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Battle of Tannerberg
Germany was pushing France, and Russia invaded Germany through Eastern Prussia. Russian General Paul Van Rennenkampf's first army defeated eight German divisions. Germany took 92,000 prisoners and destroyed half of Russians second army. -
First Battle of the Marne
Germany hoped to avoid fighting on two fronts by knocking out France first and then Russia. Germany had a good start, but they couldn't reinforce quick enough and the French and British launched a counter-offensive and after several days of fighting, Germany retreated. -
Trench Warfare
Trenches were used extensively on the Western Front by both sides. Trenches were a defensive warfare used to halt enemy advances. The area between the trenches was dubbed, "No Man's Land" and was strewn with mines, craters, mud, barbed wire, and dead bodies. It is estimated that there was 2,490 km of trench lines dug during WWI. -
Animals in WWI
Many animals were used during the war to make things more efficient. Pigeons were used as messengers and they were very quick. Dogs were used to navigate trenches and battlefields and had keen senses that helped with gases and enemies. Horses and mules were used to pull artillery, supply trains, and other materials. -
Christmas Truce
On December 7, 1914 Pope Benedict XV suggested a temporary hiatus, which the warring countries refused to allow, but the soldiers in the trenches declared their own unofficial truce. On Christmas day, some German soldiers walked across No Man's Land, calling out Merry Christmas to their enemies. British and German soldiers sang Christmas carols to each other across the lines. -
The Battle of Verdun
The Battle of Verdun was one of the longest battles of WWI. It began in February 1916 all the way to December 1916. Germany had the leverage until Summer when they had to pull back some of the forces for a battle elsewhere. The French saw this as an opportunity and took back their lost land. Germany suffered 450,000 casualties, and the French suffered 550,000. -
Battle of the Somme
A joint battle between the British and French to take over the Western Front. Because the French needed more support at Verdun, the British became the main role. Over 141 days, the British advanced 7 miles. More than a million were either killed, wounded, or captured. 19,000 men were killed on the first day making it one of the bloodiest days in British history. -
Letter to Mother
Richard Bliss Leith tells his mother that he is heading off to France, and hopes it will be more interesting than the Fargo Hospital in England. He tells his mom not to worry about him and how he's actually gained weight since being in the war. He's excited about getting a new uniform and boots before leaving. -
Letter to Mother
Richard Bliss Leith was sent to Washington D.C, and was told that he will be sent to England and then later sent somewhere in France. He must get 3 vaccine's, which include small pox and typhoid. He took a physical exam and discovered he was underweight. He told his mother not to worry about him, and to stay safe. -
Letter to Mary Adie
Richard Bliss Leith tells Mary how it's less colder in France. There's only 3-4 inches of snow. he says his Regimental Aid building is out of the line of battle, so he's not in any danger. He believes that the war will soon be over. He tells Mary that there is plenty of medical supplies and food, but the one thing missing is some good tobacco. -
Letter to Mother and Father
Richard Bliss Leith describes the weather as cool and breezy. He says that the war will soon be over, and that if the German don't let up they will be badly beaten. He's been gone a year, and wishes his mother a happy birthday. -
Battle of Megiddo
The final British led offensive battle in the Sinai and Palestine campaign. It successfully combined cavalry, infantry, artillery, armored vehicles, and aircraft to achieve a victory over Ottoman Turks and their German allies. The plan was to cut off Ottoman escape routes, which worked. The British advanced 30 km on the first day. -
Letter to Mother and Father
The Weather has cleared for the day, but it has recently been either rainy or sunny. The French are pleased because they have progressed. Richard Bliss Leith says everything is happening quickly and suspects that the war will be over by the winter. He tells his mother to buy plenty of coal during the winter and to stay warm. -
Letter to Father
Richard Bliss Leith says his brother has gotten back from war, and is now home. He says he might have to be patient until Spring. The hospital are full of returning prisoners. He tells his father he's having a good and smooth time there and that he's learning French. He tells his father he want's to go trout fishing with him when he get's home from war. -
The Human Cost
Twelve million people were killed during the war, and another twenty million were severely injured. The amount of deaths and families grief led to war cemeteries and memorials to be built around the world. Thousands of war veterans were affected by "Shell Shock", which is now known as PTSD. -
War Poets
Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon are widely recognized war poets from WWI. They were both young soldiers who were scarred from their experiences. The two met each other in rehab where Owen mentored Sassoon. They both returned to the war, and Owen was killed in the last week of war. Sassoon later brought light onto Owen's poetry by showing it to the world. -
Treaty of Versailles
The treaty restricted Germany to prevent future wars from happening. The treat also tried to dispute disagreements on European colonies and territories. The treaty sought out to punish and avenge rather than to rebuilt -- leading to future problems.
