World War I Alea rubin evens
Top Ten Events
1. The Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary On June 28, 1914, Archduke Ferdinand, heir to the Austrian throne, was assassinated by a Serbian man who opposed Austria's presence in the Balkans. In response, Austria declared war on Serbia, setting off a chain reaction within the Central Powers (Germany, Austria, Italy) and the Allies (Britain, France, and Russia.) Russia, Serbia's ally, immediately sent troops towards Austria and Germany, which caused Germany to declare war on Russia, and Russia's ally, France.
2. The Schlieffen Plan After declaring war on Russia and France, Germany developed the Schlieffen Plan, a plan to attack France in the west, win an easy battle, and then rush east to fight Russia. The plan was dependent on speed and efficiency and the German military and people had confidence in it.
3. The Battle of Marne By early September, German forces swept into France, appearing dominant. On September 5th, the Allies regrouped and attacked Germany in the valley of the Marne River. After four days of fighting the Germans retreated. The Battle of the Marne left the Schlieffen Plan in ruins. Accepting defeat, Germany sent thousands of troops from France to aid in defeating Russia in the east.
4. Trench Warfare By 1915, opposing armies in France, known as the Western Front, had dug miles of trenches to protect themselves from enemy fire. This became known as trench warfare, where soldiers fought from trenches. Despite the protection the trenches gave soldiers, millions lost their lives in battle. Life in the trenches was miserable with damp, muddy, and unsanitary conditions. Trench warfare has become a defining feature of World War I, perhaps even more so than the motivations behind the actual fighting.
5. The Battles of Somme and Verdun In February 1916, the Germans launched a massive attack against the French near Verdun, in north-eastern France. Each side lost more than 300,000 men. In July, coming to France’s aid, Britain attacked Germany in the valley of the Somme River. By the time the Battle of Somme ended in November, each side had suffered more than 500,000 casualties. These battles had little reward. Near Verdun, the Germans advanced only four miles. In the Somme valley, the British gained only five.
6. The Great War Extends Beyond Europe By 1915, World War I had extended far beyond Europe. Australia, Japan, and India joined the Allies and supplied troops and resources. The Ottoman Turks and later Bulgaria allied themselves with Germany and the Central Powers. With support from across the world, World War I became a total war with many nations devoted all of their resources to the war effort.
7. The Lusitania and Zimmerman Note On May 7th, 1915, a German submarine, a "U-boat," had sunk the Lusitania, a British passenger ship. The attack left almost 1,200 dead including 128 U.S. citizens. The American public was outraged. In addition, in February 1917, American officials intercepted a telegram written by Germany's foreign secretary, Arthur Zimmerman, stating that Germany would help Mexico reclaim land the U.S had taken from them if Mexico would ally itself with Germany and the Central Powers. These two events combined pushed the U.S. over the edge and on April 2nd, 1917, President Wilson declared war on Germany and allied the U.S. with the Allies.
8. The Influenza Epidemic In the spring of 1918, a deadly strain of influenza first hit England and India and rapidly spread throughout the world. The influenza epidemic was more destructive than the war itself and claimed the lives of 20 million people worldwide.
9. The Allies win the war By 1918, Russia had withdrawn from the war, which allowed Germany to send all of its troops to the Western Front. Germany launched one final attack in France with the intent to reach Paris. However, 140,000 fresh U.S. troops led the Allies in a defeat against Germany. After this devastating loss, the Central Powers began to crumble with Bulgaria and the Ottomans surrendering very soon after. On November 11th, 1918, the leaders of France and Germany agreed to stop fighting and World War I came to an end with the Allies victorious.
10. The Treaty of Versailles In 1919, the major Allied powers and Germany signed the Treaty of Versailles. The treaty stripped Germany of their African colonies and put severe restrictions on its military. Most crippling of all, Germany was required to pay $33 million in reparations to the Allies. The treaty left a legacy of bitterness and hatred among the German people, which would play a key role in Germany's motivations in World War II.
"American Infantry Advancing with Tanks" by George Matthews Harding depicts soldiers holding guns in a trench in tangles of barbed wire fences. A tank is approaching the soldiers as they cower before it. The colors used are grayish and dull and the landscape is ominous. The fear on the faces and in the body language of the soldiers demonstrates the horror of life at the front. When many people think of soldiers, they imagine brave men proudly defending their country, not weak men cowering in fear. This piece of art does not reveal any glory or pride, but demonstrates not only the destruction of land, but also the destruction of pride and bravery.
"Rounding Up German Prisoners in a Recaptured Village on the Marne" by George Matthews Harding depicts soldiers surveying a destroyed village. Dead bodies are lying on the ground among the ruins of the village. The soldiers appear to be authoritative and unaffected by the destruction surrounding them. The casualness of the soldiers is particularly startling. Shouldn't they appear afraid and discontent as they stand before the ruins of a village? The lack of fear on the soldiers' faces and in their body language suggests that war numbs people to destruction and death.
"French Troops Resting" by CRW Nevinson depicts a large party of Frech soldiers resting on the side of a road. The sky behind them is blue and telephone lines stand tall in the background. The soldiers appear to be exhausted, exemplifying the tiresome life at the front. They are looking in different directions and have looks of confusion on their faces. Perhaps, Nevinson painted the soldiers facing in all directions to represent the lack of a final destination in sight. None of the nations involved in World War I experienced any major success involving territory or monetary gain; therefore, the lack of direction among the soldiers is a direct reflection of the lack of direction of the major powers during World War I.
"To Germany" by Charles Hamilton Sorley reflects his feelings about Germany, a country he has called home, but is now considered the enemy. The poem describes Sorley's feeling of disappointment with Germany, accusing the country of being ignorant of the consequences of its excessive war tactics. However, Sorley also expresses hope for a time of peace when "we'll grasp firm hands and laugh at the old pain."
Dear Friend,
How are you? I miss the warm comforts of home. There's a lot we don't have on the front. Food, shelter, warmth: all things I'm missing. Although life as a soldier may seem to be a glorious and prideful, my days are marked with the brutal deaths of my friends and constant sense of insecurity. There isn't a single moment I feel safe. But the thing is, I can't say that we're making any progress. When you're fighting in the trenches, there is no way to advance because no one dares to climb out of the trench into no man's zone. If only the Kaiser would let up and realize that these military endeavors lead to no material gain, but the loss of everyone surrounding me. I am worried that I may be next, so please remember that I love you if I do not return.
- Hans