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Morris Albert Martin's memory of Archduke's Assassination
An assassin shot and killed Archduke Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary. Martin said that the killer had ties to a terrorist organization in Serbia. Austria-Hungary took the opportunity to declare war on Serbia and settle an old feud. France, Britain, and Russia, known as the allies, backed Serbia. They were in disagreement with the Central Powers, Austria-Hungary and Germany. These other nations had become involved because of the military alliance. https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xDfKNnm20A/maxresdefault.jpg -
Archduke Assassination
On June 28th, 1914, Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, were touring Sarajevo in an open car. They had little security, Serbian nationalist Cabrinovic threw a bomb at the car, the bomb rolled off and wounded an officer. Later in the day, on the way to visit a wounded officer, the archduke’s procession took a wrong turn, Princip happened to be standing around. Princip fired into the car, shooting Franz Ferdinand and Sophie. They both died within an hour of laying in their limousine. -
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World War I
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U.S Proclaims Neutrality in World War I
As World War I is erupting in Europe, Woodrow Wilson proclaims the neutrality of the United States. Wilson’s hope was that America could be “impartial in thought as well as in action.” It was compromised by Germany’s attempt at a quarantine of the British Isles. Britain was one of America’s closest trading partners, tension started to rise between the U.S. and Germany when U.S. ships traveling to Britain were damaged or sunk by German mines. Germany invades Belgium, beginning World War I. -
Morris Albert Martin's memory of the First Fight of the First War
Germany invaded Belgium and started the fighting of the first World War. After Germany had won several victories early in the war, France and Britain came to a stop with the advantages in September, at the First Battle of the Marne. The taxi’s in France were used to transport the troops to the fighting front during the battles. Taking place after this, the opposing armies began to dig, they fought from trenches for the next four plus years. -
Germans Fire
On this day, the Germans launched their first and only offensive this year, referred to as the Second Battle of the Ypres. Allied defenders waited for the first wave of German attack troops, they were thrown into a panic attack when lethal chlorine gas passed across no-man’s land, into the trenches. German’s targeted four miles of the front, taking out two divisions of French and Algerian troops. The German’s failed to take full advantage, the Allies managed to hold most of their positions. -
Lusitania Sinks
Earlier German attacks on merchant ships off the south coast of Ireland caused the British office to warn the Lusitania to avoid the area, doing zigzags to confuse U-boats plotting on the vessel’s course. The captain of the Lusitania did not consider these recommendations, at 2:12 p.m. on May 7, the 32,000-ton ship was hit by an exploding torpedo on its side in the Celtic Sea. The explosion was followed by a larger explosion, which was the ship’s boilers. The ship sank within 20 minutes. -
Germany Resumes Unrestricted Submarine Warfare
The reason Germany returns to the policy of unrestricted submarine warfare is because there was a lot of pressure from the United States and other countries. The idea of limiting submarines was because of what happened to the Lusitania, considering it was sunk in 1915 they introduced a plan to limit them. But with all of the pressure from other countries, they decided to make it a thing, they accepted the challenge and they are prepared to fight to the end. -
Wilson for War
President Wilson proclaims on this day. Wilson stepped before Congress to deliver his historic war message, he states how high he considered the stakes of the war to be. Wilson had a feeling that the U.S. could not stick by any longer. With the German’s aggression, the nation stepped forward and fought. President Wilson wanted to fight for the things that were always carried nearest to their hearts, democracy, the rights and liberties of small nations, to make the world itself at last, free. -
U.S. Enters War
Two days after the U.S. Senate votes to declare war against Germany, and the U.S. House of Representatives endorsed the decision, the United States officially enters the First World War. Within the four days of President Wilson’s famous war message, both houses of Congress voted in favor of a declaration of war. The most important effect of the U.S. entrance into the first world war was economic. The entry of America saved Great Britain, and extension to the rest of the Entente, from bankruptcy. -
Morris Albert Martin's Duty in Camp Lewis
Martin was ordered to report duty by 3:30 PM on April 2, in Caldwell, Idaho. Martin was the second man in the county selected by the draft lottery. At this time he was described as being “23 2/12 years old,” with blue eyes, red hair, and a light complexion, 5’8” and 150 pounds. He was sent to Camp Lewis, Washington for training. The 91st Division, which Martin was assigned to, was for the preparation of the overseas journey. http://www.historylink.org/Content/Media/Photos/Small/camplewis_kp.jpg -
Battle of Cantigny
In the first extended period American offensive of World War I, an Allied force including nearly 4,000 United States soldiers captures the village of Cantigny. They were not fully prepared to send a large amount of troops into battle until a full year had passed by. By May of 1918, a large amount of American soldiers had arrived in France, in time to face a fierce attack of the great German spring offensive. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/u-s-troops-score-victory-at-cantigny -
Morris Albert Martin's memory on Defending German U-Boats
On this day, troops were woken up earlier than usual to make an early start for the ferry which was to carry them to the docks where the ships had been waiting. When the convoy of ships put to the sea the next morning, airplanes overhead and cruisers and destroyers alongside, they were all there to defend against the German U-boats, then would operate in coastal waters. It took twelve days to cross the Atlantic, because the need to zigzag as defenses against the possibility of submarine attacks. -
Battle of St. Mihiel
The American Expeditionary Force launches its first major offensive operation as an independent army during World War I, under command of General Pershing. The attack began this day, with Allied tanks across the trenches. Foul weather, rain, caused trouble to the offensive as much as the enemy troops. Despite weather conditions, the attack was still proved successful, the German command made the decision to abandon the salient. This lifted the morale and confidence of Pershing’s young army. -
Morris Albert Martin's memory on the Battle of St. Mihiel
A battle begun to eliminate this Salient. The 91st Division was assigned as part of reserves for the First American Army. After the end of three days, the Salient was defeated. The Division was also released from the reserves, it didn’t see action at the front. Once again, the soldiers were marched and sent in a truck to a new location, preparing for another large offensive which was planned for later in September. It was supposed to be along the River Meuse and through the Argonne Forest. -
Armistice Day
The First World War has came to an end. At 5 a.m. on that morning, Germany signed an armistice agreement with the Allies in a car outside of Compiegne, France. Left nine million soldiers dead, 21 million wounded or hurt. At least five million civilians died from diseases that couldn’t be cured. The Treaty of Versailles, that ended all of the conflict, forced punishment terms on Germany that caused unrest in Europe. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/world-war-i-ends
