World War I

1. World War I The Battle Begins

2. What happened once the war began? • Japan joins the allied fight in late August of 1914. • Italy refused to honor its alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary and joined the allied side instead. • Italy did this because Austria did not give Italy land it promised if they joined the Central Powers’ side.

3. How was the fighting on the Western Front? • The western front stretched alongside the borders of Belgium and Germany southward. • Germany knew it had to fight a war on two fronts between Russia and France on the eastern front. • Germany moved to quickly subdue Belgium and attack France before Great Britain and France could muster their defense.

4. How did the Allies respond? • The British Expeditionary Force lands in France to assist the French and Belgians in stopping the German offensive • The British fought well at the battle of the Mons but had to retreat because of a larger German force. • The French Fifth Army suddenly retreated and exposed the British flank.

5. How did the Russian’s fare at the eastern front? Russia invades East Prussia as the Battle of Tannenberg begins. The Battle of Tannenberg ends in total Russian defeat. It’s Germany's greatest victory of the war inflicting over 250,000 casualties on the Russians. Rather than report the news of the defeat to Tsar Nicholas, the Russian commander committed suicide.

6. What other countries saw battles? The country of Togo in Africa saw action of sorts as a combined French and British force took control over the German protectorate. The Germans blew up the radio station in Togo but warned their ships off the coast of Africa to stay away from Togo.

7. How were things in September of 1914? First Battle of the Marne ends in a French Victory, thus halting the German advance towards Paris, which results in stalemate just 15 miles outside of Paris. The Russians continued to be humiliated by the Germans as Russia loses the First Battle of Masurian Lake. Troops start to construct trenches across the entire length of the western front.

8. Where did the Allies gain ground in Europe? First Battle of Ypres begins as the result was a victory for the Allies, but losses were particularly heavy on both sides. Battle of Lodz begins as the Russians halt the German advance on Warsaw, Poland but both sides could claim victory because the Russians could go no further.

9. How did the fighting go in January of 1915? Allied offensive in Artois and Champagne begins as the French try to move the entrenched Germans out of France but the trench war tactics used by Germany proved to be superior. Mother Nature did not help as frigid temperatures made machine guns freeze and heavy rains flooded trenches.

10. What was Japan doing? • Japan was really not that much of a factor in European fighting as they sought to help themselves to Chinese land holdings with making the “21 Demands” which basically threatened China with invasion if China did not agree to bow down to Japanese demands.

11. How did things get worse for civilians? • German U-boats now declared that any British boats attempting to blockade German efforts would be sunk without warning. • Passenger ships like the British liner Falaba, become the first passenger ship to be sunk by U-boats with American casualties too.

12. How were planes used in WWI besides as bombers? • Battle of Neuve-Chapelle marks the first time aerial photographs are used to show German positions as the British are able to push the German lines back a few miles. • Despite this gain, the British cannot sustain the momentum and do further damage.

13. How far did the British go? Here is a NY Times article displaying the British offensive in March of 1915.

14. How did Germans respond to the British gains? • The Second Battle of Ypres begins as poison gas is used for the first time by Germans in an attack on the Canadian sector. • The Germans, focusing on Eastern Front, launch an offensive against the Russians breaking through Gorlice-Tarnow in Poland.

15. How did German attacks pressure the United States? • On May 7th, 1915, the British liner Lusitania is sunk by a U-Boat with the loss of 1,198 civilians, including 128 American lives, creating a US-German diplomatic crisis. • Three months later two Americans die in sinking of the ship Arabic, off the coast Ireland by a U-boat. • President Wilson begins drafting a plan for defense as the Germans stopped their attacks without warning.

16. What happened to French and British attacks on the Ottoman Empire? • A joint British and French operation was mounted to capture the Ottoman capital of Constantinople and secure a sea route to Russia. The attempt failed, with heavy casualties on both sides. • The campaign was the first major battle undertaken by the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.

17. How did things get worse for the Allies in the summer of 1915? • The Germans end their offensive against the Russians having forced Russia out of much of Poland & the Gallipoli debacle ends, with the Turkish siege of the remaining Allied forces. • British forces use gas in battle near Loos, but shifting winds cause 60,000 British casualties.

18. How did things worsen for the Allies? • Battles of Artois & Champagne ends & the battle of Loos ends as Austro-German-Bulgarian forces invade Serbia, expelling the Serbian army from the country. • The defeated, humiliated Allies begin the withdrawal of troops from Gallipoli as 1915 came to a close.

19. Does the US get closer to war in 1916? Pres Wilson launches a nationwide whistle-stop campaign to generate support for Preparedness and the Continental Army with three speeches in New York The U.S War College Division warns its civilian employees "to engage in no discussion whatever concerning the progress of the European War".

20. What happened in France in early 1916? The Battle of Verdun begins as the Germans launch a massive attack against Verdun in what will become the longest battle of the war.  Verdun resulted in 306,000 battlefield deaths (163,000 French and 143,000 German combatants) plus at least half a million wounded, an average of 30,000 deaths for each of the ten months of the battle.

21. How did events in Mexico distract the US from WWI? Germany had been working with Mexican Revolutionaries like Victoriano Huerta but American forces intercepted weapons and supplies on the ship Ypiranga sent from Germany at Veracruz, Mexico. President Wilson later sent troops into Mexico to stop the Mexican Revolution & was not successful.

22. How much longer could the US avoid WWI? British officials were already asking for US help as British forces surrender to Turkish forces at Kut in Mesopotamia. The American naval and military attaches in Paris and London draft a plan for mobilizing US shipping to carry an American army to Europe, but their plan is ignored

23. Could Britain maintain their naval power? Battle of Jutland begins between British and German naval forces was the biggest naval battle in history, the battle of Jutland ends without a clear victor. Fourteen British and eleven German ships were sunk, with great loss of life but the British naval blockade of Germany remained intact.

24. How did things turn around for the Russians? The Russians launch their Brusilov Offensive against Austro-Hungary in Carpathia & over several months the Russians nearly knocked Austria-Hungary out of the war in 3 months. This was a turning point for the Russians for they were under pressure from the Allies to succeed at something.

25. Was the US any closer to war by the end of 1916? US marines land in Haiti because of fears of the 200 Germans that lived there with considerable wealth and influence. US occupation of Santa Domingo proclaimed to stabilize the Caribbean and deter any foreign influence. President Woodrow Wilson requests statements of war objectives from warring nations in peace note.

26. How did German pressures drive the US into WWI? Reich Foreign Secretary Zimmermann's telegram to Mexico urging her entry into war against the United States is discovered and translated by the British Germany resumes unrestricted U-boat warfare as US severs diplomatic ties with Germany & President Wilson requests permission from Congress to arm US merchantmen.

27. Continued….. President Woodrow Wilson delivers war address to Congress in April of 1917 and asks the House of Representatives to declare war on Germany. By July, General Pershing asks for 3 million men to engage in the war.

28. What is happening as the US begins its involvement ? Chemin des Dames Offensive ends in disastrous failure for the French having advanced only 500 yards at the cost of 250,000 casualties. A month long series of mutinies break out amongst the French army. The Nivelle Offensive, which includes the Second Battle of Aisne and the Third Battle of Champagne ends in French Failure.

29. What happened at the Battle of Messines? The British exploded 14 large mines just before its invasion of German held territory in Belgium. The distraction & disruption allowed British forces to take their objectives in rapid fashion. It was a decisive British victory.

30. How did Russia withdraw from WWI? Russian losses combined with public unrest led to an overthrow of the Tsar & another provisional government. Germany gambled that sending Vladimir Lenin would send Russia into full revolt & move to end their involvement in the war. Russia signed an armistice with Germany & moved into peace negotiations.

31. What does this mean for Germany? Germany can now focus solely on the British in Europe and launches a series of attacks. The Ludendorff Offensive begins with Germany launching its Spring push with the Battle of Picardy against the British. This will eventually amount to five major offensives against Allied forces.

32. What does Germany do now? Germany launches second spring offensive, the Battle of the Lys, in the British sector of Armentieres. The Zeebrugge Raid at a key port in Belgium was intended to stop German U-boats from launching attacks against the Allies and failed to stop U-boat activities. German U-boats enter in US waters.

33. What is the Allies’ response? U.S. forces (28th Regiment of 1st Division) are victorious in their first major action, Battle of Cantign. US 3rd Division captures Bouresches and southern part of Belleau Wood. The Italians prevail against Austro-Hungarian forces at the Battle of Piav.

34. What happened as German resistance crumbles? The Allies counterattack against German forces, seizing initiative on the Western Front. The British mount a successful Amiens offensive, forcing all German troops back to the Hindenburg Line, a "black day" for the German Army

35. How did things quickly come to an end? US forces clear the St.-Mihiel salient, during which the greatest air assault of the war is conducted by the U.S. Airforce. Germany and Austria send peace notes to US President Woodrow Wilson requesting an armistice. Kaiser Wilhelm I abdicates as Kaiser Wilhelm II flees to Holland.