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The Archduke is Assassinated
The Archduke Franz Ferdinand is assassinated in Sarajevo. A small group of terrorist from Siberia plotted to kill the Archduke and his wife of their visit to Sarajevo. This caused Austria-Hungary to immediately blame Siberia which Russia came and backed Siberia. Austria-Hungary reached for help from Germany and by July 1914, Europe's great powers collapsed beginning the first world war. -
Germany Invades
In early August, Germany demanded free passage through Belgium. They thought if the could pass through neutral countries, they could attempt to capture Paris. Of course the Belgium government refused and the German army invade Belgium on August 4, 1914. Belgium's small army along with multiple major cities were overthrown one after the other making French and British Troops retreat towards Westhoek. -
British Tanks
The British employ the first tanks ever used in the battle at Delville Wood. The first prototype emerged from the assembly line at only two mph and got stuck in trenches, but crawled easily across the rough terrain. The British made this in response to trench warfare changing military battlefields. Improvements were made very quickly and by 1916, a second prototype was unveiled and though it was deemed not any better than the first, people knew the power of the tank. -
German Submarine Warfare
The threat of the German U-boat submarine rises again in European waters. This is because Germany returns to the policy of unrestricted submarine warfare they had previously suspended due to a note from President Wilson. Germany had done this back in 1915 after they had declared the British Isles a war zone and sunk the Lusitania killing many including 128 Americans. After growing power of other naval powers, the German government decides to bring back the German Navy. -
Declaration of War
Congress authorizes a declaration of war against Germany. The U.S enters WWI on the side of Britain and France. Wilson says after Germany's violation against its pledge to suspend unrestricted warfare as well as their attempts to persuade Mexico to go against the U.S were his reasons to go to war. Just two days late the senate supported the declaration of war. -
Selective Service Act
Congress passes the Selective Service Act authorizing the draft. It was only 6 weeks after the U.S first declared war. Although criticized for destroying democracy at home while fighting for it abroad, President Wilson claims he sees no other option and signs the bill into law. The allies need fresh troops to relieve their exhausted men. -
Peace Treaty
Germany signs a peace treaty with Russia. This ends Russia being involved in WWI. This also gives Germany huge tracts of land allowing them to shift soldiers to the Western Front causing problems for the French, British, and Americans. -
The Battle of Cantigny
The Battle of Cantigny had the first major American offensive of the war and was the first victory for the U.S. For the first year of the U.S formally entering the war, they were not prepared to send large numbers of troops. By May 1918, large numbers of U.S troops had arrived in France, just in time to face Germany's spring offensive. Over the next 72 hours, they face 7 different German attacks still controlling the city. -
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Chateau-Thierry
The Americans attack the Germans. Throughout the spring and summer, it was the Germans who had advanced, not the Allies, but when the German army had faltered, it was only because it had outrun General Ludendorff’s ability to reinforce and supply it. and this battle would turn into the larger battle of Belleau Wood -
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Battle of Belleau Wood
This battle begins as the U.S Marine Corps attacks the Germans across and open field of wheat suffering huge causalities. It ends with the final Expulsion of the Germans from the Wood which marks the farthest German Advance on Paris. It was a 3 week battle and caused nearly 10,00 American causalities. -
Battle of St. Mihiel
The battle of St. Mihiel begins when 300,000 American troops (under the direct command of General Pershing) fling themselves into German lines. Although with the lack of skill used by the French and British, this shows the first major use of the U.S army air service. As the Germans retreated, the Allies attacked. Most of their artillery was not in place and the Germans were poorly prepared to maintain the front line. -
Earl M. Bill Awaiting Orders
In this journal entry, he talks about how he and the battery got to Fort Schuyler the night before and were awaiting orders to embark. He also talks about how many have caught the Spanish Influenza. Which results in dropping them because they are "all yellow--- not a drop of red blood in him." -
Earl M. Bill Arrives in a French Port
In this journal entry, he and his battery just arrived in a french port and are safe in France. He also talks about how he only has one more trip until he could go back to the U.S. They are planning on moving onto the camp the following day where Earl is going to be assigned to censoring mail going back to the U.S. -
Earl M. Bill Censors Mail
In this entry, he talks about how at the camp he is swamped with censoring letters that are written by the soldiers and then sent back home. He even had to censor his own letters because the risk of the enemies getting one of their letters was very likely. He's starting to wonder if he'll ever get into the action of the war, but these were just small thoughts that he was having. The whole reason he joined was to get in the action and serve his country. -
Earl M. Bill Becomes Anxious
In this journal entry, Earl talks about how even though he enjoyed coming to Paris, he was anxious to get into the war. He was starting to wonder if the war would be over before they would ever get to fight in it. He then considers the fact that it might be good that the war would end sooner and how much would be saved if it did. -
Earl M. Bill Receives Encouraging News
In this entry, he talks about how each day they receive news from the front that is more and more encouraging. The front is moving fast and peace talks are being made. He is still worried that he won't be able to see any action or being under fire or running into anything exciting. He just feels like a slacker there at the training camp and not being in there fighting for his country Earl explains. -
Armistice Day
An armistice was signed ending all fighting on the Western Front. By November 1918, both the Allies and Central Powers who have been at war for 4 years were pretty much done. German offensives that year had been defeated with heavy casualties, and in late summer and fall, the British, French and U.S. forces had pushed them back. This day was called Armistice day and was later changed to Veteran's day in 1954
