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Central Powers Formed
Austria-Hungary and Germany had banded together to form one "side" of the war on this day. They were later joined by Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire (Turkey) during the war. The Central Powers fought for political/economic/land dominance. -
The War Officially Begins
Germany invades Belgium, officially beginning World War One. This was fueled by Franz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria being assassinated, which led tensions to rise between Austria and Serbia. The assassin, Gavrilo Princip, was Serbian. -
Lusitania Sinks
A passenger-loaded cruise ship, The Lusitania, was sunk by a German submarine. This, along with Archduke Franz Ferdinand's assassination, is cited as one of the major war starting world events. 1,198 people were killed when the ship sank, and 128 of them were Americans. America, obviously, was not happy, and this nudged them into joining the war. -
War Tanks
The UK sends out the first ever tanks used in battle at Delville Wood. They were barely useful for anything but force. -
Zimmerman Telegram
On this date, the Zimmerman Telegram was created. This was the first big scandalous document of war. It was sent from German foreign secretary Arthur Zimmerman, urging Mexico to join their side if America was to join the war. Mexico declined the offer, even though their prize would have been the ownership of all the land they lost to America. America was still outraged, and this pushed them into joining. -
America Joins the War
America tried to remain neutral on WW1 for a very long time. Germany kept sinking our vessels, and as our allies were being attacked, Congress signed for us to go into war. -
Barracks/Friends
In a letter home, Nettie writes about how Base Hospital No. 18 is expanding, and with that, two new barracks are being added for the doctors and nurses. She tells that there are 66 women in one barrack, but there is never any fighting because she gets along with those around her. Throughout her letters, she mentions a close friend named Emma who is a nurse for her. The two are very close. -
Thanksgiving on Base Hospital No. 18
Nettie writes home to her parents about celebrating Thanksgiving at Base Hospital No. 18. She writes that there were all types of food- turkey, pie, nuts, fruits, and "all that goes in between." She also writes that afterward, one of the doctors performed an impromptu stunt show. She recounts that after that, they held a dance in the barracks. She liked how everyone in the hospital got the same exact treatment, and she had a good time that day. -
Night Shift
In a letter home, Nettie writes that after the new year, she has begun working as a night nurse for two different wards. She also shares that she has made friends with a few of her fellow nurses, and the orderlies of the wards she watches overnight. She has eighty-five patients overall right now. This shows how much she has progressed as a nurse. -
Nettie's Last Letter Home
This is Nettie's final letter home before the writings drop off. She tells of how the doctors leave, one by one, to go take care of more important things since they aren't needed any longer. She writes that she loves reminiscing about the good old days, which feel like forever ago to her. She ends the letter with "It's a good old world after all. I'm having a good time, every day something nice happens. Only some days, unusually nice things happen, like getting a letter from my mother." -
Germany and Russia
On this day, Germany and Russia came to sign a peace treaty. This gave Germany Ukraine and Poland. The peace treaty was also the reason that German soldiers started focusing on the Western front instead of the Eastern front. This was bad news for French, British, and American soldiers. -
Belleau Wood
US Marine Corps attack Germans on an open field. The battle lasted for exactly 20 days, from June 6th to June 26th. This battle signified the largest German advance in Paris. It caused nearly 10,000 casualties of American Soldiers. -
Nettie Begins Writing her Memoir
Today Nettie wrote home about beginning to write her memoir. She cites her main reason for writing it as boredom and says that she is very excited to begin on it. On the website, there is no memoir listed, so I don't think she went through with publishing it. -
Wilhelm Resigns
The leader of Germany during WWI, Kaiser Wilhelm, stepped down on this day. This was said to lock the Germans in their defeat, and it erased all hope for a German victory. He slipped into the Netherlands, where he continued to defend his actions in the war in a memoir. -
Armistice Day
This was the day the war "officially" ended on the western front. The Allies signed a peace treaty with the Germans. Armistice Day is celebrated yearly, and remembered as being at the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month."
