-
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Archduke Franz Ferdinand Carl Ludwig Joseph Maria of Austria was the heir presumptive to the throne of Austria-Hungary. The assassination of Franz Ferdinand was what started the war between Austria-Hungary and Serbia. Serbia later declared war on Austria which later was named WW1.
https://www.history.com/news/the-assassination-of-archduke-franz-ferdinand-100-years-ago -
The sinking of RMS Lusitania
The sinking of the RMS Lusitania occurred on Friday, May 7, 1915. As Germany waged submarine warfare against the UK which had implemented a naval blockade of Germany. The Germans killed 1198 people during this attack on the ship. The ship was carrying around four million pounds of ammunition, for all types of guns. -
The Zimmerman Telegraph was created
The Zimmerman Telegraph was invented on January 11, 1917. The Zimmerman Telegram was a communication system from the German foreign office. It sent out coded messages to allies, so that if a foreign power gets it they can't decode it. The Zimmerman Telegram was a smart strategy and a great impact on WWI. -
The United States joins WW1
On April 6, 1917, the U.S. joined its allies Britain, France, and Russia to fight in World War I. Under the command of Major General John J. Pershing, more than 2 million U.S. soldiers fought on battlefields in France. Many Americans were not in favor of the U.S. entering the war and wanted to remain neutral. However, the United States did decide to join the war and help they're allies.
http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/jazz/jb_jazz_wwi_1.html -
The United States declares a draft for the war
The draft is a method that countries use when they are running short on soldiers and they need more, but no one enlists. The Draft is when there are all the eligible men for war, with their names written down on a piece of paper and stick it in a bowl. After that they draw from it, they drew about 10,500 names for America. If they drew your name, then you would have to go to war.
http://memory.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/story/loc.natlib.afc2001001.55537/ -
Joins the Marines
Keller was enlisted into the Marines when he was only 19 years old. Keller valued the other services, and supported them. Keller served in the Marines two years, 1918, and 1919. Keller also served at around fifteen different camps around the world.
https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/arthur-roland-keller -
President Wilson's 14 points
The Fourteen Points was a statement of principles for peace that was used for peace negotiations in order to end World War I. On January 18, the fourteen points were finalized. Wilson thought by making the fourteen pints it would end the war, which he was right it helped bring peace to Germany.
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/wilson-delivers-fourteen-points-speech -
Keller deploys in Luxembourg
When Keller and a few hundred more soldiers were deployed in Luxembourg, Germany had most of the control. During this period, Luxembourg was allowed to retain its own government and political system, but all proceedings were overshadowed by the German army's presence. Despite the overbearing distraction of the occupation, the Luxembourg people attempted to lead their lives as normally as possible. -
Battle of Belleau Wood
The battle began on June 6, 1918, and was known to be one of the most brutal fights fought by American troops during the war. The 5th and 6th Marine Regiments, under the command of the U.S. Army's 2nd Division, were tasked with capturing Belleau Wood and clearing it of German soldiers. To launch their assault on the forest, the Marines first had to cross a wheat field into oncoming German machine gun fire. -
Keller and the rest of the Marines had no uniforms
Keller is proud to have joined the Marines, but he goes out of his way to commend the other services, noting that the Marines had to borrow uniforms from the Army when it was learned that their own uniforms were almost indistinguishable from those of the German Army. -
Armistice Day
On May 8, 1919, Edward George Honey, a journalist from Melbourne, Australia writes a letter to the London Evening News saying that the first anniversary of the armistice ended WW1, it was concluded on November 11, 1918. Also known as Veterans day, Armistice day recognizes all of the people that served or is serving in the military. -
Keller's friends and soldiers die from diseases
Keller notes that not all casualties from the war died violently; one day, replacement troops arrived from the U.S., and the next morning several were dead from the influenza epidemic that swept the world that year. During the Occupation, he and a fellow Marine lived in a German village as guests of a family, and over the course of six months, the Americans and their hosts forged a remarkable bond, helped by Keller’s facility with the German language. -
WW1 Ends
WW1 ends on November 11, 1918 when Germany decided to surrender. Not long after the other countries also decided to stop fighting, while the peace treaty was being determined. Great Britain, The united States, and Russia were the allies that won the war.
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/world-war-i-ends -
Keller travels to Germany
Keller and his marine friend were living in Germany with their host family. They lived there for 6 months, the Americans and their hosts grew very close. In 1918 the influenza epidemic was going world wide. They came home long after the outbreak was over. -
Treaty of Versailles
In 1919 The Treaty of Versailles was signed, this officially ended World War I. It ended the war that was going on at the time between Germany and the allied powers. The Peace Treaty was made to end war, and although it did end WW1, it was what started WW2. It took five months of negotiating between the allied powers to make the Peace Treaty.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/treaty-of-versailles-1
