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Assassination of the Archduke
Austria's Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were visiting Sarajevo to inspect the armies of an annexed territory of theirs. Serbian nationalists weren't pleased with the annexation and believed that it was their territory. So, a group plotted to kill the Archduke. On June 28, 1914, Gavrilo Princip successfully went through with their plan and ended the lives of Ferdinand and his wife. The people of Austria-Hungary were enraged and blamed Serbia, soon after leading to the first world war. -
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The Battle of Somme
The Battle of Somme took place near the Somme River in France. It was easily WWI’s bloodiest battle with over a third of the original three million soldiers dead. It started as an Allied attack against the Germans, but German defenses were stronger than predicted by the Allies. Many people were caught in no man’s land and gunned down before any defenses were breached. In the end, the Allied forces caused enough damage that the Germans were forced to retreat. -
American Assistance
At first, America had pledged to be neutral toward the war. That was before Germany announced unrestricted submarine warfare against any ships that were to enter the war zone, neutral or not. American ships fell victim to multiple German attacks, most importantly the Lusitania, and neutrality was revoked. The U.S. now openly supported the Allies and started training forces to assist in the physical attributes of war. -
Letter to Mother and Sisters
Eugene A. Curtin wrote his first letter to his mother and sisters. He writes about feeling miserable having to leave behind people he liked so much. He was vaccinated and found to have a fever, but he pushed through. He lets his family know he’ll be happy out by himself wherever he’s sent, and that he’ll eventually return to them O.K. -
Letter to Mother
Curtin wrote to just his mother this time. He told her about the men he’s working with and how the heat is insufferable. Eugene even recognized a man from home who was now working in the Navy. He signed off after stating that he has so much equipment he can barely fit in his room. -
Letter to Agnes
Eugene writes a letter to a woman named Agnes. She seems to have cared about him a lot and was upset by him leaving to fight in the war without letting her know. They decide on a meeting place and hope that they can see each other before he has to report back to New York. He signs off with, “Lovingly, -Gene.” -
Letter to Mother II
In this letter to his mother, Eugene writes of a city that seems familiar and United States-like, despite being out of the country. Almost everyone is in uniform. The people there are very hospitable and they and the soldiers attend church together. Eugene takes part in a few parties before their departure to England. -
Final Letter to Mother
Eugene’s final letter to his mother consists of his excitement to see the departure of ships and how he’s anxious that they could possibly meet a sub. He used an ouija board that gave the exact date they were supposed to be hit, but Eugene didn’t believe it and slept peacefully. Still alive in the morning, the sub-zone was just as peaceful as the rest of the ocean. The ships made it to London safely to the relief of Eugene, who had missed land dearly. -
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Russian Revolution
In Russia, the Tsar caused lower-class citizens to often go hungry and denied safe access to jobs and housing. While protesting for better working conditions, Russian government officials killed many of the protestors, labeling the day of the protest “Bloody Sunday”. When at war, the Tsar sent many soldiers without ample equipment; many deaths could have been avoided. Workers went on strike to protest and when they were ordered to be shot, soldiers rebelled and the Tsar was forced out of rule. -
The End
At 5 AM on November 11, 1918, Germany signed an armistice agreement with the Allies. American soldiers fighting alongside the Allies was the final blow for the Germans. In the end, 9 million soldiers died as well as 21 million were injured. The Treaty of Versailles signed by Germany in 1919 entailed that they pay reparations, lose most land, and almost all military.