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What made the war begin?
Assassination of Archduke Exactly one month to the day before World War I started, Archduke Franz Ferninand of Austria and his wife were murdered by Serbian Nationalists. -
Beginning of World War I
War Begins One month to the day after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife by Serbian nationalists Austria declared war on Serbia, thus starting the first world war. -
Twenty One Demands
Demands Japan presented China with a secret ultimatum made to give Japan regional power over China. The 'Twenty-One Demands' required that China immediately stop its leasing of territory to foreign powers. -
German's Fire
German's use Gas The Germans fire shells filled with chlorine gas at Allied lines. This is the first time that large amounts of gas gets used in any battle. The attack creates a near collapse of the French lines. However, the Germans are unable to take advantage of the breach. -
Lusitania Sinks
Lusitania Sinking The Lusitania was a British ocean liner. It was sunk by a German submarine. The ship carried 1,198 passengers, 128 of which were Americans. -
Battle of Verdun
Battle of Verdun The Battle of Verdun is considered the greatest and lengthiest in world history. It spanned over the course of ten months resulting in approzimately 700,000 casulities (missing and dead). The battlefield didn't even cover ten square kilometers. -
Zimmerman Telegram
Zimmerman Telegram Wilson is given the so-called Zimmermann Telegram by British intelligence. It was a message from German foreign secretary, Arthur Zimmermann, proposing that Mexico side with Germany in the case of war between Germany and the United States. In return, Germany promised to return the lost provinces of Texas and southwest America to Mexico. Mexico declines Germany's offer. -
United States Joins WWI
US joins WWI On April 6, 1917, the United States joined it's allies- Britain, France, and Russia- in the war. More than 2 million U.S. soldiers fought on the battlefields. Many Americans wanted to remain neutral as opposed to picking a side in the war. -
Selective Service Act
The Draft The Selective Service Act is passed and the draft is authorized. Wilson is criticized for destroying democracy at home while fighting for it abroad. Wilson claims he sees no other option and signs the bill into law. -
Fourteen Points
The Fourteen Points The Fourteen Points was a speech given by President Woodrow Wilson adressing Congress about a fourteen point program for world peace. These points eventually became the basis for peace agreements at the end of the war. -
Paul Baer achieves first Kill
First Kill Paul Baer had his first kill of his career in March of 1918 when he took down a German Albotross over Cerny-les-Reims. This was the nations first air combat kill of World War I. Baer went on to become an ace with eight confirmed victories throughout the war. -
Distinguished Service Cross Award
Distinguished Service Act On the day of his first victory Baer was awarded the service cross for his heroism when he pursued and shot down seven enemy aircrafts. -
Distinguished Service Cross Oak Leaf Cluster Award
Distinguished Oak Leaf Cluster This award was for a large amount of Baer’s victories including the destruction of two German armors and his 8th enemy plane. -
Shot down and captured
American Aces After his ninth victory Baer was shot down and captured by German's. He remained a POW (prisoner of war) until after the armistice that ended the war. -
Battle of Cantigny
Battle of Cantigny The Battle of Cantigny was the first major American offensive of the war. Although it was small in scale, the Americans foguht bravely and soon went on to larger attacks against German positions. -
Battle of Belleau Wood
Battle of Belleau Wood The Battle of Belleau Wood begins as the U.S. Marine Corps attacks the Germans. They attack across an open field of wheat. This battle saw huge casualities -
Battle of St. Mihiel
Battle of St. Mihiel The Battle of St. Mihiel began when 300,000 American troops flung themselves into the German lines. The German's lost over 5,000 people while another 13,000 were captured. The United States lost 7,000 men. -
World War I Ends
Treaty of Versailles Germany had formally surrended on November 11, 1918. All of the involved nations had agreed to stop fighting while the terms of a peace treaty were negotiated. On June 28, 1919 Germany and the allied nations signed the Treaty of Versailles, formally ending the war. -
Treaty of Sevres
Treaty of Sevres The Treaty of Sevres was signed with the Ottoman Empire after the end of World War One. Great Britain, Italy and France signed it for the victorious Allies. This treaty took over 15 months to draw up. -
Paul Baer killed in aircraft crash
Paul Baer Death Baer died in an aircraft crash on December 9, 1930. Baer's aircraft came down after it struck the mast of a junk on the Yangtze River. Along with him, their was a Russian woman riding passenger. He was said to have approximately 3,500 hours of flight at the time of death.
