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Assassination of Franz Ferdinand
In the summer of 1914,Franz Ferdinand and his wife were invited to Sarajevo,Bosnia. Earlier he had been informed of terrorist activities conducted by the Black Hand but ignored the warnings.A 19 year old,Gavrilo Princip attacked them when their open car stopped at a corner. Both him and his wife died before getting to the hospital -
Austria declares war on Serbia
The Austrian government blamed Serbia for the assassination of the Archduke and his wife.They declared war on Serbia. Russia was allied with Serbia, and Germany offered support to Austria if Russia decided to mobilise.Later Russia formed an alliance with France,and called on the French to mobilise. -
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WORLD WAR I
World War I also known as the First World War or the Great War, was a global war originating in Europe that lasted from 28 July 1914 to 11 November 1918. -
Germany declares war on Russia
The Nazi Germany aimed to conquer the Soviet Union. They wanted to repopulate Russia with Germans and use it to keep slaves.The Germans achieved major victory and occupied some of the most important economic areas like Ukraine -
Germany declares war on France
Germans allied with Austria to offer support if Russia decided to attack.After Russia called on French to mobilise,Germany declared war on France.Hitler did not want to lose in a two-front war so he invaded France through Belgium. Hitler wanted to finish off France so that he could make his troops focus on the Soviet Union. -
British declares war
Belgium’s ports were close to the British coast,and German taking control over Belgium would be a threat to Britain.After witnessing the attacks of France through Belgium they didn’t ignore the matter and decided to declare war on Germany. -
Japan declares war on Germany
German failing respond,Japan declared.Joining on the alliance side to support Great Britain.This was to free a great number of Russian forces from defending Germany from the east.Its navy immediately started planning and assault.Germany was demanding the surrender of Kiao-Chau,a German leased territory in Imperial China. -
Russia declares war on Turkey
Turkey entered the war on the side of Central Powers.Decided to give help to a German naval to bomb Russia.Turkey had done several attacks on Russian ports and shipping in the Black Sea,leading to the war declaration.One of the ships that was sunk was a Russian gunboat in the Crimean Black Sea port. -
Lusitania sinks
The sinking of Lusitania killed 1,128 people including 128 Americans.This was one of the major reasons why the US joined the war in wwI.A German u-boat torpedoed this British owned steamship heading to Liverpool,England from New York.The disaster immediately strained relations between Germany and the US,fueled the anti-German sentiment. -
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Battle of Verdun
Germans had planned an attack on the French at a place called Verdun.Their was to make them suffer and lose the battle.However things didn't go as quick as planned for the battle took nine months. Casualties were huge on both sides,the Germans lost 430,000 men and the French lost 540,000 men. -
Verdun Sector
Harold was released from the French and was sworn into the US Army. After the gain were combined the American troops began began moving out,this was a sign for new upcoming battles.Harold was to drop a propaganda leaflets over to the German side as close to the front as possible.They were to get rid of all evidence,make sure that none of it blew back into the fuselage or catch the tail wires.Everything went out wrong making them land in German-held territory as an emergency. -
First Aeroplane raid
This was the first German air raid on London.They were expecting that after the raid on London,the British Air Force would be forced into protecting the front rather than attacking the German air force.Traditionally they focused more on protecting the coastline rather than its airspace. -
German U-boat campaign
Orders were given to step up the U-boats
The boats had sank almost 5000 ships during the war leading to many loses.This boats almost drained the British,mostly after the Germans failed to seize control of them at the Battle of Jutland.After Armistice all surviving U-boats were surrendered under terms of the Treaty of Versailles. -
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Harold William Riley
Born on July 27,1894 in Minneapolis and dies on July 21,1975.Race background is;white. Serviced from 1917-1919.Harold was commissioned into service.Served the Army Air Forces branch,at the 24th Aero Squadron.Serviced in France,Germany and was later ranked as the First Lieutenant.Was a prisoner of war and also had war-related injury. -
Sailing Aboard Chicago
Harold believed that the thrills of military action were better felt with real action and was determined to join.He moved back to his home Minnesota to be recruited. On June 20,1917 is when the journey started.The trip took nearly two weeks and the only great moment they had was when the French gunners threw barrels overboard to be used as target practice. -
Harold W. Shot-down by Enemy Airplanes
Harold and his team were to be sent at a 1st Army Hdq to do an observation.The previous group that had done their observation(the 90th) were not providing satisfying info to the headquarters.Mc Cord,one of the boys of the 90th had told him about his not so good experience he had had,calling it a tough assignment. A little while into the mission four German airplanes were on them and started firing.Their plane went out of control and began crashing. His observer,Sam could not make it -
At Konigsberg
After spending many days at the hospital,Harold was sent to Trier,France to get a leg surgery.At the Konigsberg hospital was when he knew that the Armistice had been signed through a Frenchman named Sallet.His leg muscle was full of fur which had been driven into his leg by the German airplane machine gun,he was lucky to survive. -
Armistice signed
At 11 am at Redonthes,French town,the Armistice was signed that ended the fighting of land,sea and air in World War I. -
Treaty Of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was the most important of the peace treaties.It brought World War I to an end,between Germany and Allied Powers.Germany was punished for war damages and its boundaries were reassigned.
