“This is not peace. This is an armistice for twenty years [how right you were!].” ~ Foch on the Treaty of Versailles. Winston Churchill in 1933 exclaimed to the British Parliament, “Thank God for the French Army!” Without a doubt, coming off the spectacle of the victory parade in 1919 on Quatorz Juillet it was…
Events September 29, 1918: Wilhelm II pressured into accepting parliamentary government, Bulgaria surrenders, signs armistice October 3: Wilhelm II hands Parliament authority on military decisionsPrince Max von Baden named chancellor of Germany October 7: Poland declares itself an independent state October 12: Germany agrees to withdraw forces from France, Belgium October 14: Provisional government formed…
Events March 21, 1918: Germany launches spring offensiveMarch 23: German long-range guns begin shelling ParisMarch 24: German forces cross the SommeMarch 25: Allied front line is brokenMarch 30: Germans are stopped at Moreuil WoodApril 9–29: Battle of LysMay 2: General Pershing compromises on sending U.S. troops to the frontMay 7: Romania signs peace treaty with…
Events March 8, 1917: Riots in Petrograd develop into the beginning of the February Revolution March 15: Tsar Nicholas II abdicates April 16: Lenin arrives in Petrograd from Germany July 1: New Russian offensive opens on eastern frontAntiwar riot in Petrograd November 6–7: Bolshevik (October) Revolution November 8: Lenin declares peace, though sporadic fighting continues November 26: Bolsheviks call for end to…
Events October 21, 1916: French renew attack on Verdun November 7: Wilson reelected on antiwar platform; begins diplomatic initiatives February 1, 1917: Germany begins unrestricted submarine warfare February 3: German U-boat sinks U.S. cargo ship Housatonic, United States breaks off diplomatic relations with Germany February 24: United States learns of Zimmermann telegram March 1: Zimmermann telegram…
Events April 26, 1915: Italy signs secret “London Pact” May 23: Italy declares war on Austria-Hungary February 21, 1916: Battle of Verdun begins July 1: Battle of the Somme begins August 18: Romania signs treaty with Allied Powers August 27: Romania declares war on Austria-Hungary, invades Transylvania September 1: Bulgaria declares war on Romania September…
Events November 5, 1914: British forces launch attack on Basra, Mesopotamia March 18, 1915: Britain and France attack the Dardanelles May–June: British forces in Mesopotamia advance up the Tigris June 27: British forces begin attack on Nasariya April 25: Invasion of Gallipoli begins September 28: British forces occupy Kut November 22: British forces attack Ctesiphon November 25: British forces retreat after…
Birth of a New Weapon In the summer of 1914, the Airplane was less than eleven years old. Aviation was a fledgling technology that fascinated many but still generated skepticism when it came to practical applications. Most airplanes of the time were slow, flimsy contraptions with barely enough power to lift a single pilot and perhaps one passenger.…
Events August 28, 1914: Battle of the Bight September–October: Several British cruisers are sunk by German U-boats October 29–30: Goeben and Breslau attack Russian ports on Black Sea November 1: Battle of Coronel, Russia declares war on Ottoman Empire November 4–5: France and Britain declare war on Ottoman Empire December 8: Battle of the Falkland Islands The Battle of the Bight The war…
Events August 23, 1914: Battle of Mons; British and French troops begin 120-mile retreat September 4: Allied retreat halted at the river Marne September 5: Battle of the Marne begins September 9: Germans begin forty-five-mile retreat back to the river Aisne The Battle of Mons After completing their occupation of Belgium on August 20, 1914, German forces moved quickly upon France with two armies.…
