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Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Archduke Franz Ferdinand's assasination occurred due to tensions that had built up from Bosnians not wanting to be a part of Austria-Hungary. Nationalism had grown in Bosnia and people were in such opposition of the Austria-Hungarian rule that they were ready to lash out and end it. Tensions continued to build as Austria-Hungary continued to control Serbia. This Nationalism and hatred finally lashed out during the assassination organized by the Serbian nationalist group the Black Hand. -
Machine Guns
At the beginning of the war the machine gun could fire 500 rounds per minute but they frequently encountered problems with the gun overheating. By the end of the war the machine gun was water-cooled to avoid overheating, it could fire nearly twice as many rounds as it could at the beginning of the war, and it was far lighter. Machine guns were often set up in trenches and used to cut through attacking enemies, but they were also mounted onto vehicles and aircraft as an offensive weapon. -
Gas is Weaponized
France was the first to weaponize and use gas that they fought with it in 1914. France developed and used tear gas that could cause blindness and difficulty breathing. Another gas that was developed was made with chlorine and could quickly cause damage to the lungs and kill an unprotected soldier, but its use didn’t last long because it was easy to spot because of its color. The most common gas used was mustard gas which could cause chemical burns on contact and lung damage upon inhalation. -
Trench Warfare Begins
Trenches were mostly used on the Western Front in order to provide cover from enemy machine guns, rifles, and artillery fire. Trenches caused the majority of the war to be a stalemate for both sides, and along with this there were many casualties that came from the ineffective attack on trenches. In trenches soldiers had to deal with the constantly wet conditions in the trenches that caused trench foot, artillery bombardment, and the unsanitary conditions of the trenches. -
Tanks Developed for Combat
Tanks began to be developed by the British as a combination of tractors and caterpillar tracks. They were intended for getting through obstacles like trenches and barbed wire. The tanks were successful in field testing and were beginning to appear on the battlefield in mid-1916. The tanks were first put in use at the Battle of the Somme where they were useful but encountered mechanical failures. By 1917 tanks were faster, more reliable, and could sometimes be the determining factor of a battle. -
Airplane Combat Excels
When the war began planes were mostly used to gather information about the enemy territory behind their trenches. Soon weapons such as sharp objects to drop on enemies were added to the aircraft, but this was quickly exchanged for lightweight machine guns. Aircraft were soon used to aid ground troops in their attacks. Planes could drop bombs and explosive on enemy troops to help take some of them out. Unfortunately with airplanes dropping bombs came the dangerous air raids on civilians at home. -
Battle of Jutland
This battle occurred from 31 May - 1 June 1916 and was the largest naval battle of WWI. The Germans had planned to attack the British fleet, but the British soon found out and mobilized to fight. This battled displayed the British’s naval dominance and allowed the British to establish control of shipping lanes and create a blockade. Thanks to this battle the Germans did not try to engage in any more serious fights with the British in the North Sea. -
Battle of Somme
The Allies began the Battle of Somme by launching a one-week artillery attack that included 1.75 million shells at the Germans. They then moved the front forward, but they met more than the expected resistance from barbed wire and underground German defenses. The Allies were unable to break the German lines and in the end, they only moved forward seven miles. The battle was one of the most costly battles of the war and resulted in over 1 million total casualties. -
America Enters the War
America had been practicing neutrality but it became harder to stay neutral as the war continued to go on and affected America more and more. In the end, there were two events that led to this neutrality ending. One of the events was the sinking of the Lusitania, a ship that was sunk by Germany and was carrying 100 Americans. Alongside this was the Zimmerman Telegram, from Germany, trying to get Mexico to join them and turn against America. This was the last straw in ending American neutrality. -
Attempt to get New Crew Members
C.D. Stearns informs Nash that there are men who are interested in joining the crew at the U.S.S. Roanoke. Stearns says that he would prefer to have the men in the crew be people who want to be there as opposed to being people who don’t want to be there. Stearns wants Nash to try and get these men on the crew if possible. Nash is even instructed to try to talk to Lieutenant Commander Moore to try and get them on the crew. -
Nash is Transferred to the U.S.S. Roanoke
Lucius B. Nash is sent from his duty in the office of the District Enrolling Officer to a new post. Lucius is transferred to the port where the U.S.S. Roanoke is currently located so that he can serve on duty on the ship. There he is supposed to report to the Commanding Officer to receive instructions for his new duty on the U.S.S. Roanoke. One of the only items that he is requested to bring with him is his health and service records. -
Nash Transferred to Naval Reserve
Nash has been successful and is well qualified for his job and this is recognized by his superiors. Nash is moved to The Naval Reserve Class 2 of the U.S. Naval Reserve Force. This is done in accordance with the Regulations governing the Organization and Administration of the Naval Reserve Force. Nash is recognized for his qualifications to work on board Navy combat ships. Nash is officially transferred to duty as a part of the Naval Reserve on July 1, 1918. -
U.S.S. Roanoke Mines Successfully Laid
The Crew of the U.S.S. Roanoke has a mining operation. Unfortunately, there is a grounding during this operation and it creates extra work and challenges that the crew has to work through. The crew works very hard and in the end, the operation is successful. C.D. Stearns personally sends a letter congratulating the crew on all of their hard work and the successful operation. -
Admiral W.S. Sims Gives a Speech to the Crew
Admiral W.S. Sims gives a speech congratulating all of the men who were involved in the mining operation during the war. He is proud of how they contributed to the war efforts and helped their country. Along with this, he believes that the men were also exemplary soldiers. Sims says that the efforts with laying mines have mostly been secret so the men can go home and tell everyone about what they did and how they contributed. -
Treaty of Versailles
WWI ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919. Germany was blamed for the war and was forced to pay for this fact and make up for it. Under the treaty Germany was forced to pay reparations that would go to other countries to rebuild and pay for their losses. Along with this the land that Germany had was redrawn and established the new boundaries of the country. The treaty included 15 parts and 440 articles that established the resolution of the war.
