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Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Bosnia and Herzegovina were annexed by Austria-Hungary in 1908. When Ferdinand went to Sarajevo in 1914 to inspect the imperial armed forces, Serbian nationalists saw that as the chance to strike back at the Austrian empire. They thought Bosnia and Herzegovina should be part of Serbia. Siberian assassins killed Archduke Ferdinand. The assassination of Franz Ferdinand caused a chain of events that started WWI. -
The world goes into war.
After the assassination of Franz Ferdinand many countries started war. On august 1st Germany declares war on Russia for mobilization of troops. August 3rd Germany declares war on France, and invades neutral Belgium. August 4th Great Britain declares war on Germany and The United States declares its neutrality. August 6th The Austria-Hungarian Empire declares war on Russia. -
Battle Of Tannenberg
There was new command in East Prussia for German troops. Paul Von Hindenburg and Erich Ludendorff opposed the Russian 2nd Army. With the help of aerial reconnaissance and the interception of uncoded Russian radio messages, the Germans successfully re positioned their troops to counter Russian advance. The Germans surrounded the Russians five days later and captured 125,000 Russians. -
Trench Warfare Begins
Trenches could get up to 600 miles long. They had barbed wire, machine-gun nests, and snipers with an in-between area called No Man's Land. On December 16th, 1914 Britain suffered it's first civilian casualties when German Navy bombed the coastal towns of Whitby, Hartlepool and Scarborough, killing 40 citizens and wounding hundreds. December 25, 1914 - A Christmas truce occurs between German and British troops. All war stopped in the trenches for christmas, but after that it was back to fighting -
U-Boat Warfare
German U-boats had unrestricted attacks on merchant and passenger ships in the waters around the British Isles. British Navy creates a total sea blockade on Germany, preventing all ships from importing goods including food. British and Indian troops attack the Germans around the village of Neuve Chapelle. Three days of fighting cause over 11,000 casualties, and the British offensive is suspended. The Germans suffer over 10,000 casualties. -
Lusitania Sunk
A German U-Boat torpedoes the British passenger liner Lusitania off the Irish coast. 1,201 people drown including 128 Americans. Italy joins the Allies by declaring war on Austria-Hungary. Italy launches a 400 mile border between Austria and Italy. The Austrians take advantage of their mountainous terrain to establish a strong defense. The Italians maximize their attacks on the mountain passes at Trentino and the valley of the Isonzo River. -
Battle of Verdun
On the Western Front, the French 2nd army is attacked by the German 4th army North of Verdun. A nine-hour artillery bombardment took place beforehand. Chief of the General Staff, Erich Falkenhayn wants to bleed the French army to death by attacking their precious city. The German offense starts off strong after they captured Fort Douaumont without firing a shot. The strong offense soon stalls after the French rush in with massive reinforcements and a new commander. -
Veteran Event - Theodore Kohls Enlists
Theodore was desperate to get into the army. One of the measures he took was lying about his age to get in. He told the recruiters that he was 22 when in reality he was only 14. He was born in Wisconsin and his parents were both German but he went out to fight the Germans anyway. -
Veteran Event- First time in trenches.
First time in the trenches. The first snow that Theodore experienced in France. It was always wet and muddy so it was hard to get around. Theodore stayed in mud holes for five days without seeing one German. For ten days Theodore's company stayed in reserves before relieving another company of his battalion. -
October Revolution
In Russia, the provisional government is overthrown by Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky, this was known as October Revolution.
They establish a non-democratic Soviet Government. Lenin says Soviet Russia will end it's involvement in the war and renounces all existing treaties with the Allies. -
Veteran Event- Front Lines
Theodore’s Division went to the front lines. That was where his first real experience of war occurred. 150 Germans made a raid on his company. They immediately started killing the Germans, the Germans had thrown a four hour barrage on them. They fought for 30 minutes before the Germans retreated. 2/3rds of their men were left for dead. -
Veteran Event- French Independence Day
Theodore was in the trenches for ten days once more. He was relieved by the French. After Theodore was relieved he chilled in a little village behind the lines. Theodore was called from his Major to Parade in Paris for French Independence Day on July 14th. -
Hindenburg Line Broken
The 1st and 3rd British armies which were aided by Australians and the U.S. 2nd Corps broke through a 20 mile portion of the Hindenburg Line. Belgian and British troops start to push back the Germans in the Fourth Battle. The battles used to be drawn out this last one lasted two days because the Belgians take Dixmude. -
Veteran Event- Honorable Discharge
Theodore was in the trenches for ten days once more. He was relieved by the French. After Theodore was relieved they chilled in a little village behind the lines. Theodore was called from his Major to Parade in Paris for French Independence Day on July 14th. -
Treaty Of Versailles
The treaty was held place at the Palace Of Versailles in France, where German delegation signs the Treaty formally ending the war. In Germany the Weimar Republic is born from a constitution which provides for liberal democracy. The Anti-democratic party opposed the Treaty and said Germany was not defeated but "Stabbed in the back." Adolf Hitler leads three thousand Nazis aided by former General Erich Ludendorff. They attempt to overthrow Germany's democratic government but fail.
