World War I Events and History

Causes of World War I

• The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand sparked World War I.
• The Schlieffen Plan aimed to create a two-front war against France and Russia.

World War I Alliances

• The Triple Alliance consisted of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy.
• The Triple Entente consisted of France, Russia, and Great Britain.

Key Events of World War I

• The Battle of the Marne in 1914 prevented the Germans from capturing Paris.
• Kaiser Wilhelm II was the German Kaiser during World War I.
• The Bolshevik Revolution in 1917 marked a significant event in Russia that affected its involvement in World War I.

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

• The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was a peace treaty between Germany and Russia.

End of World War I

• World War I officially ended on November 11, 1918.
• The Treaty of Versailles officially ended World War I.

Treaty of Versailles

• The Treaty of Versailles placed full blame for the war on Germany and imposed heavy reparations.
• The treaty's main impact on Germany was the imposition of heavy reparations.

World War I Combat

• Trench warfare involved opposing troops fighting from trenches facing each other.
• The primary use of tanks was to break through enemy trench lines.

Other Key Events

• The Lusitania was a British passenger ship sunk by a German U-boat.
• The Battle of the Somme was one of the bloodiest battles of World War I.
• The Battle of Jutland was a major naval battle in 1916.
• The Gallipoli Campaign was a failed attempt by the Allies to control the sea route from Europe to Russia.

Russian Revolution

• Vladimir Lenin was the leader of the Bolsheviks during the Russian Revolution.
• The Russian Revolution in 1917 resulted in the overthrow of the monarchy.

United States in World War I

• The Selective Service Act authorized the conscription of American men into the military.
• Woodrow Wilson was the President of the United States during World War I.
• The sinking of the Lusitania helped push the United States towards joining World War I.
• The primary reason for the United States entering World War I was unrestricted submarine warfare by Germany.

Other Key Facts

• The Ottoman Empire collapsed as a result of World War I.
• The Armistice of Compiègne marked the end of fighting in World War I.
• Poison gas was a new weapon introduced during World War I that had a significant impact on warfare.
• The Spanish flu was a major global pandemic that occurred during the final year of World War I.

World War I

Trench Warfare

• No man's land refers to the area between opposing trench lines
• Trench warfare led to a prolonged stalemate with high casualties
• Saps were shallow trenches used for listening posts or forward positions
• Duckboards were wooden boards placed on the floor of trenches to keep soldiers' feet dry

Women's Contributions

• Edith Cavell was a British nurse who helped Allied soldiers escape from German-occupied Belgium
• The Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) allowed women to serve in non-combat roles such as clerks and drivers
• The Women's Land Army worked in agriculture to replace men who had gone to fight
• The "Hello Girls" were female telephone operators in the U.S. Army Signal Corps
• Women took on jobs traditionally held by men, such as factory work and other labor roles

Battles and Military Tactics

• The Battle of Passchendaele exemplified the horrific conditions of trench warfare, including mud and flooding
• The Battle of Verdun was a famous World War I battle that took place at a French fortress and lasted from February to December 1916
• The Second Battle of Ypres is known for the extensive use of poison gas by both sides
• The Battle of Cambrai in 1917 was one of the first battles to use tanks extensively in combat
• The Battle of Belleau Wood was a major battle for the U.S. Marines, symbolizing their combat effectiveness

Medical and Humanitarian Efforts

• Florence Nightingale's pioneering work in nursing influenced medical practices during World War I
• Mary Borden was an American nurse who established a field hospital in France
• The Red Cross provided medical care and support for wounded soldiers and civilians
• Field hospitals provided medical treatment close to the front lines

Technology and Innovation

• Britain first used tanks in battle during World War I
• Airplanes were used for reconnaissance, bombing, and air combat
• Flamethrowers were used to clear enemy trenches and bunkers
• Creeping barrage tactics involved artillery fire moving forward in stages just ahead of the advancing infantry

Significant Individuals

• Mata Hari was a Dutch exotic dancer and spy for Germany
• Gertrude Bell was a British archaeologist and spy who played a significant role in Middle Eastern affairs
• Gabrielle Petit was a Belgian resistance fighter who was executed by the Germans
• Milunka Savić was a Serbian woman who disguised herself as a man and fought in the Serbian army