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Assassination of Franz Ferdinand
This was known as the "spark" that started the war. The Serbian Gavrillo Pincep was the assassin instructed by the government to kill the Arch-Duke of Austria Hungary. Pincep shot Ferdinand and his wife when they came driving down the road while he was touring the capital city of Bosnia. All of Europe was itching for war, so Austria Hungary used this as an excuse to declare war on its timy enemy Serbia. -
Germany Declares War on Russia
The Russians had a treaty with Austria Hungary, so when war was declared, They immeadiately began to mobilize, or prepare for war. Germany tried to get them to stop, but Russia didn't listen. -
Scheiffen Plan
Germany declares war on France and devises the Scheiffen Plan-- they head west to invade Belguim to get to France and knock them completely out of the war, then head back east and take care of Russia. -
Britain declares war on Germany
Britain joins France and Russia against Germany and aid the Allies on the Western Front. -
U.S. = neutral
Woodrow Wilson declares the United States to be neutral in WW1. -
Battle of the Marne
Germany is stopped by a French and British force at the river Marne at the Western Front. Trench warfare is used and there is a stalemate from 1914-1917. -
Warzone around G.B.
Germany declares warzone around Great Briatin. Any ship that enters has a risk of being sunk by a U-boat. -
Lusitania sinks
The Lusitania, a British "cruise ship" is sunk by a German U-boat in the war zone. This carried over 100 american passengers. -
Zimmerman Telegram
Germany sends a telegram to Mexico asking for them to join the war in return for U.S. territory. Great Britain intercepts this message and informs the U.S. government. -
U.S. declares war on Germany
Wilson gives in and joins the war. Troops are sent over with General John J. Pershing. -
Russian Revolution
The Bolsheviks overthrow the Russian government and sign a treaty with Germany, then Russia exits the war. Germany no longer has to focus on Russia, so all of the troops are focused onto the Western front. -
German Breakthrough on Western Front
The Germans reach 50 miles within Paris. -
Chateau Thierry
America helps the French save Paris and stop the German advance. This turns the tide of the war. -
Belleau Wood
Allies advance through French forest and begin to break through German lines. -
St. Mihiel
the first time that airplanes were used in WW1. General Pershing drives back the Germans who are now in full retreat. -
Argonne Forest
Dense forest with lots of machine guns and barbed wire. Lost 120,000 American troops i 47 days of fighting. Sgt. York was a hero in this battle: he destroyed a machine gun nest, captured 132 prisoners, and killed 25 machine gunners. -
Armstice
Germany's back was broken, so an armstice or cease fire was signed. The conflicts were not actually resolved, but the fighting was over. -
Treaty of Versailes
This was made by four men in the beautiful palace near Versailes in France. Wilson proposed fourteen points for the treaty, but almost all of them were rejected. instead, a much harsher treaty was made that required Germany to pay 33 billion dollars in reparations andreduce the amount of men in the army to 100,000. Many people believe that the punishments made fo the Germans could have led to WW2.