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The Great War. 1914-1918. WWI TIMELINE: KEY EVENTS. 6/28/1914: Assassination of Franz Ferdinand 8/1914: Germany declares war on Russia, France & Belgium 2/1915: Germany begins U-Boat blockade of England 9/1916: Tanks first used at the Battle of the Somme
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The Great War 1914-1918
WWI TIMELINE: KEY EVENTS • 6/28/1914: Assassination of Franz Ferdinand • 8/1914: Germany declares war on Russia, France & Belgium • 2/1915: Germany begins U-Boat blockade of England • 9/1916: Tanks first used at the Battle of the Somme • 1/1917: Germany declares unrestrictedsubmarine warfare • 2/1917: Zimmerman Telegram intercepted by British • 3/1917: Tsar overthrown, Provisional Govt.est. in Russia • 4/1917: U.S.A. declares war on Germany • 11/1917: Communists seize power in Russia • 3/1918: Treaty of Brest-Litovsk signed • 5/1918: U.S. forces fight first battle vsGermans • 11/1918: Armistice signed after Kaiser steps down • 6/1919: Treaty of Versailles • 1933: Hitler & Nazis seize power in Germany • 9/1939: Germany invades Poland, starting WWII in Europe
Key Battles of WWI to Discuss The Western Front The Eastern Front 1914 The Battle of Tannenberg 1917 The Russian Revolution 1918 Treaty of Brest-Litovsk • 1914 • First Battle of the Marne • 1916 • The Battle of Verdun • The Battle of the Somme • 1917 • Second Battle of Ypres • 1918 • The Ludendorff Offensive (2nd Marne) • Meuse-Argonne Attack
The Western Front Western Front
1st Marne • Sept. 1914 • Germans hope to enact Schlieffen Plan • Problem: Plan changed by commanders • Germans get 30 miles outside Paris • Stopped by French & British • French 250,000 casualties • Germans similar • Ended German hopes for quick & decisive victory • Led to stalemate on the Western Front
German and British Blockades Both sides tried to prevent supplies from reaching their enemy by water. British try to starve Germany with the Royal Navy. Germany used unrestricted submarine warfare to blockade G.B.
Verdun • Feb.-Dec. 1916 • German attempt to “bleed the French white” • Longest battle of WWI • French lost 550,000 men • Able to hold back Germans • Germans 434,000 men • ½ of casualties were combat deaths
Somme • July-Nov. 1916 • French/British offensive • Attack preceded by 8 day bombardment • Failed to destroy German defenses • 1st day-Brits lose 58,000 men, 1/3 killed • Worst day in history of British army • Total casualties • Brits 420,000 • French 200,000 • Germans 500,000
2nd Marne (Ludendorff Offensive) • Summer 1918 • German offensive for quick victory • Used troops from Eastern Front • Almost reached Paris again • Prevented by French, Brits and US troops • Last real attempt at offensive by Central Powers • Casualties • French 95,000 • Brits 13,000 • US 12,000 • Germans 168,000
The Eastern Front Eastern Front
Tannenberg • August 1914 • Eastern Front • Germans vs. Russians • Russian leaders incompetent • Refused to communicate due to personal feud • German forces attacked split Russian forces separately
The Russian Revolution • Military disasters in WWI and dissatisfaction at home led to revolution • March 1917: Czar abdicates, provisional govt. takes power, led by Alexander Kerensky • Prov. Govt. continued war at Allied urging • Given large sums of $$$ • Allied fears of German advantage • Bolsheviks overthrow Prov. Govt.