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Balkan Wars
The Balkan Wars were two successive military fights that took almost all of the Ottoman empires's territory. Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece, and Montenegro and the Ottoman Empire were called the Balkan League but all became enemies. This league was big enough to feed a force of 750000 men. War was declared on turkey. Then eventually, the Bulgarians defeated the man Ottoman forces. But eventually, the Turkish army was so weak that it concluded with an armistice. -
Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand
Ferdinand was the Archduke of Austria-hungry. One day he and his wife Sophie traveled to Bosnia. As they were riding in an open-backed car Serbian terrorists threw bombs, while fleeing the driver drove past Gavrilo Princip who shot and killed Ferdinand. The assassination of the archduke lead to the biggest battle in Europes's history. -
World War I begins
After the assassination of the archduke, Austria-Hungry declares war on Serbia. With both of these countries having allies it created a domino effect making war gain in size fairly quickly. It separated into the allied powers and the central powers. This war would continue. As well as more countries getting involved with the war. for about 4 years. -
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Gallipoli
This was an unsuccessful attempt by the allied powers. It was to control a sea group from Russia to Europe. It started off on the wrong note with a failed naval attack by British forces. Then they had help from Australian and New Zealand troops but lacked knowledge of the landscape. As well as the Turkish making successful pushes. After facing a lot of casualties the Allied forces made a break for it and evacuated. -
Lusitania sinks
The sinking was a great disaster and accident that killed 1,195 passengers. Within that 1195 passenger, 123 Americans were killed. It was sunken by a German u-boat aka submarine. At the time the united states was a neutral country, But relations with Germany quickly strained. This caused an anti-German campaign. After, this set off some events that would lead America into WW1. -
Verdun
This was an intense battle where the French were defending from the Germans. The french were order to take their positions without regard to casualties. But this didn't work and made it easy for the Germans to advance about six more miles to there destination. The germans would slowly but surely make their ways up the chains like collecting strongholds like fort Vaux. But eventually the french could strike back and regained there lost forts and territory. There were about 1.25million casualties. -
Somme
This battle was an offensive to go against the German forces. there were about 19000 casualties on the first day alone. The battle was around 5 months long. About 3 million soldiers fought there. By the end, there were about 1 million dead and injured. It was well known for its trench warfare and of how carnage it was. But by the end, there was a lot of damage inflicted on German forces as well as knowledge. -
Russian Revolution
The Russian Revolution was one of the biggest Russian political events. It ended the Romanov dynasty and imperial rule. During the revolution Vladimir Lenin took power. Also, the Bolsheviks had a lot of influence, being Vladimir's followers. This is what made the Soviet Union turn to a communist party. -
Zimmermann Note
The Zimmermann Note was a coded message made by Arthur Zimmermann. Arthur was a German foreign secretary. It was meant to be sent to the ambassador of Mexico but was intercepted and was deciphered. It was deciphered by British intelligence. It said that Germany wanted Mexico to join the war and restore Mexico's lost territories. Then the British forwarded it to the United States president. -
U.S. enters war
When the war first began Woodrow Wilson declared that the united states would go neutral. But eventually, pressure started to build. They had the British as one of our closest trading partners in the need of assistance. As well as with the sinking of the Lusitania with American passengers. This caused American citizens to protest against Germany. Till eventually, Wilson chose to enter WW1. -
Russia withdraws from war
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk made it so Russia would be abandoning the there allies and also giving Ukraine and Finland. Russia's involvement made it easier for Vladimir Lenin’s revolution to succeed. At first Russia and Germany had an armistice and peace talks. But Germany wanted its independence from Russia. This made fighting continue. Then when Germany was about to strike ww1 ended with an armistice. -
Chateau-Thierry
During this conflict, the French were losing to Germany but then American troops got sent to the French as reinforcements. The Germans had thought little of American troops. But, in reality, the American troops ended up having a better outcome. They had more precision in their trenches and they ruthlessly kept pushing the Germans. Eventually, the U.S had machine guns overlooking on the Chateau-Thierry bridge that helped the french retreat. Then making the Germans eventually retreat. -
Argonne
The Argonne attack was carried out by French and American divisions. There were about 37 divisions. Their aim was to cut off the German's second army. The Americans were put on the main attacking role. This made it the largest American-run offensive. In the push, American troops used mustard gas and phosgene shells. As well as 500 aircraft for support. America won that battle but the germans were still putting on a fight. -
Armistice
The Armistice of 1918 was massive. It ended the conflict that has continued for four years. It made way for the league of nations to exist and settle their differences. The reason it ended in an armistice was that it would be easier. Germany agreed because they were weak and feared being conquered. Which helped to end one of history's biggest wars. -
Treaty of Versailles signed
The treaty of Versailles was signed on June 29,1919. Germany got hit with the short end of the stick. About 15 parts and 440 articles redid German boundaries. As well as Germany agreeing to pay reparations. It was meant to take apart Germany but ended up making a gateway for Hitler to take power. -
First meeting of the League of Nations
The first meeting of the league of nations happened 2 years after the ending of ww1. The leading advocate was Woodrow Wilson. Wilson proposed a 14 point proposal to finally bring an end to the carnage of war. The league of nations was accepted in 1919. Then Wilson presented the treaty of Versailles. Which would later cause WW2.
