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Archduke Franz Ferdinand Assassinated
"Tensions rise across Europe. Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, is shot dead in Sarajevo, capital of the Austrian province Bosnia. Franz Ferdinand’s killer, Gavrilo Princip, is backed by Serbian terrorist group ‘the Black Hand’. Austria-Hungary issues Serbia with an ultimatum, calling for Serbia to allow Austria-Hungary to be represented in proceedings against the guilty. Serbia agrees to most of the demands, but not this one". -
War In Africa
"By 1914 the German Empire has four colonies in East, West and South Africa. British and French forces invade Togoland the site of a key German wireless station, Kamina. It provides communications for German ships in the Atlantic. The Germans destroy it to stop it falling into the Allies’ hands and soon after surrender Togoland".
the German -
Sinking The Lusitania
"A civilian passenger liner, the Lusitania, is sunk off the coast of Ireland by a torpedo fired by a U-Boat. More than 1,200 people die – including 128 Americans. Although Germany had issued warnings, the world is shocked by this unprecedented attack on civilians. This devastating event pushes America closer to joining the war". -
Indian Army Joins War
"Britain calls on its Empire and 1.5 million Indian soldiers and 1.3 million Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders and South Africans fight on the allied side. France also draws on its colonies in Africa, including the famous Zouaves – with their bright red and blue uniforms – and the Spahis, both from North Africa. The war is now truly global". -
Russia Mobilizes
"Britain calls for international mediation to resolve the worsening crisis. Russia urges German restraint, but the Russians begin partial troop mobilization as a precaution. The Germans then warn Russia on its mobilization and begin to mobilize themselves". -
First Tanks
"The British employ the first tanks ever used in battle, at Delville Wood. Although they are useful at breaking through barbed wire and clearing a path for the infantry, tanks are still primitive and they fail to be the decisive weapon, as their designers thought they would be". -
Selective Service Act
"When he went before Congress on April 2, 1917, to deliver his war message, President Woodrow Wilson had pledged all of his nation’s considerable material resources to help the Allies—France, Britain, Russia and Italy—defeat the Central Powers. What the Allies desperately needed, however, were fresh troops to relieve their exhausted men on the battlefields of the Western Front, and these the U.S. was not immediately able to provide". -
Battle Of Cantigny
"Into the village of Cantigny we go. There remained nothing but ruins. We passed on through to the other side of the village. Here we encountered barbed wire entanglements but it was our good fortune to get through these without any mishap. But once across I notice that the boys are falling down fast. A shell burst about ten yards in front of me and the dirt from the explosion knocked me flat on my back. I got up again but could not see further than one hundred feet". -
Field Diary
6/11 "on the front, pulled in at night, first American troops on German territory. We are in alsace near soppele bas & bretton & fontaine. Put in hard work here fixing positions & dugouts & camouflage. Germans shelled near us but never found us. Bum meals niggar in the fence at hdqts of bat. Some where. Some fine french men were here but moved and alerians came in. -
Field Diary
6/21"on guard for a little while and loafed & talked with french men & sat in store for a while. Went to bed at eight bells. No mail. Top left for brest today going back to the states as instructor. Our sergt is now top & strickfaden is our sergt makes him leading sergt on gun squad. One corp went back. Good riddance to the top. -
Field Diary
Got up 6:30 earliest for a long time since we went on the range. Had breakfast and at 10:30 went to the gas house and tested our masks. Went for a walk this afternoon and had a good time sight seeing. May leave any time. Nothing special. Germans on full retreat on the marne. Good news. -
Field Diary
Slept most of the morn & packed up after dinner & cleaned our rifles & greased wheels. Left for belfort at 6:30 & loaded at 10 ready to go at 12. Box cars again. 8 cheveaux and 40 hommes. Do not know where we are going. -
Field Diary
8 bells. Just finished breakfast. Left at 3 bells yesterday and traveled about 10 kilometers. We are set and all ready to fire. On guard this morn & a gas alarm was given on both sides of our position & i sounded our claxon & other guards had clackers, but we only kept our masks on a few minutes. I did not hear any shots fired, shells rather & and there was no wind blowing so i tested & sniffed around & couldn't find anything suspicous so i shed mine. -
Battle Of St Mihel
"Headquarters, United States First Army...became operational in September... When the situation [in the Aisne-Marne] stabilized...Pershing obtained Foch's permission to take over the St. Mihiel sector instead, leaving three or four American divisions on the Vesle under French command. Preparations for the St. Mihiel attack [the first phase of an anticipated thrust into Germany through Metz] -- long planned by Pershing and his staff -- were begun at once". -
Armistice Day
"Veterans Day is a U.S. legal holiday dedicated to American veterans of all wars. In 1918, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in World War I, then known as “the Great War.” Commemorated in many countries as Armistice Day the following year, November 11th became a federal holiday in the United States in 1938. In the aftermath of World War II".
