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First Spark
Franz Ferdinand assassinated by a Serbian citizen named Gavrilo Princip. This began the war between Austria- Hungary and Serbia. Ferdinand was assassinated on July 28, 1914. This was the initial spark to the World War. Being allies with Austria- Hungary, Germany helped them against Serbia. -
Trenches of War
Trench warfare was used mostly on the Western side. It was estimated that around 2,490 kilometers were dug within World War I. They were very dirty and caused many infections. The most common infection related with trench warfare was called trench foot. It caused many feet to rot off from too much moisture. -
Louis Brandeis
President Woodrow Wilson nominates Louis Brandeis to the Supreme Court on this day in 1916. This means that Louis Brandeis would be the first Jewish Supreme court. Being in the 1900's, this was a big deal. There was stir across the nation about this subject which almost resulted in a war. A war within a war would not be good for the United States. -
First Battle Tanks
The first tanks to be used in war were controlled by British soldiers at Delville wood. Many thought they would be the factor to win the battle. They were wrong. The tanks are useful for breaking fences and clearing paths for the infantry. The infantry was the prime killing source for almost all countries. -
Intercepting Messages
On January 11, 1917, a coded message was intercepted by the United States. This message was meant to go to the German ambassador to Mexico from the German foreign secretary Arthur Zimmerman. The message was posted on the front cover of newspapers throughout the United States. The message was a proposal to join forces if US was to declare war on Germany. -
Selective Service Act
The Selective Service Act was passed to make it legal for the president to draft soldiers. A draft was the act of being called to war in time of need. The Selective Service Act was signed by President Wilson. Many people believed that this was destroying democracy whilst fighting for it abroad. -
Trench Foot
Charles Stanley Lamb was a private in the first World War. He writes to his family the struggles of surviving in the trenches for months at a time. He says “we are getting all new equipment, guns, much clothing and little help for the trenches, foot powder, trench shoes, etc.” Lamb needs the new clothing as he’s been in the same clothes for maybe a month. He would need the foot powder and trench shoes so that he can help prevent his foot from rotting off. -
Charles Stanley Lamb
Lamb tells of his perils aboard the old naval ship he was put on which would travel through the Hudson river. He departed from New York with many trials. He would be put in a top bunk, which was hung from pipes. The ship he boarded had once been a German ship; the Corona. It still had the German symbols and illustrations on it’s walls. Lamb says that he would hit his head on the pipes above his bed almost every morning. -
Charles Struggles with sleeping
In a postcard to home, Lamb tells his family of all the extra things he is issued. He says that “we are issued too much junk. The shaving brushes are being used as stencil brushes to mark our clothes, the toothbrush to clean our guns, the hair brush to shine our shoes, the extra underwear and socks to wipe our guns, etc.” He tells of his endeavor between getting rid of things that he feels are unneeded and keeping too many things. -
Sedition Act
The sedition act was a law passed in 1918 which made speaking out against war illegal. People who were committed of this act would be fined $10,000 or up to 20 years in prison. In 1921, Congress repealed the act. Although the crime of sedition was largely eliminated by the famous publication case Sullivan v. New York Times, which determined that the press’s judgement of public officials was protected over the first amendment. -
Germany and Russia Peace
The Germans sign a peace treaty with the new Bolshevik government of Russia. The treaty gave Germany the former land of Poland and Ukraine. It also gave peace with Germany and the Eastern front. The peace allowed Germany to put soldiers on the Western front. This would cause problems for the US, Britain, and French. -
St Mihiel
The Battle of St. Mihiel begins when 300,000 American troops under the command of General Pershing. The troops would begin fling themselves into the German lines. -
The Armistice
The Armistice is the treaty between Germany, France, and Great Britain. Though the Treaty of Versailles, which would have peace between nations, would not be signed until 6 months afterward, this created peace for a while. The Armistice began on the 11th hour of the 11th day in the 11th month. It was not finalized until 6 months later. -
Hiking Through Troubles
By this point, Lamb had been on a hike for almost 40 miles. He tells that “I have not had my breeches off during that period except to change my drawers (!)” With unsanitary ways and relentless miles of walking, Lamb and his fellow soldiers would fight for their country. To not be clean is to not be healthy; to not be healthy is to not function properly. Fighting in these conditions was very tough. -
Homesick
Lamb tells not of the battles fought, but the natural occurrences that may take lives. He explains of a fallen tree close to his camp ground, which, luckily, did not hurt anyone, and ruthless winds. Physical battles are hard on their own, however, Lamb had missed Christmas morning with his family. He went to the church in a nearby town that morning and feasted on the food provided, and continued to think of his family. The physical fights and the mental fights are both a battle hard fought.
