In this letter, Forbes Allan writes to his father from his camp in France. He tells of his experiences, describing the beauty of the countryside and what it’s like to be packed in a cattle car with 40 other soldiers. He says that his nights were cold, but he was able to sleep on straw again after being forced to sleep on uncomfortable slats. He also notes that he hopes to see his brother, after being seperated for a while. -
The End of The Great War
Towards the end of 1918, the Central Powers were losing to the Allies. Turkey signed a treaty with the Allied Powers in October 1918. Austria-Hungary had to surrender due to its increasing Nationalist movements. Germany ended World War I on November 11, 1918, when they ran low on resources and no longer had an alliance. -
Veteran Event - Christmas Card to Family
This Christmas card was written only a week after the war has ended. Forbes writes about seeing the Allies take guns, tanks, and other weapons from the Germans. He also briefly describes seeing monuments in France and lets his father know where his division will be going in the days to come. -
Veteran Event - Letter to Father After Christmas
In this note, Forbes explains that he found where his brother, Andrew, was stationed and got to visit him. He tells his family that he had a nice time seeing him and some friends he knew from home. He explains that Andrew will be able to come home sooner than him because his division needs to care for the sick soldiers in the army of occupations. He also tells his family that he had a good Christmas in France and that he wishes they would write to him more often. -
The Treaty of Versailles
After the war concluded, Allied leaders gathered at the Paris Peace Conference to discuss how to protect the world from a war that was as large as World War I. The Treaty was signed on June 28, 1919. The Treaty of Versailles punished Germany for the war, and the biggest effect was making Germany responsible for paying for all war reparations. -
Veteran Event - Honorable Discharge
Forbes Allan was honorably discharged from the army at the end of World War I. This document lists his personal information, as well as his condition when he first enlisted. It describes him as having good health both before and after the war, and notes that he received no injuries. His rank by the end of the war was a Corporal.
