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Archduke Assasination
Serbia is upset that Austria-Hungary has taken over Bosnia. Serbia believes that Bosnia belongs to them. A group in Serbia called the “Black Hand” plans to kill the king of Austria-Hungary, Archduke Franz Ferdinand. On June 28th, 1914, Archduke is assassinated by the Black Hand. Austria-Hungary then asked Germany to help it in a war against Serbia. Russia then decides to help out Serbia in this war and it goes from there. -
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Timespan of Revelence
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Germany Invades Belgium
On August 4, 1914, Germany, in an attempt to capture Paris, asked Belgium to let their army through the country. Belgium refused to let Germany pass through, thus Germany invaded Belgium. Since Britain is allies with Belgium and Britain declares war on Germany. This Officially starts WW1. -
Machine Guns
Although the machine gun was invented in 1884, the modern machine gun was first utilized in the “The Battle of the Mons”. Machine guns came in three forms: light machine guns, which somewhat similar to assault rifles, Heavy machine guns, which are often used as sentries, and the sub machine gun, they often resemble pistols since they were smaller. The heavy and light machine gun were made before the war and the submachine gun was made sometime in 1918, near the end of the war. -
The Chrismas Truce
After hellish weather seemed to have finally stop endlessly bombarding the trenches, some german soldiers started to sing silent night, the british,eventually joined and sang along with the german troops. This small instance of peace slowey evolved to ceasefire, soccer, and proper burial of fallen soldiers. Of course the generals of both sides did not approve of the truce, and in a matter time the sides were back to war. This outbreak of peace during war has since never happened again. -
The Flame Thrower
The flame thrower was eventually withdrawn from the frontline, but then re-added after some Germen officers realized the potential of using it as a weapon. The task of weaponizing the flamethrower was given to a chief firefighter Bernard Reddmund. Reddmund’s idea was to make the flamethrower as intimidating as possible in infantry attacks. He eventually made a detachable flamethrower that is light enough to be held, and powerful enough to be fired from a long distance. -
Male and Female Tanks
British tanks were first invented on September 15, 1915. The point of the tanks were to be able to trample enemy trenches and not be harmed by barbwire. The tanks were given two different names: “Male” and “Female” tanks. “Male” tanks have two large naval guns attached to them. “Female” tanks have normal machine guns mounted onto them. The names themselves are simply just a way to distinguish one type of tank to another. -
America Gets Involved
Throughout the war America had been sitting quietly and relatively neutral. At the most they had been sending supplies to Britain. Germany still needed them to stop sending supplies and decides to attack and sink the Lusitania, a large boat with more than a hundred American citizens. Germany then sent the “Zimmerman Telegram” to Mexico attempting them to declare war on America in return for their land back. America finds out, and declares war on Germany on April 6, 1917. -
John Brennan Entry: July 23, 1917
John Brennan decides to join the army. He and his friend head over to a local armory to enlist since they are recruit engineers. They had a line of people to inspect to see if they were fit enough to be recruited. When he was checked and was found to be too underweight. Funny enough the gave him a quart of water to drink, then they rechecked him and he had gained 7 pounds extra meaning they could accept him in. -
John Brennan Entry: July 25-August 24 1917
Throughout July 25-August 24 John had been doing Drill. He had been taken onto multiple walks in Albany and they would do it all day long. Apparently he had hated taking these walks, but he loved the view. His group had been given large coats and hats as there soldier uniform. On august 5, 1917 the engineer train he had been assigned to had arrived. -
John Brennan Entry: July 11, 1918
John is taken off guard duty as he was the previous night. He then witnessed an airbattle. after hearing reports of engineers at other stations being gassed and shelled, a man began to give a lesson on how to use a gasmask. John comments on how it looks like Halloween since all his friends have the mask on. John’s group is gassed for the first time but they luckily have the gas masks to protect them. -
The Battle of Ameins
On August 8, 1918, the Allies had launched an attack on the Germans. They had deployed 75,000 soldiers, 500+ tanks, and at least 2,000 planes. By the first day they advanced 8 miles and caused 27,000 German casualties. The battle had caused low hopes for German commanders and they had forfeited. This is widely considered to be the battle to had won the war. -
John Brennan Entry: April 3, 1919
After sleeping his last night as a soldier john wakes up to be paid and discharged. John then travels to New York City. He decides to watch a play as he spends the night there. He meets a friend from war. He claims to be very happy to finally be a civilian again. -
John Brennan Entry (Final): April 5,1919
Finally back in Albany after a night in New York City, John decides the first thing he will do is go out dancing with his soldier uniform. That night after dancing he takes off his uniform saying saying, “I’m finished with it until the next war.” He comments that he will most likely join the YMCA since they will pay soldiers to be the face of the organization. He ends his book with him saying that he is glad to have enlisted and to help protect his country. -
Treaty of Versailles
On June 28, 1919, WW1 had been officially ended with the Treaty of Versailles. It was named by the French in the Versailles palace. The treaty forced a lot of restrictions on germany, including restriction of creating a military, loss of many overseas territories, and the resignation of German boundaries. The treaty had at least 15 parts and 440 articles. The treaty was unfortunately one of many reasons Germany had started another world war. -
WW1 Causalty Statistics
Casualty means a for a person to have died, been injured, or go missing entirely. America had lost 116,708 soldiers in war. Britain had lost 887,858 soldiers. France had lost 1,150,000 soldiers. Russia had lost approximately 1,700,000 soldiers. Finally Germany having lost 1,800,000 soldiers to war.
