World War I

By jcline001

  • Franz Ferdinand's Assassination

    Thanks, Gavrilo Princip!
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    Serbian Campaign

    633,500 casualties; Serbia versus Austro-Hungary, Germany, and Bulgaria. Lasts the entire war.
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    Tannenberg

    182,000 casualties, 170,000 Russians versus 12,000 Germans. First month of the war.
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    First Battle of the Marne

    83,000 casualties; First major battle of the war, kilometres from Paris. Resistance at the Marne River halts both sides, dig in and create the trench warfare (first of three Marne battles). Many consider this a French failure, but the Marne saved Paris and in effect France.
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    Gallipoli

    473,000 casualties; hope in opening a second front in the Ottoman Empire, the ‘sick man of Europe’ viewed as weak, the Ottoman empire resisted fiercely and prevented a breakout from the beaches. Resulted in ANZAC and a united spirit between Australia and New Zealand that has persisted ever since.

  • RMS Lusitania Sinks

    1,198 people died, among which are 128 Americans; this sinking is responsible for much of the world turning against Germany.
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    Battle of Verdun

    976,000 casualties. Attack by Germany to take Verdun ends in stalemate. One of the worst battles for France in the entire war.

  • Lord Kitchener's Drowning

    Died when HMS Hampshire was torpedoed by a U-Boat.
    "Lord Kitchener is drowned—there’s another shock to everyone’s tender hearts. And yet, why shouldn’t he die? We’re all dying. And the war will go on and on till we can’t stick it any longer, and Victory will greet us with a very dry smile and a ‘dud’ shell in each hand."
    -Siegfried Sassoon, diary entry dated June 7, 1916
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    Battle of the Somme

    1,219,201 casualties. Anglo-French attack becomes primarily British after Verdun; lasted months, did eventually force Germany back forty miles.
    60,000 British troops died in the very first day.

  • First Use of Tanks

    During the Battle of the Somme.
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    Battle of Arras

    278,000 casualties; minor allied victory but not breakthrough. Part of the Nivelle Offensive.
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    Passchendaele

    848,614 casualties; Battle in Flanders, minor successes but major casualties to both sides. (There's a great Iron Maiden song for this battle.)
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    Spring Offensive

    1,539,715 casualties; renewed offensive after the arrival of American troops, last-ditch effort to defeat the Allies. Third battle of the Marne fought during this time. American troops help to halt this offensive but aren’t quite instrumental.

  • Battle of Cantigny

    First American battle of World War I.
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    Hundred Days' Offensive/Summer Offensive

    1,855,369 casualties. Germany pushed all the way back to Hindenburg Line. Ends in Armistice.