Let's discuss who was involved, what they did, why they did it, how it was fought, how it ended and what significance it had, then and now. Let's discuss it all!
WWI took place between 1914 and 1918. It killed millions of people. France, Russia, The United Kingdom, The United States, and Italy were on one side and Germany, Austria-Hungary, and The Ottoman Empire were on the other. Most of the fighting was on the western Front, and it was divided with trenches on both sides and no mans land in the middle. The main causes of the war were the build up of military weapons, extreme nationalism, imperialism, and trade barriers. Many new technological military advances came about during WWI. Barbed Wire, artillery and machine guns, poison gas, tanks, andaircraft carriers, were all inventions during this time period. The three largest battles of the war were Passchendaele, The Battleof the Somme, and Verdun. The first day of the Battle of the Somme the British lost 57,470 soldiers, making it the worst battle in the war for Britain. The two reasons why America entered the war were the fact Germany did not stop unrestrictedsubmarine warfare after the sinking of the Lusitania and the Zimmerman Telegram. The Zimmerman Telegram urged Mexico to join Germanys side and fight America. America officially entered the war on April 6, 1917. When the war ended in 1918 Bulgaria was the first to sign an armistice on Sept 29. The Ottoman Empire signed on Oct 30. On November 3 Austria signed. Finally Germany signed on Nov 11. The Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919, which stated that since Germany started thewar it had to pay all the costs. The German economy collapsed and Germany resented the other countries. This led to theformation of groups like the Nazis and WWII.
We also need to remember that the war stared when the Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were assasinated during a parade by a rebel group in Austria. But before the assasinations the alliance system came into affect because the Slavs, who organized the assasination, were freinds of neighboring countries and when Aurstia declared war on them it started a domino effect whihc brought all the world'd major Eurpoean powers together to fight alongside their allies to defeat the enemy and their allies. It seemed like a big mess becuase countries involved in some cases had nothing to do with it at all.
What happened with the other two battles that you listed? They were main battles, but I don't really know why, but if I knew the outcome I could probably see the impact it had on the whole outcome of the war. =] Enlighten me. And one little question: What do you think the biggest issue was facing the US at the time of war?
Some of the famous leaders during WWI were Will Crooks, who was for the English and hated the Kaiser. He used to tour the Western front to try and boost the enthusiasm of the troops. Winston Churchill, who was also for the English was another political leader. American political leaders were, obviously, Woodrow Wilson and Henry Cabot Lodge.
Makeda, you mentioned that the most of the fighting took place on the Western Front, could you be a little more specific or tell us where the western front was?
WWI was era of trench warfare. Unlike the civil war, technology really took off. Soldiers would build trenches and hide out in the muddy holes in wind, rain, snow and hail.... winter, summer, fall, and spring. Millions died in Europe. America wasnt affect as badly because we entered late in the war. However, the generals did not understand the concept of trench warfare. So they would send their troops to charge across no mans land.... and soldiers died by the packs accomplishing nothing at all. Grenades, bombs, machine guns, and other new weapons affected the fighting. After the war the SPanish influenza broke out and killed more people in a short amount of time than the Bubonic plague all over the world. I believe 50 million died.
The Battle of Verdun was fought between German and French armies, and lasted for 10 months. More than a quarter of a million people died, and about half a million people were wounded in this battle. The German Chief of Staff, Erich von Falkenhayn chose the town of Verdun-sur-Meuse (France) to attack, and was hoping for a breakthrough. The town was surrounded by a ring of forts and was an important stronghold and guarded the direct route to Paris. The French won the battle in the end, driving German forces back to their original starting positions.
basically how the war started, correct me if im wrong,
the slavs assasinate franz ferdinand (hier to the throne in austria). austria declares war on the slavs. the russians declare war on austria b/c they're buddies with the slavs. the germans declare war on russia b/c of thier alliance with austria. ottomans declare war on russia b/c of alliances with germany and austria. france declares war on germany b/c of alliance with russia, england declares war on germany b/c of alliance with france, america declares war on germany b/c of friendship with britain and france.
America had vowed to stay neutral for WWI but was almost forced in when a German U-boat sank the Brittish ship Lusitania in 1915 with 128 Americans on board, Woodrow Wilson demanded that attacks on passenger ships be stopped. After Germany sank 7 American merchant ships Wilson declared war on Germany on April 6, 1917. I think there was also a telegraph intercepted trying to get Mexico to attack us but i cant think of the name. Eventually Germany became over powered and under staffed/supplied so they could not defend themselves. Germany was cut off of food and oil supplies so it was more than just military fighting now. The Treaty of Versailles ended the war put did not put an end to all wars.
Austrian Archduke Francis Ferdinand and wife assassinated in Sarajevo by Serbian nationalist, Gavrilo Princip (June 28). Austria declares war on Serbia (July 28). Germany declares war on Russia (Aug. 1), on France (Aug. 3), invades Belgium (Aug. 4). Britain declares war on Germany (Aug. 4). Germans defeat Russians in Battle of Tannenberg on Eastern Front (Aug.). First Battle of the Marne (Sept.). German drive stopped 25 miles from Paris. By end of year, war on the Western Front is positional in the trenches.
1915
German submarine blockade of Great Britain begins (Feb.). Dardanelles CampaignBritish land in Turkey (April), withdraw from Gallipoli (Dec.Jan. 1916). Germans use gas at second Battle of Ypres (AprilMay).Lusitania sunk by German submarine1,198 lost, including 128 Americans (May 7). On Eastern Front, German and Austrian great offensive conquers all of Poland and Lithuania; Russians lose 1 million men (by Sept. 6). Great Fall Offensive by Allies results in little change from 1914 (Sept.Oct.). Britain and France declare war on Bulgaria (Oct. 14).
1916
Battle of VerdunGermans and French each lose about 350,000 men (Feb.). Extended submarine warfare begins (March). British-German sea battle of Jutland (May); British lose more ships, but German fleet never ventures forth again. On Eastern Front, the Brusilov offensive demoralizes Russians, costs them 1 million men (JuneSept.). Battle of the SommeBritish lose over 400,000; French, 200,000; Germans, about 450,000; all with no strategic results (JulyNov.). Romania declares war on Austria-Hungary (Aug. 27). Bucharest captured (Dec.).
1917
U.S. declares war on Germany (April 6). Submarine warfare at peak (April). On Italian Front, Battle of CaporettoItalians retreat, losing 600,000 prisoners and deserters (Oct.Dec.). On Western Front, Battles of Arras, Champagne, Ypres (third battle), etc. First large British tank attack (Nov.). U.S. declares war on Austria-Hungary (Dec. 7). Armistice between new Russian Bolshevik government and Germans (Dec. 15).
1918
Great offensive by Germans (MarchJune). Americans' first important battle role at Château-Thierryas they and French stop German advance (June). Second Battle of the Marne (JulyAug.)start of Allied offensive at Amiens, St. Mihiel, etc. Battles of the Argonne and Ypres panic German leadership (Sept.Oct.). British offensive in Palestine (Sept.). Germans ask for armistice (Oct. 4). British armistice with Turkey (Oct.). German Kaiser abdicates (Nov.). Hostilities cease on Western Front (Nov. 11).
The batttle of verdun was a battle of attrition. IT was in France. The Germans belived that if they could bleed out the French then, when they fell, Britain would be brought down by their submarines and superior military. The German General was Erich Von Falkenhayn. Passchendaele was fought to control the city of Passendale. It was the British, Anzac, Canadian, and south African Troops on one side and the GErmans on the other. THe plan was to capture German submarine bases on the Belgian coast in order to take pressure off the FRench forces.
Causes: -German submarine attacks -Sinking of the Lusitania -Zimmerman Note -Trade and cultural ties with Britain -Make the world safe for democracy
Events: -Belleau Wood -ChateauThierry -Second Battle of the Marne -Meuse-Argonne
Treaty of Versailles
Terms: -Germany surrendered and they were punished for the war -The League of Nations was created -European boundaries were redrawn to create new nations
Importance of the war: -Four empires were destroyed -Communists took over in Russia -The US rejected membership in the League of Nations -The harsh treatment of Germany led to the rise of Hitler
And one little question: What do you think the biggest issue was facing the US at the time of war?
