World War One And World War Two & Korean War Dates & Timeline Plus Nazi-Japanese-U.S.A. Concentration Camps All In Colour Film

Complete True History Of World War II may have started more than 75 years ago, but people still think about it a lot. You cannot go online without seeing someone be compared to Hitler or the Nazis. Hollywood cannot churn out movies about it fast enough, and there are thousands of books to read on the subject. Even people who don't normally consider themselves history experts are pretty sure they know the basics when it comes to World War II. Except so much of what we think we know is wrong. Propaganda was flying around from all sides during the war, and even after all these years we still believe some of it. Hindsight has made some countries into cowards and some into heroes, while leaders from the time are either completely evil or pure perfection. Obviously, anything as messy as war is a lot more complicated than that. Here are some of the biggest myths you probably believe about World War Two. This Video Is 7Hrs. 40 Mins. Long. Watch the greatest military conflict of the Twentieth Century "WWII The Complete History" All Episodes A broad scoped in-depth perspective of the Second World War. From its beginning with the Versaille Treaty to the Nuremburg Trials and the beginning of the Cold War, see the details of the people events that shaped the Twentieth Century and beyond. True History World War Two was a global war that lasted from Sept. 18-1931 to Aug. 14-1945 Explore the true timeline of key events before and during World War 2. The mass murder of Europe’s Jews took place in the context of World War Two. As German troops invaded and occupied more and more territory in Europe, the Soviet Union, and North Africa, the regime’s racial and anti-Semitic policies became more radical, moving from persecution to genocide. America's isolation from war ended on December 7, 1941, when Japan staged a surprise attack on American military installations in the Pacific. The Second Sino-Japanese War was a full-scale war between China and the Empire of Japan that lasted from 1931 to 1945. China was aided by the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Nazi Germany before its alliance with Japan. The war is often regarded as the beginning of World War II in Asia, although some scholars consider the European War and the Pacific War to be entirely separate, albeit concurrent. Around 20 million people, mostly civilians, were killed in the war. The United States advised and supported China's ground war, while basing only a few of its own units in China for operations against Japanese forces in the region and Japan itself. The war's end brought a devastating blow to American diplomacy as China ultimately fell to communism, forever changing the global balance of power in the emerging Cold War. In the 1930s, the Great Depression and the memory of tragic losses in World War I contributed to pushing American public opinion and policy towards isolationism. Isolationists advocated non-involvement in European and Asian conflicts and non-entanglement in international politics. Although the United States took measures to avoid political and military conflicts across the oceans, it continued to expand economically and protect its interests in Latin America. Isolationists believed that World War II was ultimately a dispute between foreign nations and that the United States had no good reason to get involved. The best policy, they claimed, was for the United States to build up its own defenses and avoid antagonizing either side. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, isolationists such as Charles Lindbergh's America First Committee and Herbert Hoover announced their support of the war effort. World War II was a global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945. The main combatants were the Axis powers (Germany, Italy, and Japan) and the Allies (France, Great Britain, the United States, the Soviet Union, and China). The European theater of World War II saw heavy fighting across Europe for almost six years, starting with Germany's invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939 and ending with the Western Allies conquering most of Western Europe, the Soviet Union conquering most of Eastern Europe including the German capital Berlin and Germany's unconditional surrender on 8 May 1945. The war continued primarily between the European Axis powers and the British Empire, with war in the Balkans, the aerial Battle of Britain, the Blitz of the United Kingdom, and the Battle of the Atlantic. The SOE operated in every nation in Europe and southeast Asia that was under the rule of an Axis power. Adolf Hitler and his National Socialist (Nazi Party) rearmed the nation and signed treaties with Italy and Japan to further his ambitions of world domination. The League of Nations was established in 1919 by the victorious Allied powers after World War I. The League began organizational work in the fall of 1919, spending its first 10 months with a headquarters in London before moving to Geneva. The Covenant of the League of Nations went into effect on January 10, 1920, formally instituting the League of Nations. The League was seen as the epitome of a new world order based on mutual cooperation and the peaceful resolution of international conflicts. The Covenant bound its Member States to try to settle their disputes peacefully. By joining the League, Member States also renounced secret diplomacy, committed to reduce their armaments, and agreed to comply with international law. Although the League was unable to fulfill the hopes of its founders, its creation was an event of decisive importance in the history of international relations. World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 1 In Colour Film - Catastrophe https://rumble.com/v35gtvg-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-1-in-colour-film-catastrophe.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 2 In Colour Film - Slaughter In The Trenches https://rumble.com/v35iwdm-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-2-in-colour-film-slaughter-in-the-tren.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 3 In Colour Film - Blood In The Air https://rumble.com/v35lfes-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-3-in-colour-film-blood-in-the-air.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 4 In Colour Film - Killers Of The Sea https://rumble.com/v35mjdo-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-4-in-colour-film-killers-of-the-sea.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 5 In Colour Film - Mayhem On The Eastern Front https://rumble.com/v35oyly-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-5-in-colour-film-mayhem-on-the-eastern.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 6 In Colour Film - Victory and Despair https://rumble.com/v35ugei-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-6-in-colour-film-victory-and-despair.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 7 In Colour Film - Tactics And Strategy https://rumble.com/v35vyrr-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-7-in-colour-film-tactics-and-strategy.html Over 65 million men volunteered or were conscripted to fight in mass citizen armies. Millions of civilians also contributed to the war effort by working in industry, agriculture or jobs left open when men enlisted. World War I Pitted Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire against Great Britain, the United States, France, Russia, Italy and Japan. New military technology resulted in unprecedented carnage. By the time the war was over and the Allied Powers claimed victory, more than 16 million people—soldiers and civilians alike—were dead. "World War II in Colour" is a 13-episode British television docuseries that recounts the major events of World War II, covering the Western Front, Eastern Front, North African Campaign, and the Pacific War. The show is in full color, combining both original and colorized footage. It was first broadcast in 2008-2009 and was on syndication in the United States on the Military Channel. In 2021, Channel 5 broadcast a sister series called "Thirties in Colour: Countdown to War" on their 5Select channel, which would be replaced in the schedules by the 2009 series in September 2021, once the new programme had got to the point of war in its timeline. "Greatest Events of WWII in Colour" is a docuseries that documents some of the events of World War II while showing colorized archive footage of such events. It was released on Netflix as an original series on November 8, 2019, and uses highly advanced colorization techniques to show critical moments from World War II, from Stalingrad to The Battle of Britain, in a whole new light. 1. "The Gathering Storm" - https://rumble.com/v34gknj-world-war-two-dates-and-timeline-pt.-1-in-colour-film-the-gathering-storm.html Just years after World War I, Germany and other nations are in an economic depression. Leader approval ratings of Germany, Italy, Japan and Spain are shallow, giving the rise to military dictators along with their parties. Years after Adolf Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany, he and his generals plot the invasion of Poland. 2. "Lightning War" - https://rumble.com/v34i301-world-war-two-dates-and-timeline-pt.-2-in-colour-film-the-lightning-war.html The Germans develop a new military tactic known as Blitzkrieg. The Nazis use Blitzkrieg, dominating land and air warfare, allowing them to take Poland and conquer France in matters of weeks. Britain and Canada, as well as other Commonwealth countries, declare war on Germany. 3. "Britain at Bay" - https://rumble.com/v34jxp4-world-war-two-dates-and-timeline-pt.-3-in-colour-film-britain-at-bay.html July 1940, Britain is standing on its last legs while being pummeled by Germany. Though Hitler has better soldiers and a more powerful air force, critical errors of the Luftwaffe allow Britain to regain strength and start pushing back. 4. "Hitler Strikes East" - https://rumble.com/v34lpsx-world-war-two-dates-and-timeline-pt.-4-in-colour-film-hitler-strikes-east.html After the unsuccessful attempt to defeat the British, Hitler focuses his attention on the Soviet Union. This proves to be quite a military gamble. 5. "Red Sun Rampant" - https://rumble.com/v34qnxk-world-war-two-dates-and-timeline-pt.-5-in-colour-film-red-sun-rampant.html On 7 December 1941, the Japanese bomb the U.S. Fleet in Pearl Harbor. The United States officially enters World War II starting with the Pacific Front. 6. "The Mediterranean and North Africa" - https://rumble.com/v34sbv4-world-war-two-dates-and-timeline-pt.-6-in-colour-film-mediterranean-and-nor.html After success in North Africa and Greece, Allies push Benito Mussolini's forces all the way back to Italy. Italy is then knocked out of the war, Mussolini is deposed, and the Allies start to put real pressure on Nazi Germany. 7. "Turning the Tide" - https://rumble.com/v34u5o6-world-war-two-dates-and-timeline-pt.-7-in-colour-film-turning-the-tide.html The Allies and the Axis are searching for a final blow to each other to end the war. While the Allies try out strategic fire bombing, Hitler tries cutting off American supply lines with submarines. Right now this is a stalemate. 8. "The Soviet Steamroller" - https://rumble.com/v34wd06-world-war-two-dates-and-timeline-pt.-8-in-colour-film-the-soviet-steamrolle.html After Hitler's gamble in the East fails, failing to defeat Stalingrad and Moscow, the Soviet Union, with its vast resources and armies, starts to slowly push back and grow. Hitler is now on the defence on ⅔ of his fronts. 9. "Overlord" - https://rumble.com/v34ymj6-world-war-two-dates-and-timeline-pt.-9-in-colour-film-overlord-d-day-.html After careful planning and tremendous secrecy but more importantly the lack of Hitler's attention, the Allies successfully breach mainland Western Europe through the Normandy landings. After thousands of lives are lost to the operation, the Allies are able to start the liberation of Western Europe. 10. "Closing the Ring" - https://rumble.com/v350hxe-world-war-two-dates-and-timeline-pt.-10-in-colour-film-closing-the-ring.html The Allies are now on the offensive on all three fronts. As their forces push through Europe soldiers start uncovering Hitler's death camps. This was the Allies' first concrete knowledge of the Holocaust. 11. "The Island War" - https://rumble.com/v352ipq-world-war-two-dates-and-timeline-pt.-11-in-colour-film-the-island-war.html An aggressive war is being waged against the Japanese. The United States is now starting to use a new tactic of island-hopping, resulting in the slow crumbling of the Japanese air force and navy. 12. "Victory in Europe" - https://rumble.com/v353y2w-world-war-two-dates-and-timeline-pt.-12-in-colour-film-victory-in-europe.html From three sides, the British, Canadians, Americans, and Soviets are starting to shred through what is left of the Third Reich. As the Nazi forces see their final days, Hitler commits suicide, and the Allies begin dividing up Europe. 13. "Victory in the Pacific" - https://rumble.com/v356qha-world-war-two-dates-and-timeline-pt.-13-in-colour-film-victory-in-the-pacif.html The Americans wipe out Japan's air force through a strategy of island-hopping. As the Americans face the decision of what to do with mainland Japan, President Truman calls to bomb Hiroshima and Nagasaki with nuclear weapons. Japan had no choice but to surrender, and the Cold War begins. Why does it seem that more truth is found in the ancient stories and myths of our ancestors than our textbooks and modern scientific research? Does our amnesia keep us from accessing these collective memories found in ancient myths? Is that lost part of humanity the reason modern life is so cold and hostile? Nothing is as it seems. It's time for us to remember again. First it got dark. Then the strangers came. They come when we sleep. In search of something to prevent their mortality. To steal our thoughts. Our soul distinguishes us from them. To erase our memories. To destroy all that makes us human. Nothing is as seems. It's time for us to remember again. Atmospheric What On Earth Happened Parts (1) Turning Inward Lost History Earth - https://rumble.com/v4a88i9-atmospheric-what-on-earth-happened-parts-1turning-inward-lost-history-earth.html Atmospheric What On Earth Happened Parts (2) Of Maps and Magicians Lost History - https://rumble.com/v4a9rrc-atmospheric-what-on-earth-happened-parts-2ofmapsandmagicians-lost-history.html Atmospheric What On Earth Happened Parts (3) Flattening The Curve Lost History Earth - https://rumble.com/v4abbl6-atmospheric-what-on-earth-happened-parts-3flattening-thecurve-lost-history-.html Atmospheric What On Earth Happened Parts (4) Vanishing Points and The Old Clock - https://rumble.com/v4acotu-atmospheric-what-on-earth-happened-parts-4vanishing-pointsand-the-oldclock.html Atmospheric What On Earth Happened Parts (5) The Red Shield Lost History Earth - https://rumble.com/v4ady4x-atmospheric-what-on-earth-happened-parts-5thered-shield-lost-history-earth.html Atmospheric What On Earth Happened Parts (6) Infiltration Instead of Invasion - https://rumble.com/v4aepeu-atmospheric-what-on-earth-happened-parts-6infiltrationinstead-ofinvasion.html Atmospheric What On Earth Happened Parts (7) Eyes Wide Open Lost History Earth - https://rumble.com/v4afpa9-atmospheric-what-on-earth-happened-parts-7eyes-wide-open-lost-history-earth.html Atmospheric What On Earth Happened Parts (8) The Looking Glass Lost History Earth - https://rumble.com/v4ah5kc-atmospheric-what-on-earth-happened-parts-8thelooking-glass-lost-history-ear.html Atmospheric What On Earth Happened Parts (9) Panic ! So A Must See Video Today - https://rumble.com/v4aizex-atmospheric-what-on-earth-happened-parts-9panic-so-a-must-see-video-today.html Atmospheric What On Earth Happened Parts (10) The Energetic Earth A Lost History - https://rumble.com/v4akmr6-atmospheric-what-on-earth-happened-parts-10theenergetic-earth-a-lost-histor.html Atmospheric What On Earth Happened Parts (11) The Bumblebee and The Hexagon - https://rumble.com/v4alm2o-atmospheric-what-on-earth-happened-parts-11the-bumblebee-and-thehexagon.html Atmospheric What On Earth Happened Parts (12) Stranger Than Fiction Lost History - https://rumble.com/v4amqdi-atmospheric-what-on-earth-happened-parts-12stranger-than-fiction-lost-histo.html Atmospheric What On Earth Happened Parts (13) Down The Rabbit Hole Lost History - https://rumble.com/v4anbp0-atmospheric-what-on-earth-happened-parts-13down-therabbit-hole-lost-history.html Atmospheric What On Earth Happened Parts (14) All 13 Parts Together 8hrs. 12mins. - https://rumble.com/v4ap320-atmospheric-what-on-earth-happened-parts-14-all-13-parts-together-8hrs.-12m.html A Must See Video What On Earth Happened Parts (14) All 13 Parts Together Everything we were taught about the Earth, History, Science, Space, Energy and our Civilization was a lie. This mind blowing documentary will shift your perspective of the world monumentally. 0:00 - Part One: "Turning Inwards" 7:19 - Part Two: "Of Maps and Magicians" 34:40 - Part Three: "Flattening the Curve" 57:16 - Part Four: "Vanishing Points & the Old Clock" 1:21:34 - Part Five: "The Red Shield" 1:47:28 - Part Six: "Infiltration Instead of Invasion" 2:11:36 - Part Seven: "Eyes Wide Open" 3:01:55 - Part Eight: "The Looking Glass" 3:59:06 - Part Nine: "Panic" 4:37:30 - Part Ten: "The Energetic Earth" 5:24:53 - Part Eleven: "The Bumblebee & the Hexagon" 6:07:37 - Part Twelve: "Stranger than Fiction" 7:04:43 - Part Thirteen: "Down the Rabbit Hole" Secrets in Plain Sight - Secrets Inside Everyday Objects All 23 Volume Documentary - https://rumble.com/v3g5qch-secrets-in-plain-sight-secrets-inside-everyday-objects-all-23-volume-docume.html Secrets in Plain Sight is an awe inspiring exploration of great art, architecture, and urban design which skillfully unveils an unlikely intersection of geometry, politics, numerical philosophy, religious mysticism, new physics, music, astronomy, and world history. See how profound ancient knowledge inherited from Egypt has been encoded in units of measurement, in famous works of art, in the design of major buildings, in the layout of city streets and public spaces, and in the precise placement of obelisks and other important monuments upon the Earth. The viewer is led to perceive an elegant harmonic system linking the human body with the architectural, urban, planetary, solar, and galactic scales. Exploring key monuments and their positions in Egypt, Stonehenge, Jerusalem, Rome, Paris, London, Edinburgh, Washington DC, New York, and San Francisco brings to light a secret obsession shared by pharaohs, philosophers and kings; templars and freemasons; great artists and architects; popes and presidents, spanning the whole of recorded history up to the present time. As the series of videos reveals how profound ancient knowledge inherited from Egypt has been encoded in units of measurement, in famous works of art, in the design of major buildings, in the layout of city streets and public spaces, and in the precise placement of obelisks and other important monuments upon the Earth, the viewer is led to perceive an elegant harmonic system linking the human body with the architectural, urban, planetary, solar, and galactic scales. Stolen History - Nothing Is as It seems (Part 0 - Post-Reset War of the 19th Century). The official version of human history is a construct of lies. We are in a state of collective amnesia. Let us get rid of the artificial matrix that has been imposed on us. Stolen History Part 0 - The Post-Reset War of the 19th Century - TheRealOriginoftheWorld - https://rumble.com/v3e7ssx-stolen-history-part-0-the-post-reset-war-of-the-19th-century-therealorigino.html Stolen History - Nothing Is as It seems (Part 1 - Introduction). The official version of human history is a construct of lies. We are in a state of collective amnesia. Let us get rid of the artificial matrix that has been imposed on us. The Real Origin of the World ? Stolen History Part 1 - Lifting the Veil of Deception - TheRealOriginoftheWorld - https://rumble.com/v3e9hn5-stolen-history-part-1-lifting-the-veil-of-deception-therealoriginoftheworld.html Stolen History - Nothing Is as It seems (Part 2 - Destruction of the Old World Stolen). The official version of human history is a construct of lies. We are in a state of collective amnesia. Let us get rid of the artificial matrix that has been imposed on us. The Real Origin of the World ? The official version of human history is a construct of lies. Our we in a state of collective amnesia. Stolen History Part 2 - The Destruction old World - TheRealOriginoftheWorld - https://rumble.com/v3eb23o-stolen-history-part-2-the-destruction-old-world-therealoriginoftheworld.html Stolen History - Nothing Is as It seems (Part 3 - Mystery of the World's Fairs). The official version of human history is a construct of lies. We are in a state of collective amnesia. Let us get rid of the artificial matrix that has been imposed on us. This part covers the World's Fairs and the period in which they took place. Stolen History Part 3 - The Mystery of the World's Fairs - TheRealOriginoftheWorld - https://rumble.com/v3ecipd-stolen-history-part-3-the-mystery-of-the-worlds-fairs-therealoriginofthewor.html Some available information suggests that even after the worldwide, game-changing event we call the Reset or Mud Flood, there still remained countless complete and beautiful cities that were conquered by a new power elite and then repurposed as "World's Fairs". Especially in America, the so-called New World, the many Greco-Roman cities would have been difficult to explain because in contrast to Europe, the Americas do not have an official greco-roman history. The more carefully one investigates, the more difficult it becomes to find plausible explanations for the construction and destruction of these extraordinary and huge exhibition areas. The official version about the World's Fairs can be summarized as follows: People in the 19th century loved Greco-Roman architecture for reasons unknown, so it was extremely important to the architects who organized the World's Fairs between 1850 and about 1914 to build in a classical style. Because of its size and expansive grounds, it was virtually impossible for guests to see the entire fair, even after multiple visits. Most of the buildings, it is said, were made of wood, plaster and linen fiber in order to keep costs as low as possible and to be able to demolish them quickly once the World's Fair was over. However, if we take a closer look at some of the photos of these brand new buildings, doubts about the official story quickly arise. Many buildings, for example, show signs of age shortly after completion and appear to be heavily eroded - such as the "Fountain of the Earth". If the official origin story is coherent, shouldn't these buildings have looked brand new? Instead, from the very beginning, we are looking at ancient monuments that might as well have come from the fabled Atlantis or ancient Rome. Secret Life Of Symbols - Jordan Maxwell Knowledge Of The Heavens, Life On Earth - https://rumble.com/v3eiefd-secret-life-of-symbols-jordan-maxwell-knowledge-of-the-heavens-life-on-eart.html Secret Life of Symbols Start with 00:00:00 World of the Occult 00:36:02 Solar Worship 01:09:26 Mazzaroth - Ordinances of Heaven 01:37:29 Creating Man in Our Image 02:11:45 Solomon’s Temple & The Ark 02:53:31 Secret Legacy of Moses 03:25:52 Saturn and Secret Societies 03:55:07 Secrets of the Dollar 04:15:03 Incorporating America 04:42:21 Dawn of a New Day Secret symbols have long been used to convey occult teachings and esoteric knowledge of the heavens, life on Earth and the meaning to our existence. For millennia, these secrets were kept by the elite, for their own benefit. By decoding ancient scriptures and symbols, we gain a new perspective of the clandestine forces which have guided human civilization through the ages. All around us are the secrets we seek to revealing our connection to the universe and unlock the deepest truths of human destiny. In this ground-breaking series, Jordan Maxwell discloses what he has come to understand concerning the mysteries hidden in the secret life of symbols, that you were never intended to know. This knowledge frees us from the ties that have long bound us to a secret agenda controlling the course of human evolution. But the tip of the iceberg is that this video also perhaps has the only real video footage of Tartarian technology. At one point he explains how Cathedrals and other old buildings really work, as in that they are energy generators. And after his explanation he shows footage of them and some other buildings in action. Fully electrified and radiating with a lot of light. Hidden Blueprint Of Earth LHFE Part 1 Buried in Plain Sight - Lost History Of Earth - https://rumble.com/v3es7gb-hidden-blueprint-of-earth-lhfe-part-1-buried-in-plain-sight-lost-history-of.html Hidden Blueprint Of Earth Or Maybe The History we've been told is a lie! Were some ancient buildings built by a different race and their true history was covered up? Did ancient peoples have advanced forms of technology that have now been forgotten? Was the massive kingdom of Tartaria visible on ancient maps much more advanced than we realize? This sub is an open forum for collaborative discussion of all topics "Tartaria" related, including Mud Flood, Tesla, AntiquiTech, Free Energy, Conspiracies, Hidden History, etc. I wonder if this video has been posted here before? If yes, then i am not sorry for posting it again, because its just one helluva epic video. If not, I highly recommend watching it if you are interested in perhaps how Tartarian technology worked. Its made by a guy who calls himself Ewaranon. Its put well together with a lot of great evidence, theories and findings of multiple topics. Its a long watch, I agree.....but its divided into several chapters. I recommend watching the first 20 or 30 min and see if it interests/sparks you. It sure got my attention as Ewaranon points out a lot of strange stuff in our world....and the narrative we know from history books. I am still thinking about all the stuff he said and points out to us. As its a lot to deal with and can shake one up. I find it fascinating though. But the tip of the iceberg is that this video also perhaps has the only real video footage of Tartarian technology. At one point he explains how Cathedrals and other old buildings really work, as in that they are energy generators. And after his explanation he shows footage of them and some other buildings in action. Fully electrified and radiating with a lot of light. Hidden Blueprint Of Earth Video LHFE Part 2 Lens Into the Past - Lost History Earth - https://rumble.com/v3ew91y-hidden-blueprint-of-earth-video-lhfe-part-2-lens-into-the-past-lost-history.html Hidden Blueprint Earth LHFE Part 3 Inheritors Mud, Magnificence - Lost History Earth - https://rumble.com/v3ezpue-hidden-blueprint-earth-lhfe-part-3-inheritors-mud-magnificense-lost-history.html Hidden Blueprint Of Earth LHFE Part 4 Back to the Future - Lost History Of Earth - https://rumble.com/v3f2t8z-hidden-blueprint-of-earth-lhfe-part-4-back-to-the-future-lost-history-of-ea.html Hidden Blueprint Of Earth LHFE Part 5 Whispering of the Water - Lost History Earth - https://rumble.com/v3fag4a-hidden-blueprint-of-earth-lhfe-part-5-whispering-of-the-water-lost-history-.html Hidden Blueprint Of Earth LHFE Part 6 Offer Us And Alchemist - Lost History Earth - https://rumble.com/v3fgipt-hidden-blueprint-of-earth-lhfe-part-6-offer-us-and-alchemist-lost-history-e.html Hidden Blueprint Of Earth LHFE Part 7 The Known World - Lost History Of Earth - https://rumble.com/v3fm3nx-hidden-blueprint-of-earth-lhfe-part-7-the-known-world-lost-history-of-earth.html Hidden Blueprint Of Earth LHFE Part 8 History Of A Lost Earth - All 7 Parts Together - https://rumble.com/v3fuk7b-hidden-blueprint-of-earth-lhfe-part-8-history-of-a-lost-earth-all-7-parts-t.html Everything we were taught about the Earth, History, Science, Space, Energy and our Civilization was a lie. This mind blowing documentary will shift your perspective of the world monumentally. 00:00:00 - Episode 1: Questioning His-story 00:13:25 - Episode 2: A Lens Into The Past 00:38:28 - Episode 3: Inheritors Of Mud & Magnificence 01:19:19 - Episode 4: Back To The Future 02:15:38 - Episode 5: The Whispering Of The Water 03:27:28 - Episode 6: Offerus And The Alchemist 04:31:57 - Episode 7: The Known World If anything, the world is consistent; no one in any country has a clue how to rebuild the castles found in their own countries. Real Timeline Of Deception Part 0 Exploring Tartaria 1000 Years Exploring Tartaria - Old World Secrets Revealed https://rumble.com/v2u8ef4-real-timeline-of-deception-part-0-exploring-tartaria-1000-years-added-to-ou.html Real Timeline Of Deception Part 1 Exploring Tartaria 1000 Years The Timeline Deception - Part I - Exploring Tartaria https://rumble.com/v2ua8sa-real-timeline-of-deception-part-1-exploring-tartaria-1000-years-added-to-ou.html Real Timeline Of Deception Part 2 Exploring Tartaria 1000 Years The Timeline Deception - Part II - Exploring Tartaria https://rumble.com/v2ubf4w-real-timeline-of-deception-part-2-exploring-tartaria-1000-years-added-to-ou.html Real Timeline Of Deception Part 3 Exploring Tartaria 1000 Years The King of Tartaria - Exploring Tartaria https://rumble.com/v2ueih6-real-timeline-of-deception-part-3-exploring-tartaria-1000-years-added-to-ou.html Real Timeline Of Deception Part 4 Exploring Tartaria 1000 Years The Saints - Relics, Reliquaries, & The First Resurrection https://rumble.com/v2ugl92-real-timeline-of-deception-part-4-exploring-tartaria-1000-years-added-to-ou.html Real Timeline Of Deception Part 5 Exploring Tartaria 1000 Years The Saints - The Ruling Class - Exploring Tartaria https://rumble.com/v2uij7w-real-timeline-of-deception-part-5-exploring-tartaria-1000-years-added-to-ou.html Real Timeline Of Deception Part 6 Exploring Tartaria 1000 Years From Atheism, Agnosticism, New Age, Protestantism, to Roman Catholicism https://rumble.com/v2ujvr6-real-timeline-of-deception-part-6-exploring-tartaria-1000-years-added-to-ou.html Real Timeline Of Deception Part 7 Exploring Tartaria 1000 Years The Millennial Kingdom of God - Exploring Tartaria https://rumble.com/v2uldss-real-timeline-of-deception-part-7-exploring-tartaria-1000-years-added-to-ou.html Real Timeline Of Deception Part 8 Exploring Tartaria 1000 Years Magic of the White City 1893 Chicago World's Fair https://rumble.com/v2un20g-real-timeline-of-deception-part-8-exploring-tartaria-1000-years-added-to-ou.html Real Timeline Of Deception Part 9 Exploring Tartaria 1000 Years 1000 Years Added To Our History & Dark Ages Never Existed https://rumble.com/v2uo07i-real-timeline-of-deception-part-9-exploring-tartaria-1000-years-added-to-ou.html Real Timeline Of Deception Part 10 Exploring Tartaria 1000 Years Church History - Complete Documentary AD 33 to Present https://rumble.com/v2uprfu-real-timeline-of-deception-part-10-exploring-tartaria-1000-years-added-to-o.html Real Timeline Of Deception Part 11 Exploring Tartaria 1000 Years Christmas Unveiled - Pied Piper - Templars Secret - Saturn's Workshop - Giants Stealing Children https://rumble.com/v2urmd0-real-timeline-of-deception-part-11-exploring-tartaria-1000-years-added-to-o.html Real Timeline Of Deception Part 12 Exploring Tartaria 1000 Years Ancient Cloning Factories - Foundlings - Incubators - Test-Tube Babies https://rumble.com/v2uu8ck-real-timeline-of-deception-part-12-exploring-tartaria-1000-years-added-to-o.html Real Timeline Of Deception Part 13 Exploring Tartaria 1000 Years Homunculus Unveiled - Jesus - Artificial Generation - Liber Vaccae - Lost Esoteric Secrets https://rumble.com/v2uwmvc-real-timeline-of-deception-part-13-exploring-tartaria-1000-years-added-to-o.html Archaix Chronology Anunnaki Sumerian Gods Crystalinks Timelines 2040B.C. 2046A.D. https://rumble.com/v2v0zks-archaix-chronology-anunnaki-sumerian-gods-crystalinks-timelines-2040b.c.-20.html Archaix 2.0 Doomsday Chronology Five color charts with extensive Legend-chronology; exhibits 62 dates involving 300 events in linear timeline combining the Phoenix and Nemesis X Object appearances, the Mayan Long-Count baktuns and the Anunnaki NER 600 year periods, a history spanning over 74 centuries to May 2040 and November 2046. https://rumble.com/v2b2zqq-a-must-see-video-what-on-earth-happened-parts-14-all-13-parts-together-woeh.html The Lost History of Earth (Ewaranon) W0W - A Must See Video Lost Earth Everything we were taught about the Earth, History, Science, Space, Energy and our Civilization was a lie. This mind blowing documentary will shift your perspective of the world monumentally. https://rumble.com/v28b4q6-a-must-see-video-lhfe-part-8-history-of-a-lost-earth-all-7-parts-together-l.html The Secret Life of Symbols with Jordan Maxwell Knowledge of the Heavens, Life on Earth https://rumble.com/v28wyns-the-secret-life-of-symbols-with-jordan-maxwell-knowledge-of-the-heavens-lif.html Ancient Religions From Alpha To Stone Age To Omega To Modern Times To Infinity https://rumble.com/v2wigv2-ancient-religions-from-alpha-to-stone-age-to-omega-to-modern-times-to-infin.html This 11.5 Hrs. Full Documentary With Sound Is About Ancient Religions From Alpha To Stone Age To Omega To Modern Times To Infinity. Everything we were taught about the Earth, History, Science, Space, Energy and our Civilization was a lie. This mind blowing documentary will shift your perspective of the world monumentally. https://rumble.com/v36zig8-antiquitech-tartarian-empire-greatest-story-ever-un-told-video-very-old-900.html https://rumble.com/v48fd59-antiquitech-tartarian-empire-old-world-2100-photographs-ultimate-compilatio.html This is a chronological list of international or colonial world's fairs. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_world's_fairs World's Fair History Quick List https://americasbesthistory.com/expolist.html Everything we were taught about the Earth, History, Science, Space, Energy and our Civilization was a lie. This mind blowing documentary will shift your perspective of the world monumentally. Proofs Earth Is Not A Spinning Ball What The Hell Happened 200 Times Collection https://rumble.com/v2u2d94-proofs-earth-is-not-a-spinning-ball-what-the-hell-happened-200-times-collec.html Proofs Earth Is Not A Spinning Ball When a photo of spherical Earth is pointed out to flat-earthers, they will dismiss it as CGI in the blink of an eye; even if they haven’t done any analysis at all. They do this because their belief in flat-Earth is not evidence-based, and any evidence contrary to their beliefs needs to be invalidated no matter how. They are so used to doing it, and sometimes they become confused by it themselves, to the point that they would take the slightest hint of digital manipulation of any picture of the Earth as evidence of the flat Earth. Mystery The World's Fairs 00 This Evidence Hidden History Chronological All World’s Fair's - https://rumble.com/v49zfro-mystery-the-worlds-fairs-this-evidence-hidden-history-chronological-all-wor.html Mystery The World's Fairs​ 01 London 1851 Crystal Palace Works Industry All Nations - https://rumble.com/v49xr6f-mystery-the-worlds-fairs-london-1851-crystal-palace-works-industry-all-nati.html Mystery The World's Fairs​ 02 Paris 1855 World's Fair L'Exposition Universelle de Paris # 1 - https://rumble.com/v49wmff-mystery-the-worlds-fairs-paris-1855-worlds-fair-lexposition-universelle-de-.html Mystery The World's Fairs 03​ Paris 1867 World's Fair L'Exposition Universelle de Paris # 2 - https://rumble.com/v49vttt-mystery-the-worlds-fairs-paris-1867-worlds-fair-lexposition-universelle-de-.html Mystery The World's Fairs 04​ Philadelphia 1876 Fair Centennial International Exposition - https://rumble.com/v49us5z-mystery-the-worlds-fairs-philadelphia-1876-fair-centennial-international-ex.html Mystery The World's Fairs​ 05 Paris 1878 World's Fair L'Exposition Universelle de Paris # 3 - https://rumble.com/v49soh6-mystery-the-worlds-fairs-paris-1878-worlds-fair-lexposition-universelle-de-.html Mystery The World's Fairs 06 Paris 1889 World's Fair Exposition Universelle de Paris # 4 - https://rumble.com/v49pdu3-mystery-the-worlds-fairs-paris-1889-worlds-fair-exposition-universelle-de-p.html Mystery The World's Fairs 07​ Chicago 1893 World's Fair World's Columbian Exposition - https://rumble.com/v49ryc5-mystery-the-worlds-fairs-chicago-1893-worlds-fair-worlds-columbian-expositi.html Mystery The World's Fairs 08 Lyon 1894 Fair L'Exposition Internationale et Coloniale - https://rumble.com/v49qjd3-mystery-the-worlds-fairs-lyon-1894-fair-lexposition-internationale-et-colon.html Mystery The World's Fairs 09​ Nashville Tennessee 1897 Centennial International Exposition - https://rumble.com/v49obhi-mystery-the-worlds-fairs-nashville-tennessee-1897-centennial-international-.html Mystery The World's Fairs​ 10 Omaha 1898 Nebraska Trans-Mississippi Exposition Part 1 - https://rumble.com/v49kvne-mystery-the-worlds-fairs-omaha-1898-nebraska-trans-mississippi-exposition-p.html Mystery The World's Fairs 11​ Omaha 1898 Nebraska Trans-Mississippi Exposition Part 2 - https://rumble.com/v49ls22-mystery-the-worlds-fairs-omaha-1898-nebraska-trans-mississippi-exposition-p.html Mystery The World's Fairs​ 12 Buffalo 1901 New York World's Fair Pan American Exposition - https://rumble.com/v49dg39-mystery-the-worlds-fairs-buffalo-1901-new-york-worlds-fair-pan-american-exp.html Mystery The World's Fairs 13 St. Louis 1904 World's Fair Louisiana Purchase Exposition - https://rumble.com/v49h2n9-mystery-the-worlds-fairs-st.-louis-1904-worlds-fair-louisiana-purchase-expo.html Mystery The World's Fairs​ 14 Louisiana 1904 Purchase Exposition St. Louis World's Fair - https://rumble.com/v49bv7t-mystery-the-worlds-fairs-louisiana-1904-purchase-exposition-st.-louis-world.html Mystery The World's Fairs 15​ Seattle 1909 World's Fair Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition - https://rumble.com/v499353-mystery-the-worlds-fairs-seattle-1909-worlds-fair-alaska-yukon-pacific-expo.html Mystery The World's Fairs 16​ San Francisco 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition - https://rumble.com/v49aa13-mystery-the-worlds-fairs-san-francisco-1915-panama-pacific-international-ex.html Mystery The World's Fairs 17​ 1962 Seattle Chronological All International World’s Fair's - https://rumble.com/v49is0f-mystery-the-worlds-fairs-1962-seattle-chronological-all-international-world.html Antiquitech Tartarian Empire Old World's Fairs 18 Before The World's Fair 1851 Thru 1974 - https://rumble.com/v4968hi-antiquitech-tartarian-empire-old-worlds-fairs-before-the-worlds-fair-1851-t.html Chicago Old Museum Tell About 1,000 Year 19 Old World History Of 1893 World's Fair - https://rumble.com/v2cphwy-chicago-old-museum-tell-about-1000-year-old-world-history-of-1893-worlds-fa.html Chilaga Where Chicago Is Now On Map 20 of America and 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition - https://rumble.com/v2cqmdc-chilaga-where-chicago-is-now-on-map-of-america-and-1893-worlds-columbian-ex.html Antiquitech Tartarian Empire Greatest Story 21 Ever Un-told Rewriting Recorded History - https://rumble.com/v36porm-antiquitech-tartarian-empire-greatest-story-ever-un-told-rewriting-recorded.html Everything we were taught about the Earth, History, Science, Space, Energy and our Civilization was a lie. This mind blowing documentary will shift your perspective of the world monumentally. Evidence NASA Faked Apollo Moon Landing Hoax How They Do It Complete Video - https://rumble.com/v48btzf-evidence-nasa-faked-apollo-moon-landing-hoax-how-they-do-it-complete-video.html Stanley Kubrick Fake Apollo 11 Moon Landing Was A Hoax By The U.S.A. Government - https://rumble.com/v2s6afk-stanley-kubrick-fake-apollo-11-moon-landing-was-a-hoax-by-the-u.s.a.-govern.html NASA faked the historic Apollo 11 Moon landing footage with the help of Hollywood veteran director Stanley Kubrick, book author and filmmaker Jay Weidner has shockingly claimed. NASA Admits Fake International Space Station A Global World Wide Satellite Hoax - https://rumble.com/v3dm5uj-nasa-admits-fake-international-space-station-a-global-world-wide-satellite-.html Flat Earth 21 Questions And Answers Proving Stranger's Guide And Course Flat Earth - https://rumble.com/v2u3emu-flat-earth-21-questions-and-answers-proving-strangers-guide-and-course-flat.html Proving Stranger's Guide And Course Flat Earth A comprehensive beginners course that thoroughly explains the answers to 21 of the most frequently asked questions about flat earth. Journey through the list from beginning to end while all the "loose ends" are tied up by the time it's over. Share with you friends, family and loved ones. The #earth is most definitely #flat and it is important for us to understand. 81 Government & Affiliate Documents that admit Flat Earth It's A PDF Download. https://www.terre-plate.org/library/CIA%20NASA%20Documents/81%20Government%20_%20Affiliate%20Documents%20that%20admit%20Flat%20Earth-converted.pdf Taboo Conspiracy Of Nature's True Flat Earth Real Time 40 Schemes From N.A.S.A. https://rumble.com/v2dm0zi-taboo-conspiracy-of-natures-true-flat-earth-real-time-40-schemes-from-n.a.s.html Taboo Conspiracy and Other Video's Removed by ? Those channels have since been silenced by ? the other censor's and Nazis at Alphabet. lot's of people have provides time and time again, the very best proofs of our flat world, tests and experiments that completely debunk the heliocentric fantasy, and is also personally responsible for exposing the fakery in every supposed 24/7 sun in Antarctica video. Flat Earth 101 Channel - Episode 14 - Eclipse Of Fantasy - (Gerhana Fantasi) https://rumble.com/v2bq47m-flat-earth-101-channel-episode-14-eclipse-of-fantasy-gerhana-fantasi-w0w.html This is the number 1 question? - Flat Earthers hear, why would anyone go through this elaborate hoax? - The powers that be want to hide the truth of our existence at all costs as they do not want to have anyone/anything else in higher power than themselves. The majority of people believe they are descendants. NASA Admits Faking Space Part 1 The Space Program Is Faked Yes It's A Conspiracy https://rumble.com/v3dqlbc-nasa-admits-faking-space-part-1-the-space-program-is-faked-yes-its-a-conspi.html NASA Admits Faking Space Part 1 The Space Program and shows provable deception in the space program. NASA is a corrupt government organization. It gets worse. NASA was started to create the illusion of going into so-called (non-existent) "outer space". The truth is that no one or nothing has ever been to the fantasy known as "outer space". NASA Admits Faking Space Part 2 Bonus Proof Stephen Hawking Is A Fraud Conspiracy https://rumble.com/v3dssxw-nasa-admits-faking-space-part-2-bonus-proof-stephen-hawking-is-a-fraud-cons.html NASA Admits Faking Space Part 2 The Space Program and shows provable deception in the space program. NASA is a corrupt government organization. It gets worse. NASA was started to create the illusion of going into so-called (non-existent) "outer space". The truth is that no one or nothing has ever been to the fantasy known as "outer space". Sorry Antarctica We're Closed Our Hidden Flat Earth This Area Is As Big As U.S.A. - https://rumble.com/v3e0jrw-sorry-antarctica-were-closed-our-hidden-flat-earth-this-area-is-as-big-as-u.html Sorry Antarctica We're Closed Our Hidden Flat Earth This Area Admiral Byrd: “An Area As Big As The United States on the Other Side of the South Pole” According most flat earthers, there’s no such thing as the continent of Antarctica. In their imagination, Antarctica is not a continent, but a long ice wall enclosing the Earth. Without having anything to prove that assumption, they look anywhere for any quote they can mine and stumbled into this quote by Admiral Byrd “Strangely enough, there is left in the world today, an area as big as the United States, that’s never been seen by a human being. And that’s beyond the pole, on the other side of the south pole from Little America.” History Gulag And Russia Jews Holocaust And U.S.A. Concentration Sex Slave Camps - https://rumble.com/v40ehwk-history-gulag-and-russia-jews-holocaust-and-u.s.a.-concentration-sex-slave-.html Nazi-Japanese-U.S.A. Concentration Camps Discipline, Punish, Exploit And Murder - https://rumble.com/v358rlm-nazi-japanese-u.s.a.-concentration-camps-discipline-punish-exploit-and-murd.html China 70th Anniversary Parade And People's Celebrations Presided Over By Xi Jinping - https://rumble.com/v2jhige-china-70th-anniversary-parade-and-peoples-celebrations-presided-over-by-xi-.html History Behind Victory Day Russia And Significance Of Putin's Victory Day Speech 2022 - https://rumble.com/v2jj9wc-history-behind-victory-day-russia-and-significance-of-putins-victory-day-sp.html Awesome Chinese Female Soldiers Light Up V-Day Parade Sexy Bethune Chinese - https://rumble.com/v2imuxg-awesome-chinese-female-soldiers-light-up-v-day-parade-sexy-bethune-chinese-.html Welcome To Our Channel 2.4 Million+ Views In 2023 & 596 Video's So Far This Year Alone - Thanks To Everyone Who Like Us... Good Or Bad You Are All Welcome To Share Any Video's We Post To Your Friends And Other's... Thanks ! What If Everything You Were Taught Was A Lie? All Info. shared in this channel is for non-hate and non-race and historical purposes to educate, elevate, entertain, enlighten, and empower through old and new film and document allowance is made for fair use for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favour of fair use. Note: We Do Not Post Any False Video's Or Un-True Content On This Channel & All Origins Video's And All Scientific Conspiracy Theory All Content And All Text Our True Statement From The Video's Owner's Who Posted There Video's To This Free Speech Channel By Us In The First Place To Be True ! Welcome To The New World Order - The Year Zero - The Real Origin of the World - National Anthem of the United States of America and Confederate States of America National Anthem and New World Order National Anthem Is "The Ostrich" Lyrics by Steppenwolf from the album 'Rest In Peace' 1967-1972 A.C.E. The Conspiracy to Rule Your Mind chronicles how the ruling elite have established global domination and the ability to effect the thoughts, decisions, and world view of human beings across the globe by systematically infiltrating the media, academia, industry, military and political factions under the guise of upholding democracy. Learn how this malevolent consortium has dedicated centuries to realize an oppressive and totalitarian rule through any means necessary, not limited to drug trafficking, money laundering, terror attacks and financial crisis within the world economy. Worldwide tyranny is already in full effect, the food we eat and the air we breathe are not off limits. Will we be able to stop this madness before we become an electronically monitored, cashless society wherein ever man, woman and child is micro chipped? We live in the world where sex is free and love costs, where losing a phone is scarier than losing morale, where it is fashionable to get drunk and using drugs, because if you don’t do that, you’re old and out, where men cheat on their wives with girls and if they don’t, it’s for fear of being caught, where girls are more afraid of being pregnant than getting AIDS, where pizza delivery is faster than an ambulance, where clothes decide a person’s value and money is more important than friends and family... This is not my world. Where has my true world gone? The New World Order Is Upon Us - Preserve Your Liberty By Being Prepared ! - We The People of the New World Order Thank You. The Left/Right paradigm isn't only exposed by race and immigration issues. The Left and Right are in lockstep on every issue that really matters: The IRS. Income tax. Federal Reserve system. Endless wars. Endless expansion of tyranny and ever contracting liberty. Chronically wide-open borders. Suicidal immigration policies. Don't you see? The democrats and republicans exist only to provide the illusion of choice. A strong "us versus them" simulation in every election. It's ritualized tribalism. But the joke is, it doesn't matter which team wins, because both sides have the same agenda. God, guns and gays are phony "issues" to bolster the illusion of "difference" between the parties. The only thing that makes all this possible is that people aren't aware of the scam. Just knowing they are either "Team Red" or "Team Blue" liberates them from the responsibility of having to actually know or think anything. Then they feel righteous when their team wins, or despondent when they loose. It's no coincidence that the system works exactly like sports. There comes a point when ignorance and apathy become treason. We are past that point, people. Everything you want to know what could be more terrifying than being trafficked for sex? Being murdered in a ritual sacrifice. And even worse than that would be being murdered in a ritual sacrifice so wealthy elite cabalists can harvest your adrenal glands to get the compound Adrenochrome they need to prolong their decrepit lives! It's so easy to be overwhelmed and feel beaten by the amount of negative and discouraging information being spread by the mainstream (fake stream) media. There are truly awful people in WEF and WHO, who want to reduce us to the level of serfs or chattel, but we can resist, indeed, we must resist. Be calm, be objective and be positive. Right is Might. “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men should do nothing.” Nobody Is Safe From People's Republic Of The Tyrannical We The Sheeple People of The United States of America and A Real True Bill of State Rights Of Government July Forth 1776 The Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution, which limit the power of the federal government and guarantee certain freedoms and rights to all colour of people and for the citizens of All America. Thanks For Calling and Remember the U.S. Government Leave No Witnesses Alive Behind Them. If You See Fraudulent or Criminal Activities by U.S. Government. Please Call Us (ASAP) So We Can Send Someone Out To Kill You! Thanks Again For Calling. The Presidential Hotline Pedophile and Secret Human Trafficking and Child Sex Ring Etc. Call 1-866-4-5455-968 ( 1-866-I-Kill-You ) should be used when all your attempts to get assistance from a government department, province, municipality or state agency have failed. It is not only a complaints line. You can call to share your views or provide solutions to the challenges in your community. We also list the help line numbers of non-governmental organization's working with government. You may call at 987-654-3210 ext. new world order! In 1984 Tried To Warn Us We The People About Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And the process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. History has stopped. If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face forever. I know it seems like I'm telling you all this information and it may be coming off the wrong some way but hopefully enough people will see or read between the lines. We our research all sides of every true story and combine them. Whether our video's is more truth than what we read in today history books or straight up fake propaganda who is really telling you the real truth up front to you for all major debate. This Information is for everyone to see the truth! Thank You Watching Are Video's And To Everyone Who Following Us In 2024.

World War I Pitted Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire against Great Britain, the United States, France, Russia, Italy and Japan. New military technology resulted in unprecedented carnage. By the time the war was over and the Allied Powers claimed victory, more than 16 million people—soldiers and civilians alike—were dead. Pt. 1 of Seven. 1.It was a global war Over 30 nations declared war between 1914 and 1918. The majority joined on the side of the Allies, including Serbia, Russia, France, Britain, Italy and the United States. They were opposed by Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire, who together formed the Central Powers. What began as a relatively small conflict in southeast Europe became a war between European empires. Britain and its Empire’s entry into the war made this a truly global conflict fought on a geographical scale never seen before. Fighting occurred not only on the Western Front, but in eastern and southeast Europe, Africa and the Middle East. 2.It is Far Better to Face the Bullets... The First World War was not inevitable or accidental, but began as a result of human actions and decisions. Over 65 million men volunteered or were conscripted to fight in mass citizen armies. Millions of civilians also contributed to the war effort by working in industry, agriculture or jobs left open when men enlisted. Victory depended on popular support. Some nations were forced to surrender as their people, pushed to their physical and emotional limits, lost the will to continue fighting. The First World War was also a war against people. Invading armies committed atrocities against civilians in the areas they occupied. Attacks on civilians became increasingly common as each nation tried to break their opponents’ home morale and diminish popular support for the war. Propaganda demonised entire nations and attacked the ‘national characters’ of enemy peoples. 3.It was a war of production National resources were mobilised as each combatant nation raced to supply its armed forces with enough men and equipment. In Britain, early failures in munitions manufacturing led to full government intervention in war production. These controls helped its industry produce nearly 4 million rifles, 250,000 machine guns, 52,000 aeroplanes, 2,800 tanks, 25,000 artillery pieces and over 170 million rounds of artillery shells by 1918. 4.It was a war of innovation Advances in weaponry and military technology provoked tactical changes as each side tried to gain an advantage over the other. The introduction of aircraft into war left soldiers and civilians vulnerable to attacks from above for the first time. Major innovations were also made in manufacturing, chemistry and communications. Medical advances made the First World War the first major conflict in which British deaths in battle outnumbered deaths caused by disease. 5.It was a war of destruction The First World War left an estimated 16 million soldiers and civilians dead and countless others physically and psychologically wounded. The war also forever altered the world’s social and political landscape. It accelerated changes in attitudes towards gender and class and led to the collapse of the Russian, Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empires. The cost of waging total war - and of rebuilding afterwards - ravaged the national economies of both the victorious European Allies and the defeated Central Powers. The human cost of the First World War for Britain saw the creation of a new language of remembrance, which remains to this day. It can be seen in war memorials in cities, towns, schools, places of worship and workplaces, as well as in rituals such as Remembrance Sunday and the two-minute silence at 11am each 11 November. World War I Begins At the dawn of the 20thcentury, few anticipated a global war, but what came to be known as the Great War began on June 28, 1914, with the assassinations of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, while they were visiting Sarajevo, Bosnia, a country recently annexed into the Austrian Empire. Many Bosnians and their Serbian neighbors resented this foreign rule and the Archduke’s visit to Sarajevo provided the opportunity for a small band of Serbian dissidents to strike back. Austria responded to the assassinations by teaming up with its ally, Germany, and declaring war on Serbia. The conflict soon involved Russia, France and Belgium. Fearful of a full-scale world war that would threaten its sea routes to other countries, Great Britain joined the fight against Germany and Austria. Each country believed the fighting would last only a few months. Nations were categorized either as Central Powers or Allies. Countries that joined the Central Powers, such as Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire, supported Austria-Hungary and Germany. The Allies were Russia, France, Belgium and Great Britain, but they were later joined by Japan, Romania, China and the United States. No Man’s Land: Trench Warfare During World War I, trench warfare was a defensive military tactic used extensively by both sides, allowing soldiers some protection from enemy fire but also hindering troops from readily advancing and thus prolonging the war.Trench warfare was the major combat tactic in France and Belgium. Trenches were often dug up to 12 feet deep and stretched for miles. For stability, some trenches included wooden beams and/or sandbags. Even during lulls in the fighting, death occurred almost daily in the trenches due to a sniper’s bullet or the unsanitary living conditions which resulted in many diseases such as dysentery, typhus and cholera. Other diseases caused by the poor conditions weretrench mouth and trench foot*. *Trench mouth was an infection of the mouth due to overgrowth of certain oral bacteria. The condition was made worse by poor oral hygiene, smoking, malnutrition and psychological stress. To prevent trench foot, a fungal disease caused by exposure to wet and cold, soldiers frequently added wooden planks in the trenches to keep from having to stand in water. Barbed wire and explosive mines—as well as bullets and grenades—were essential weapons used to hinder infantry advances across “No Man’s Land,” the bleak landscape between the trenches of the opposing sides. New offensive weapons were implemented during the war includingtanks and poison gases*. *Tanks, armored against artillery fire, were capable of rolling over barbed wire as well as crossing treacherous terrain. Chlorine was one of the poisonous gases used in World War I. It was damaging to the eyes, nose, throat and lungs, and produced symptoms ranging from irritation to blindness and death.) In 1915, the Germans used poison gases against the Allies fighting in the trenches on the Western Front. To protect soldiers from chemical warfare, gas masks were developed. Great Britain made one of the first types of masks capable of minimizing the deadly impact of these gases on their troops. Though considered a novelty when the war began, aircraft were used by both sides for reconnaissance, allowing personnel to observe enemy troop positions, to direct artillery fire and to photograph enemy lines. By the end of the war, the concepts of aerial combat and aerial bombing had come into being. 1871- Following the defeat of France in the Franco-Prussian War, Germany is unified as an Imperial federation of states, led by the King of Prussia (Kaiser Wilhelm I). This spurs a new era of population growth and rapid industrialization. The Germans also forcibly annex the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine from France. 1882- Germany, Austria-Hungary (Hapsburg Empire) and Italy form the Triple Alliance. 1891- The Russian Empire and France form their own alliance in reaction to the Triple Alliance. 1898- Germany begins to build up its navy to challenge the British Navy's long-standing global supremacy. January 1902- Britain and Japan form a naval alliance. April 1904- The British reach a strategic agreement with France which includes mutual military support in the event of war. January 1905- Troops of Russian Czar Nicholas II fire upon peaceful demonstrators in St. Petersburg killing hundreds in what comes to be known as Bloody Sunday. May 1905- Russia suffers a military defeat at sea by newly industrialized Japan, thwarting Russia's territorial ambitions toward Manchuria and Korea. October 1905- Continuing political unrest in Russia, including a general strike, results in the creation of a national legislative assembly (Duma) by the Czar. February 1906-H.M.S. Dreadnoughtis launched by Britain, marking the advent of a new class of big-gun battleships. The Germans follow suit and begin building similar battleships as an all-out arms race ensues between Germany and Britain. August 1907- The British reach a strategic agreement with Russia. October 1908- Austria-Hungary, backed by Germany, annexes Bosnia-Herzegovina. Neighboring Serbia, with the backing of Russia, voices its objection in support of the Serbian minority living in Bosnia. March 1909- Germany forces Russia to endorse the annexation of Bosnia-Herzegovina by Austria-Hungary. 1910- Germany surpasses Britain as the leading manufacturing nation in Europe. The United States remains the world leader, surpassing all of the European manufacturing nations combined. October 1912- The Balkan War erupts in southern Europe as Serbia leads an attack by members of the Balkan League (Serbia, Bulgaria and Greece) against the Ottoman (Turkish) Empire to drive the Turks out of Europe. May 1913- The Balkan War ends with the Turks driven out of southern Europe. A peace settlement is then drawn up by the major European powers that divides up the former Turkish areas in southern Europe among the Balkan League nations. However, the peace is short-lived as Bulgaria, desiring a bigger share, attacks neighboring Greece and Serbia. Romania then attacks Bulgaria along with the Turks. This Second Balkan War results in Bulgaria losing territory and the Serbians becoming emboldened, leaving the Balkan region of southern Europe politically unstable. 1914 June 28, 1914- Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austrian throne, and his wife, visit Sarajevo in Bosnia. A bomb is thrown at their auto but misses. Undaunted, they continue their visit only to be shot and killed a short time later by a lone assassin. Believing the assassin to be a Serbian nationalist, the Austrians target their anger toward Serbia. July 23, 1914- Austria-Hungary, with the backing of Germany, delivers an ultimatum to Serbia. The Serbs propose arbitration as a way to resolve dispute, but also begin mobilization of their troops. July 25, 1914- Austria-Hungary severs diplomatic ties with Serbia and begins to mobilize its troops. July 26, 1914- Britain attempts to organize a political conference among the major European powers to resolve the dispute between Austria-Hungary and Serbia. France and Italy agree to participate. Russia then agrees, but Germany refuses. July 28, 1914- The Austro-Hungarian Empire declares war on Serbia. July 29, 1914- Britain calls for international mediation to resolve the worsening crisis. Russia urges German restraint, but the Russians begin partial troop mobilization as a precaution. The Germans then warn Russia on its mobilization and begin to mobilize themselves. July 30, 1914- Austrian warships bombard Belgrade, capital of Serbia. July 31, 1914- Reacting to the Austrian attack on Serbia, Russia begins full mobilization of its troops. Germany demands that it stop. August 1, 1914- Germany declares war on Russia. France and Belgium begin full mobilization. August 3, 1914- Germany declares war on France, and invades neutral Belgium. Britain then sends an ultimatum, rejected by the Germans, to withdraw from Belgium. August 4, 1914- Great Britain declares war on Germany. The declaration is binding on all Dominions within the British Empire including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India and South Africa. August 4, 1914- The United States declares its neutrality. August 4-16, 1914- The Siege of Liege occurs as Germans attack the Belgian fortress city but meet resistance from Belgian troops inside the Liege Forts. The twelve forts surrounding the city are then bombarded into submission by German and Austrian howitzers using high explosive shells. Remaining Belgian troops then retreat northward toward Antwerp as the German westward advance continues. August 6, 1914- The Austro-Hungarian Empire declares war on Russia. August 6, 1914- French and British troops invade the German colony of Togo in West Africa. Twenty days later, the German governor there surrenders. August 7, 1914- The first British troops land in France. The 120,000 highly trained members of the regular British Army form the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) commanded by Field Marshal John French. August 7-24, 1914- The French desire to score a quick victory ignites the first major French-German action of the war. The French Army invades Alsace and Lorraine according to their master strategy known as Plan XVII. However, the French offensive is met by effective German counter-attacks using heavy artillery and machine-guns. The French suffer heavy casualties including 27,000 soldiers killed in a single day, the worst one-day death toll in the history of the French Army. The French then fall back toward Paris amid 300,000 total casualties. August 8, 1914- Britain enacts the Defense of the Realm Act (DORA) granting unprecedented powers to the government to control the economy and daily life. August 12, 1914- Great Britain and France declare war on Austria-Hungary. Serbia is invaded by Austria-Hungary. August 17, 1914- Russia invades Germany, attacking into East Prussia, forcing the outnumbered Germans there to fall back. This marks the advent of the Eastern Front in Europe in which Russia will oppose Germany and Austria-Hungary. August 20, 1914- German troops occupy undefended Brussels, capital of Belgium. Following this, the main German armies continue westward and invade France according to their master strategy known as the Schlieffen Plan. It calls for a giant counter-clockwise movement of German armies wheeling into France, swallowing up Paris, and then attacking the rear of the French armies concentrated in the Alsace-Lorraine area. Under the overall command of Helmuth von Moltke, Chief of the German General Staff, the Germans seek to achieve victory over France within six weeks and then focus on defeating Russia in the East before Russia's six-million-man army, the world's largest, can fully mobilize. August 23, 1914- Japan declares war on Germany. The Japanese then prepare to assist the British in expelling the Germans from the Far East. German possessions in the South Pacific include a naval base on the coast of China, part of New Guinea, Samoa, and the Caroline, Marshall and Mariana Islands. Battle of Tannenberg August 26, 1914- On the Eastern Front, German troops in East Prussia under the new command of Paul von Hindenburg and Erich Ludendorff oppose the Russian 2nd Army. Aided by aerial reconnaissance and the interception of uncoded Russian radio messages, the Germans effectively reposition their troops to counter the initial Russian advance. Five days later, after surrounding the Russians, the battle ends with a German victory and the capture of 125,000 Russians. Following this success, the Germans drive the Russians out of East Prussia with heavy casualties. The impressive victory elevates Hindenburg and Ludendorff to the status of heroes in Germany. August 30, 1914- German possessions in the Far East are attacked as New Zealand troops occupy German Samoa. Three days later, Japanese forces land on the coast of China, preparing to attack the German naval base at Tsingtao (Qingdao). A month later, the Japanese begin their occupation of the Caroline, Marshall and Mariana Islands. Battle of the Marne September 5-12, 1914- On the Western Front, Paris is saved as French and British troops disrupt the Schlieffen Plan by launching a major counter-offensive against the invading German armies to the east of Paris. Six hundred taxi cabs from the city help to move French troops to the Front. Aided by French aerial reconnaissance which reveals a gap has developed in the center of the whole German advance, the French and British exploit this weakness and press their advantage. The Germans then begin a strategic withdrawal northward as the Allies pursue. Each side repeatedly tries to outmaneuver the other and gain a tactical advantage as they move northward in what becomes known as the Race to the Sea. September 7, 1914- In the Far East, a German naval squadron, commanded by Graf von Spee severs the British Pacific communications cable. September 8, 1914- The French government enacts nationwide State of War regulations which include total control over the economy and national security, strict censorship, and suspension of civil liberties. September 17, 1914- On the Eastern Front, Austrian forces steadily retreat from the advancing Russian 3rd and 8th armies fighting in southern Poland and along the Russian-Austrian border. The Germans then send the newly formed 9th Army to halt the Russians. This marks the beginning of a pattern in which the Germans will aid the weaker Austro-Hungarian Army. September 22, 1914- The first-ever British air raid against Germany occurs as Zeppelin bases at Cologne and Düsseldorf are bombed. First Battle of Ypres October 19-November 22, 1914 October 19, 1914- Still hoping to score a quick victory in the West, the Germans launch a major attack on Ypres in Belgium. Despite heavy losses, British, French and Belgian troops fend off the attack and the Germans do not break through. During the battle, the Germans send waves of inexperienced 17 to 20-year-old volunteer soldiers, some fresh out of school. They advance shoulder-to-shoulder while singing patriotic songs only to be systematically gunned down in what the Germans themselves later call the "massacre of the innocents." By November, overall casualties will total 250,000 men, including nearly half of the British Regular Army. October 29, 1914- The Ottoman Empire (Turkey) enters the war on the side of the Germans as three warships shell the Russian port of Odessa. Three days later, Russia declares war on Turkey. Russian and Turkish troops then prepare for battle along the common border of the Russian Caucasus and the Ottoman Empire. October-November, 1914- Germans and Austrians launch a combined offensive against the Russians on the Eastern Front. The German 9th Army targets Warsaw, Poland, but is opposed by six Russian armies and withdraws. The Austrians attack the Russians in Galicia (a province in northeast Austria) with indecisive results. However, the Russians fail to press their advantage at Warsaw and instead begin a split counter-offensive moving both southward against the Austrians in Galicia and northward toward Germany. The German 9th Army then regroups and cuts off the Russians at Lodz, Poland, halting their advance and forcing an eastward withdrawal by the Russians. November 1, 1914- Austria invades Serbia. This is the third attempt to conquer the Serbs in retaliation for the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. This attempt fails like the two before it, at the hands of highly motivated Serbs fighting on their home ground. The Austrians withdraw in mid-December, after suffering over 220,000 casualties from the three failed invasions. November 1, 1914- The British Navy suffers its worst defeat in centuries during a sea battle in the Pacific. Two British ships, theMonmouthandGood Hope, are sunk with no survivors by a German squadron commanded by Admiral Graf von Spee. November 3, 1914- Kaiser Wilhelm appoints Erich von Falkenhayn as the new Chief of the German General Staff, replacing Helmuth von Moltke who is sacked due to the failure of the Schlieffen Plan. November 5, 1914- France and Britain declare war on the Ottoman (Turkish) Empire. November 6, 1914- In the Persian Gulf, a major British offensive begins as the 6th Indian Division invades Mesopotamia. The objective is to protect the oil pipeline from Persia. Two weeks later they capture the city of Basra. November 7, 1914- In the Far East, the German naval base at Tsingtao is captured by the Japanese, aided by a British and Indian battalion. Trench Warfare Begins December 1914- The Western Front in Europe stabilizes in the aftermath of the First Battle of Ypres as the Germans go on the defensive and transfer troops to the East to fight the Russians. The 450-mile-long Western Front stretches from the Channel Coast southward through Belgium and Eastern France into Switzerland. Troops from both sides construct opposing trench fortifications and dugouts protected by barbed wire, machine-gun nests, snipers, and mortars, with an in-between area called No Man's Land. The Eastern Front also sees its share of trenches as troops dig in after the Russians hold off the Germans in Poland and the Austrians hold off the Russians at Limanowa. The 600-mile Eastern Front stretches from the Baltic Sea southward through East Prussia and Austria to the Carpathian Mountains. December 8, 1914- The Battle of Falkland Islands occurs as British Navy warships destroy the German squadron of Admiral Graf von Spee in the South Atlantic off the coast of Argentina. Von Spee and two sons serving in his squadron are killed. December 10, 1914- The French begin a series of attacks along the Western Front against the Germans in the Artois region of northern France and Champagne in the south. Hampered by a lack of heavy artillery and muddy winter conditions, the French fail to make any significant gains and both offensives are soon suspended. December 16, 1914- Britain suffers its first civilian casualties at home in the war as the German Navy bombards the coastal towns of Whitby, Hartlepool and Scarborough, killing 40 persons and wounding hundreds. December 25, 1914- A Christmas truce occurs between German and British soldiers in the trenches of northern France. All shooting stops as the soldiers exit their trenches, exchange gifts, sing carols and engage in a soccer game. This is the only Christmas truce of the war, as Allied commanders subsequently forbid fraternization with orders to shoot any violators. January 17, 1915- The initial Turkish offensive into Russia is thwarted as the Turkish 3rd Army suffers a defeat by the Russian Army of the Caucasus near Kars. The Russians then begin a multi-pronged invasion of the Ottoman Empire from the Caucasus. January 19, 1915- Germany begins an aerial bombing campaign against Britain using Zeppelins. January 31, 1915- Poison gas is used for the first time in the war as Germans on the Eastern Front attack Russian positions west of Warsaw. Although the Germans fire 18,000 gas shells, they have little effect on the Russians as frigid temperatures prevent the gas from vaporizing. February 1915- The Turks begin forced deportations of Armenians. Over the next two years, an estimated 1.5 million Armenians will either starve to death, die of thirst in the Syrian Desert, or be murdered by Turkish troops and bandits, during the Armenian Genocide. February 3, 1915- Turkish troops launch an unsuccessful attack against the British-controlled Suez Canal, which is regularly used by the British to ferry Dominion troops from Australia, New Zealand and India to European battle grounds. February 4, 1915- Germany declares the waters surrounding British Isles to be a war zone in which ships can be sunk without warning. February 7-22, 1915- On the Eastern Front in Europe, the German 8th and 10th Armies wage a successful offensive against the Russian 10th Army in the Masurian Lakes region of East Prussia, pushing the Russians eastward into the Augustow Forest where they are decimated. February 16, 1915- On the Western Front, the French launch their second offensive against German defense lines in Champagne. Once again they are hampered by the muddy winter weather and a lack of heavy artillery. After a month of fighting, suffering 240,000 casualties, the exhausted French break off the offensive. U-Boat Warfare Begins February 18, 1915- The first German U-Boat campaign of the war begins with unrestricted attacks against merchant and passenger ships in the waters around the British Isles. Within six months, Allied shipping losses at sea surpass the number of new ships being built. However, the unrestricted attacks also arouse the anger of the neutral United States as Americans are killed. March 1915- The British Navy imposes a total sea blockade on Germany, prohibiting all shipping imports including food. March 10, 1915- British and Indian troops in the Artois region of northern France attack the Germans around the village of Neuve Chapelle. The attack takes the outnumbered Germans by surprise. The British achieve their initial objective but fail to capitalize on the narrow breach they create in the German lines. After three days of fighting, with over 11,000 casualties, the British offensive is suspended. The Germans suffer over 10,000 casualties. March 22, 1915- The Russians capture 120,000 Austrians at Przemysl in Galicia. This marks the culmination of a series of winter battles between the Austrians and Russians to secure the strategic Carpathian Mountain passes and opens the way for a Russian invasion of Hungary. Realizing this, the Germans and Austrians make plans to combine their troops and launch a major spring offensive. April 11, 1915- British troops in Mesopotamia fend off a large attack by the Turks against Basra. The British then branch out to protect their position at Basra, and proceed up the Tigris Valley toward Baghdad. Second Battle of Ypres April 22-May 25, 1915 April 22, 1915- Poison gas is used for the first time on the Western Front as the German 4th Army attacks French positions around Ypres in northern Belgium. As they attack, the Germans release chlorine gas from over 5,000 cylinders forming poisonous green clouds that drift toward two French African divisions. Lacking any protection, the French quickly retreat. Although this creates a five-mile-wide gap in the Allied lines, the Germans fail to capitalize due to a lack of reserve troops and cautious frontline troops hesitant to venture too close to the gas clouds. British and Canadians then plug the gap but are unable to regain any ground taken by the Germans. The British then withdraw to a second line of defense, leaving Ypres in Allied hands but virtually surrounded. Casualties in the Second Battle of Ypres total 58,000 Allies and 38,000 Germans. April 25, 1915- Allied troops land on the Gallipoli Peninsula in an attempt to unblock the Dardanelles Straits near Constantinople (present day Istanbul, Turkey) to reopen access to Russia through the Black Sea. The landing comes after a failed attempt by British and French warships to force their way through the narrow Straits. The 70,000 landing troops include 15,000 Australians and New Zealanders. The peninsula is heavily defended by Turkish troops, supplied and trained by Germans. Within two weeks, a stalemate develops as the Allies fail to gain any of their objectives and the Turks begin a series of costly attacks attempting to drive out the Allies. May 1, 1915- German U-Boats sink their first American merchant ship, the tankerGulflight, in the Mediterranean Sea near Sicily. May 2, 1915- On the Eastern Front, a combined Austro-German offensive begins against the Russian 3rd Army at Tarnow and Gorlice in Galicia. The attack is preceded by a massive artillery bombardment with over 700,000 shells. This breaks down the defenses of the weakened Russians who now suffer from shortages of artillery shells and rifles. Within two days, the Austro-Germans break through the lines and the Russians begin a disorganized retreat. Lusitania Sunk May 7, 1915- A German U-Boat torpedoes the British passenger linerLusitaniaoff the Irish coast. It sinks in 18 minutes, drowning 1,201 persons, including 128 Americans. President Woodrow Wilson subsequently sends four diplomatic protests to Germany. May 9, 1915- Following six days of artillery bombardment by over a thousand French guns, the French 10th Army attacks German defense lines in the Artois, advancing toward Vimy Ridge. The French achieve their initial objective, but fail to capitalize on the narrow breach they create in the German lines. The next day, Germans counter-attack and push back the French. May 9, 1915- Complementing the French offensive at Vimy, British and Indian troops launch their second attack against the Germans around Neuve Chapelle in the Artois. However, without sufficient artillery support to weaken the German frontline defenses, the advancing soldiers are decimated by German machine-gun fire. The attack is called off the next day with 11,000 casualties. May 15, 1915- British and Indian troops launch another attack against Germans in the Artois, this time at Festubert, north of Neuve Chapelle. The attack is preceded by a 60-hour artillery bombardment. But the troops advance just 1,000 yards while suffering 16,000 casualties. May 23, 1915- Italy enters the war on the side of the Allies by declaring war on Austria-Hungary. The Italians then launch offensives along the 400-mile common border between Austria and Italy. The better equipped Austrians take advantage of the mountainous terrain to establish strong defensive positions all along the border. The Italians then focus their attacks on the mountain passes at Trentino and the valley of the Isonzo River. May 31, 1915- The first aerial bombing of London occurs as German Zeppelins kill 28 persons. June 12, 1915- After pausing to regroup, Austro-German troops resume their offensive in Galicia on the Eastern Front. Within five days, they break through the Russian lines and push the Russian 3rd and 8th Armies further eastward. Russian casualties soon surpass 400,000. June 16, 1915- The French 10th Army launches its second attempt to seize Vimy Ridge from the Germans in the Artois. This time the troops encounter an intensive artillery bombardment from the improved defenses of the German 6th Army. The French achieve their initial objective, but then succumb to a German counter-attack, just as they did in the first attempt at Vimy. The French call off the Vimy offensive with 100,000 casualties. The Germans suffer 60,000. June 23, 1915- The First Battle of Isonzo begins as Italian troops attack Austrian defenses. Initial gains by the Italians are soon repulsed by the Austrians with heavy casualties for both sides. Three additional battles are fought through the end of 1915 with similar results, totaling 230,000 casualties for the Italians and 165,000 for the Austrians. July 1, 1915- Russia creates a Central War Industries Committee to oversee production and address a severe shortage of artillery shells and rifles on the Front. Russian soldiers in the field without rifles can only get them from fellow soldiers after they are killed or wounded. July 9, 1915- In Africa, the German Southwest Africa colony (present day Namibia) is taken by the Allies following 11 months of fighting between the Germans and South African and Rhodesian troops loyal to the British. July 13, 1915- On the Eastern Front, the next phase of the combined Austro-German offensive against the Russians begins in northern Poland, with the Austro-Germans advancing toward Warsaw. The Russian Army now gets weaker by the day due to chronic supply shortages and declining morale. Once again, the Russians retreat, and also order a total civilian evacuation of Poland. This results in great hardship for the people as they leave their homes and head eastward, clogging the roads and hampering the movement of Russian troops. August 1, 1915- The Fokker Scourge begins over the Western Front as German pilots achieve air supremacy using the highly effective Fokker monoplane featuring a synchronized machine-gun that fires bullets through the spinning propeller. Although the technology was pioneered by French pilot Roland Garros, the Germans copied and improved the synchronized gun idea after capturing his plane. The Fokker Scourge will last nearly a year, until Allied aerial technology catches up. August 5, 1915- Warsaw is taken by Austro-Germans troops. This ends a century of Russian control of the city. After taking Warsaw, the Austro-Germans move on to capture Ivangorod, Kovno, Brest-Litovsk, Bialystok, Grodno, and Vilna. By the end of September, Russian troops are driven out of Poland and Galicia, back to the original lines from which they had begun the war in 1914. For the time being, the battered Russian Army has effectively been eliminated as an offensive threat on the Eastern Front, freeing the Germans to focus more effort on the Western Front. August 6, 1915- Hoping to break the stalemate at Gallipoli, British renew the offensive. An additional 20,000 troops are landed but their attack is hampered by poor communications and logistical problems. The Turks, led by Mustafa Kemal, respond by rushing in two divisions and the British offensive fails. September 5, 1915- Russian Czar Nicholas II takes personal command of the Russian Army, hoping to rally his faltering troops. Losses to the Czar's army from the Austro-German offensives in Galicia and Poland include over 1,400,000 casualties and 750,000 captured. Russia is also weakened economically by the loss of Poland's industrial and agricultural output. Additionally, the ongoing mass exodus of Russian troops and civilians from Poland, called the Great Retreat, spurs dangerous political and social unrest in Russia, undermining the rule of the Czar and his Imperial government. September 6, 1915- Bulgaria enters the war on Germany's side with an eye toward invading neighboring Serbia. Thus far in the war, Austria-Hungary has tried, but failed, three times to conquer Serbia in retaliation for the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand. Now, the Austrians, aided by Germany and Bulgaria, plan to try again. With the addition of Bulgaria, Germany now has three allies in the war including Austria-Hungary and Turkey. This alliance is called the Central Powers due to their geographic location, primarily in central Europe. September 18, 1915- The Germans announce an end to their first U-Boat campaign, begun in February, which had targeted ships around the British Isles. This comes in response to increasing protests from the United States following American civilian deaths at sea. The U-Boats are then sent by the Germans to wreak havoc in the Mediterranean Sea, away from American shipping lanes in the Atlantic. September 25, 1915- On the Western Front, the British use poison gas for the first time as they launch an attack against the German 6th Army in the Artois. Chlorine gas is released from over 5,000 cylinders, creating a poisonous cloud that drifts toward the Germans, opening a gap in their front line. The British advance and quickly seize their objective, the town of Loos, but then fail to capitalize on the four-mile-wide breach in the German lines. The Germans regroup and when the British resume the attack the next day they are mowed down in the hundreds by well-placed German machine-gunners. In all, the British suffer 50,000 casualties during the Loos offensive. British Army Commander John French is then sacked, replaced by Douglas Haig. September 25, 1915- The French 2nd Army in Champagne attacks the weakest part of the German lines, creating a six-mile-wide breach that is three miles deep. The German 3rd Army then rushes in reinforcements, regroups its defense lines and plugs the gap. Facing strong resistance, the French break off the attack. September 26, 1915- The French launch their third attempt to seize Vimy Ridge from the Germans in Artois, and this time they secure the ridge. September 26-28, 1915- In the Middle East, a British victory occurs at the Battle of Kut al-Amara in Mesopotamia as they defeat the Turks. The resounding victory spurs an ambitious move by the British to venture onward to quickly capture Baghdad. However, that attempt fails and the troops return to Kut-al-Amara and dig in. October 6, 1915- The invasion of Serbia begins as Austro-German troops attack from the north. Five days later, the Bulgarians attack from the east. The outnumbered Serbs have their poorly supplied troops stretched too thinly to defend both fronts. Belgrade then falls to the Germans and the Bulgarians capture Kumanova, severing the country's north-south rail line. This leaves the overwhelmed Serbian troops no option other than to retreat westward through the mountains into Albania. December 5, 1915- Hoping to overcome their earlier defeat at Kut al-Amara in Mesopotamia, Turkish troops lay siege to the town, surrounding the British garrison there, cutting them off completely. December 19, 1915- The Allies begin an orderly evacuation of the Gallipoli Peninsula. This comes after months of stalemate in which Turkish troops contained all breakthrough attempts while inflicting 250,000 casualties. The British Navy successfully evacuates 83,000 survivors by sea as the Turks watch without firing a shot, glad to see them leave. January 1916- President Woodrow Wilson begins an effort to organize a peace conference in Europe. February 18, 1916- In West Africa, the German colony of Cameroon falls to the French and British following 17 months of fighting. This leaves only one German colony remaining in Africa, known as German East Africa. There, 10,000 troops skillfully commanded by General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck prove to be an elusive but deadly target, as they are pursued by a British-led force ten times larger. Battle of Verdun February 21-December 18, 1916 February 21, 1916- On the Western Front, the German 5th Army attacks the French 2nd Army north of the historic city of Verdun, following a nine-hour artillery bombardment. The Germans under Chief of the General Staff, Erich Falkenhayn, seek to "bleed" the French Army to death by targeting the cherished city. At first, the Germans make rapid gains along the east bank of the Meuse River, overrunning bombed out French trenches, and capture lightly defended Fort Douaumont four days later without firing a shot. However, the German offensive soon stalls as the French rush in massive reinforcements and strengthen their defenses, under the new command of Henri Petain, who is determined to save Verdun. An early spring thaw also turns the entire battlefield into mud, hampering offensive maneuvers. March 6, 1916- Germans renew their Verdun offensive, this time attacking along the west bank of the Meuse River, targeting two strategic hills northwest of Verdun that form the main French position. However, by the end of March, the heavily defended hills are only partially in German hands. March 18, 1916- On the Eastern Front, the Russians oblige a French request to wage an offensive to divert German resources from Verdun. Although the Russians greatly outnumber the Germans in the northern sector of the Eastern Front, their poorly coordinated offensive around Vilna and at Lake Naroch is swiftly defeated by the Germans with 70,000 Russian casualties. April 9, 1916- The Germans attack again at Verdun, now along a 20-mile-wide front on both the east and west banks of the Meuse River. Once again the attack only yields partial gains in the face of stiff French resistance. April 18, 1916- President Woodrow Wilson threatens to sever diplomatic ties between the United States and Germany following the sinking of the passenger ferrySussexby a U-Boat in the English Channel. The attack marked the beginning of a new U-Boat campaign around the British Isles. But in response to Wilson, the Germans call off the U-Boats. April 29, 1916- In the Middle East, the five-month siege at Kut-al-Amara in Mesopotamia ends as 13,000 British and Indian soldiers, now on the verge of starvation, surrender to the Turks. The largest-ever surrender by the British Army comes after four failed attempts by British relief troops to break through to the surrounded garrison. May 3, 1916- At Verdun, the Germans begin another attack on the west bank of the Meuse. This time they gain the advantage and within three days capture the two French hills they had been striving for since early March, thus achieving a solid position northwest of Verdun. May 15, 1916- Austrian troops attack Italian mountain positions in the Trentino. The Italians withdraw southward, forcing the Austrians to stretch their supply lines over the difficult terrain. The arrival of Italian reinforcements and a successful counter-attack then halts the Austrian offensive completely. May 25, 1916- The era of the all-volunteer British Army ends as universal conscription takes effect requiring all eligible British men between the ages of 19 and 40 to report,excluding men working in agriculture, mining or the railroads. Battle of Jutland May 31, 1916- The main German and British naval fleets clash in the Battle of Jutland in the North Sea, as both sides try, but fail, to score a decisive victory. Forward battle cruisers from the British Grand Fleet are initially lured southward toward the German High Seas Fleet, but then turn completely around, luring the entire German fleet northward. As they get near, the British blast away at the German forward ships. The Germans return fire and the two fleets fire furiously at each other. However, the Germans, aware they are outgunned by the larger British fleet, disengage by abruptly turning away. In the dead of the night the Germans withdraw entirely. The British do not risk a pursuit and instead head home. Both sides claim victory. Although the Germans sink 14 of the 151 British ships while losing 11 of 99 ships, the British Navy retains its dominance of the North Sea and the naval blockade of Germany will remain intact for the war's duration. June 1, 1916- Germans at Verdun try to continue their offensive success along the Meuse River and now attack the French on the east bank, targeting Fort Vaux and the fortification at Thiaumont. Eight days later, both objectives are taken as the French suffer heavy casualties. The Germans now push onward toward a ridge that overlooks Verdun and edge toward the Meuse bridges. The entire nation of France now rallies behind their troops in the defense of Verdun as French generals vow it will not be taken. June 4, 1916- Four Russian armies on the Eastern Front, under their innovative new commander, General Alexei Brusilov, begin a general offensive in the southwest along a 300-mile front. Brusilov avoids the style of predictable narrow frontline attacks used previously, in favor of a sweeping offensive over hundreds of miles that is harder to pin down. Thinly stretched Austro-Hungarian troops defending this portion of the Front are taken by surprise. Realizing their distress, the Germans pull four divisions from Verdun and send them east. By the end of summer, the Germans will send 20 more divisions and merge the surviving Austro-Hungarian troops into the Germany Army. June 22, 1916- Germans resume their offensive near Verdun, targeting Fort Souville which overlooks the city and the Meuse bridges. Using poisonous phosgene gas at the start of the attack, they initially take the village of Fleury just two miles north of Verdun, but further advance southward is halted by a strong French counter-attack. Verdun has now become a battle of attrition for both sides with a death toll already approaching 500,000 men. Battle of the Somme July 1-November 18, 1916 June 24, 1916- The Allies begin a week-long artillery bombardment of German defensive positions on the Somme River in northern France, in preparation for a major British-led offensive. Over 1.5 million shells are fired along a 15-mile front to pulverize the intricate German trench system and to blow apart rows of barbed wire protecting the trenches. British Commander Douglas Haig believes this will allow an unhindered infantry advance and a rapid breakthrough of the German Front on the first day of battle. July 1, 1916- The British Army suffers the worst single-day death toll in its history as 18,800 soldiers are killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. The losses come as 13 attacking divisions encounter German defenses that are still intact despite the seven-day bombardment designed to knock them out. The British also attack in broad daylight, advancing in lines shoulder-to-shoulder only to be systematically mowed down by German machine-gunners. The Somme offensive quickly becomes a battle of attrition as British and French troops make marginal gains against the Germans but repeatedly fail to break through the entire Front as planned. July 10, 1916- The Germans attack again at Verdun, using poison gas, and advance toward Fort Souville. Four days later, the French counter-attack and halt the Germans. July 13, 1916- The British launch a night attack against German positions along a 3.5-mile portion of the Somme Front. After advancing nearly 1,000 yards, the advance is halted as the Germans regroup their defenses. Two days later, the British once again penetrate the German line and advance to High Wood but are then pushed back. August 27, 1916- Romania declares war on the Central Powers and begins an invasion of Austria-Hungary through the Carpathian Mountains. The Romanians face little opposition initially and advance 50 miles into Transylvania. August 28, 1916- Kaiser Wilhelm appoints Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg as Germany's new Chief of the General Staff, replacing Erich Falkenhayn following the disappointment at Verdun and recent setbacks on the Eastern Front. August 28, 1916- Italy declares war on Germany, thus expanding the scope of its military activities beyond the Italian-Austrian Front. August 29, 1916- Germany's entire economy is placed under the Hindenburg Plan allowing the military to exercise dictatorial-style powers to control the labor force, munitions production, food distribution and most aspects of daily life. September 1, 1916- Romania is invaded by the newly formed Danube Army, consisting of Germans, Turks and Bulgarians under the command of German General August von Mackensen. This marks the start of a multi-pronged invasion of Romania in response to its aggression against Austria-Hungary. September 15, 1916- The first-ever appearance of tanks on a battlefield occurs as British troops renew the Somme offensive and attack German positions along a five-mile front, advancing 2,000 yards with tank support. The British-developed tanks feature two small side-cannons and four machine-guns, operated by an eight-man crew. As the infantry advances, individual tanks provide support by blasting and rolling over the German barbed wire, piercing the frontline defense, and then roll along the length of the trench, raking the German soldiers with machine-gun fire. September 20, 1916- On the Eastern Front, the Brusilov Offensive grinds to a halt. Since its launch in early June, four Russian armies under the command of General Alexei Brusilov had swept eastward up to 60 miles deep along a 300-mile front while capturing 350,000 Austro-Hungarian troops. But by the end of summer, the Germans brought in 24 divisions from the Western Front and placed the surviving Austro-Hungarian troops under German command. The Russian attack withered after the loss of nearly a million men amid insufficient reserves. The humiliating withdrawal from the hard-won areas wrecks Russian troop morale, fueling political and social unrest in Russia. September 25, 1916- British and French troops renew their attacks in the Somme, capturing several villages north of the Somme River, including Thiepval, where the British successfully use tanks again. Following these successes, however, heavy rain turns the entire battlefield to mud, preventing effective maneuvers. October 8, 1916- The German Air Force (Luftstreikrafte) is founded as various aerial fighting groups are merged. October 10, 1916- Romanian troops return home after being pushed out of Hungary by two Austro-German armies. The Austro-German 9th Army then invades Romania and heads toward Bucharest. October 24, 1916- At Verdun, the French under General Robert Nivelle, begin an ambitious offensive designed to end the German threat there by targeting Fort Douaumont and other German-occupied sites on the east bank of the Meuse River. The attack is preceded by the heaviest artillery bombardment to-date by the French. Additionally, French infantry use an effective new tactic in which they slowly advance in stages, step-by-step behind encroaching waves of artillery fire. Using this creeping barrage tactic, they seize Fort Douaumont, then take Fort Vaux further east, nine days later. November 7, 1916- American voters re-elect President Woodrow Wilson who had campaigned on the slogan, "He kept us out of war." November 13, 1916- British troops stage a surprise attack and capture the towns of Beaumont Hamel and Beaucourt at the northern end of the Somme Front. November 18, 1916- The Battle of the Somme ends upon the first snowfall as the British and French decide to cease the offensive. By now, the Germans have been pushed back just a few miles along the entire 15-mile front, but the major breakthrough the Allies had planned never occurred. Both sides each suffered over 600,000 casualties during the five-month battle. Among the injured German soldiers is Corporal Adolf Hitler, wounded by shrapnel. November 20, 1916- Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary dies at age 86. He is succeeded by Archduke Charles who wants to take Austria-Hungary out of the war. December 6, 1916- Bucharest, capital of Romania, falls to the Austro-Germans. This effectively ends Romanian resistance to the Austro-German invasion and places the country's entire agricultural and industrial resources, including the Ploesti oil fields, in German hands. December 7, 1916- LLoyd George becomes Britain's new Prime Minister. His new War Cabinet immediately begins to organize the country for "total war." December 12, 1916- Joseph Joffre resigns under pressure from his position as Commander-in-Chief of the French Army, replaced by General Robert Nivelle. December 15, 1916- The last offensive in the Battle of Verdun begins as the French push the Germans out of Louvemont and Bezonvaux on the east bank of the Meuse River. Combined with other ground losses, the German withdrawal ends the immediate threat to Verdun and both sides now focus their efforts on battles elsewhere along the Western Front. Overall, the French and Germans suffered nearly a million casualties combined during the ten month battle in which the Germans failed to capture the city of Verdun. December 18, 1916- President Woodrow Wilson caps off a year-long effort to organize a peace conference in Europe by asking the combatants to outline their peace terms. See Part Two - World War One - Dates & Rest Of Timeline Info. Text 1917 Thur 1919 Thanks. World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 1 In Colour Film - Catastrophe https://rumble.com/v35gtvg-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-1-in-colour-film-catastrophe.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 2 In Colour Film - Slaughter In The Trenches https://rumble.com/v35iwdm-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-2-in-colour-film-slaughter-in-the-tren.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 3 In Colour Film - Blood In The Air https://rumble.com/v35lfes-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-3-in-colour-film-blood-in-the-air.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 4 In Colour Film - Killers Of The Sea https://rumble.com/v35mjdo-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-4-in-colour-film-killers-of-the-sea.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 5 In Colour Film - Mayhem On The Eastern Front https://rumble.com/v35oyly-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-5-in-colour-film-mayhem-on-the-eastern.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 6 In Colour Film - Victory and Despair https://rumble.com/v35ugei-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-6-in-colour-film-victory-and-despair.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 7 In Colour Film - Tactics And Strategy https://rumble.com/v35vyrr-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-7-in-colour-film-tactics-and-strategy.html Over 65 million men volunteered or were conscripted to fight in mass citizen armies. Millions of civilians also contributed to the war effort by working in industry, agriculture or jobs left open when men enlisted. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars:_1945%E2%80%931989 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars:_1990%E2%80%932002 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars:_2003%E2%80%93present https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_World_War_I https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_timelines_of_World_War_II World War I Pitted Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire against Great Britain, the United States, France, Russia, Italy and Japan. New military technology resulted in unprecedented carnage. By the time the war was over and the Allied Powers claimed victory, more than 16 million people—soldiers and civilians alike—were dead.

World War I Pitted Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire against Great Britain, the United States, France, Russia, Italy and Japan. New military technology resulted in unprecedented carnage. By the time the war was over and the Allied Powers claimed victory, more than 16 million people—soldiers and civilians alike—were dead. Pt. 2 of Seven. 1.It was a global war Over 30 nations declared war between 1914 and 1918. The majority joined on the side of the Allies, including Serbia, Russia, France, Britain, Italy and the United States. They were opposed by Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire, who together formed the Central Powers. What began as a relatively small conflict in southeast Europe became a war between European empires. Britain and its Empire’s entry into the war made this a truly global conflict fought on a geographical scale never seen before. Fighting occurred not only on the Western Front, but in eastern and southeast Europe, Africa and the Middle East. 2.It is Far Better to Face the Bullets... The First World War was not inevitable or accidental, but began as a result of human actions and decisions. Over 65 million men volunteered or were conscripted to fight in mass citizen armies. Millions of civilians also contributed to the war effort by working in industry, agriculture or jobs left open when men enlisted. Victory depended on popular support. Some nations were forced to surrender as their people, pushed to their physical and emotional limits, lost the will to continue fighting. The First World War was also a war against people. Invading armies committed atrocities against civilians in the areas they occupied. Attacks on civilians became increasingly common as each nation tried to break their opponents’ home morale and diminish popular support for the war. Propaganda demonised entire nations and attacked the ‘national characters’ of enemy peoples. 3.It was a war of production National resources were mobilised as each combatant nation raced to supply its armed forces with enough men and equipment. In Britain, early failures in munitions manufacturing led to full government intervention in war production. These controls helped its industry produce nearly 4 million rifles, 250,000 machine guns, 52,000 aeroplanes, 2,800 tanks, 25,000 artillery pieces and over 170 million rounds of artillery shells by 1918. 4.It was a war of innovation Advances in weaponry and military technology provoked tactical changes as each side tried to gain an advantage over the other. The introduction of aircraft into war left soldiers and civilians vulnerable to attacks from above for the first time. Major innovations were also made in manufacturing, chemistry and communications. Medical advances made the First World War the first major conflict in which British deaths in battle outnumbered deaths caused by disease. 5.It was a war of destruction The First World War left an estimated 16 million soldiers and civilians dead and countless others physically and psychologically wounded. The war also forever altered the world’s social and political landscape. It accelerated changes in attitudes towards gender and class and led to the collapse of the Russian, Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empires. The cost of waging total war - and of rebuilding afterwards - ravaged the national economies of both the victorious European Allies and the defeated Central Powers. The human cost of the First World War for Britain saw the creation of a new language of remembrance, which remains to this day. It can be seen in war memorials in cities, towns, schools, places of worship and workplaces, as well as in rituals such as Remembrance Sunday and the two-minute silence at 11am each 11 November. World War I Begins At the dawn of the 20thcentury, few anticipated a global war, but what came to be known as the Great War began on June 28, 1914, with the assassinations of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, while they were visiting Sarajevo, Bosnia, a country recently annexed into the Austrian Empire. Many Bosnians and their Serbian neighbors resented this foreign rule and the Archduke’s visit to Sarajevo provided the opportunity for a small band of Serbian dissidents to strike back. Austria responded to the assassinations by teaming up with its ally, Germany, and declaring war on Serbia. The conflict soon involved Russia, France and Belgium. Fearful of a full-scale world war that would threaten its sea routes to other countries, Great Britain joined the fight against Germany and Austria. Each country believed the fighting would last only a few months. Nations were categorized either as Central Powers or Allies. Countries that joined the Central Powers, such as Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire, supported Austria-Hungary and Germany. The Allies were Russia, France, Belgium and Great Britain, but they were later joined by Japan, Romania, China and the United States. No Man’s Land: Trench Warfare During World War I, trench warfare was a defensive military tactic used extensively by both sides, allowing soldiers some protection from enemy fire but also hindering troops from readily advancing and thus prolonging the war.Trench warfare was the major combat tactic in France and Belgium. Trenches were often dug up to 12 feet deep and stretched for miles. For stability, some trenches included wooden beams and/or sandbags. Even during lulls in the fighting, death occurred almost daily in the trenches due to a sniper’s bullet or the unsanitary living conditions which resulted in many diseases such as dysentery, typhus and cholera. Other diseases caused by the poor conditions weretrench mouth and trench foot*. *Trench mouth was an infection of the mouth due to overgrowth of certain oral bacteria. The condition was made worse by poor oral hygiene, smoking, malnutrition and psychological stress. To prevent trench foot, a fungal disease caused by exposure to wet and cold, soldiers frequently added wooden planks in the trenches to keep from having to stand in water. Barbed wire and explosive mines—as well as bullets and grenades—were essential weapons used to hinder infantry advances across “No Man’s Land,” the bleak landscape between the trenches of the opposing sides. New offensive weapons were implemented during the war includingtanks and poison gases*. *Tanks, armored against artillery fire, were capable of rolling over barbed wire as well as crossing treacherous terrain. Chlorine was one of the poisonous gases used in World War I. It was damaging to the eyes, nose, throat and lungs, and produced symptoms ranging from irritation to blindness and death.) In 1915, the Germans used poison gases against the Allies fighting in the trenches on the Western Front. To protect soldiers from chemical warfare, gas masks were developed. Great Britain made one of the first types of masks capable of minimizing the deadly impact of these gases on their troops. Though considered a novelty when the war began, aircraft were used by both sides for reconnaissance, allowing personnel to observe enemy troop positions, to direct artillery fire and to photograph enemy lines. By the end of the war, the concepts of aerial combat and aerial bombing had come into being. See Part One - World War One - Dates & Rest Of Timeline Info. Text 1914 Thur 1916 Thanks. January 19, 1917- The British intercept atelegramsent by Alfred Zimmermann in the German Foreign Office to the German embassies in Washington, D.C., and Mexico City. Its message outlines plans for an alliance between Germany and Mexico against the United States. According to the scheme, Germany would provide tactical support while Mexico would benefit by expanding into the American Southwest, retrieving territories that had once been part of Mexico. The Zimmermann telegram is passed along by the British to the Americans and is then made public, causing an outcry from interventionists in the U.S., such as former president Teddy Roosevelt, who favor American military involvement in the war. February 1, 1917- The Germans resume unrestricted submarine warfare around the British Isles with the goal of knocking Britain out of the war by cutting off all imports to starve the British people into submission. February 3, 1917- The United States severs diplomatic ties with Germany after a U-Boat sinks the American grain shipHousatonic. Seven more American ships are sunk in February and March as the Germans sink 500 ships in just sixty days. February 25, 1917- In the Middle East, newly reinforced and replenished British troops retake Kut al-Amara in Mesopotamia from outnumbered Turks. The British then continue their advance and capture Baghdad, followed by Ramadi and Tikrit. Russian Revolution March 8, 1917- A mass protest by Russian civilians in Petrograd (St. Petersburg) erupts into a revolution against Czar Nicholas II and the war. Within days, Russian soldiers mutiny and join the revolution. March 15, 1917- The 300-year-old Romanov dynasty in Russia ends upon the abdication of Czar Nicholas II. In his place, a new democratically minded Provisional Government is established. Great Britain, France, the United States, and Italy rush to recognize the new government in the hope Russia will stay in the war and maintain its huge presence on the Eastern Front. March 15, 1917- Germans along the central portion of the Western Front in France begin a strategic withdrawal to the new Siegfried Line (called the Hindenburg Line by the Allies) which shortens the overall Front by 25 miles by eliminating an unneeded bulge. During the three-week long withdrawal, the Germans conduct a scorched earth policy, destroying everything of value. April 1917- British combat pilots on the Western Front suffer a 50 percent casualty rate during Bloody April as the Germans shoot down 150 fighter planes. The average life expectancy of an Allied fighter pilot is now three weeks, resulting from aerial dogfights and accidents. America Enters April 2, 1917- President Woodrow Wilson appears before the U.S. Congress and gives aspeechsaying "the world must be made safe for democracy" then asks the Congress for a declaration of war against Germany. April 6, 1917- The United States of America declares war on Germany. April 9, 1917- The British Army has one of its most productive days of the war as 3rd Army, supported by Canadian and Australian troops, makes rapid advances north of the Hindenburg Line at Arras and Vimy on the Western Front. The expansive first-day achievement in snowy weather includes a 3.5 mile territorial gain and the capture of Vimy Ridge by Canadians. However, similar to past offensives, the inability to capitalize on initial successes and maintain momentum gives the Germans an opportunity to regroup and further gains are thwarted. The British suffer 150,000 casualties during the offensive, while the Germans suffer 100,000. Nivelle Offensive April 16, 1917- The French 5th and 6th Armies attack along a 25-mile front south of the Hindenburg Line. The new offensive comes amid promises of a major breakthrough within 24-hours by the new French Commander-in-Chief, Robert Nivelle, who planned the operation. Nivelle once again utilizes his creeping barrage tactic in which his armies advance in stages closely behind successive waves of artillery fire. However, this time it is poorly coordinated and the troops fall far behind. The Germans also benefit from good intelligence and aerial reconnaissance and are mostly aware of the French plan. Nivelle's offensive collapses within days with over 100,000 casualties. French President Poincaré personally intervenes and Nivelle is relieved of his command. He is replaced as Commander-in-Chief by General Henri Petain, who must deal with a French Army that is now showing signs of mutiny. April 16, 1917- Political agitator Vladimir Lenin arrives back in Russia, following 12 years of exile in Switzerland. Special train transportation for his return was provided by the Germans in the hope that anti-war Lenin and his radical Bolshevik Party will disrupt Russia's new Provisional Government. Lenin joins other Bolsheviks in Petrograd who have already returned from exile including Joseph Stalin. May 18, 1917- The Selective Service Act is passed by the U.S. Congress, authorizing a draft. The small U.S. Army, presently consisting of 145,000 men, will be enlarged to 4,000,000 via the draft. May 19, 1917- The Provisional Government of Russia announces it will stay in the war. A large offensive for the Eastern Front is then planned by Alexander Kerensky, the new Minister of War. However, Russian soldiers and peasants are now flocking to Lenin's Bolshevik Party which opposes the war and the Provisional Government. French Mutiny May 27-June 1, 1917- The mutinous atmosphere in the French Army erupts into open insubordination as soldiers refuse orders to advance. More than half of the French divisions on the Western Front experience some degree of disruption by disgruntled soldiers, angry over the unending battles of attrition and appalling living conditions in the muddy, rat and lice-infested trenches. The new Commander-in-Chief, Henri Petain, cracks down on the mutiny by ordering mass arrests, followed by several firing squad executions that serve as a warning. Petain then suspends all French offensives and visits the troops to personally promise an improvement of the whole situation. With the French Army in disarray the main burden on the Western Front falls squarely upon the British. June 7, 1917- A tremendous underground explosion collapses the German-held Messines Ridge south of Ypres in Belgium. Upon detonation, 10,000 Germans stationed on the ridge vanish instantly. The British then storm the ridge forcing the surviving Germans to withdraw to a new defensive position further eastward. The 250-foot-high ridge had given the Germans a commanding defensive position. British, Australian and Canadian tunnelers had worked for a year to dig mines and place 600 tons of explosives. June 13, 1917- London suffers its highest civilian casualties of the war as German airplanes bomb the city, killing 158 persons and wounding 425. The British react to the new bombing campaign by forming home defense fighter squadrons and later conduct retaliatory bombing raids against Germany by British planes based in France. June 25, 1917- The first American troops land in France. July 1, 1917- Russian troops begin the Kerensky Offensive attempting to recapture the city of Lemberg (Lvov) on the Eastern Front. The Germans are lying in wait, fully aware of the battle plans which have been leaked to them. The Russians attack along a 40-mile front but suffer from a jumble of tactical problems including a lack of artillery coordination, poor troop placement, and serious disunity within the ranks reflecting the divisive political situation back home. The whole offensive disintegrates within five days. Sensing they might break the Russian Army, the Germans launch a furious counter-offensive and watch as Russian soldiers run away. July 2, 1917- Greece declares war on the Central Powers, following the abdication of pro-German King Constantine who is replaced by a pro-Allied administration led by Prime Minister Venizelos. Greek soldiers are now added to the Allied ranks. Third Battle of Ypres July 31-November 6, 1917 July 31, 1917- The British attempt once more to break through the German lines, this time by attacking positions east of Ypres, Belgium. However, by now the Germans have vastly improved their trench defenses including well-positioned artillery. Although the British 5th Army succeeds in securing forward trench positions, further progress is halted by heavy artillery barrages from the German 4th Army and rainy weather. August 10, 1917- The British resume their attack at Ypres, focusing on German artillery positions around Gheluvelt. The attack produces few gains as the Germans effectively bombard and then counter-attack. Six days later, the British try again, with similar results. The entire Ypres offensive then grinds to a halt as British Army Commander Douglas Haig ponders his strategy. September 1, 1917- On the Eastern Front, the final Russian battle in the war begins as the Germans attack toward Riga. The German 8th Army utilizes new storm troop tactics devised by General Oskar von Hutier. Bypassing any strong points as they move forward, storm troop battalions armed with light machine-guns, grenades and flame throwers focus on quickly infiltrating the rear areas to disrupt communications and take out artillery. The Russian 12th Army, under General Kornilov, is unable to hold itself together amid the storm troop attacks and abandons Riga, then begins a rapid retreat along the Dvina River, pursued by the Germans. September 20, 1917- A revised British strategy begins at Ypres designed to wear down the Germans. It features a series of intensive, narrowly focused artillery and troop attacks with limited objectives, to be launched every six days. The first such attack, along the Menin Road toward Gheluvelt, produces a gain of about 1,000 yards with 22,000 British and Australian casualties. Subsequent attacks yield similar results. October 12, 1917- The Ypres offensive culminates around the village of Passchendaele as Australian and New Zealand troops die by the thousands while attempting to press forward across a battlefield of liquid mud, advancing just 100 yards. Steady October rains create a slippery quagmire in which wounded soldiers routinely drown in mud-filled shell craters. Attack at Caporetto October 24, 1917- In northern Italy, a rout of the Italian Army begins as 35 German and Austrian divisions cross the Isonzo River into Italy at Caporetto and then rapidly push 41 Italian divisions 60 miles southward. By now, the Italians have been worn down from years of costly but inconclusive battles along the Isonzo and in the Trentino, amid a perceived lack of Allied support. Nearly 300,000 Italians surrender as the Austro-Germans advance, while some 400,000 desert. The Austro-Germans halt at the Piave River north of Venice only due to supply lines which have become stretched to the limit. October 26, 1917- At Ypres, a second attempt is made but fails to capture the village of Passchendaele, with Canadian troops participating this time. Four days later, the Allies attack again and edge closer as the Germans slowly begin pulling out. October 31, 1917- In the Middle East, the British led by General Edmund Allenby begin an attack against Turkish defensive lines stretching between Gaza and Beersheba in southern Palestine. The initial attack on Beersheba surprises the Turks and they pull troops away from Gaza which the British attack secondly. The Turks then retreat northward toward Jerusalem with the Allies in pursuit. Aiding the Allies, are a group of Arab fighters led by T. E. Lawrence, an Arab speaking English archeologist, later known as Lawrence of Arabia. He is instrumental in encouraging Arab opposition to the Turks and in disrupting their railroad and communication system. November 6, 1917- The village of Passchendaele is captured by Canadian troops. The Allied offensive then ceases, bringing the Third Battle of Ypres to an end with no significant gains amid 500,000 casualties experienced by all sides. October Revolution November 6-7, 1917- In Russia, Bolsheviks led by Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky overthrow the Provisional Government in what comes to be known as the October Revolution (Oct. 24-25 according to the Russian calendar). They establish a non-democratic Soviet Government based on Marxism which prohibits private enterprise and private land ownership. Lenin announces that Soviet Russia will immediately end its involvement in the war and renounces all existing treaties with the Allies. November 11, 1917- The German High Command, led by Erich Ludendorff, gathers at Mons, Belgium, to map out a strategy for 1918. Ludendorff bluntly states he is willing to accept a million German casualties in a daring plan to achieve victory in early 1918, before the American Army arrives in force. The goal is to drive a wedge between the British and French armies on the Western Front via a series of all-out offensives using Germany's finest divisions and intensive storm troop tactics. Once this succeeds, the plan is to first decimate the British Army to knock Britain out of the war, and then decimate the French Army, and thus secure final victory. November 15, 1917- Georges Clemenceau becomes France's new Prime Minister at age 76. Nicknamed "The Tiger," when asked about his agenda, he will simply answer, "I wage war." British Tank Attack November 20, 1917- The first-ever mass attack by tanks occurs as the British 3rd Army rolls 381 tanks accompanied by six infantry divisions in a coordinated tank-infantry-artillery attack of German trenches near Cambrai, France, an important rail center. The attack targets a 6-mile-wide portion of the Front and by the end of the first day appears to be a spectacular success with five miles gained and two Germans divisions wrecked. The news is celebrated by the ringing of church bells in England, for the first time since 1914. However, similar to past offensives, the opportunity to exploit first-day gains is missed, followed by the arrival of heavy German reinforcements and an effective counter-attack in which the Germans take back most of the ground they lost. December, 7, 1917- Romania concludes an armistice with the Central Powers due to the demise of Imperial Russia, its former military ally. December 9, 1917- Jerusalem is captured by the British. This ends four centuries of its control by the Ottoman (Turkish) Empire. December 15, 1917- Soviet Russia signs an armistice with Germany. With Russia's departure from the Eastern Front, forty-four German divisions become available to be redeployed to the Western Front in time for Ludendorff's Spring Offensive. January 1918- President Woodrow Wilson outlines an elaborate peace plan to the U.S. Congress containingFourteen Pointsas the basis of its establishment. March 3, 1918- At Brest-Litovsk, Soviet Russia signs a treaty with Germany formally ending its participation in the war. Harsh terms imposed by the Germans force the Russians to yield a quarter of their prewar territory and over half of Russia's industries. German Spring Offensives March 21, 1918- Germany's all-out gamble for victory begins upon the launch of the first of a series of successive spring offensives on the Western Front. The Saint Michael Offensive, named after Germany's patron saint, begins after a five-hour 6,000-gun artillery bombardment as 65 divisions from the German 2nd, 17th and 18th Armies attack the British 3rd and 5th Armies along a 60-mile front in the Somme. At first it seems destined to succeed as the thinly stretched British 5th Army is quickly overrun and wrecked. Using effective storm troop tactics, the Germans recapture all of the ground they lost in 1916 during the Battle of the Somme and press forward. However, during the two week offensive, the British 3rd Army manages to hold itself together and prevents the Germans from taking Arras and Amiens, key objectives of the offensive. March 26, 1918- At a strategic conference in Doullens, France, the British and French agree to appoint an Allied Supreme Commander on the Western Front, in place of the separate commanders they had been using, to better coordinate their efforts. Ferdinand Foch, Petain's highly regarded chief of staff, accepts the position. April 1, 1918- Britain's Royal Air Force (RAF) is founded upon the merging of the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service. By now, the British aviation industry has become the world leader. April 9-29, 1918- The second offensive in Germany's victory gamble, the Georgette Offensive, begins as 46 divisions from the German 6th Army attack the British 2nd Army around Ypres. The Germans push the British back three miles to the outskirts of Ypres, even taking back the hard-won Passchendaele Ridge. However, the arrival of British, French and Australian reinforcements from the south breaks the German momentum and the offensive halts. Georgette, similar to Michael, is only a partial success. General Ludendorff's goal of first separating the British and French armies via Michael and then destroying the British via Michael and Georgette is not achieved. Additionally, the Germans suffer 330,000 casualties in the two offensives and lack sufficient reserve troops. April 21, 1918- Germany's Red Baron (Manfred von Richthofen) is shot down and killed by the British. The German Ace was credited with shooting down 80 Allied aircraft. He is buried with military honors by the British. May 27-June 3, 1918- The Blücher-Yorck Offensive, Germany's third in a row, begins with the goal of bogging down the Allies in central France, thus preventing further reinforcements from reaching British positions in the north. Forty-one divisions of the German 1st and 7th Armies successfully attack the inadequate defenses of the French 6th Army along a 25-mile front east of the Aisne River. After a highly effective artillery barrage, German storm troops roll over the decimated 6th Army. This startling success emboldens General Ludendorff to change his overall strategy. He decides to make a run for Paris, hoping to draw the Allies into a final climactic battle that will decide the war. Within two days, the Germans cross the Aisne River and rapidly advance westward, coming within 50 miles of Paris. But the troops have been pushed to the limit for too long and soon succumb to exhaustion, unable to maintain the breakneck pace. The advance sputters to a halt as Allied reinforcements, including Americans, pour in to the region. First American Action May 28-29, 1918- Troops of the U.S. 1st Infantry Division capture the village of Cantigny from the Germans and hold it. The American Expeditionary Force (AEF) is commanded by General John Pershing who is determined to maintain all-American fighting units, rather than parcel out American troops to the British and French armies. By now, 650,000 American soldiers have arrived in France, with the number growing by 10,000 per day. June 6, 1918- The Battle of Belleau Wood involving the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division begins. During the three-week fight against the Germans, Americans experience their first significant battlefield casualties with 5,000 killed. June 9, 1918- The Germans launch their fourth offensive, once more with an eye toward Paris. In the hastily arranged Gneisenau Offensive the German 18th Army attacks in a southwest direction toward Paris. However, the Germans are stopped as French and American troops successfully counter-attack and the new offensive withers after just four days. June 15, 1918- Austrian troops begin an offensive along the Piave River in Italy, at the urging of the Germans. Although suffering from a lack of food, horses and supplies, they cross the river and establish a 12-mile front, but then realize they can not hold it against the now-revitalized Italian Army and withdraw after suffering 150,000 casualties. Following this, Austrian soldiers in Italy begin deserting. Mid 1918- Soldiers from all sides begin to succumb to a deadly strain of influenza. Troop losses from the flu epidemic soon exceed combat casualties, especially weakening the hard-pressed German Army. The worldwide epidemic lasts for about a year, killing an estimated 20 million persons, then vanishes as strangely as it had appeared. July 15-17, 1918- The last German offensive of the war, the Marne-Reims Offensive, begins with a two-pronged attack around Reims, France, by 52 divisions. The Allies have been anticipating this battle and lie in wait. The German attack to the east of Reims is crushed that day by the French. To the west of Reims, the advance is blocked by the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division, followed by a successful French and American counter-attack. July 17, 1918- Russian Bolsheviks murder former Czar Nicholas and his entire family. By now, an all-out civil war has erupted in Russia that features indiscriminate killings of civilians and captured fighters. Amid the chaos, disease and starvation envelop Russia. The fighting between Bolsheviks and their opponents will last three years, ending with a Bolshevik victory amid a Russian death toll estimated at 15 million persons. Allied Counter-Offensives July 18, 1918- A combined French and American attack along the Marne marks the first in a series of coordinated Allied counter-offensives on the Western Front. Three French armies accompanied by five American divisions cross the Marne River. In the face of this assault, the German 7th and 9th Armies begin a withdrawal from the Marne. August 8, 1918- Germans in the Somme experience the "Black Day of the German Army" as later described by General Ludendorff. This occurs as the British 4th Army using 456 tanks attacks German positions east of Amiens. Six German divisions quickly fall apart and 13,000 prisoners are taken during the rapid 7-mile advance. The attack is only slowed when the Germans rush in nine divisions, their last reserves on the Western Front. August 20, 1918- The French 10th Army takes 8,000 prisoners at Noyon and captures the Aisne Heights. August 21, 1918- The British 3rd Army begins an attack along a 10-mile front south of Arras, while the adjacent 4th Army resumes it attack in the Somme, as the Germans continue to fall back. September 12, 1918- The first stand-alone attack by Americans occurs as the U.S. 1st Army attacks the southernmost portion of the Western Front in France at St. Mihiel. The offensive is supported by an unprecedented 1,476 Allied aircraft used as part of a coordinated air-ground attack. Within 36 hours, the Americans take 15,000 prisoners and capture over 400 pieces of artillery as the Germans withdraw. September 15, 1918- The Allies push the Bulgarians out of Serbia as French, Serbian and Italian troops make rapid gains, advancing nearly 20 miles northward from Greece in three days. Bulgarian troops attempting to redeploy westward through the narrow Kosturino Pass are relentlessly bombarded by airplanes and overall troop morale collapses. Meanwhile, political turmoil strikes at home as anti-war riots erupt in Bulgaria's cities along with Russian-style revolutionary fervor that results in the proclamation of local soviets. September 19, 1918- In the Middle East, the Allies launch a cavalry attack to push the Turks out of Palestine. Australian and Indian cavalry divisions smash through the Turkish defenses around Megiddo on the first day and gallop northward, as British infantry follow, while the RAF and Arab fighters disrupt communication and supply lines. As the Turkish armies collapse, they withdraw northward toward Damascus with the Allies in pursuit. September 26, 1918- The U.S. 1st Army and French 4th Army begin a joint offensive to clear out the strongly defended corridor between the Meuse River and the Argonne Forest. Here, the Germans do not fall back and the battle soon resembles action from earlier years in the war. Amid a steady rain, the troops advance yard-by-yard over the muddy, crater-filled terrain with 75,000 American casualties suffered over six weeks of fighting. Hindenburg Line Broken September 27, 1918- The British 1st and 3rd Armies, aided by Australians and the U.S. 2nd Corps, break through a 20-mile portion of the Hindenburg Line between Cambrai and St. Quentin. September 28, 1918- Belgian and British troops push back the Germans in the Fourth Battle of Ypres. Unlike the previous drawn-out battles, this one lasts just two days as the Belgians take Dixmude and the British secure Messines. September 28, 1918- Confronted by the unstoppable strength of the Allies and faced with the prospect of an outright military defeat on the Western Front, General Ludendorff suffers a nervous collapse at his headquarters, losing all hope for victory. He then informs his superior, Paul von Hindenburg, the war must be ended. The next day, Ludendorff, accompanied by Hindenburg, meet with the Kaiser and urge him to end the war. The Kaiser's army is becoming weaker by the day amid irreversible troop losses, declining discipline and battle-readiness due to exhaustion, illness, food shortages, desertions and drunkenness. The Kaiser takes heed from Hindenburg and Ludendorff, and agrees with the need for an armistice. September 29, 1918- Bulgaria signs an armistice with the Allies, becoming the first of the Central Powers to quit the war. October 1, 1918- In the Middle East, Damascus is captured by Australian troops and Arab fighters. October 2, 1918- A military representative sent by Ludendorff to Berlin informs the legislature the war is lost and that armistice discussions should begin immediately. The German politicians are shocked by the news, having largely been kept in the dark by the General Staff and the Kaiser till now. Germans Request Armistice October 4, 1918- President Woodrow Wilson receives a request from the German government, sent via the Swiss, asking for armistice discussions on the basis of his Fourteen Points. The Germans have bypassed the French and British in the hope of negotiating with Wilson who they perceive as more lenient. They are disappointed, however, when Wilson responds with a list of demands as a prelude to discussions including German withdrawal from all occupied territories and a total halt of U-Boat attacks. October 5, 1918- The Allies break through the last remnants of the Hindenburg Line. October 6, 1918- A provisional government proclaims the state of Yugoslavia, signaling the beginning of the breakup of the old Hapsburg (Austro-Hungarian) Empire in central Europe which had existed for six centuries. October 7, 1918- Poland, formerly part of the Russian Empire, proclaims itself as an independent state. October 8, 1918- The British 3rd and 4th Armies take 8,000 German prisoners while advancing toward Cambrai and LeCateau. October 13, 1918- The Germans engage in a general retreat along a 60-mile portion of the Western Front in France stretching from St. Quentin southward to the Argonne Forest, as French and American armies steadily advance. October 14, 1918- Germans abandon positions along the Belgian coast and northernmost France as the British and Belgians steadily advance. October 17, 1918- King Albert of Belgium enters the city of Ostend on the Belgian coast. October 23, 1918- Under pressure from the French and British, President Wilson informs the German government that armistice negotiations can not ensue with the current military or Imperial war leaders still in place. An outraged General Ludendorff then disavows the negotiations as 'unconditional surrender' and is forced to resign by the Kaiser. In the face of such turmoil, the armistice negotiations are conducted principally by civilian members of Germany's government. This will become the basis of a postwar "stab in the back" claim by German militarists asserting their troops at the Front were sold out by the politicians back home. October 24, 1918- In southern Europe, the Allies cross the Piave River to push the Austrians out of Italy as seven Italian armies, incorporating British, French and American divisions, attack the four remaining Austro-Hungarian armies from the Trentino westward to the Gulf of Venice. In its final battle of the war, the Austro-Hungarian Army sees 30,000 soldiers killed and over 400,000 taken prisoner. October 29, 1918- The Czechs declare their independence from Austria. Two days later, Slovakia declares independence from Hungary. Czechoslovakia is subsequently formed. October 30, 1918- Turkey signs an armistice with the Allies, becoming the second of the Central Powers to quit the war. November 1, 1918- Belgrade is liberated by French and Serbian troops. November 1, 1918- After pausing to regroup and resupply, Allied armies resume their eastward march as the U.S. 1st Army and newly formed U.S. 2nd Army attack remaining German positions along the Meuse River near southern Belgium, while the Belgians and British move toward Ghent and Mons in Belgium. November 3, 1918- Mutiny strikes the German Navy at the ports of Kiel and Wilhelmshaven as sailors refuse orders to put to sea to engage in a final colossal battle with the British Navy. Along with this, revolutionary fervor and Bolshevist-style uprisings erupt in German cities including Munich, Stuttgart and Berlin. The extent of the unrest stuns German leaders, and even the Allies, who fear Germany might now succumb to a violent Bolshevist revolution in the manner of Russia. This brings a stark urgency to the armistice negotiations. November 3, 1918- The only remaining ally of Germany, Austria-Hungary, signs an armistice with Italy, leaving Germany alone in the war. November 5, 1918- The Germans are informed by President Wilson that armistice discussions can begin on the basis of his Fourteen Points as they requested, but that an armistice must be secured through France's Marshal Foch, the Allied Supreme Commander. November 8, 1918- At Compiègne, France, six representatives of the German government, with Matthias Erzberger as spokesman, are brusquely presented with armistice terms by Marshal Ferdinand Foch. The terms include German evacuation of all occupied territory, an Allied occupation of Germany west of the Rhine River, surrender of weaponry including all subs and battleships, and indefinite continuation of the naval blockade. November 9, 1918- The Kaiser's Imperial government collapses in ruin as a German republic is proclaimed with Friedrich Ebert heading the new provisional government. Kaiser Wilhelm then seeks refuge in Holland amid concerns for his safety after his generals warn him they may not be able to adequately protect him from the volatile situation in Germany. Armistice Ends Fighting November 11, 1918- At 5:10 am, in a railway car at Compiègne, France, the Germans sign the Armistice which is effective at 11 am--the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. Fighting continues all along the Western Front until precisely 11 o'clock, with 2,000 casualties experienced that day by all sides. Artillery barrages also erupt as 11 am draws near as soldiers yearn to claim they fired the very last shot in the war. November 12, 1918- A final action occurs as Germans in Africa under the command of the elusive General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck encounter British troops in Northern Rhodesia, where news of the Armistice had not reached the Germans. January 6, 1919- An attempt to overthrow Germany's provisional government occurs in Berlin as several buildings are seized by members of the communist Spartacus League led by Karl Liebknecht. The revolution is violently thwarted by bands ofFreikorpscomposed of ex-soldiers led by former German Army officers and Liebknecht is killed. January 18, 1919- The Paris Peace Conference opens with delegates from 32 nations invited. President Woodrow Wilson attends, marking the first-ever visit to Europe by a sitting president. January 19, 1919- The first-ever nationwide election in Germany results in pro-democracy political parties getting 75 percent of the vote. February 6, 1919- The newly elected German Assembly meets in Weimar and begins work on a new democratic constitution. April 28, 1919- The League of Nations is founded, championed by President Wilson as a means of peaceably resolving future conflicts. Germany is excluded for the time being. Despite Wilson's intentions, the United States never joins as an isolationist-minded U.S. Senate subsequently rejects membership to avoid further European entanglements. June 21, 1919- The Germans sink 74 of their own warships in anticipation of being forced to yield them to the Allies. Treaty of Versailles June 28, 1919- At the Palace of Versailles in France, a German delegation signs the Treaty formally ending the war. Its 230 pages contain terms that have little in common with Wilson's Fourteen Points as the Germans had hoped. Germans back home react with mass demonstrations against the perceived harshness, especially clauses that assess sole blame for the war on Germany. July 31, 1919- The Weimar Republic is born in Germany from a new constitution which provides for a liberal democracy. The government consists of two houses of Parliament (Reichstag) and a president elected by the people. The president can dissolve the Reichstag and rule by decree in the event of an emergency. September 1919- Corporal Adolf Hitler is ordered by the German Army to investigate a small political group in Munich called the German Workers' Party. Hitler soon joins the group and begins to build it up, later changing its name to the National Socialist German Workers' (Nazi) Party. The anti-democratic group vehemently opposes the Treaty of Versailles and claims the German Army was not defeated on the battlefield but was betrayed by a "stab in the back" wrought by disloyal politicians on the home front. March 1920-Freikorpsgroups attempt but fail to overthrow Germany's democratic government during the KappPutsch. April 1921- The Reparations Commission announces Germany must pay the Allies $28 billion over 42 years, via annual payments of cash and goods such as coal and timber. April 1922- Germany and Soviet Russia conclude the Treaty of Rapallo allowing for economic collaboration. Secret clauses in the treaty provide for German military activities prohibited by the Treaty of Versailles, including weapons manufacturing, to be done in Soviet Russia. January 1923- After Germany falls behind on its war reparation payments, French and Belgian troops occupy the Ruhr industrial region inside Germany. Workers there react by walking off the job. In a defiant show of support, the German government sends money to the out-of-work protestors. However, this soon leads to ruinous inflation and devaluation of the German deutsche mark--eventually four billion to the dollar--as the government prints an unlimited amount of money to satisfy its needs. November 9, 1923- Three thousand Nazis led by Adolf Hitler, and aided by former General Erich Ludendorff, attempt but fail to overthrow Germany's democratic government by staging an armedPutschin Munich. Hitler is then sentenced to prison where he composesMein Kampfa book outlining his racial, political and military philosophies, including the need for Germany to forcibly expand its borders eastward into Russia. The Nazis remain a fringe group until the worldwide economic collapse of 1929 causes political turmoil in Germany that generates popular support for Hitler, resulting in the election of Nazis to the government. In the early hours of October 4, 1918, German Chancellor Max von Baden, appointed byKaiser Wilhelm IIjust three days earlier, sends a telegraph message to the administration of PresidentWoodrow Wilsonin Washington, D.C., requesting an armistice between Germany and the Allied powers inWorld War I. By the end of September 1918, the Allies had made a tremendous resurgence on the Western Front, reversing the gains of the previous spring’s massive German offensive and pushing the German army in eastern France and western Belgium back to its last line of defenses, the so-called Hindenburg Line. Stunned and despondent, German GeneralErich Ludendorff, chief architect of that final spring offensive, reversed his previous optimism about the German military situation and demanded at a crown council meeting on September 29, that Germany seek an immediate armistice based on the terms President Wilson had laid out in his famous Fourteen Points address in January 1918. Feeling that the army’s leadership had completely usurped the government, Chancellor Georg von Hertling immediately resigned; Kaiser Wilhelm subsequently appointed his second cousin, Prince Max von Baden, to the post. As soon as von Baden arrived in Berlin to take office on October 1, he made it clear that he had no intention of admitting defeat until Germany had regained at least some ground on the battlefield; in this way he hoped to retain some powers of negotiation with the Allies. On October 3, however,Paul von Hindenburg, the German army’s chief of staff and head of the Third Supreme Command—as Germany’s military leadership was known—reiterated Ludendorff’s advice, stating that “The German army still stands firm and is defending itself against all attacks. The situation, however, is growing more critical daily, and may force the High Command to momentous decisions. In these circumstances it is imperative to stop the fighting in order to spare the German people and their allies unnecessary sacrifices. Every day of delay costs thousands of brave soldiers their lives.” Von Baden disagreed with Hindenburg, telling him that too early an armistice could mean Germany would lose valuable territory in Alsace-Lorraine and East Prussia, which had been implicit under the terms of the Fourteen Points, despite Wilson’s expressed desire for a “peace without victory.” Deciding to seek his own way apart from the Supreme Command, von Baden brought two Socialist members of the German Reichstag into his cabinet; they too, appraising the growing anti-war feeling on the home front and in the government, advised the chancellor to seek an armistice. On October 4, heeding their advice, von Baden telegraphed his request to Washington. Wilson’s response, in notes of October 14 and 23, made it clear that the Allies would only deal with a democratic Germany, not an imperial state with an effective military dictatorship presided over by the Supreme Command. Neither Wilson nor his even less conciliatory counterparts in Britain and France trusted von Baden’s declaration of October 5 that he was taking steps to move Germany towards parliamentary democracy. After Wilson’s second note arrived, Ludendorff’s resolve returned and he announced that the note should be rejected and the war resumed in full force. After peace had come so tantalizingly close, however, it proved even more difficult for Germans—on the battlefield as well as on the home front—to carry on. Within a month, Ludendorff had resigned, as the German position had deteriorated still further and it was determined that the war could not be allowed to continue. On November 7, Hindenburg contacted the Allied Supreme Commander,Ferdinand Foch, to open armistice negotiations; four days later, World War I came to an end. The League of Nations was established in 1919 by the victorious Allied powers after World War I. The League began organizational work in the fall of 1919, spending its first 10 months with a headquarters in London before moving to Geneva. The Covenant of the League of Nations went into effect on January 10, 1920, formally instituting the League of Nations. The League was seen as the epitome of a new world order based on mutual cooperation and the peaceful resolution of international conflicts. The Covenant bound its Member States to try to settle their disputes peacefully. By joining the League, Member States also renounced secret diplomacy, committed to reduce their armaments, and agreed to comply with international law. Although the League was unable to fulfill the hopes of its founders, its creation was an event of decisive importance in the history of international relations. The League of Nations was an international diplomatic group developed after World War I as a way to solve disputes between countries before they erupted into open warfare. A precursor to the United Nations, the League achieved some victories but had a mixed record of success, sometimes putting self-interest before becoming involved with conflict resolution, while also contending with governments that did not recognize its authority. The League effectively ceased operations during World War II. What Was the League of Nations? The League of Nations has its origins in theFourteen Pointsspeech of PresidentWoodrow Wilson, part of a presentation given in 1918 outlining of his ideas for peace after the carnage ofWorld War I. Wilson envisioned an organization that was charged with resolving conflicts before they exploded into bloodshed and warfare. By December of the same year, Wilson left for Paris to transform his Fourteen Points into what would become theTreaty of Versailles. Seven months later, he returned to the United States with a treaty that included the idea for what became the League of Nations. Republican Congressman fromMassachusettsHenry Cabot Lodgeled a battle against the treaty. Lodge believed both the treaty and the League undercut U.S. autonomy in international matters. In response, Wilson took the debate to the American people, embarking on a 27-day train journey to sell the treaty to live audiences but cut his tour short due to exhaustion and sickness. Upon arriving back inWashington, D.C., Wilson had a stroke. Congress did not ratify the treaty, and the United States refused to take part in the League of Nations. Isolationists in Congress feared it would draw the United Sates into international affairs unnecessarily. Paris Peace Conference In other countries, the League of Nations was a more popular idea. Under the leadership of Lord Cecil, theBritish Parliamentcreated the Phillimore Committee as an exploratory body and announced support of it. French liberals followed, with the leaders of Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium, Greece, Czechoslovakia and other smaller nations responding in kind. In 1919 the structure and process of the League were laid out in a covenant developed by all the countries taking part in theParis Peace Conference. The League began organizational work in the fall of 1919, spending its first 10 months with a headquarters inLondonbefore moving to Geneva. The Covenant of the League of Nations went into effect on January 10, 1920, formallyinstituting the League of Nations. By 1920, 48 countries had joined. League of Nations Plays it Safe The League struggled for the right opportunity to assert its authority. Secretary-General Sir Eric Drummond believed that failure was likely to damage the burgeoning organization, so it was best not to insinuate itself into just any dispute. When Russia, which was not a member of the League, attacked a port in Persia in 1920, Persia appealed to the League for help. The League refused to take part, believing that Russia would not acknowledge their jurisdiction and that would damage the League’s authority. Adding to the growing pains, some European countries had a hard time handing over autonomy when seeking help with disputes. There were situations in which the League had no choice but to get involved. From 1919 to 1935, the League acted as a trustee of a tiny region between France and Germany called the Saar. The League became the 15-year custodian of the coal-rich area to allow it time to determine on its own which of the two countries it wished to join, with Germany being the eventual choice. A similar situation happened in Danzig, which was set-up as a free city by the Treaty of Versailles and became the center of a dispute between Germany and Poland. The League administered Danzig for several years before it fell back under German rule. Disputes Solved by the League of Nations Poland was in frequent distress, fearing for its independence against threats from neighboring Russia, which in 1920 occupied the city of Vilna and handed it over to Lithuanian allies. Following a demand that Poland recognize Lithuanian independence, the League became involved. Vilna was returned to Poland, but hostilities with Lithuania continued. The League was also brought in as Poland grappled with Germany about Upper Silesia and with Czechoslovakia over the town of Teschen. Other areas of dispute that the League got involved in included the squabble between Finland and Sweden over the Aaland Islands; disputes between Hungary and Rumania; Finland’s separate quarrels with Russia, Yugoslavia and Austria; a border argument between Albania and Greece; and the tussle between France and England over Morocco. In 1923, following the murder of Italian General Enrico Tellini and his staff within the borders of Greece,Benito Mussoliniretaliated by bombing and invading the Greek island Corfu. Greece requested the League’s help, but Mussolini refused to work with it. The League was left on the sidelines watching as the dispute was solved instead by the Conference of Ambassadors, an Allied group that was later made part of the League. The Incident at Petrich followed two years later. It’s unclear precisely how the debacle in the border town of Petrich in Bulgaria started, but it resulted in the deaths of a Greek captain and retaliation from Greece in the form of invasion. Bulgaria apologized and begged the League for help. The League decreed a settlement that was accepted by both countries. Larger Efforts by the League of Nations Other League efforts include the Geneva Protocol, devised in the 1920s to limit what is now understood as chemical and biological weaponry, and the World Disarmament Conference in the 1930s, which was meant to make disarmament a reality but failed afterAdolf Hitlerbroke away from the conference and the League in 1933. In 1920 the League created its Mandates Commission, charged with protecting minorities. Its suggestions about Africa were treated seriously by France and Belgium but ignored by South Africa. In 1929, the Mandates Commission helped Iraq join the League. The Mandates Commission also got involved in tensions inPalestinebetween the incoming Jewish population and Palestinian Arabs, though any hopes of sustaining peace there was further complicated byNazipersecution of the Jews, which lead to a rise in immigration to Palestine. The League was also involved in theKellogg-Briand Pactof 1928, which sought to outlaw war. It was successfully adapted by over 60 countries. Put to the test when Japan invaded Mongolia in 1931, the League proved incapable of enforcing the pact. Why Did the League of Nations Fail? WhenWorld War IIbroke out, most members of the League were not involved and claimed neutrality, but members France and Germany were immediately impacted. In 1940, League members Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands and France all fell to Hitler. Switzerland became nervous about hosting an organization perceived as an Allied one, and the League began to dismantle its offices. Soon the Allies endorsed the idea of theUnited Nations, which held its first planning conference inSan Franciscoin 1944, effectively ending any need for the League of Nations to make a post-war return. The Fourteen Points speech of PresidentWoodrow Wilsonwas an address delivered before a joint meeting of Congress on January 8, 1918, during which Wilson outlined his vision for a stable, long-lasting peace in Europe, the Americas and the rest of the world followingWorld War I. Wilson’s proposal called for the victorious Allies to set unselfish peace terms with the vanquished Central Powers of World War I, including freedom of the seas, the restoration of territories conquered during the war and the right to national self-determination in such contentious regions as the Balkans. The devastation and carnage of the First World War grimly illustrated to Wilson the unavoidable relationship between international stability and American national security. At the same time, he sought to placate American isolationists by stating that the world must “be made fit and safe to live in; and particularly that it be made safe for every peace-loving nation which, like our own, wishes to live its own life, determine its own institutions, be assured of justice and fair dealing by the other peoples of the world as against force and selfish aggression.” What Were the Fourteen Points? In his speech, Wilson itemized 14 strategies to ensure national security and world peace. Several points addressed specific territorial issues in Europe, but the most significant sections set the tone for postwar American diplomacy and the ideals that would form the backbone of U.S. foreign policy as the nation achieved superpower status in the early 20th century. Wilson could foresee that international relations would only become more important to American security and global commerce. He advocated equal trade conditions, arms reduction and national sovereignty for former colonies of Europe’s weakening empires. One of Wilson’s purposes in delivering the Fourteen Points speech was to present a practical alternative to the traditional notion of an international balance of power preserved by alliances among nations—belief in the viability of which had been shattered by World War I—and to the Bolshevik-inspired dreams of world revolution that at the time were gaining ground both within and outside of Russia. Wilson hoped also to keep a conflict-ridden Russia in the war on the Allied side. This effort met with failure, as theBolsheviks sought peace with the Central Powersat the end of 1917, shortly after taking power following theRussian Revolution. In other ways, however, Wilson’s Fourteen Points played an essential role in world politics over the next several years. The speech was translated and distributed to the soldiers and citizens of Germany and Austria-Hungary and contributed to their decision to agree to anarmisticein November 1918. Treaty of Versailles Like the man himself, Wilson’s Fourteen Points were liberal, democratic and idealistic. He spoke in grand and inspiring terms, but was less certain of the specifics of how his aims would be achieved. At the Paris Peace Conference, Wilson had to contend with the leaders of the other victorious Allied nations, who disagreed with many of the Fourteen Points and demanded stiff penalties for Germany in theTreaty of Versailles. Importantly, Wilson urged the establishment of an international governing body of united nations for the purpose of guaranteeing political independence and territorial integrity to great and small countries alike. His idea gave birth to the short-livedLeague of Nations. The more viable United Nations would come into existence only after the conclusion of another devastating global conflict:World War II. World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 1 In Colour Film - Catastrophe https://rumble.com/v35gtvg-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-1-in-colour-film-catastrophe.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 2 In Colour Film - Slaughter In The Trenches https://rumble.com/v35iwdm-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-2-in-colour-film-slaughter-in-the-tren.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 3 In Colour Film - Blood In The Air https://rumble.com/v35lfes-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-3-in-colour-film-blood-in-the-air.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 4 In Colour Film - Killers Of The Sea https://rumble.com/v35mjdo-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-4-in-colour-film-killers-of-the-sea.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 5 In Colour Film - Mayhem On The Eastern Front https://rumble.com/v35oyly-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-5-in-colour-film-mayhem-on-the-eastern.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 6 In Colour Film - Victory and Despair https://rumble.com/v35ugei-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-6-in-colour-film-victory-and-despair.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 7 In Colour Film - Tactics And Strategy https://rumble.com/v35vyrr-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-7-in-colour-film-tactics-and-strategy.html Over 65 million men volunteered or were conscripted to fight in mass citizen armies. Millions of civilians also contributed to the war effort by working in industry, agriculture or jobs left open when men enlisted. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars:_1945%E2%80%931989 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars:_1990%E2%80%932002 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars:_2003%E2%80%93present https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_World_War_I https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_timelines_of_World_War_II World War I Pitted Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire against Great Britain, the United States, France, Russia, Italy and Japan. New military technology resulted in unprecedented carnage. By the time the war was over and the Allied Powers claimed victory, more than 16 million people—soldiers and civilians alike—were dead.

World War I Pitted Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire against Great Britain, the United States, France, Russia, Italy and Japan. New military technology resulted in unprecedented carnage. By the time the war was over and the Allied Powers claimed victory, more than 16 million people—soldiers and civilians alike—were dead. Pt. 3 of Seven. 1.It was a global war Over 30 nations declared war between 1914 and 1918. The majority joined on the side of the Allies, including Serbia, Russia, France, Britain, Italy and the United States. They were opposed by Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire, who together formed the Central Powers. What began as a relatively small conflict in southeast Europe became a war between European empires. Britain and its Empire’s entry into the war made this a truly global conflict fought on a geographical scale never seen before. Fighting occurred not only on the Western Front, but in eastern and southeast Europe, Africa and the Middle East. 2.It is Far Better to Face the Bullets... The First World War was not inevitable or accidental, but began as a result of human actions and decisions. Over 65 million men volunteered or were conscripted to fight in mass citizen armies. Millions of civilians also contributed to the war effort by working in industry, agriculture or jobs left open when men enlisted. Victory depended on popular support. Some nations were forced to surrender as their people, pushed to their physical and emotional limits, lost the will to continue fighting. The First World War was also a war against people. Invading armies committed atrocities against civilians in the areas they occupied. Attacks on civilians became increasingly common as each nation tried to break their opponents’ home morale and diminish popular support for the war. Propaganda demonised entire nations and attacked the ‘national characters’ of enemy peoples. 3.It was a war of production National resources were mobilised as each combatant nation raced to supply its armed forces with enough men and equipment. In Britain, early failures in munitions manufacturing led to full government intervention in war production. These controls helped its industry produce nearly 4 million rifles, 250,000 machine guns, 52,000 aeroplanes, 2,800 tanks, 25,000 artillery pieces and over 170 million rounds of artillery shells by 1918. 4.It was a war of innovation Advances in weaponry and military technology provoked tactical changes as each side tried to gain an advantage over the other. The introduction of aircraft into war left soldiers and civilians vulnerable to attacks from above for the first time. Major innovations were also made in manufacturing, chemistry and communications. Medical advances made the First World War the first major conflict in which British deaths in battle outnumbered deaths caused by disease. 5.It was a war of destruction The First World War left an estimated 16 million soldiers and civilians dead and countless others physically and psychologically wounded. The war also forever altered the world’s social and political landscape. It accelerated changes in attitudes towards gender and class and led to the collapse of the Russian, Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empires. The cost of waging total war - and of rebuilding afterwards - ravaged the national economies of both the victorious European Allies and the defeated Central Powers. The human cost of the First World War for Britain saw the creation of a new language of remembrance, which remains to this day. It can be seen in war memorials in cities, towns, schools, places of worship and workplaces, as well as in rituals such as Remembrance Sunday and the two-minute silence at 11am each 11 November. World War I Begins At the dawn of the 20thcentury, few anticipated a global war, but what came to be known as the Great War began on June 28, 1914, with the assassinations of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, while they were visiting Sarajevo, Bosnia, a country recently annexed into the Austrian Empire. Many Bosnians and their Serbian neighbors resented this foreign rule and the Archduke’s visit to Sarajevo provided the opportunity for a small band of Serbian dissidents to strike back. Austria responded to the assassinations by teaming up with its ally, Germany, and declaring war on Serbia. The conflict soon involved Russia, France and Belgium. Fearful of a full-scale world war that would threaten its sea routes to other countries, Great Britain joined the fight against Germany and Austria. Each country believed the fighting would last only a few months. Nations were categorized either as Central Powers or Allies. Countries that joined the Central Powers, such as Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire, supported Austria-Hungary and Germany. The Allies were Russia, France, Belgium and Great Britain, but they were later joined by Japan, Romania, China and the United States. No Man’s Land: Trench Warfare During World War I, trench warfare was a defensive military tactic used extensively by both sides, allowing soldiers some protection from enemy fire but also hindering troops from readily advancing and thus prolonging the war.Trench warfare was the major combat tactic in France and Belgium. Trenches were often dug up to 12 feet deep and stretched for miles. For stability, some trenches included wooden beams and/or sandbags. Even during lulls in the fighting, death occurred almost daily in the trenches due to a sniper’s bullet or the unsanitary living conditions which resulted in many diseases such as dysentery, typhus and cholera. Other diseases caused by the poor conditions weretrench mouth and trench foot*. *Trench mouth was an infection of the mouth due to overgrowth of certain oral bacteria. The condition was made worse by poor oral hygiene, smoking, malnutrition and psychological stress. To prevent trench foot, a fungal disease caused by exposure to wet and cold, soldiers frequently added wooden planks in the trenches to keep from having to stand in water. Barbed wire and explosive mines—as well as bullets and grenades—were essential weapons used to hinder infantry advances across “No Man’s Land,” the bleak landscape between the trenches of the opposing sides. New offensive weapons were implemented during the war includingtanks and poison gases*. *Tanks, armored against artillery fire, were capable of rolling over barbed wire as well as crossing treacherous terrain. Chlorine was one of the poisonous gases used in World War I. It was damaging to the eyes, nose, throat and lungs, and produced symptoms ranging from irritation to blindness and death.) In 1915, the Germans used poison gases against the Allies fighting in the trenches on the Western Front. To protect soldiers from chemical warfare, gas masks were developed. Great Britain made one of the first types of masks capable of minimizing the deadly impact of these gases on their troops. Though considered a novelty when the war began, aircraft were used by both sides for reconnaissance, allowing personnel to observe enemy troop positions, to direct artillery fire and to photograph enemy lines. By the end of the war, the concepts of aerial combat and aerial bombing had come into being. 1871- Following the defeat of France in the Franco-Prussian War, Germany is unified as an Imperial federation of states, led by the King of Prussia (Kaiser Wilhelm I). This spurs a new era of population growth and rapid industrialization. The Germans also forcibly annex the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine from France. 1882- Germany, Austria-Hungary (Hapsburg Empire) and Italy form the Triple Alliance. 1891- The Russian Empire and France form their own alliance in reaction to the Triple Alliance. 1898- Germany begins to build up its navy to challenge the British Navy's long-standing global supremacy. January 1902- Britain and Japan form a naval alliance. April 1904- The British reach a strategic agreement with France which includes mutual military support in the event of war. January 1905- Troops of Russian Czar Nicholas II fire upon peaceful demonstrators in St. Petersburg killing hundreds in what comes to be known as Bloody Sunday. May 1905- Russia suffers a military defeat at sea by newly industrialized Japan, thwarting Russia's territorial ambitions toward Manchuria and Korea. October 1905- Continuing political unrest in Russia, including a general strike, results in the creation of a national legislative assembly (Duma) by the Czar. February 1906-H.M.S. Dreadnoughtis launched by Britain, marking the advent of a new class of big-gun battleships. The Germans follow suit and begin building similar battleships as an all-out arms race ensues between Germany and Britain. August 1907- The British reach a strategic agreement with Russia. October 1908- Austria-Hungary, backed by Germany, annexes Bosnia-Herzegovina. Neighboring Serbia, with the backing of Russia, voices its objection in support of the Serbian minority living in Bosnia. March 1909- Germany forces Russia to endorse the annexation of Bosnia-Herzegovina by Austria-Hungary. 1910- Germany surpasses Britain as the leading manufacturing nation in Europe. The United States remains the world leader, surpassing all of the European manufacturing nations combined. October 1912- The Balkan War erupts in southern Europe as Serbia leads an attack by members of the Balkan League (Serbia, Bulgaria and Greece) against the Ottoman (Turkish) Empire to drive the Turks out of Europe. May 1913- The Balkan War ends with the Turks driven out of southern Europe. A peace settlement is then drawn up by the major European powers that divides up the former Turkish areas in southern Europe among the Balkan League nations. However, the peace is short-lived as Bulgaria, desiring a bigger share, attacks neighboring Greece and Serbia. Romania then attacks Bulgaria along with the Turks. This Second Balkan War results in Bulgaria losing territory and the Serbians becoming emboldened, leaving the Balkan region of southern Europe politically unstable. 1914 June 28, 1914- Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austrian throne, and his wife, visit Sarajevo in Bosnia. A bomb is thrown at their auto but misses. Undaunted, they continue their visit only to be shot and killed a short time later by a lone assassin. Believing the assassin to be a Serbian nationalist, the Austrians target their anger toward Serbia. July 23, 1914- Austria-Hungary, with the backing of Germany, delivers an ultimatum to Serbia. The Serbs propose arbitration as a way to resolve dispute, but also begin mobilization of their troops. July 25, 1914- Austria-Hungary severs diplomatic ties with Serbia and begins to mobilize its troops. July 26, 1914- Britain attempts to organize a political conference among the major European powers to resolve the dispute between Austria-Hungary and Serbia. France and Italy agree to participate. Russia then agrees, but Germany refuses. July 28, 1914- The Austro-Hungarian Empire declares war on Serbia. July 29, 1914- Britain calls for international mediation to resolve the worsening crisis. Russia urges German restraint, but the Russians begin partial troop mobilization as a precaution. The Germans then warn Russia on its mobilization and begin to mobilize themselves. July 30, 1914- Austrian warships bombard Belgrade, capital of Serbia. July 31, 1914- Reacting to the Austrian attack on Serbia, Russia begins full mobilization of its troops. Germany demands that it stop. August 1, 1914- Germany declares war on Russia. France and Belgium begin full mobilization. August 3, 1914- Germany declares war on France, and invades neutral Belgium. Britain then sends an ultimatum, rejected by the Germans, to withdraw from Belgium. August 4, 1914- Great Britain declares war on Germany. The declaration is binding on all Dominions within the British Empire including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India and South Africa. August 4, 1914- The United States declares its neutrality. August 4-16, 1914- The Siege of Liege occurs as Germans attack the Belgian fortress city but meet resistance from Belgian troops inside the Liege Forts. The twelve forts surrounding the city are then bombarded into submission by German and Austrian howitzers using high explosive shells. Remaining Belgian troops then retreat northward toward Antwerp as the German westward advance continues. August 6, 1914- The Austro-Hungarian Empire declares war on Russia. August 6, 1914- French and British troops invade the German colony of Togo in West Africa. Twenty days later, the German governor there surrenders. August 7, 1914- The first British troops land in France. The 120,000 highly trained members of the regular British Army form the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) commanded by Field Marshal John French. August 7-24, 1914- The French desire to score a quick victory ignites the first major French-German action of the war. The French Army invades Alsace and Lorraine according to their master strategy known as Plan XVII. However, the French offensive is met by effective German counter-attacks using heavy artillery and machine-guns. The French suffer heavy casualties including 27,000 soldiers killed in a single day, the worst one-day death toll in the history of the French Army. The French then fall back toward Paris amid 300,000 total casualties. August 8, 1914- Britain enacts the Defense of the Realm Act (DORA) granting unprecedented powers to the government to control the economy and daily life. August 12, 1914- Great Britain and France declare war on Austria-Hungary. Serbia is invaded by Austria-Hungary. August 17, 1914- Russia invades Germany, attacking into East Prussia, forcing the outnumbered Germans there to fall back. This marks the advent of the Eastern Front in Europe in which Russia will oppose Germany and Austria-Hungary. August 20, 1914- German troops occupy undefended Brussels, capital of Belgium. Following this, the main German armies continue westward and invade France according to their master strategy known as the Schlieffen Plan. It calls for a giant counter-clockwise movement of German armies wheeling into France, swallowing up Paris, and then attacking the rear of the French armies concentrated in the Alsace-Lorraine area. Under the overall command of Helmuth von Moltke, Chief of the German General Staff, the Germans seek to achieve victory over France within six weeks and then focus on defeating Russia in the East before Russia's six-million-man army, the world's largest, can fully mobilize. August 23, 1914- Japan declares war on Germany. The Japanese then prepare to assist the British in expelling the Germans from the Far East. German possessions in the South Pacific include a naval base on the coast of China, part of New Guinea, Samoa, and the Caroline, Marshall and Mariana Islands. Battle of Tannenberg August 26, 1914- On the Eastern Front, German troops in East Prussia under the new command of Paul von Hindenburg and Erich Ludendorff oppose the Russian 2nd Army. Aided by aerial reconnaissance and the interception of uncoded Russian radio messages, the Germans effectively reposition their troops to counter the initial Russian advance. Five days later, after surrounding the Russians, the battle ends with a German victory and the capture of 125,000 Russians. Following this success, the Germans drive the Russians out of East Prussia with heavy casualties. The impressive victory elevates Hindenburg and Ludendorff to the status of heroes in Germany. August 30, 1914- German possessions in the Far East are attacked as New Zealand troops occupy German Samoa. Three days later, Japanese forces land on the coast of China, preparing to attack the German naval base at Tsingtao (Qingdao). A month later, the Japanese begin their occupation of the Caroline, Marshall and Mariana Islands. Battle of the Marne September 5-12, 1914- On the Western Front, Paris is saved as French and British troops disrupt the Schlieffen Plan by launching a major counter-offensive against the invading German armies to the east of Paris. Six hundred taxi cabs from the city help to move French troops to the Front. Aided by French aerial reconnaissance which reveals a gap has developed in the center of the whole German advance, the French and British exploit this weakness and press their advantage. The Germans then begin a strategic withdrawal northward as the Allies pursue. Each side repeatedly tries to outmaneuver the other and gain a tactical advantage as they move northward in what becomes known as the Race to the Sea. September 7, 1914- In the Far East, a German naval squadron, commanded by Graf von Spee severs the British Pacific communications cable. September 8, 1914- The French government enacts nationwide State of War regulations which include total control over the economy and national security, strict censorship, and suspension of civil liberties. September 17, 1914- On the Eastern Front, Austrian forces steadily retreat from the advancing Russian 3rd and 8th armies fighting in southern Poland and along the Russian-Austrian border. The Germans then send the newly formed 9th Army to halt the Russians. This marks the beginning of a pattern in which the Germans will aid the weaker Austro-Hungarian Army. September 22, 1914- The first-ever British air raid against Germany occurs as Zeppelin bases at Cologne and Düsseldorf are bombed. First Battle of Ypres October 19-November 22, 1914 October 19, 1914- Still hoping to score a quick victory in the West, the Germans launch a major attack on Ypres in Belgium. Despite heavy losses, British, French and Belgian troops fend off the attack and the Germans do not break through. During the battle, the Germans send waves of inexperienced 17 to 20-year-old volunteer soldiers, some fresh out of school. They advance shoulder-to-shoulder while singing patriotic songs only to be systematically gunned down in what the Germans themselves later call the "massacre of the innocents." By November, overall casualties will total 250,000 men, including nearly half of the British Regular Army. October 29, 1914- The Ottoman Empire (Turkey) enters the war on the side of the Germans as three warships shell the Russian port of Odessa. Three days later, Russia declares war on Turkey. Russian and Turkish troops then prepare for battle along the common border of the Russian Caucasus and the Ottoman Empire. October-November, 1914- Germans and Austrians launch a combined offensive against the Russians on the Eastern Front. The German 9th Army targets Warsaw, Poland, but is opposed by six Russian armies and withdraws. The Austrians attack the Russians in Galicia (a province in northeast Austria) with indecisive results. However, the Russians fail to press their advantage at Warsaw and instead begin a split counter-offensive moving both southward against the Austrians in Galicia and northward toward Germany. The German 9th Army then regroups and cuts off the Russians at Lodz, Poland, halting their advance and forcing an eastward withdrawal by the Russians. November 1, 1914- Austria invades Serbia. This is the third attempt to conquer the Serbs in retaliation for the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. This attempt fails like the two before it, at the hands of highly motivated Serbs fighting on their home ground. The Austrians withdraw in mid-December, after suffering over 220,000 casualties from the three failed invasions. November 1, 1914- The British Navy suffers its worst defeat in centuries during a sea battle in the Pacific. Two British ships, theMonmouthandGood Hope, are sunk with no survivors by a German squadron commanded by Admiral Graf von Spee. November 3, 1914- Kaiser Wilhelm appoints Erich von Falkenhayn as the new Chief of the German General Staff, replacing Helmuth von Moltke who is sacked due to the failure of the Schlieffen Plan. November 5, 1914- France and Britain declare war on the Ottoman (Turkish) Empire. November 6, 1914- In the Persian Gulf, a major British offensive begins as the 6th Indian Division invades Mesopotamia. The objective is to protect the oil pipeline from Persia. Two weeks later they capture the city of Basra. November 7, 1914- In the Far East, the German naval base at Tsingtao is captured by the Japanese, aided by a British and Indian battalion. Trench Warfare Begins December 1914- The Western Front in Europe stabilizes in the aftermath of the First Battle of Ypres as the Germans go on the defensive and transfer troops to the East to fight the Russians. The 450-mile-long Western Front stretches from the Channel Coast southward through Belgium and Eastern France into Switzerland. Troops from both sides construct opposing trench fortifications and dugouts protected by barbed wire, machine-gun nests, snipers, and mortars, with an in-between area called No Man's Land. The Eastern Front also sees its share of trenches as troops dig in after the Russians hold off the Germans in Poland and the Austrians hold off the Russians at Limanowa. The 600-mile Eastern Front stretches from the Baltic Sea southward through East Prussia and Austria to the Carpathian Mountains. December 8, 1914- The Battle of Falkland Islands occurs as British Navy warships destroy the German squadron of Admiral Graf von Spee in the South Atlantic off the coast of Argentina. Von Spee and two sons serving in his squadron are killed. December 10, 1914- The French begin a series of attacks along the Western Front against the Germans in the Artois region of northern France and Champagne in the south. Hampered by a lack of heavy artillery and muddy winter conditions, the French fail to make any significant gains and both offensives are soon suspended. December 16, 1914- Britain suffers its first civilian casualties at home in the war as the German Navy bombards the coastal towns of Whitby, Hartlepool and Scarborough, killing 40 persons and wounding hundreds. December 25, 1914- A Christmas truce occurs between German and British soldiers in the trenches of northern France. All shooting stops as the soldiers exit their trenches, exchange gifts, sing carols and engage in a soccer game. This is the only Christmas truce of the war, as Allied commanders subsequently forbid fraternization with orders to shoot any violators. January 17, 1915- The initial Turkish offensive into Russia is thwarted as the Turkish 3rd Army suffers a defeat by the Russian Army of the Caucasus near Kars. The Russians then begin a multi-pronged invasion of the Ottoman Empire from the Caucasus. January 19, 1915- Germany begins an aerial bombing campaign against Britain using Zeppelins. January 31, 1915- Poison gas is used for the first time in the war as Germans on the Eastern Front attack Russian positions west of Warsaw. Although the Germans fire 18,000 gas shells, they have little effect on the Russians as frigid temperatures prevent the gas from vaporizing. February 1915- The Turks begin forced deportations of Armenians. Over the next two years, an estimated 1.5 million Armenians will either starve to death, die of thirst in the Syrian Desert, or be murdered by Turkish troops and bandits, during the Armenian Genocide. February 3, 1915- Turkish troops launch an unsuccessful attack against the British-controlled Suez Canal, which is regularly used by the British to ferry Dominion troops from Australia, New Zealand and India to European battle grounds. February 4, 1915- Germany declares the waters surrounding British Isles to be a war zone in which ships can be sunk without warning. February 7-22, 1915- On the Eastern Front in Europe, the German 8th and 10th Armies wage a successful offensive against the Russian 10th Army in the Masurian Lakes region of East Prussia, pushing the Russians eastward into the Augustow Forest where they are decimated. February 16, 1915- On the Western Front, the French launch their second offensive against German defense lines in Champagne. Once again they are hampered by the muddy winter weather and a lack of heavy artillery. After a month of fighting, suffering 240,000 casualties, the exhausted French break off the offensive. U-Boat Warfare Begins February 18, 1915- The first German U-Boat campaign of the war begins with unrestricted attacks against merchant and passenger ships in the waters around the British Isles. Within six months, Allied shipping losses at sea surpass the number of new ships being built. However, the unrestricted attacks also arouse the anger of the neutral United States as Americans are killed. March 1915- The British Navy imposes a total sea blockade on Germany, prohibiting all shipping imports including food. March 10, 1915- British and Indian troops in the Artois region of northern France attack the Germans around the village of Neuve Chapelle. The attack takes the outnumbered Germans by surprise. The British achieve their initial objective but fail to capitalize on the narrow breach they create in the German lines. After three days of fighting, with over 11,000 casualties, the British offensive is suspended. The Germans suffer over 10,000 casualties. March 22, 1915- The Russians capture 120,000 Austrians at Przemysl in Galicia. This marks the culmination of a series of winter battles between the Austrians and Russians to secure the strategic Carpathian Mountain passes and opens the way for a Russian invasion of Hungary. Realizing this, the Germans and Austrians make plans to combine their troops and launch a major spring offensive. April 11, 1915- British troops in Mesopotamia fend off a large attack by the Turks against Basra. The British then branch out to protect their position at Basra, and proceed up the Tigris Valley toward Baghdad. Second Battle of Ypres April 22-May 25, 1915 April 22, 1915- Poison gas is used for the first time on the Western Front as the German 4th Army attacks French positions around Ypres in northern Belgium. As they attack, the Germans release chlorine gas from over 5,000 cylinders forming poisonous green clouds that drift toward two French African divisions. Lacking any protection, the French quickly retreat. Although this creates a five-mile-wide gap in the Allied lines, the Germans fail to capitalize due to a lack of reserve troops and cautious frontline troops hesitant to venture too close to the gas clouds. British and Canadians then plug the gap but are unable to regain any ground taken by the Germans. The British then withdraw to a second line of defense, leaving Ypres in Allied hands but virtually surrounded. Casualties in the Second Battle of Ypres total 58,000 Allies and 38,000 Germans. April 25, 1915- Allied troops land on the Gallipoli Peninsula in an attempt to unblock the Dardanelles Straits near Constantinople (present day Istanbul, Turkey) to reopen access to Russia through the Black Sea. The landing comes after a failed attempt by British and French warships to force their way through the narrow Straits. The 70,000 landing troops include 15,000 Australians and New Zealanders. The peninsula is heavily defended by Turkish troops, supplied and trained by Germans. Within two weeks, a stalemate develops as the Allies fail to gain any of their objectives and the Turks begin a series of costly attacks attempting to drive out the Allies. May 1, 1915- German U-Boats sink their first American merchant ship, the tankerGulflight, in the Mediterranean Sea near Sicily. May 2, 1915- On the Eastern Front, a combined Austro-German offensive begins against the Russian 3rd Army at Tarnow and Gorlice in Galicia. The attack is preceded by a massive artillery bombardment with over 700,000 shells. This breaks down the defenses of the weakened Russians who now suffer from shortages of artillery shells and rifles. Within two days, the Austro-Germans break through the lines and the Russians begin a disorganized retreat. Lusitania Sunk May 7, 1915- A German U-Boat torpedoes the British passenger linerLusitaniaoff the Irish coast. It sinks in 18 minutes, drowning 1,201 persons, including 128 Americans. President Woodrow Wilson subsequently sends four diplomatic protests to Germany. May 9, 1915- Following six days of artillery bombardment by over a thousand French guns, the French 10th Army attacks German defense lines in the Artois, advancing toward Vimy Ridge. The French achieve their initial objective, but fail to capitalize on the narrow breach they create in the German lines. The next day, Germans counter-attack and push back the French. May 9, 1915- Complementing the French offensive at Vimy, British and Indian troops launch their second attack against the Germans around Neuve Chapelle in the Artois. However, without sufficient artillery support to weaken the German frontline defenses, the advancing soldiers are decimated by German machine-gun fire. The attack is called off the next day with 11,000 casualties. May 15, 1915- British and Indian troops launch another attack against Germans in the Artois, this time at Festubert, north of Neuve Chapelle. The attack is preceded by a 60-hour artillery bombardment. But the troops advance just 1,000 yards while suffering 16,000 casualties. May 23, 1915- Italy enters the war on the side of the Allies by declaring war on Austria-Hungary. The Italians then launch offensives along the 400-mile common border between Austria and Italy. The better equipped Austrians take advantage of the mountainous terrain to establish strong defensive positions all along the border. The Italians then focus their attacks on the mountain passes at Trentino and the valley of the Isonzo River. May 31, 1915- The first aerial bombing of London occurs as German Zeppelins kill 28 persons. June 12, 1915- After pausing to regroup, Austro-German troops resume their offensive in Galicia on the Eastern Front. Within five days, they break through the Russian lines and push the Russian 3rd and 8th Armies further eastward. Russian casualties soon surpass 400,000. June 16, 1915- The French 10th Army launches its second attempt to seize Vimy Ridge from the Germans in the Artois. This time the troops encounter an intensive artillery bombardment from the improved defenses of the German 6th Army. The French achieve their initial objective, but then succumb to a German counter-attack, just as they did in the first attempt at Vimy. The French call off the Vimy offensive with 100,000 casualties. The Germans suffer 60,000. June 23, 1915- The First Battle of Isonzo begins as Italian troops attack Austrian defenses. Initial gains by the Italians are soon repulsed by the Austrians with heavy casualties for both sides. Three additional battles are fought through the end of 1915 with similar results, totaling 230,000 casualties for the Italians and 165,000 for the Austrians. July 1, 1915- Russia creates a Central War Industries Committee to oversee production and address a severe shortage of artillery shells and rifles on the Front. Russian soldiers in the field without rifles can only get them from fellow soldiers after they are killed or wounded. July 9, 1915- In Africa, the German Southwest Africa colony (present day Namibia) is taken by the Allies following 11 months of fighting between the Germans and South African and Rhodesian troops loyal to the British. July 13, 1915- On the Eastern Front, the next phase of the combined Austro-German offensive against the Russians begins in northern Poland, with the Austro-Germans advancing toward Warsaw. The Russian Army now gets weaker by the day due to chronic supply shortages and declining morale. Once again, the Russians retreat, and also order a total civilian evacuation of Poland. This results in great hardship for the people as they leave their homes and head eastward, clogging the roads and hampering the movement of Russian troops. August 1, 1915- The Fokker Scourge begins over the Western Front as German pilots achieve air supremacy using the highly effective Fokker monoplane featuring a synchronized machine-gun that fires bullets through the spinning propeller. Although the technology was pioneered by French pilot Roland Garros, the Germans copied and improved the synchronized gun idea after capturing his plane. The Fokker Scourge will last nearly a year, until Allied aerial technology catches up. August 5, 1915- Warsaw is taken by Austro-Germans troops. This ends a century of Russian control of the city. After taking Warsaw, the Austro-Germans move on to capture Ivangorod, Kovno, Brest-Litovsk, Bialystok, Grodno, and Vilna. By the end of September, Russian troops are driven out of Poland and Galicia, back to the original lines from which they had begun the war in 1914. For the time being, the battered Russian Army has effectively been eliminated as an offensive threat on the Eastern Front, freeing the Germans to focus more effort on the Western Front. August 6, 1915- Hoping to break the stalemate at Gallipoli, British renew the offensive. An additional 20,000 troops are landed but their attack is hampered by poor communications and logistical problems. The Turks, led by Mustafa Kemal, respond by rushing in two divisions and the British offensive fails. September 5, 1915- Russian Czar Nicholas II takes personal command of the Russian Army, hoping to rally his faltering troops. Losses to the Czar's army from the Austro-German offensives in Galicia and Poland include over 1,400,000 casualties and 750,000 captured. Russia is also weakened economically by the loss of Poland's industrial and agricultural output. Additionally, the ongoing mass exodus of Russian troops and civilians from Poland, called the Great Retreat, spurs dangerous political and social unrest in Russia, undermining the rule of the Czar and his Imperial government. September 6, 1915- Bulgaria enters the war on Germany's side with an eye toward invading neighboring Serbia. Thus far in the war, Austria-Hungary has tried, but failed, three times to conquer Serbia in retaliation for the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand. Now, the Austrians, aided by Germany and Bulgaria, plan to try again. With the addition of Bulgaria, Germany now has three allies in the war including Austria-Hungary and Turkey. This alliance is called the Central Powers due to their geographic location, primarily in central Europe. September 18, 1915- The Germans announce an end to their first U-Boat campaign, begun in February, which had targeted ships around the British Isles. This comes in response to increasing protests from the United States following American civilian deaths at sea. The U-Boats are then sent by the Germans to wreak havoc in the Mediterranean Sea, away from American shipping lanes in the Atlantic. September 25, 1915- On the Western Front, the British use poison gas for the first time as they launch an attack against the German 6th Army in the Artois. Chlorine gas is released from over 5,000 cylinders, creating a poisonous cloud that drifts toward the Germans, opening a gap in their front line. The British advance and quickly seize their objective, the town of Loos, but then fail to capitalize on the four-mile-wide breach in the German lines. The Germans regroup and when the British resume the attack the next day they are mowed down in the hundreds by well-placed German machine-gunners. In all, the British suffer 50,000 casualties during the Loos offensive. British Army Commander John French is then sacked, replaced by Douglas Haig. September 25, 1915- The French 2nd Army in Champagne attacks the weakest part of the German lines, creating a six-mile-wide breach that is three miles deep. The German 3rd Army then rushes in reinforcements, regroups its defense lines and plugs the gap. Facing strong resistance, the French break off the attack. September 26, 1915- The French launch their third attempt to seize Vimy Ridge from the Germans in Artois, and this time they secure the ridge. September 26-28, 1915- In the Middle East, a British victory occurs at the Battle of Kut al-Amara in Mesopotamia as they defeat the Turks. The resounding victory spurs an ambitious move by the British to venture onward to quickly capture Baghdad. However, that attempt fails and the troops return to Kut-al-Amara and dig in. October 6, 1915- The invasion of Serbia begins as Austro-German troops attack from the north. Five days later, the Bulgarians attack from the east. The outnumbered Serbs have their poorly supplied troops stretched too thinly to defend both fronts. Belgrade then falls to the Germans and the Bulgarians capture Kumanova, severing the country's north-south rail line. This leaves the overwhelmed Serbian troops no option other than to retreat westward through the mountains into Albania. December 5, 1915- Hoping to overcome their earlier defeat at Kut al-Amara in Mesopotamia, Turkish troops lay siege to the town, surrounding the British garrison there, cutting them off completely. December 19, 1915- The Allies begin an orderly evacuation of the Gallipoli Peninsula. This comes after months of stalemate in which Turkish troops contained all breakthrough attempts while inflicting 250,000 casualties. The British Navy successfully evacuates 83,000 survivors by sea as the Turks watch without firing a shot, glad to see them leave. January 1916- President Woodrow Wilson begins an effort to organize a peace conference in Europe. February 18, 1916- In West Africa, the German colony of Cameroon falls to the French and British following 17 months of fighting. This leaves only one German colony remaining in Africa, known as German East Africa. There, 10,000 troops skillfully commanded by General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck prove to be an elusive but deadly target, as they are pursued by a British-led force ten times larger. Battle of Verdun February 21-December 18, 1916 February 21, 1916- On the Western Front, the German 5th Army attacks the French 2nd Army north of the historic city of Verdun, following a nine-hour artillery bombardment. The Germans under Chief of the General Staff, Erich Falkenhayn, seek to "bleed" the French Army to death by targeting the cherished city. At first, the Germans make rapid gains along the east bank of the Meuse River, overrunning bombed out French trenches, and capture lightly defended Fort Douaumont four days later without firing a shot. However, the German offensive soon stalls as the French rush in massive reinforcements and strengthen their defenses, under the new command of Henri Petain, who is determined to save Verdun. An early spring thaw also turns the entire battlefield into mud, hampering offensive maneuvers. March 6, 1916- Germans renew their Verdun offensive, this time attacking along the west bank of the Meuse River, targeting two strategic hills northwest of Verdun that form the main French position. However, by the end of March, the heavily defended hills are only partially in German hands. March 18, 1916- On the Eastern Front, the Russians oblige a French request to wage an offensive to divert German resources from Verdun. Although the Russians greatly outnumber the Germans in the northern sector of the Eastern Front, their poorly coordinated offensive around Vilna and at Lake Naroch is swiftly defeated by the Germans with 70,000 Russian casualties. April 9, 1916- The Germans attack again at Verdun, now along a 20-mile-wide front on both the east and west banks of the Meuse River. Once again the attack only yields partial gains in the face of stiff French resistance. April 18, 1916- President Woodrow Wilson threatens to sever diplomatic ties between the United States and Germany following the sinking of the passenger ferrySussexby a U-Boat in the English Channel. The attack marked the beginning of a new U-Boat campaign around the British Isles. But in response to Wilson, the Germans call off the U-Boats. April 29, 1916- In the Middle East, the five-month siege at Kut-al-Amara in Mesopotamia ends as 13,000 British and Indian soldiers, now on the verge of starvation, surrender to the Turks. The largest-ever surrender by the British Army comes after four failed attempts by British relief troops to break through to the surrounded garrison. May 3, 1916- At Verdun, the Germans begin another attack on the west bank of the Meuse. This time they gain the advantage and within three days capture the two French hills they had been striving for since early March, thus achieving a solid position northwest of Verdun. May 15, 1916- Austrian troops attack Italian mountain positions in the Trentino. The Italians withdraw southward, forcing the Austrians to stretch their supply lines over the difficult terrain. The arrival of Italian reinforcements and a successful counter-attack then halts the Austrian offensive completely. May 25, 1916- The era of the all-volunteer British Army ends as universal conscription takes effect requiring all eligible British men between the ages of 19 and 40 to report,excluding men working in agriculture, mining or the railroads. Battle of Jutland May 31, 1916- The main German and British naval fleets clash in the Battle of Jutland in the North Sea, as both sides try, but fail, to score a decisive victory. Forward battle cruisers from the British Grand Fleet are initially lured southward toward the German High Seas Fleet, but then turn completely around, luring the entire German fleet northward. As they get near, the British blast away at the German forward ships. The Germans return fire and the two fleets fire furiously at each other. However, the Germans, aware they are outgunned by the larger British fleet, disengage by abruptly turning away. In the dead of the night the Germans withdraw entirely. The British do not risk a pursuit and instead head home. Both sides claim victory. Although the Germans sink 14 of the 151 British ships while losing 11 of 99 ships, the British Navy retains its dominance of the North Sea and the naval blockade of Germany will remain intact for the war's duration. June 1, 1916- Germans at Verdun try to continue their offensive success along the Meuse River and now attack the French on the east bank, targeting Fort Vaux and the fortification at Thiaumont. Eight days later, both objectives are taken as the French suffer heavy casualties. The Germans now push onward toward a ridge that overlooks Verdun and edge toward the Meuse bridges. The entire nation of France now rallies behind their troops in the defense of Verdun as French generals vow it will not be taken. June 4, 1916- Four Russian armies on the Eastern Front, under their innovative new commander, General Alexei Brusilov, begin a general offensive in the southwest along a 300-mile front. Brusilov avoids the style of predictable narrow frontline attacks used previously, in favor of a sweeping offensive over hundreds of miles that is harder to pin down. Thinly stretched Austro-Hungarian troops defending this portion of the Front are taken by surprise. Realizing their distress, the Germans pull four divisions from Verdun and send them east. By the end of summer, the Germans will send 20 more divisions and merge the surviving Austro-Hungarian troops into the Germany Army. June 22, 1916- Germans resume their offensive near Verdun, targeting Fort Souville which overlooks the city and the Meuse bridges. Using poisonous phosgene gas at the start of the attack, they initially take the village of Fleury just two miles north of Verdun, but further advance southward is halted by a strong French counter-attack. Verdun has now become a battle of attrition for both sides with a death toll already approaching 500,000 men. Battle of the Somme July 1-November 18, 1916 June 24, 1916- The Allies begin a week-long artillery bombardment of German defensive positions on the Somme River in northern France, in preparation for a major British-led offensive. Over 1.5 million shells are fired along a 15-mile front to pulverize the intricate German trench system and to blow apart rows of barbed wire protecting the trenches. British Commander Douglas Haig believes this will allow an unhindered infantry advance and a rapid breakthrough of the German Front on the first day of battle. July 1, 1916- The British Army suffers the worst single-day death toll in its history as 18,800 soldiers are killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. The losses come as 13 attacking divisions encounter German defenses that are still intact despite the seven-day bombardment designed to knock them out. The British also attack in broad daylight, advancing in lines shoulder-to-shoulder only to be systematically mowed down by German machine-gunners. The Somme offensive quickly becomes a battle of attrition as British and French troops make marginal gains against the Germans but repeatedly fail to break through the entire Front as planned. July 10, 1916- The Germans attack again at Verdun, using poison gas, and advance toward Fort Souville. Four days later, the French counter-attack and halt the Germans. July 13, 1916- The British launch a night attack against German positions along a 3.5-mile portion of the Somme Front. After advancing nearly 1,000 yards, the advance is halted as the Germans regroup their defenses. Two days later, the British once again penetrate the German line and advance to High Wood but are then pushed back. August 27, 1916- Romania declares war on the Central Powers and begins an invasion of Austria-Hungary through the Carpathian Mountains. The Romanians face little opposition initially and advance 50 miles into Transylvania. August 28, 1916- Kaiser Wilhelm appoints Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg as Germany's new Chief of the General Staff, replacing Erich Falkenhayn following the disappointment at Verdun and recent setbacks on the Eastern Front. August 28, 1916- Italy declares war on Germany, thus expanding the scope of its military activities beyond the Italian-Austrian Front. August 29, 1916- Germany's entire economy is placed under the Hindenburg Plan allowing the military to exercise dictatorial-style powers to control the labor force, munitions production, food distribution and most aspects of daily life. September 1, 1916- Romania is invaded by the newly formed Danube Army, consisting of Germans, Turks and Bulgarians under the command of German General August von Mackensen. This marks the start of a multi-pronged invasion of Romania in response to its aggression against Austria-Hungary. September 15, 1916- The first-ever appearance of tanks on a battlefield occurs as British troops renew the Somme offensive and attack German positions along a five-mile front, advancing 2,000 yards with tank support. The British-developed tanks feature two small side-cannons and four machine-guns, operated by an eight-man crew. As the infantry advances, individual tanks provide support by blasting and rolling over the German barbed wire, piercing the frontline defense, and then roll along the length of the trench, raking the German soldiers with machine-gun fire. September 20, 1916- On the Eastern Front, the Brusilov Offensive grinds to a halt. Since its launch in early June, four Russian armies under the command of General Alexei Brusilov had swept eastward up to 60 miles deep along a 300-mile front while capturing 350,000 Austro-Hungarian troops. But by the end of summer, the Germans brought in 24 divisions from the Western Front and placed the surviving Austro-Hungarian troops under German command. The Russian attack withered after the loss of nearly a million men amid insufficient reserves. The humiliating withdrawal from the hard-won areas wrecks Russian troop morale, fueling political and social unrest in Russia. September 25, 1916- British and French troops renew their attacks in the Somme, capturing several villages north of the Somme River, including Thiepval, where the British successfully use tanks again. Following these successes, however, heavy rain turns the entire battlefield to mud, preventing effective maneuvers. October 8, 1916- The German Air Force (Luftstreikrafte) is founded as various aerial fighting groups are merged. October 10, 1916- Romanian troops return home after being pushed out of Hungary by two Austro-German armies. The Austro-German 9th Army then invades Romania and heads toward Bucharest. October 24, 1916- At Verdun, the French under General Robert Nivelle, begin an ambitious offensive designed to end the German threat there by targeting Fort Douaumont and other German-occupied sites on the east bank of the Meuse River. The attack is preceded by the heaviest artillery bombardment to-date by the French. Additionally, French infantry use an effective new tactic in which they slowly advance in stages, step-by-step behind encroaching waves of artillery fire. Using this creeping barrage tactic, they seize Fort Douaumont, then take Fort Vaux further east, nine days later. November 7, 1916- American voters re-elect President Woodrow Wilson who had campaigned on the slogan, "He kept us out of war." November 13, 1916- British troops stage a surprise attack and capture the towns of Beaumont Hamel and Beaucourt at the northern end of the Somme Front. November 18, 1916- The Battle of the Somme ends upon the first snowfall as the British and French decide to cease the offensive. By now, the Germans have been pushed back just a few miles along the entire 15-mile front, but the major breakthrough the Allies had planned never occurred. Both sides each suffered over 600,000 casualties during the five-month battle. Among the injured German soldiers is Corporal Adolf Hitler, wounded by shrapnel. November 20, 1916- Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary dies at age 86. He is succeeded by Archduke Charles who wants to take Austria-Hungary out of the war. December 6, 1916- Bucharest, capital of Romania, falls to the Austro-Germans. This effectively ends Romanian resistance to the Austro-German invasion and places the country's entire agricultural and industrial resources, including the Ploesti oil fields, in German hands. December 7, 1916- LLoyd George becomes Britain's new Prime Minister. His new War Cabinet immediately begins to organize the country for "total war." December 12, 1916- Joseph Joffre resigns under pressure from his position as Commander-in-Chief of the French Army, replaced by General Robert Nivelle. December 15, 1916- The last offensive in the Battle of Verdun begins as the French push the Germans out of Louvemont and Bezonvaux on the east bank of the Meuse River. Combined with other ground losses, the German withdrawal ends the immediate threat to Verdun and both sides now focus their efforts on battles elsewhere along the Western Front. Overall, the French and Germans suffered nearly a million casualties combined during the ten month battle in which the Germans failed to capture the city of Verdun. December 18, 1916- President Woodrow Wilson caps off a year-long effort to organize a peace conference in Europe by asking the combatants to outline their peace terms. See Part Four - World War One - Dates & Rest Of Timeline Info. Text 1917 Thur 1919 Thanks. World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 1 In Colour Film - Catastrophe https://rumble.com/v35gtvg-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-1-in-colour-film-catastrophe.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 2 In Colour Film - Slaughter In The Trenches https://rumble.com/v35iwdm-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-2-in-colour-film-slaughter-in-the-tren.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 3 In Colour Film - Blood In The Air https://rumble.com/v35lfes-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-3-in-colour-film-blood-in-the-air.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 4 In Colour Film - Killers Of The Sea https://rumble.com/v35mjdo-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-4-in-colour-film-killers-of-the-sea.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 5 In Colour Film - Mayhem On The Eastern Front https://rumble.com/v35oyly-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-5-in-colour-film-mayhem-on-the-eastern.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 6 In Colour Film - Victory and Despair https://rumble.com/v35ugei-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-6-in-colour-film-victory-and-despair.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 7 In Colour Film - Tactics And Strategy https://rumble.com/v35vyrr-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-7-in-colour-film-tactics-and-strategy.html Over 65 million men volunteered or were conscripted to fight in mass citizen armies. Millions of civilians also contributed to the war effort by working in industry, agriculture or jobs left open when men enlisted. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars:_1945%E2%80%931989 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars:_1990%E2%80%932002 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars:_2003%E2%80%93present https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_World_War_I https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_timelines_of_World_War_II World War I Pitted Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire against Great Britain, the United States, France, Russia, Italy and Japan. New military technology resulted in unprecedented carnage. By the time the war was over and the Allied Powers claimed victory, more than 16 million people—soldiers and civilians alike—were dead.

World War I Pitted Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire against Great Britain, the United States, France, Russia, Italy and Japan. New military technology resulted in unprecedented carnage. By the time the war was over and the Allied Powers claimed victory, more than 16 million people—soldiers and civilians alike—were dead. Pt. 4 of Seven. 1.It was a global war Over 30 nations declared war between 1914 and 1918. The majority joined on the side of the Allies, including Serbia, Russia, France, Britain, Italy and the United States. They were opposed by Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire, who together formed the Central Powers. What began as a relatively small conflict in southeast Europe became a war between European empires. Britain and its Empire’s entry into the war made this a truly global conflict fought on a geographical scale never seen before. Fighting occurred not only on the Western Front, but in eastern and southeast Europe, Africa and the Middle East. 2.It is Far Better to Face the Bullets... The First World War was not inevitable or accidental, but began as a result of human actions and decisions. Over 65 million men volunteered or were conscripted to fight in mass citizen armies. Millions of civilians also contributed to the war effort by working in industry, agriculture or jobs left open when men enlisted. Victory depended on popular support. Some nations were forced to surrender as their people, pushed to their physical and emotional limits, lost the will to continue fighting. The First World War was also a war against people. Invading armies committed atrocities against civilians in the areas they occupied. Attacks on civilians became increasingly common as each nation tried to break their opponents’ home morale and diminish popular support for the war. Propaganda demonised entire nations and attacked the ‘national characters’ of enemy peoples. 3.It was a war of production National resources were mobilised as each combatant nation raced to supply its armed forces with enough men and equipment. In Britain, early failures in munitions manufacturing led to full government intervention in war production. These controls helped its industry produce nearly 4 million rifles, 250,000 machine guns, 52,000 aeroplanes, 2,800 tanks, 25,000 artillery pieces and over 170 million rounds of artillery shells by 1918. 4.It was a war of innovation Advances in weaponry and military technology provoked tactical changes as each side tried to gain an advantage over the other. The introduction of aircraft into war left soldiers and civilians vulnerable to attacks from above for the first time. Major innovations were also made in manufacturing, chemistry and communications. Medical advances made the First World War the first major conflict in which British deaths in battle outnumbered deaths caused by disease. 5.It was a war of destruction The First World War left an estimated 16 million soldiers and civilians dead and countless others physically and psychologically wounded. The war also forever altered the world’s social and political landscape. It accelerated changes in attitudes towards gender and class and led to the collapse of the Russian, Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empires. The cost of waging total war - and of rebuilding afterwards - ravaged the national economies of both the victorious European Allies and the defeated Central Powers. The human cost of the First World War for Britain saw the creation of a new language of remembrance, which remains to this day. It can be seen in war memorials in cities, towns, schools, places of worship and workplaces, as well as in rituals such as Remembrance Sunday and the two-minute silence at 11am each 11 November. World War I Begins At the dawn of the 20thcentury, few anticipated a global war, but what came to be known as the Great War began on June 28, 1914, with the assassinations of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, while they were visiting Sarajevo, Bosnia, a country recently annexed into the Austrian Empire. Many Bosnians and their Serbian neighbors resented this foreign rule and the Archduke’s visit to Sarajevo provided the opportunity for a small band of Serbian dissidents to strike back. Austria responded to the assassinations by teaming up with its ally, Germany, and declaring war on Serbia. The conflict soon involved Russia, France and Belgium. Fearful of a full-scale world war that would threaten its sea routes to other countries, Great Britain joined the fight against Germany and Austria. Each country believed the fighting would last only a few months. Nations were categorized either as Central Powers or Allies. Countries that joined the Central Powers, such as Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire, supported Austria-Hungary and Germany. The Allies were Russia, France, Belgium and Great Britain, but they were later joined by Japan, Romania, China and the United States. No Man’s Land: Trench Warfare During World War I, trench warfare was a defensive military tactic used extensively by both sides, allowing soldiers some protection from enemy fire but also hindering troops from readily advancing and thus prolonging the war.Trench warfare was the major combat tactic in France and Belgium. Trenches were often dug up to 12 feet deep and stretched for miles. For stability, some trenches included wooden beams and/or sandbags. Even during lulls in the fighting, death occurred almost daily in the trenches due to a sniper’s bullet or the unsanitary living conditions which resulted in many diseases such as dysentery, typhus and cholera. Other diseases caused by the poor conditions weretrench mouth and trench foot*. *Trench mouth was an infection of the mouth due to overgrowth of certain oral bacteria. The condition was made worse by poor oral hygiene, smoking, malnutrition and psychological stress. To prevent trench foot, a fungal disease caused by exposure to wet and cold, soldiers frequently added wooden planks in the trenches to keep from having to stand in water. Barbed wire and explosive mines—as well as bullets and grenades—were essential weapons used to hinder infantry advances across “No Man’s Land,” the bleak landscape between the trenches of the opposing sides. New offensive weapons were implemented during the war includingtanks and poison gases*. *Tanks, armored against artillery fire, were capable of rolling over barbed wire as well as crossing treacherous terrain. Chlorine was one of the poisonous gases used in World War I. It was damaging to the eyes, nose, throat and lungs, and produced symptoms ranging from irritation to blindness and death.) In 1915, the Germans used poison gases against the Allies fighting in the trenches on the Western Front. To protect soldiers from chemical warfare, gas masks were developed. Great Britain made one of the first types of masks capable of minimizing the deadly impact of these gases on their troops. Though considered a novelty when the war began, aircraft were used by both sides for reconnaissance, allowing personnel to observe enemy troop positions, to direct artillery fire and to photograph enemy lines. By the end of the war, the concepts of aerial combat and aerial bombing had come into being. See Part Three - World War One - Dates & Rest Of Timeline Info. Text 1914 Thur 1916 Thanks. January 19, 1917- The British intercept atelegramsent by Alfred Zimmermann in the German Foreign Office to the German embassies in Washington, D.C., and Mexico City. Its message outlines plans for an alliance between Germany and Mexico against the United States. According to the scheme, Germany would provide tactical support while Mexico would benefit by expanding into the American Southwest, retrieving territories that had once been part of Mexico. The Zimmermann telegram is passed along by the British to the Americans and is then made public, causing an outcry from interventionists in the U.S., such as former president Teddy Roosevelt, who favor American military involvement in the war. February 1, 1917- The Germans resume unrestricted submarine warfare around the British Isles with the goal of knocking Britain out of the war by cutting off all imports to starve the British people into submission. February 3, 1917- The United States severs diplomatic ties with Germany after a U-Boat sinks the American grain shipHousatonic. Seven more American ships are sunk in February and March as the Germans sink 500 ships in just sixty days. February 25, 1917- In the Middle East, newly reinforced and replenished British troops retake Kut al-Amara in Mesopotamia from outnumbered Turks. The British then continue their advance and capture Baghdad, followed by Ramadi and Tikrit. Russian Revolution March 8, 1917- A mass protest by Russian civilians in Petrograd (St. Petersburg) erupts into a revolution against Czar Nicholas II and the war. Within days, Russian soldiers mutiny and join the revolution. March 15, 1917- The 300-year-old Romanov dynasty in Russia ends upon the abdication of Czar Nicholas II. In his place, a new democratically minded Provisional Government is established. Great Britain, France, the United States, and Italy rush to recognize the new government in the hope Russia will stay in the war and maintain its huge presence on the Eastern Front. March 15, 1917- Germans along the central portion of the Western Front in France begin a strategic withdrawal to the new Siegfried Line (called the Hindenburg Line by the Allies) which shortens the overall Front by 25 miles by eliminating an unneeded bulge. During the three-week long withdrawal, the Germans conduct a scorched earth policy, destroying everything of value. April 1917- British combat pilots on the Western Front suffer a 50 percent casualty rate during Bloody April as the Germans shoot down 150 fighter planes. The average life expectancy of an Allied fighter pilot is now three weeks, resulting from aerial dogfights and accidents. America Enters April 2, 1917- President Woodrow Wilson appears before the U.S. Congress and gives aspeechsaying "the world must be made safe for democracy" then asks the Congress for a declaration of war against Germany. April 6, 1917- The United States of America declares war on Germany. April 9, 1917- The British Army has one of its most productive days of the war as 3rd Army, supported by Canadian and Australian troops, makes rapid advances north of the Hindenburg Line at Arras and Vimy on the Western Front. The expansive first-day achievement in snowy weather includes a 3.5 mile territorial gain and the capture of Vimy Ridge by Canadians. However, similar to past offensives, the inability to capitalize on initial successes and maintain momentum gives the Germans an opportunity to regroup and further gains are thwarted. The British suffer 150,000 casualties during the offensive, while the Germans suffer 100,000. Nivelle Offensive April 16, 1917- The French 5th and 6th Armies attack along a 25-mile front south of the Hindenburg Line. The new offensive comes amid promises of a major breakthrough within 24-hours by the new French Commander-in-Chief, Robert Nivelle, who planned the operation. Nivelle once again utilizes his creeping barrage tactic in which his armies advance in stages closely behind successive waves of artillery fire. However, this time it is poorly coordinated and the troops fall far behind. The Germans also benefit from good intelligence and aerial reconnaissance and are mostly aware of the French plan. Nivelle's offensive collapses within days with over 100,000 casualties. French President Poincaré personally intervenes and Nivelle is relieved of his command. He is replaced as Commander-in-Chief by General Henri Petain, who must deal with a French Army that is now showing signs of mutiny. April 16, 1917- Political agitator Vladimir Lenin arrives back in Russia, following 12 years of exile in Switzerland. Special train transportation for his return was provided by the Germans in the hope that anti-war Lenin and his radical Bolshevik Party will disrupt Russia's new Provisional Government. Lenin joins other Bolsheviks in Petrograd who have already returned from exile including Joseph Stalin. May 18, 1917- The Selective Service Act is passed by the U.S. Congress, authorizing a draft. The small U.S. Army, presently consisting of 145,000 men, will be enlarged to 4,000,000 via the draft. May 19, 1917- The Provisional Government of Russia announces it will stay in the war. A large offensive for the Eastern Front is then planned by Alexander Kerensky, the new Minister of War. However, Russian soldiers and peasants are now flocking to Lenin's Bolshevik Party which opposes the war and the Provisional Government. French Mutiny May 27-June 1, 1917- The mutinous atmosphere in the French Army erupts into open insubordination as soldiers refuse orders to advance. More than half of the French divisions on the Western Front experience some degree of disruption by disgruntled soldiers, angry over the unending battles of attrition and appalling living conditions in the muddy, rat and lice-infested trenches. The new Commander-in-Chief, Henri Petain, cracks down on the mutiny by ordering mass arrests, followed by several firing squad executions that serve as a warning. Petain then suspends all French offensives and visits the troops to personally promise an improvement of the whole situation. With the French Army in disarray the main burden on the Western Front falls squarely upon the British. June 7, 1917- A tremendous underground explosion collapses the German-held Messines Ridge south of Ypres in Belgium. Upon detonation, 10,000 Germans stationed on the ridge vanish instantly. The British then storm the ridge forcing the surviving Germans to withdraw to a new defensive position further eastward. The 250-foot-high ridge had given the Germans a commanding defensive position. British, Australian and Canadian tunnelers had worked for a year to dig mines and place 600 tons of explosives. June 13, 1917- London suffers its highest civilian casualties of the war as German airplanes bomb the city, killing 158 persons and wounding 425. The British react to the new bombing campaign by forming home defense fighter squadrons and later conduct retaliatory bombing raids against Germany by British planes based in France. June 25, 1917- The first American troops land in France. July 1, 1917- Russian troops begin the Kerensky Offensive attempting to recapture the city of Lemberg (Lvov) on the Eastern Front. The Germans are lying in wait, fully aware of the battle plans which have been leaked to them. The Russians attack along a 40-mile front but suffer from a jumble of tactical problems including a lack of artillery coordination, poor troop placement, and serious disunity within the ranks reflecting the divisive political situation back home. The whole offensive disintegrates within five days. Sensing they might break the Russian Army, the Germans launch a furious counter-offensive and watch as Russian soldiers run away. July 2, 1917- Greece declares war on the Central Powers, following the abdication of pro-German King Constantine who is replaced by a pro-Allied administration led by Prime Minister Venizelos. Greek soldiers are now added to the Allied ranks. Third Battle of Ypres July 31-November 6, 1917 July 31, 1917- The British attempt once more to break through the German lines, this time by attacking positions east of Ypres, Belgium. However, by now the Germans have vastly improved their trench defenses including well-positioned artillery. Although the British 5th Army succeeds in securing forward trench positions, further progress is halted by heavy artillery barrages from the German 4th Army and rainy weather. August 10, 1917- The British resume their attack at Ypres, focusing on German artillery positions around Gheluvelt. The attack produces few gains as the Germans effectively bombard and then counter-attack. Six days later, the British try again, with similar results. The entire Ypres offensive then grinds to a halt as British Army Commander Douglas Haig ponders his strategy. September 1, 1917- On the Eastern Front, the final Russian battle in the war begins as the Germans attack toward Riga. The German 8th Army utilizes new storm troop tactics devised by General Oskar von Hutier. Bypassing any strong points as they move forward, storm troop battalions armed with light machine-guns, grenades and flame throwers focus on quickly infiltrating the rear areas to disrupt communications and take out artillery. The Russian 12th Army, under General Kornilov, is unable to hold itself together amid the storm troop attacks and abandons Riga, then begins a rapid retreat along the Dvina River, pursued by the Germans. September 20, 1917- A revised British strategy begins at Ypres designed to wear down the Germans. It features a series of intensive, narrowly focused artillery and troop attacks with limited objectives, to be launched every six days. The first such attack, along the Menin Road toward Gheluvelt, produces a gain of about 1,000 yards with 22,000 British and Australian casualties. Subsequent attacks yield similar results. October 12, 1917- The Ypres offensive culminates around the village of Passchendaele as Australian and New Zealand troops die by the thousands while attempting to press forward across a battlefield of liquid mud, advancing just 100 yards. Steady October rains create a slippery quagmire in which wounded soldiers routinely drown in mud-filled shell craters. Attack at Caporetto October 24, 1917- In northern Italy, a rout of the Italian Army begins as 35 German and Austrian divisions cross the Isonzo River into Italy at Caporetto and then rapidly push 41 Italian divisions 60 miles southward. By now, the Italians have been worn down from years of costly but inconclusive battles along the Isonzo and in the Trentino, amid a perceived lack of Allied support. Nearly 300,000 Italians surrender as the Austro-Germans advance, while some 400,000 desert. The Austro-Germans halt at the Piave River north of Venice only due to supply lines which have become stretched to the limit. October 26, 1917- At Ypres, a second attempt is made but fails to capture the village of Passchendaele, with Canadian troops participating this time. Four days later, the Allies attack again and edge closer as the Germans slowly begin pulling out. October 31, 1917- In the Middle East, the British led by General Edmund Allenby begin an attack against Turkish defensive lines stretching between Gaza and Beersheba in southern Palestine. The initial attack on Beersheba surprises the Turks and they pull troops away from Gaza which the British attack secondly. The Turks then retreat northward toward Jerusalem with the Allies in pursuit. Aiding the Allies, are a group of Arab fighters led by T. E. Lawrence, an Arab speaking English archeologist, later known as Lawrence of Arabia. He is instrumental in encouraging Arab opposition to the Turks and in disrupting their railroad and communication system. November 6, 1917- The village of Passchendaele is captured by Canadian troops. The Allied offensive then ceases, bringing the Third Battle of Ypres to an end with no significant gains amid 500,000 casualties experienced by all sides. October Revolution November 6-7, 1917- In Russia, Bolsheviks led by Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky overthrow the Provisional Government in what comes to be known as the October Revolution (Oct. 24-25 according to the Russian calendar). They establish a non-democratic Soviet Government based on Marxism which prohibits private enterprise and private land ownership. Lenin announces that Soviet Russia will immediately end its involvement in the war and renounces all existing treaties with the Allies. November 11, 1917- The German High Command, led by Erich Ludendorff, gathers at Mons, Belgium, to map out a strategy for 1918. Ludendorff bluntly states he is willing to accept a million German casualties in a daring plan to achieve victory in early 1918, before the American Army arrives in force. The goal is to drive a wedge between the British and French armies on the Western Front via a series of all-out offensives using Germany's finest divisions and intensive storm troop tactics. Once this succeeds, the plan is to first decimate the British Army to knock Britain out of the war, and then decimate the French Army, and thus secure final victory. November 15, 1917- Georges Clemenceau becomes France's new Prime Minister at age 76. Nicknamed "The Tiger," when asked about his agenda, he will simply answer, "I wage war." British Tank Attack November 20, 1917- The first-ever mass attack by tanks occurs as the British 3rd Army rolls 381 tanks accompanied by six infantry divisions in a coordinated tank-infantry-artillery attack of German trenches near Cambrai, France, an important rail center. The attack targets a 6-mile-wide portion of the Front and by the end of the first day appears to be a spectacular success with five miles gained and two Germans divisions wrecked. The news is celebrated by the ringing of church bells in England, for the first time since 1914. However, similar to past offensives, the opportunity to exploit first-day gains is missed, followed by the arrival of heavy German reinforcements and an effective counter-attack in which the Germans take back most of the ground they lost. December, 7, 1917- Romania concludes an armistice with the Central Powers due to the demise of Imperial Russia, its former military ally. December 9, 1917- Jerusalem is captured by the British. This ends four centuries of its control by the Ottoman (Turkish) Empire. December 15, 1917- Soviet Russia signs an armistice with Germany. With Russia's departure from the Eastern Front, forty-four German divisions become available to be redeployed to the Western Front in time for Ludendorff's Spring Offensive. January 1918- President Woodrow Wilson outlines an elaborate peace plan to the U.S. Congress containingFourteen Pointsas the basis of its establishment. March 3, 1918- At Brest-Litovsk, Soviet Russia signs a treaty with Germany formally ending its participation in the war. Harsh terms imposed by the Germans force the Russians to yield a quarter of their prewar territory and over half of Russia's industries. German Spring Offensives March 21, 1918- Germany's all-out gamble for victory begins upon the launch of the first of a series of successive spring offensives on the Western Front. The Saint Michael Offensive, named after Germany's patron saint, begins after a five-hour 6,000-gun artillery bombardment as 65 divisions from the German 2nd, 17th and 18th Armies attack the British 3rd and 5th Armies along a 60-mile front in the Somme. At first it seems destined to succeed as the thinly stretched British 5th Army is quickly overrun and wrecked. Using effective storm troop tactics, the Germans recapture all of the ground they lost in 1916 during the Battle of the Somme and press forward. However, during the two week offensive, the British 3rd Army manages to hold itself together and prevents the Germans from taking Arras and Amiens, key objectives of the offensive. March 26, 1918- At a strategic conference in Doullens, France, the British and French agree to appoint an Allied Supreme Commander on the Western Front, in place of the separate commanders they had been using, to better coordinate their efforts. Ferdinand Foch, Petain's highly regarded chief of staff, accepts the position. April 1, 1918- Britain's Royal Air Force (RAF) is founded upon the merging of the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service. By now, the British aviation industry has become the world leader. April 9-29, 1918- The second offensive in Germany's victory gamble, the Georgette Offensive, begins as 46 divisions from the German 6th Army attack the British 2nd Army around Ypres. The Germans push the British back three miles to the outskirts of Ypres, even taking back the hard-won Passchendaele Ridge. However, the arrival of British, French and Australian reinforcements from the south breaks the German momentum and the offensive halts. Georgette, similar to Michael, is only a partial success. General Ludendorff's goal of first separating the British and French armies via Michael and then destroying the British via Michael and Georgette is not achieved. Additionally, the Germans suffer 330,000 casualties in the two offensives and lack sufficient reserve troops. April 21, 1918- Germany's Red Baron (Manfred von Richthofen) is shot down and killed by the British. The German Ace was credited with shooting down 80 Allied aircraft. He is buried with military honors by the British. May 27-June 3, 1918- The Blücher-Yorck Offensive, Germany's third in a row, begins with the goal of bogging down the Allies in central France, thus preventing further reinforcements from reaching British positions in the north. Forty-one divisions of the German 1st and 7th Armies successfully attack the inadequate defenses of the French 6th Army along a 25-mile front east of the Aisne River. After a highly effective artillery barrage, German storm troops roll over the decimated 6th Army. This startling success emboldens General Ludendorff to change his overall strategy. He decides to make a run for Paris, hoping to draw the Allies into a final climactic battle that will decide the war. Within two days, the Germans cross the Aisne River and rapidly advance westward, coming within 50 miles of Paris. But the troops have been pushed to the limit for too long and soon succumb to exhaustion, unable to maintain the breakneck pace. The advance sputters to a halt as Allied reinforcements, including Americans, pour in to the region. First American Action May 28-29, 1918- Troops of the U.S. 1st Infantry Division capture the village of Cantigny from the Germans and hold it. The American Expeditionary Force (AEF) is commanded by General John Pershing who is determined to maintain all-American fighting units, rather than parcel out American troops to the British and French armies. By now, 650,000 American soldiers have arrived in France, with the number growing by 10,000 per day. June 6, 1918- The Battle of Belleau Wood involving the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division begins. During the three-week fight against the Germans, Americans experience their first significant battlefield casualties with 5,000 killed. June 9, 1918- The Germans launch their fourth offensive, once more with an eye toward Paris. In the hastily arranged Gneisenau Offensive the German 18th Army attacks in a southwest direction toward Paris. However, the Germans are stopped as French and American troops successfully counter-attack and the new offensive withers after just four days. June 15, 1918- Austrian troops begin an offensive along the Piave River in Italy, at the urging of the Germans. Although suffering from a lack of food, horses and supplies, they cross the river and establish a 12-mile front, but then realize they can not hold it against the now-revitalized Italian Army and withdraw after suffering 150,000 casualties. Following this, Austrian soldiers in Italy begin deserting. Mid 1918- Soldiers from all sides begin to succumb to a deadly strain of influenza. Troop losses from the flu epidemic soon exceed combat casualties, especially weakening the hard-pressed German Army. The worldwide epidemic lasts for about a year, killing an estimated 20 million persons, then vanishes as strangely as it had appeared. July 15-17, 1918- The last German offensive of the war, the Marne-Reims Offensive, begins with a two-pronged attack around Reims, France, by 52 divisions. The Allies have been anticipating this battle and lie in wait. The German attack to the east of Reims is crushed that day by the French. To the west of Reims, the advance is blocked by the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division, followed by a successful French and American counter-attack. July 17, 1918- Russian Bolsheviks murder former Czar Nicholas and his entire family. By now, an all-out civil war has erupted in Russia that features indiscriminate killings of civilians and captured fighters. Amid the chaos, disease and starvation envelop Russia. The fighting between Bolsheviks and their opponents will last three years, ending with a Bolshevik victory amid a Russian death toll estimated at 15 million persons. Allied Counter-Offensives July 18, 1918- A combined French and American attack along the Marne marks the first in a series of coordinated Allied counter-offensives on the Western Front. Three French armies accompanied by five American divisions cross the Marne River. In the face of this assault, the German 7th and 9th Armies begin a withdrawal from the Marne. August 8, 1918- Germans in the Somme experience the "Black Day of the German Army" as later described by General Ludendorff. This occurs as the British 4th Army using 456 tanks attacks German positions east of Amiens. Six German divisions quickly fall apart and 13,000 prisoners are taken during the rapid 7-mile advance. The attack is only slowed when the Germans rush in nine divisions, their last reserves on the Western Front. August 20, 1918- The French 10th Army takes 8,000 prisoners at Noyon and captures the Aisne Heights. August 21, 1918- The British 3rd Army begins an attack along a 10-mile front south of Arras, while the adjacent 4th Army resumes it attack in the Somme, as the Germans continue to fall back. September 12, 1918- The first stand-alone attack by Americans occurs as the U.S. 1st Army attacks the southernmost portion of the Western Front in France at St. Mihiel. The offensive is supported by an unprecedented 1,476 Allied aircraft used as part of a coordinated air-ground attack. Within 36 hours, the Americans take 15,000 prisoners and capture over 400 pieces of artillery as the Germans withdraw. September 15, 1918- The Allies push the Bulgarians out of Serbia as French, Serbian and Italian troops make rapid gains, advancing nearly 20 miles northward from Greece in three days. Bulgarian troops attempting to redeploy westward through the narrow Kosturino Pass are relentlessly bombarded by airplanes and overall troop morale collapses. Meanwhile, political turmoil strikes at home as anti-war riots erupt in Bulgaria's cities along with Russian-style revolutionary fervor that results in the proclamation of local soviets. September 19, 1918- In the Middle East, the Allies launch a cavalry attack to push the Turks out of Palestine. Australian and Indian cavalry divisions smash through the Turkish defenses around Megiddo on the first day and gallop northward, as British infantry follow, while the RAF and Arab fighters disrupt communication and supply lines. As the Turkish armies collapse, they withdraw northward toward Damascus with the Allies in pursuit. September 26, 1918- The U.S. 1st Army and French 4th Army begin a joint offensive to clear out the strongly defended corridor between the Meuse River and the Argonne Forest. Here, the Germans do not fall back and the battle soon resembles action from earlier years in the war. Amid a steady rain, the troops advance yard-by-yard over the muddy, crater-filled terrain with 75,000 American casualties suffered over six weeks of fighting. Hindenburg Line Broken September 27, 1918- The British 1st and 3rd Armies, aided by Australians and the U.S. 2nd Corps, break through a 20-mile portion of the Hindenburg Line between Cambrai and St. Quentin. September 28, 1918- Belgian and British troops push back the Germans in the Fourth Battle of Ypres. Unlike the previous drawn-out battles, this one lasts just two days as the Belgians take Dixmude and the British secure Messines. September 28, 1918- Confronted by the unstoppable strength of the Allies and faced with the prospect of an outright military defeat on the Western Front, General Ludendorff suffers a nervous collapse at his headquarters, losing all hope for victory. He then informs his superior, Paul von Hindenburg, the war must be ended. The next day, Ludendorff, accompanied by Hindenburg, meet with the Kaiser and urge him to end the war. The Kaiser's army is becoming weaker by the day amid irreversible troop losses, declining discipline and battle-readiness due to exhaustion, illness, food shortages, desertions and drunkenness. The Kaiser takes heed from Hindenburg and Ludendorff, and agrees with the need for an armistice. September 29, 1918- Bulgaria signs an armistice with the Allies, becoming the first of the Central Powers to quit the war. October 1, 1918- In the Middle East, Damascus is captured by Australian troops and Arab fighters. October 2, 1918- A military representative sent by Ludendorff to Berlin informs the legislature the war is lost and that armistice discussions should begin immediately. The German politicians are shocked by the news, having largely been kept in the dark by the General Staff and the Kaiser till now. Germans Request Armistice October 4, 1918- President Woodrow Wilson receives a request from the German government, sent via the Swiss, asking for armistice discussions on the basis of his Fourteen Points. The Germans have bypassed the French and British in the hope of negotiating with Wilson who they perceive as more lenient. They are disappointed, however, when Wilson responds with a list of demands as a prelude to discussions including German withdrawal from all occupied territories and a total halt of U-Boat attacks. October 5, 1918- The Allies break through the last remnants of the Hindenburg Line. October 6, 1918- A provisional government proclaims the state of Yugoslavia, signaling the beginning of the breakup of the old Hapsburg (Austro-Hungarian) Empire in central Europe which had existed for six centuries. October 7, 1918- Poland, formerly part of the Russian Empire, proclaims itself as an independent state. October 8, 1918- The British 3rd and 4th Armies take 8,000 German prisoners while advancing toward Cambrai and LeCateau. October 13, 1918- The Germans engage in a general retreat along a 60-mile portion of the Western Front in France stretching from St. Quentin southward to the Argonne Forest, as French and American armies steadily advance. October 14, 1918- Germans abandon positions along the Belgian coast and northernmost France as the British and Belgians steadily advance. October 17, 1918- King Albert of Belgium enters the city of Ostend on the Belgian coast. October 23, 1918- Under pressure from the French and British, President Wilson informs the German government that armistice negotiations can not ensue with the current military or Imperial war leaders still in place. An outraged General Ludendorff then disavows the negotiations as 'unconditional surrender' and is forced to resign by the Kaiser. In the face of such turmoil, the armistice negotiations are conducted principally by civilian members of Germany's government. This will become the basis of a postwar "stab in the back" claim by German militarists asserting their troops at the Front were sold out by the politicians back home. October 24, 1918- In southern Europe, the Allies cross the Piave River to push the Austrians out of Italy as seven Italian armies, incorporating British, French and American divisions, attack the four remaining Austro-Hungarian armies from the Trentino westward to the Gulf of Venice. In its final battle of the war, the Austro-Hungarian Army sees 30,000 soldiers killed and over 400,000 taken prisoner. October 29, 1918- The Czechs declare their independence from Austria. Two days later, Slovakia declares independence from Hungary. Czechoslovakia is subsequently formed. October 30, 1918- Turkey signs an armistice with the Allies, becoming the second of the Central Powers to quit the war. November 1, 1918- Belgrade is liberated by French and Serbian troops. November 1, 1918- After pausing to regroup and resupply, Allied armies resume their eastward march as the U.S. 1st Army and newly formed U.S. 2nd Army attack remaining German positions along the Meuse River near southern Belgium, while the Belgians and British move toward Ghent and Mons in Belgium. November 3, 1918- Mutiny strikes the German Navy at the ports of Kiel and Wilhelmshaven as sailors refuse orders to put to sea to engage in a final colossal battle with the British Navy. Along with this, revolutionary fervor and Bolshevist-style uprisings erupt in German cities including Munich, Stuttgart and Berlin. The extent of the unrest stuns German leaders, and even the Allies, who fear Germany might now succumb to a violent Bolshevist revolution in the manner of Russia. This brings a stark urgency to the armistice negotiations. November 3, 1918- The only remaining ally of Germany, Austria-Hungary, signs an armistice with Italy, leaving Germany alone in the war. November 5, 1918- The Germans are informed by President Wilson that armistice discussions can begin on the basis of his Fourteen Points as they requested, but that an armistice must be secured through France's Marshal Foch, the Allied Supreme Commander. November 8, 1918- At Compiègne, France, six representatives of the German government, with Matthias Erzberger as spokesman, are brusquely presented with armistice terms by Marshal Ferdinand Foch. The terms include German evacuation of all occupied territory, an Allied occupation of Germany west of the Rhine River, surrender of weaponry including all subs and battleships, and indefinite continuation of the naval blockade. November 9, 1918- The Kaiser's Imperial government collapses in ruin as a German republic is proclaimed with Friedrich Ebert heading the new provisional government. Kaiser Wilhelm then seeks refuge in Holland amid concerns for his safety after his generals warn him they may not be able to adequately protect him from the volatile situation in Germany. Armistice Ends Fighting November 11, 1918- At 5:10 am, in a railway car at Compiègne, France, the Germans sign the Armistice which is effective at 11 am--the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. Fighting continues all along the Western Front until precisely 11 o'clock, with 2,000 casualties experienced that day by all sides. Artillery barrages also erupt as 11 am draws near as soldiers yearn to claim they fired the very last shot in the war. November 12, 1918- A final action occurs as Germans in Africa under the command of the elusive General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck encounter British troops in Northern Rhodesia, where news of the Armistice had not reached the Germans. January 6, 1919- An attempt to overthrow Germany's provisional government occurs in Berlin as several buildings are seized by members of the communist Spartacus League led by Karl Liebknecht. The revolution is violently thwarted by bands ofFreikorpscomposed of ex-soldiers led by former German Army officers and Liebknecht is killed. January 18, 1919- The Paris Peace Conference opens with delegates from 32 nations invited. President Woodrow Wilson attends, marking the first-ever visit to Europe by a sitting president. January 19, 1919- The first-ever nationwide election in Germany results in pro-democracy political parties getting 75 percent of the vote. February 6, 1919- The newly elected German Assembly meets in Weimar and begins work on a new democratic constitution. April 28, 1919- The League of Nations is founded, championed by President Wilson as a means of peaceably resolving future conflicts. Germany is excluded for the time being. Despite Wilson's intentions, the United States never joins as an isolationist-minded U.S. Senate subsequently rejects membership to avoid further European entanglements. June 21, 1919- The Germans sink 74 of their own warships in anticipation of being forced to yield them to the Allies. Treaty of Versailles June 28, 1919- At the Palace of Versailles in France, a German delegation signs the Treaty formally ending the war. Its 230 pages contain terms that have little in common with Wilson's Fourteen Points as the Germans had hoped. Germans back home react with mass demonstrations against the perceived harshness, especially clauses that assess sole blame for the war on Germany. July 31, 1919- The Weimar Republic is born in Germany from a new constitution which provides for a liberal democracy. The government consists of two houses of Parliament (Reichstag) and a president elected by the people. The president can dissolve the Reichstag and rule by decree in the event of an emergency. September 1919- Corporal Adolf Hitler is ordered by the German Army to investigate a small political group in Munich called the German Workers' Party. Hitler soon joins the group and begins to build it up, later changing its name to the National Socialist German Workers' (Nazi) Party. The anti-democratic group vehemently opposes the Treaty of Versailles and claims the German Army was not defeated on the battlefield but was betrayed by a "stab in the back" wrought by disloyal politicians on the home front. March 1920-Freikorpsgroups attempt but fail to overthrow Germany's democratic government during the KappPutsch. April 1921- The Reparations Commission announces Germany must pay the Allies $28 billion over 42 years, via annual payments of cash and goods such as coal and timber. April 1922- Germany and Soviet Russia conclude the Treaty of Rapallo allowing for economic collaboration. Secret clauses in the treaty provide for German military activities prohibited by the Treaty of Versailles, including weapons manufacturing, to be done in Soviet Russia. January 1923- After Germany falls behind on its war reparation payments, French and Belgian troops occupy the Ruhr industrial region inside Germany. Workers there react by walking off the job. In a defiant show of support, the German government sends money to the out-of-work protestors. However, this soon leads to ruinous inflation and devaluation of the German deutsche mark--eventually four billion to the dollar--as the government prints an unlimited amount of money to satisfy its needs. November 9, 1923- Three thousand Nazis led by Adolf Hitler, and aided by former General Erich Ludendorff, attempt but fail to overthrow Germany's democratic government by staging an armedPutschin Munich. Hitler is then sentenced to prison where he composesMein Kampfa book outlining his racial, political and military philosophies, including the need for Germany to forcibly expand its borders eastward into Russia. The Nazis remain a fringe group until the worldwide economic collapse of 1929 causes political turmoil in Germany that generates popular support for Hitler, resulting in the election of Nazis to the government. In the early hours of October 4, 1918, German Chancellor Max von Baden, appointed byKaiser Wilhelm IIjust three days earlier, sends a telegraph message to the administration of PresidentWoodrow Wilsonin Washington, D.C., requesting an armistice between Germany and the Allied powers inWorld War I. By the end of September 1918, the Allies had made a tremendous resurgence on the Western Front, reversing the gains of the previous spring’s massive German offensive and pushing the German army in eastern France and western Belgium back to its last line of defenses, the so-called Hindenburg Line. Stunned and despondent, German GeneralErich Ludendorff, chief architect of that final spring offensive, reversed his previous optimism about the German military situation and demanded at a crown council meeting on September 29, that Germany seek an immediate armistice based on the terms President Wilson had laid out in his famous Fourteen Points address in January 1918. Feeling that the army’s leadership had completely usurped the government, Chancellor Georg von Hertling immediately resigned; Kaiser Wilhelm subsequently appointed his second cousin, Prince Max von Baden, to the post. As soon as von Baden arrived in Berlin to take office on October 1, he made it clear that he had no intention of admitting defeat until Germany had regained at least some ground on the battlefield; in this way he hoped to retain some powers of negotiation with the Allies. On October 3, however,Paul von Hindenburg, the German army’s chief of staff and head of the Third Supreme Command—as Germany’s military leadership was known—reiterated Ludendorff’s advice, stating that “The German army still stands firm and is defending itself against all attacks. The situation, however, is growing more critical daily, and may force the High Command to momentous decisions. In these circumstances it is imperative to stop the fighting in order to spare the German people and their allies unnecessary sacrifices. Every day of delay costs thousands of brave soldiers their lives.” Von Baden disagreed with Hindenburg, telling him that too early an armistice could mean Germany would lose valuable territory in Alsace-Lorraine and East Prussia, which had been implicit under the terms of the Fourteen Points, despite Wilson’s expressed desire for a “peace without victory.” Deciding to seek his own way apart from the Supreme Command, von Baden brought two Socialist members of the German Reichstag into his cabinet; they too, appraising the growing anti-war feeling on the home front and in the government, advised the chancellor to seek an armistice. On October 4, heeding their advice, von Baden telegraphed his request to Washington. Wilson’s response, in notes of October 14 and 23, made it clear that the Allies would only deal with a democratic Germany, not an imperial state with an effective military dictatorship presided over by the Supreme Command. Neither Wilson nor his even less conciliatory counterparts in Britain and France trusted von Baden’s declaration of October 5 that he was taking steps to move Germany towards parliamentary democracy. After Wilson’s second note arrived, Ludendorff’s resolve returned and he announced that the note should be rejected and the war resumed in full force. After peace had come so tantalizingly close, however, it proved even more difficult for Germans—on the battlefield as well as on the home front—to carry on. Within a month, Ludendorff had resigned, as the German position had deteriorated still further and it was determined that the war could not be allowed to continue. On November 7, Hindenburg contacted the Allied Supreme Commander,Ferdinand Foch, to open armistice negotiations; four days later, World War I came to an end. The League of Nations was established in 1919 by the victorious Allied powers after World War I. The League began organizational work in the fall of 1919, spending its first 10 months with a headquarters in London before moving to Geneva. The Covenant of the League of Nations went into effect on January 10, 1920, formally instituting the League of Nations. The League was seen as the epitome of a new world order based on mutual cooperation and the peaceful resolution of international conflicts. The Covenant bound its Member States to try to settle their disputes peacefully. By joining the League, Member States also renounced secret diplomacy, committed to reduce their armaments, and agreed to comply with international law. Although the League was unable to fulfill the hopes of its founders, its creation was an event of decisive importance in the history of international relations. The League of Nations was an international diplomatic group developed after World War I as a way to solve disputes between countries before they erupted into open warfare. A precursor to the United Nations, the League achieved some victories but had a mixed record of success, sometimes putting self-interest before becoming involved with conflict resolution, while also contending with governments that did not recognize its authority. The League effectively ceased operations during World War II. What Was the League of Nations? The League of Nations has its origins in theFourteen Pointsspeech of PresidentWoodrow Wilson, part of a presentation given in 1918 outlining of his ideas for peace after the carnage ofWorld War I. Wilson envisioned an organization that was charged with resolving conflicts before they exploded into bloodshed and warfare. By December of the same year, Wilson left for Paris to transform his Fourteen Points into what would become theTreaty of Versailles. Seven months later, he returned to the United States with a treaty that included the idea for what became the League of Nations. Republican Congressman fromMassachusettsHenry Cabot Lodgeled a battle against the treaty. Lodge believed both the treaty and the League undercut U.S. autonomy in international matters. In response, Wilson took the debate to the American people, embarking on a 27-day train journey to sell the treaty to live audiences but cut his tour short due to exhaustion and sickness. Upon arriving back inWashington, D.C., Wilson had a stroke. Congress did not ratify the treaty, and the United States refused to take part in the League of Nations. Isolationists in Congress feared it would draw the United Sates into international affairs unnecessarily. Paris Peace Conference In other countries, the League of Nations was a more popular idea. Under the leadership of Lord Cecil, theBritish Parliamentcreated the Phillimore Committee as an exploratory body and announced support of it. French liberals followed, with the leaders of Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium, Greece, Czechoslovakia and other smaller nations responding in kind. In 1919 the structure and process of the League were laid out in a covenant developed by all the countries taking part in theParis Peace Conference. The League began organizational work in the fall of 1919, spending its first 10 months with a headquarters inLondonbefore moving to Geneva. The Covenant of the League of Nations went into effect on January 10, 1920, formallyinstituting the League of Nations. By 1920, 48 countries had joined. League of Nations Plays it Safe The League struggled for the right opportunity to assert its authority. Secretary-General Sir Eric Drummond believed that failure was likely to damage the burgeoning organization, so it was best not to insinuate itself into just any dispute. When Russia, which was not a member of the League, attacked a port in Persia in 1920, Persia appealed to the League for help. The League refused to take part, believing that Russia would not acknowledge their jurisdiction and that would damage the League’s authority. Adding to the growing pains, some European countries had a hard time handing over autonomy when seeking help with disputes. There were situations in which the League had no choice but to get involved. From 1919 to 1935, the League acted as a trustee of a tiny region between France and Germany called the Saar. The League became the 15-year custodian of the coal-rich area to allow it time to determine on its own which of the two countries it wished to join, with Germany being the eventual choice. A similar situation happened in Danzig, which was set-up as a free city by the Treaty of Versailles and became the center of a dispute between Germany and Poland. The League administered Danzig for several years before it fell back under German rule. Disputes Solved by the League of Nations Poland was in frequent distress, fearing for its independence against threats from neighboring Russia, which in 1920 occupied the city of Vilna and handed it over to Lithuanian allies. Following a demand that Poland recognize Lithuanian independence, the League became involved. Vilna was returned to Poland, but hostilities with Lithuania continued. The League was also brought in as Poland grappled with Germany about Upper Silesia and with Czechoslovakia over the town of Teschen. Other areas of dispute that the League got involved in included the squabble between Finland and Sweden over the Aaland Islands; disputes between Hungary and Rumania; Finland’s separate quarrels with Russia, Yugoslavia and Austria; a border argument between Albania and Greece; and the tussle between France and England over Morocco. In 1923, following the murder of Italian General Enrico Tellini and his staff within the borders of Greece,Benito Mussoliniretaliated by bombing and invading the Greek island Corfu. Greece requested the League’s help, but Mussolini refused to work with it. The League was left on the sidelines watching as the dispute was solved instead by the Conference of Ambassadors, an Allied group that was later made part of the League. The Incident at Petrich followed two years later. It’s unclear precisely how the debacle in the border town of Petrich in Bulgaria started, but it resulted in the deaths of a Greek captain and retaliation from Greece in the form of invasion. Bulgaria apologized and begged the League for help. The League decreed a settlement that was accepted by both countries. Larger Efforts by the League of Nations Other League efforts include the Geneva Protocol, devised in the 1920s to limit what is now understood as chemical and biological weaponry, and the World Disarmament Conference in the 1930s, which was meant to make disarmament a reality but failed afterAdolf Hitlerbroke away from the conference and the League in 1933. In 1920 the League created its Mandates Commission, charged with protecting minorities. Its suggestions about Africa were treated seriously by France and Belgium but ignored by South Africa. In 1929, the Mandates Commission helped Iraq join the League. The Mandates Commission also got involved in tensions inPalestinebetween the incoming Jewish population and Palestinian Arabs, though any hopes of sustaining peace there was further complicated byNazipersecution of the Jews, which lead to a rise in immigration to Palestine. The League was also involved in theKellogg-Briand Pactof 1928, which sought to outlaw war. It was successfully adapted by over 60 countries. Put to the test when Japan invaded Mongolia in 1931, the League proved incapable of enforcing the pact. Why Did the League of Nations Fail? WhenWorld War IIbroke out, most members of the League were not involved and claimed neutrality, but members France and Germany were immediately impacted. In 1940, League members Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands and France all fell to Hitler. Switzerland became nervous about hosting an organization perceived as an Allied one, and the League began to dismantle its offices. Soon the Allies endorsed the idea of theUnited Nations, which held its first planning conference inSan Franciscoin 1944, effectively ending any need for the League of Nations to make a post-war return. The Fourteen Points speech of PresidentWoodrow Wilsonwas an address delivered before a joint meeting of Congress on January 8, 1918, during which Wilson outlined his vision for a stable, long-lasting peace in Europe, the Americas and the rest of the world followingWorld War I. Wilson’s proposal called for the victorious Allies to set unselfish peace terms with the vanquished Central Powers of World War I, including freedom of the seas, the restoration of territories conquered during the war and the right to national self-determination in such contentious regions as the Balkans. The devastation and carnage of the First World War grimly illustrated to Wilson the unavoidable relationship between international stability and American national security. At the same time, he sought to placate American isolationists by stating that the world must “be made fit and safe to live in; and particularly that it be made safe for every peace-loving nation which, like our own, wishes to live its own life, determine its own institutions, be assured of justice and fair dealing by the other peoples of the world as against force and selfish aggression.” What Were the Fourteen Points? In his speech, Wilson itemized 14 strategies to ensure national security and world peace. Several points addressed specific territorial issues in Europe, but the most significant sections set the tone for postwar American diplomacy and the ideals that would form the backbone of U.S. foreign policy as the nation achieved superpower status in the early 20th century. Wilson could foresee that international relations would only become more important to American security and global commerce. He advocated equal trade conditions, arms reduction and national sovereignty for former colonies of Europe’s weakening empires. One of Wilson’s purposes in delivering the Fourteen Points speech was to present a practical alternative to the traditional notion of an international balance of power preserved by alliances among nations—belief in the viability of which had been shattered by World War I—and to the Bolshevik-inspired dreams of world revolution that at the time were gaining ground both within and outside of Russia. Wilson hoped also to keep a conflict-ridden Russia in the war on the Allied side. This effort met with failure, as theBolsheviks sought peace with the Central Powersat the end of 1917, shortly after taking power following theRussian Revolution. In other ways, however, Wilson’s Fourteen Points played an essential role in world politics over the next several years. The speech was translated and distributed to the soldiers and citizens of Germany and Austria-Hungary and contributed to their decision to agree to anarmisticein November 1918. Treaty of Versailles Like the man himself, Wilson’s Fourteen Points were liberal, democratic and idealistic. He spoke in grand and inspiring terms, but was less certain of the specifics of how his aims would be achieved. At the Paris Peace Conference, Wilson had to contend with the leaders of the other victorious Allied nations, who disagreed with many of the Fourteen Points and demanded stiff penalties for Germany in theTreaty of Versailles. Importantly, Wilson urged the establishment of an international governing body of united nations for the purpose of guaranteeing political independence and territorial integrity to great and small countries alike. His idea gave birth to the short-livedLeague of Nations. The more viable United Nations would come into existence only after the conclusion of another devastating global conflict:World War II. World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 1 In Colour Film - Catastrophe https://rumble.com/v35gtvg-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-1-in-colour-film-catastrophe.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 2 In Colour Film - Slaughter In The Trenches https://rumble.com/v35iwdm-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-2-in-colour-film-slaughter-in-the-tren.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 3 In Colour Film - Blood In The Air https://rumble.com/v35lfes-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-3-in-colour-film-blood-in-the-air.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 4 In Colour Film - Killers Of The Sea https://rumble.com/v35mjdo-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-4-in-colour-film-killers-of-the-sea.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 5 In Colour Film - Mayhem On The Eastern Front https://rumble.com/v35oyly-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-5-in-colour-film-mayhem-on-the-eastern.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 6 In Colour Film - Victory and Despair https://rumble.com/v35ugei-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-6-in-colour-film-victory-and-despair.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 7 In Colour Film - Tactics And Strategy https://rumble.com/v35vyrr-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-7-in-colour-film-tactics-and-strategy.html Over 65 million men volunteered or were conscripted to fight in mass citizen armies. Millions of civilians also contributed to the war effort by working in industry, agriculture or jobs left open when men enlisted. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars:_1945%E2%80%931989 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars:_1990%E2%80%932002 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars:_2003%E2%80%93present https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_World_War_I https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_timelines_of_World_War_II World War I Pitted Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire against Great Britain, the United States, France, Russia, Italy and Japan. New military technology resulted in unprecedented carnage. By the time the war was over and the Allied Powers claimed victory, more than 16 million people—soldiers and civilians alike—were dead.

World War I Pitted Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire against Great Britain, the United States, France, Russia, Italy and Japan. New military technology resulted in unprecedented carnage. By the time the war was over and the Allied Powers claimed victory, more than 16 million people—soldiers and civilians alike—were dead. Pt. 5 of Seven. 1.It was a global war Over 30 nations declared war between 1914 and 1918. The majority joined on the side of the Allies, including Serbia, Russia, France, Britain, Italy and the United States. They were opposed by Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire, who together formed the Central Powers. What began as a relatively small conflict in southeast Europe became a war between European empires. Britain and its Empire’s entry into the war made this a truly global conflict fought on a geographical scale never seen before. Fighting occurred not only on the Western Front, but in eastern and southeast Europe, Africa and the Middle East. 2.It is Far Better to Face the Bullets... The First World War was not inevitable or accidental, but began as a result of human actions and decisions. Over 65 million men volunteered or were conscripted to fight in mass citizen armies. Millions of civilians also contributed to the war effort by working in industry, agriculture or jobs left open when men enlisted. Victory depended on popular support. Some nations were forced to surrender as their people, pushed to their physical and emotional limits, lost the will to continue fighting. The First World War was also a war against people. Invading armies committed atrocities against civilians in the areas they occupied. Attacks on civilians became increasingly common as each nation tried to break their opponents’ home morale and diminish popular support for the war. Propaganda demonised entire nations and attacked the ‘national characters’ of enemy peoples. 3.It was a war of production National resources were mobilised as each combatant nation raced to supply its armed forces with enough men and equipment. In Britain, early failures in munitions manufacturing led to full government intervention in war production. These controls helped its industry produce nearly 4 million rifles, 250,000 machine guns, 52,000 aeroplanes, 2,800 tanks, 25,000 artillery pieces and over 170 million rounds of artillery shells by 1918. 4.It was a war of innovation Advances in weaponry and military technology provoked tactical changes as each side tried to gain an advantage over the other. The introduction of aircraft into war left soldiers and civilians vulnerable to attacks from above for the first time. Major innovations were also made in manufacturing, chemistry and communications. Medical advances made the First World War the first major conflict in which British deaths in battle outnumbered deaths caused by disease. 5.It was a war of destruction The First World War left an estimated 16 million soldiers and civilians dead and countless others physically and psychologically wounded. The war also forever altered the world’s social and political landscape. It accelerated changes in attitudes towards gender and class and led to the collapse of the Russian, Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empires. The cost of waging total war - and of rebuilding afterwards - ravaged the national economies of both the victorious European Allies and the defeated Central Powers. The human cost of the First World War for Britain saw the creation of a new language of remembrance, which remains to this day. It can be seen in war memorials in cities, towns, schools, places of worship and workplaces, as well as in rituals such as Remembrance Sunday and the two-minute silence at 11am each 11 November. World War I Begins At the dawn of the 20thcentury, few anticipated a global war, but what came to be known as the Great War began on June 28, 1914, with the assassinations of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, while they were visiting Sarajevo, Bosnia, a country recently annexed into the Austrian Empire. Many Bosnians and their Serbian neighbors resented this foreign rule and the Archduke’s visit to Sarajevo provided the opportunity for a small band of Serbian dissidents to strike back. Austria responded to the assassinations by teaming up with its ally, Germany, and declaring war on Serbia. The conflict soon involved Russia, France and Belgium. Fearful of a full-scale world war that would threaten its sea routes to other countries, Great Britain joined the fight against Germany and Austria. Each country believed the fighting would last only a few months. Nations were categorized either as Central Powers or Allies. Countries that joined the Central Powers, such as Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire, supported Austria-Hungary and Germany. The Allies were Russia, France, Belgium and Great Britain, but they were later joined by Japan, Romania, China and the United States. No Man’s Land: Trench Warfare During World War I, trench warfare was a defensive military tactic used extensively by both sides, allowing soldiers some protection from enemy fire but also hindering troops from readily advancing and thus prolonging the war.Trench warfare was the major combat tactic in France and Belgium. Trenches were often dug up to 12 feet deep and stretched for miles. For stability, some trenches included wooden beams and/or sandbags. Even during lulls in the fighting, death occurred almost daily in the trenches due to a sniper’s bullet or the unsanitary living conditions which resulted in many diseases such as dysentery, typhus and cholera. Other diseases caused by the poor conditions weretrench mouth and trench foot*. *Trench mouth was an infection of the mouth due to overgrowth of certain oral bacteria. The condition was made worse by poor oral hygiene, smoking, malnutrition and psychological stress. To prevent trench foot, a fungal disease caused by exposure to wet and cold, soldiers frequently added wooden planks in the trenches to keep from having to stand in water. Barbed wire and explosive mines—as well as bullets and grenades—were essential weapons used to hinder infantry advances across “No Man’s Land,” the bleak landscape between the trenches of the opposing sides. New offensive weapons were implemented during the war includingtanks and poison gases*. *Tanks, armored against artillery fire, were capable of rolling over barbed wire as well as crossing treacherous terrain. Chlorine was one of the poisonous gases used in World War I. It was damaging to the eyes, nose, throat and lungs, and produced symptoms ranging from irritation to blindness and death.) In 1915, the Germans used poison gases against the Allies fighting in the trenches on the Western Front. To protect soldiers from chemical warfare, gas masks were developed. Great Britain made one of the first types of masks capable of minimizing the deadly impact of these gases on their troops. Though considered a novelty when the war began, aircraft were used by both sides for reconnaissance, allowing personnel to observe enemy troop positions, to direct artillery fire and to photograph enemy lines. By the end of the war, the concepts of aerial combat and aerial bombing had come into being. 1871- Following the defeat of France in the Franco-Prussian War, Germany is unified as an Imperial federation of states, led by the King of Prussia (Kaiser Wilhelm I). This spurs a new era of population growth and rapid industrialization. The Germans also forcibly annex the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine from France. 1882- Germany, Austria-Hungary (Hapsburg Empire) and Italy form the Triple Alliance. 1891- The Russian Empire and France form their own alliance in reaction to the Triple Alliance. 1898- Germany begins to build up its navy to challenge the British Navy's long-standing global supremacy. January 1902- Britain and Japan form a naval alliance. April 1904- The British reach a strategic agreement with France which includes mutual military support in the event of war. January 1905- Troops of Russian Czar Nicholas II fire upon peaceful demonstrators in St. Petersburg killing hundreds in what comes to be known as Bloody Sunday. May 1905- Russia suffers a military defeat at sea by newly industrialized Japan, thwarting Russia's territorial ambitions toward Manchuria and Korea. October 1905- Continuing political unrest in Russia, including a general strike, results in the creation of a national legislative assembly (Duma) by the Czar. February 1906-H.M.S. Dreadnoughtis launched by Britain, marking the advent of a new class of big-gun battleships. The Germans follow suit and begin building similar battleships as an all-out arms race ensues between Germany and Britain. August 1907- The British reach a strategic agreement with Russia. October 1908- Austria-Hungary, backed by Germany, annexes Bosnia-Herzegovina. Neighboring Serbia, with the backing of Russia, voices its objection in support of the Serbian minority living in Bosnia. March 1909- Germany forces Russia to endorse the annexation of Bosnia-Herzegovina by Austria-Hungary. 1910- Germany surpasses Britain as the leading manufacturing nation in Europe. The United States remains the world leader, surpassing all of the European manufacturing nations combined. October 1912- The Balkan War erupts in southern Europe as Serbia leads an attack by members of the Balkan League (Serbia, Bulgaria and Greece) against the Ottoman (Turkish) Empire to drive the Turks out of Europe. May 1913- The Balkan War ends with the Turks driven out of southern Europe. A peace settlement is then drawn up by the major European powers that divides up the former Turkish areas in southern Europe among the Balkan League nations. However, the peace is short-lived as Bulgaria, desiring a bigger share, attacks neighboring Greece and Serbia. Romania then attacks Bulgaria along with the Turks. This Second Balkan War results in Bulgaria losing territory and the Serbians becoming emboldened, leaving the Balkan region of southern Europe politically unstable. 1914 June 28, 1914- Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austrian throne, and his wife, visit Sarajevo in Bosnia. A bomb is thrown at their auto but misses. Undaunted, they continue their visit only to be shot and killed a short time later by a lone assassin. Believing the assassin to be a Serbian nationalist, the Austrians target their anger toward Serbia. July 23, 1914- Austria-Hungary, with the backing of Germany, delivers an ultimatum to Serbia. The Serbs propose arbitration as a way to resolve dispute, but also begin mobilization of their troops. July 25, 1914- Austria-Hungary severs diplomatic ties with Serbia and begins to mobilize its troops. July 26, 1914- Britain attempts to organize a political conference among the major European powers to resolve the dispute between Austria-Hungary and Serbia. France and Italy agree to participate. Russia then agrees, but Germany refuses. July 28, 1914- The Austro-Hungarian Empire declares war on Serbia. July 29, 1914- Britain calls for international mediation to resolve the worsening crisis. Russia urges German restraint, but the Russians begin partial troop mobilization as a precaution. The Germans then warn Russia on its mobilization and begin to mobilize themselves. July 30, 1914- Austrian warships bombard Belgrade, capital of Serbia. July 31, 1914- Reacting to the Austrian attack on Serbia, Russia begins full mobilization of its troops. Germany demands that it stop. August 1, 1914- Germany declares war on Russia. France and Belgium begin full mobilization. August 3, 1914- Germany declares war on France, and invades neutral Belgium. Britain then sends an ultimatum, rejected by the Germans, to withdraw from Belgium. August 4, 1914- Great Britain declares war on Germany. The declaration is binding on all Dominions within the British Empire including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India and South Africa. August 4, 1914- The United States declares its neutrality. August 4-16, 1914- The Siege of Liege occurs as Germans attack the Belgian fortress city but meet resistance from Belgian troops inside the Liege Forts. The twelve forts surrounding the city are then bombarded into submission by German and Austrian howitzers using high explosive shells. Remaining Belgian troops then retreat northward toward Antwerp as the German westward advance continues. August 6, 1914- The Austro-Hungarian Empire declares war on Russia. August 6, 1914- French and British troops invade the German colony of Togo in West Africa. Twenty days later, the German governor there surrenders. August 7, 1914- The first British troops land in France. The 120,000 highly trained members of the regular British Army form the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) commanded by Field Marshal John French. August 7-24, 1914- The French desire to score a quick victory ignites the first major French-German action of the war. The French Army invades Alsace and Lorraine according to their master strategy known as Plan XVII. However, the French offensive is met by effective German counter-attacks using heavy artillery and machine-guns. The French suffer heavy casualties including 27,000 soldiers killed in a single day, the worst one-day death toll in the history of the French Army. The French then fall back toward Paris amid 300,000 total casualties. August 8, 1914- Britain enacts the Defense of the Realm Act (DORA) granting unprecedented powers to the government to control the economy and daily life. August 12, 1914- Great Britain and France declare war on Austria-Hungary. Serbia is invaded by Austria-Hungary. August 17, 1914- Russia invades Germany, attacking into East Prussia, forcing the outnumbered Germans there to fall back. This marks the advent of the Eastern Front in Europe in which Russia will oppose Germany and Austria-Hungary. August 20, 1914- German troops occupy undefended Brussels, capital of Belgium. Following this, the main German armies continue westward and invade France according to their master strategy known as the Schlieffen Plan. It calls for a giant counter-clockwise movement of German armies wheeling into France, swallowing up Paris, and then attacking the rear of the French armies concentrated in the Alsace-Lorraine area. Under the overall command of Helmuth von Moltke, Chief of the German General Staff, the Germans seek to achieve victory over France within six weeks and then focus on defeating Russia in the East before Russia's six-million-man army, the world's largest, can fully mobilize. August 23, 1914- Japan declares war on Germany. The Japanese then prepare to assist the British in expelling the Germans from the Far East. German possessions in the South Pacific include a naval base on the coast of China, part of New Guinea, Samoa, and the Caroline, Marshall and Mariana Islands. Battle of Tannenberg August 26, 1914- On the Eastern Front, German troops in East Prussia under the new command of Paul von Hindenburg and Erich Ludendorff oppose the Russian 2nd Army. Aided by aerial reconnaissance and the interception of uncoded Russian radio messages, the Germans effectively reposition their troops to counter the initial Russian advance. Five days later, after surrounding the Russians, the battle ends with a German victory and the capture of 125,000 Russians. Following this success, the Germans drive the Russians out of East Prussia with heavy casualties. The impressive victory elevates Hindenburg and Ludendorff to the status of heroes in Germany. August 30, 1914- German possessions in the Far East are attacked as New Zealand troops occupy German Samoa. Three days later, Japanese forces land on the coast of China, preparing to attack the German naval base at Tsingtao (Qingdao). A month later, the Japanese begin their occupation of the Caroline, Marshall and Mariana Islands. Battle of the Marne September 5-12, 1914- On the Western Front, Paris is saved as French and British troops disrupt the Schlieffen Plan by launching a major counter-offensive against the invading German armies to the east of Paris. Six hundred taxi cabs from the city help to move French troops to the Front. Aided by French aerial reconnaissance which reveals a gap has developed in the center of the whole German advance, the French and British exploit this weakness and press their advantage. The Germans then begin a strategic withdrawal northward as the Allies pursue. Each side repeatedly tries to outmaneuver the other and gain a tactical advantage as they move northward in what becomes known as the Race to the Sea. September 7, 1914- In the Far East, a German naval squadron, commanded by Graf von Spee severs the British Pacific communications cable. September 8, 1914- The French government enacts nationwide State of War regulations which include total control over the economy and national security, strict censorship, and suspension of civil liberties. September 17, 1914- On the Eastern Front, Austrian forces steadily retreat from the advancing Russian 3rd and 8th armies fighting in southern Poland and along the Russian-Austrian border. The Germans then send the newly formed 9th Army to halt the Russians. This marks the beginning of a pattern in which the Germans will aid the weaker Austro-Hungarian Army. September 22, 1914- The first-ever British air raid against Germany occurs as Zeppelin bases at Cologne and Düsseldorf are bombed. First Battle of Ypres October 19-November 22, 1914 October 19, 1914- Still hoping to score a quick victory in the West, the Germans launch a major attack on Ypres in Belgium. Despite heavy losses, British, French and Belgian troops fend off the attack and the Germans do not break through. During the battle, the Germans send waves of inexperienced 17 to 20-year-old volunteer soldiers, some fresh out of school. They advance shoulder-to-shoulder while singing patriotic songs only to be systematically gunned down in what the Germans themselves later call the "massacre of the innocents." By November, overall casualties will total 250,000 men, including nearly half of the British Regular Army. October 29, 1914- The Ottoman Empire (Turkey) enters the war on the side of the Germans as three warships shell the Russian port of Odessa. Three days later, Russia declares war on Turkey. Russian and Turkish troops then prepare for battle along the common border of the Russian Caucasus and the Ottoman Empire. October-November, 1914- Germans and Austrians launch a combined offensive against the Russians on the Eastern Front. The German 9th Army targets Warsaw, Poland, but is opposed by six Russian armies and withdraws. The Austrians attack the Russians in Galicia (a province in northeast Austria) with indecisive results. However, the Russians fail to press their advantage at Warsaw and instead begin a split counter-offensive moving both southward against the Austrians in Galicia and northward toward Germany. The German 9th Army then regroups and cuts off the Russians at Lodz, Poland, halting their advance and forcing an eastward withdrawal by the Russians. November 1, 1914- Austria invades Serbia. This is the third attempt to conquer the Serbs in retaliation for the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. This attempt fails like the two before it, at the hands of highly motivated Serbs fighting on their home ground. The Austrians withdraw in mid-December, after suffering over 220,000 casualties from the three failed invasions. November 1, 1914- The British Navy suffers its worst defeat in centuries during a sea battle in the Pacific. Two British ships, theMonmouthandGood Hope, are sunk with no survivors by a German squadron commanded by Admiral Graf von Spee. November 3, 1914- Kaiser Wilhelm appoints Erich von Falkenhayn as the new Chief of the German General Staff, replacing Helmuth von Moltke who is sacked due to the failure of the Schlieffen Plan. November 5, 1914- France and Britain declare war on the Ottoman (Turkish) Empire. November 6, 1914- In the Persian Gulf, a major British offensive begins as the 6th Indian Division invades Mesopotamia. The objective is to protect the oil pipeline from Persia. Two weeks later they capture the city of Basra. November 7, 1914- In the Far East, the German naval base at Tsingtao is captured by the Japanese, aided by a British and Indian battalion. Trench Warfare Begins December 1914- The Western Front in Europe stabilizes in the aftermath of the First Battle of Ypres as the Germans go on the defensive and transfer troops to the East to fight the Russians. The 450-mile-long Western Front stretches from the Channel Coast southward through Belgium and Eastern France into Switzerland. Troops from both sides construct opposing trench fortifications and dugouts protected by barbed wire, machine-gun nests, snipers, and mortars, with an in-between area called No Man's Land. The Eastern Front also sees its share of trenches as troops dig in after the Russians hold off the Germans in Poland and the Austrians hold off the Russians at Limanowa. The 600-mile Eastern Front stretches from the Baltic Sea southward through East Prussia and Austria to the Carpathian Mountains. December 8, 1914- The Battle of Falkland Islands occurs as British Navy warships destroy the German squadron of Admiral Graf von Spee in the South Atlantic off the coast of Argentina. Von Spee and two sons serving in his squadron are killed. December 10, 1914- The French begin a series of attacks along the Western Front against the Germans in the Artois region of northern France and Champagne in the south. Hampered by a lack of heavy artillery and muddy winter conditions, the French fail to make any significant gains and both offensives are soon suspended. December 16, 1914- Britain suffers its first civilian casualties at home in the war as the German Navy bombards the coastal towns of Whitby, Hartlepool and Scarborough, killing 40 persons and wounding hundreds. December 25, 1914- A Christmas truce occurs between German and British soldiers in the trenches of northern France. All shooting stops as the soldiers exit their trenches, exchange gifts, sing carols and engage in a soccer game. This is the only Christmas truce of the war, as Allied commanders subsequently forbid fraternization with orders to shoot any violators. January 17, 1915- The initial Turkish offensive into Russia is thwarted as the Turkish 3rd Army suffers a defeat by the Russian Army of the Caucasus near Kars. The Russians then begin a multi-pronged invasion of the Ottoman Empire from the Caucasus. January 19, 1915- Germany begins an aerial bombing campaign against Britain using Zeppelins. January 31, 1915- Poison gas is used for the first time in the war as Germans on the Eastern Front attack Russian positions west of Warsaw. Although the Germans fire 18,000 gas shells, they have little effect on the Russians as frigid temperatures prevent the gas from vaporizing. February 1915- The Turks begin forced deportations of Armenians. Over the next two years, an estimated 1.5 million Armenians will either starve to death, die of thirst in the Syrian Desert, or be murdered by Turkish troops and bandits, during the Armenian Genocide. February 3, 1915- Turkish troops launch an unsuccessful attack against the British-controlled Suez Canal, which is regularly used by the British to ferry Dominion troops from Australia, New Zealand and India to European battle grounds. February 4, 1915- Germany declares the waters surrounding British Isles to be a war zone in which ships can be sunk without warning. February 7-22, 1915- On the Eastern Front in Europe, the German 8th and 10th Armies wage a successful offensive against the Russian 10th Army in the Masurian Lakes region of East Prussia, pushing the Russians eastward into the Augustow Forest where they are decimated. February 16, 1915- On the Western Front, the French launch their second offensive against German defense lines in Champagne. Once again they are hampered by the muddy winter weather and a lack of heavy artillery. After a month of fighting, suffering 240,000 casualties, the exhausted French break off the offensive. U-Boat Warfare Begins February 18, 1915- The first German U-Boat campaign of the war begins with unrestricted attacks against merchant and passenger ships in the waters around the British Isles. Within six months, Allied shipping losses at sea surpass the number of new ships being built. However, the unrestricted attacks also arouse the anger of the neutral United States as Americans are killed. March 1915- The British Navy imposes a total sea blockade on Germany, prohibiting all shipping imports including food. March 10, 1915- British and Indian troops in the Artois region of northern France attack the Germans around the village of Neuve Chapelle. The attack takes the outnumbered Germans by surprise. The British achieve their initial objective but fail to capitalize on the narrow breach they create in the German lines. After three days of fighting, with over 11,000 casualties, the British offensive is suspended. The Germans suffer over 10,000 casualties. March 22, 1915- The Russians capture 120,000 Austrians at Przemysl in Galicia. This marks the culmination of a series of winter battles between the Austrians and Russians to secure the strategic Carpathian Mountain passes and opens the way for a Russian invasion of Hungary. Realizing this, the Germans and Austrians make plans to combine their troops and launch a major spring offensive. April 11, 1915- British troops in Mesopotamia fend off a large attack by the Turks against Basra. The British then branch out to protect their position at Basra, and proceed up the Tigris Valley toward Baghdad. Second Battle of Ypres April 22-May 25, 1915 April 22, 1915- Poison gas is used for the first time on the Western Front as the German 4th Army attacks French positions around Ypres in northern Belgium. As they attack, the Germans release chlorine gas from over 5,000 cylinders forming poisonous green clouds that drift toward two French African divisions. Lacking any protection, the French quickly retreat. Although this creates a five-mile-wide gap in the Allied lines, the Germans fail to capitalize due to a lack of reserve troops and cautious frontline troops hesitant to venture too close to the gas clouds. British and Canadians then plug the gap but are unable to regain any ground taken by the Germans. The British then withdraw to a second line of defense, leaving Ypres in Allied hands but virtually surrounded. Casualties in the Second Battle of Ypres total 58,000 Allies and 38,000 Germans. April 25, 1915- Allied troops land on the Gallipoli Peninsula in an attempt to unblock the Dardanelles Straits near Constantinople (present day Istanbul, Turkey) to reopen access to Russia through the Black Sea. The landing comes after a failed attempt by British and French warships to force their way through the narrow Straits. The 70,000 landing troops include 15,000 Australians and New Zealanders. The peninsula is heavily defended by Turkish troops, supplied and trained by Germans. Within two weeks, a stalemate develops as the Allies fail to gain any of their objectives and the Turks begin a series of costly attacks attempting to drive out the Allies. May 1, 1915- German U-Boats sink their first American merchant ship, the tankerGulflight, in the Mediterranean Sea near Sicily. May 2, 1915- On the Eastern Front, a combined Austro-German offensive begins against the Russian 3rd Army at Tarnow and Gorlice in Galicia. The attack is preceded by a massive artillery bombardment with over 700,000 shells. This breaks down the defenses of the weakened Russians who now suffer from shortages of artillery shells and rifles. Within two days, the Austro-Germans break through the lines and the Russians begin a disorganized retreat. Lusitania Sunk May 7, 1915- A German U-Boat torpedoes the British passenger linerLusitaniaoff the Irish coast. It sinks in 18 minutes, drowning 1,201 persons, including 128 Americans. President Woodrow Wilson subsequently sends four diplomatic protests to Germany. May 9, 1915- Following six days of artillery bombardment by over a thousand French guns, the French 10th Army attacks German defense lines in the Artois, advancing toward Vimy Ridge. The French achieve their initial objective, but fail to capitalize on the narrow breach they create in the German lines. The next day, Germans counter-attack and push back the French. May 9, 1915- Complementing the French offensive at Vimy, British and Indian troops launch their second attack against the Germans around Neuve Chapelle in the Artois. However, without sufficient artillery support to weaken the German frontline defenses, the advancing soldiers are decimated by German machine-gun fire. The attack is called off the next day with 11,000 casualties. May 15, 1915- British and Indian troops launch another attack against Germans in the Artois, this time at Festubert, north of Neuve Chapelle. The attack is preceded by a 60-hour artillery bombardment. But the troops advance just 1,000 yards while suffering 16,000 casualties. May 23, 1915- Italy enters the war on the side of the Allies by declaring war on Austria-Hungary. The Italians then launch offensives along the 400-mile common border between Austria and Italy. The better equipped Austrians take advantage of the mountainous terrain to establish strong defensive positions all along the border. The Italians then focus their attacks on the mountain passes at Trentino and the valley of the Isonzo River. May 31, 1915- The first aerial bombing of London occurs as German Zeppelins kill 28 persons. June 12, 1915- After pausing to regroup, Austro-German troops resume their offensive in Galicia on the Eastern Front. Within five days, they break through the Russian lines and push the Russian 3rd and 8th Armies further eastward. Russian casualties soon surpass 400,000. June 16, 1915- The French 10th Army launches its second attempt to seize Vimy Ridge from the Germans in the Artois. This time the troops encounter an intensive artillery bombardment from the improved defenses of the German 6th Army. The French achieve their initial objective, but then succumb to a German counter-attack, just as they did in the first attempt at Vimy. The French call off the Vimy offensive with 100,000 casualties. The Germans suffer 60,000. June 23, 1915- The First Battle of Isonzo begins as Italian troops attack Austrian defenses. Initial gains by the Italians are soon repulsed by the Austrians with heavy casualties for both sides. Three additional battles are fought through the end of 1915 with similar results, totaling 230,000 casualties for the Italians and 165,000 for the Austrians. July 1, 1915- Russia creates a Central War Industries Committee to oversee production and address a severe shortage of artillery shells and rifles on the Front. Russian soldiers in the field without rifles can only get them from fellow soldiers after they are killed or wounded. July 9, 1915- In Africa, the German Southwest Africa colony (present day Namibia) is taken by the Allies following 11 months of fighting between the Germans and South African and Rhodesian troops loyal to the British. July 13, 1915- On the Eastern Front, the next phase of the combined Austro-German offensive against the Russians begins in northern Poland, with the Austro-Germans advancing toward Warsaw. The Russian Army now gets weaker by the day due to chronic supply shortages and declining morale. Once again, the Russians retreat, and also order a total civilian evacuation of Poland. This results in great hardship for the people as they leave their homes and head eastward, clogging the roads and hampering the movement of Russian troops. August 1, 1915- The Fokker Scourge begins over the Western Front as German pilots achieve air supremacy using the highly effective Fokker monoplane featuring a synchronized machine-gun that fires bullets through the spinning propeller. Although the technology was pioneered by French pilot Roland Garros, the Germans copied and improved the synchronized gun idea after capturing his plane. The Fokker Scourge will last nearly a year, until Allied aerial technology catches up. August 5, 1915- Warsaw is taken by Austro-Germans troops. This ends a century of Russian control of the city. After taking Warsaw, the Austro-Germans move on to capture Ivangorod, Kovno, Brest-Litovsk, Bialystok, Grodno, and Vilna. By the end of September, Russian troops are driven out of Poland and Galicia, back to the original lines from which they had begun the war in 1914. For the time being, the battered Russian Army has effectively been eliminated as an offensive threat on the Eastern Front, freeing the Germans to focus more effort on the Western Front. August 6, 1915- Hoping to break the stalemate at Gallipoli, British renew the offensive. An additional 20,000 troops are landed but their attack is hampered by poor communications and logistical problems. The Turks, led by Mustafa Kemal, respond by rushing in two divisions and the British offensive fails. September 5, 1915- Russian Czar Nicholas II takes personal command of the Russian Army, hoping to rally his faltering troops. Losses to the Czar's army from the Austro-German offensives in Galicia and Poland include over 1,400,000 casualties and 750,000 captured. Russia is also weakened economically by the loss of Poland's industrial and agricultural output. Additionally, the ongoing mass exodus of Russian troops and civilians from Poland, called the Great Retreat, spurs dangerous political and social unrest in Russia, undermining the rule of the Czar and his Imperial government. September 6, 1915- Bulgaria enters the war on Germany's side with an eye toward invading neighboring Serbia. Thus far in the war, Austria-Hungary has tried, but failed, three times to conquer Serbia in retaliation for the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand. Now, the Austrians, aided by Germany and Bulgaria, plan to try again. With the addition of Bulgaria, Germany now has three allies in the war including Austria-Hungary and Turkey. This alliance is called the Central Powers due to their geographic location, primarily in central Europe. September 18, 1915- The Germans announce an end to their first U-Boat campaign, begun in February, which had targeted ships around the British Isles. This comes in response to increasing protests from the United States following American civilian deaths at sea. The U-Boats are then sent by the Germans to wreak havoc in the Mediterranean Sea, away from American shipping lanes in the Atlantic. September 25, 1915- On the Western Front, the British use poison gas for the first time as they launch an attack against the German 6th Army in the Artois. Chlorine gas is released from over 5,000 cylinders, creating a poisonous cloud that drifts toward the Germans, opening a gap in their front line. The British advance and quickly seize their objective, the town of Loos, but then fail to capitalize on the four-mile-wide breach in the German lines. The Germans regroup and when the British resume the attack the next day they are mowed down in the hundreds by well-placed German machine-gunners. In all, the British suffer 50,000 casualties during the Loos offensive. British Army Commander John French is then sacked, replaced by Douglas Haig. September 25, 1915- The French 2nd Army in Champagne attacks the weakest part of the German lines, creating a six-mile-wide breach that is three miles deep. The German 3rd Army then rushes in reinforcements, regroups its defense lines and plugs the gap. Facing strong resistance, the French break off the attack. September 26, 1915- The French launch their third attempt to seize Vimy Ridge from the Germans in Artois, and this time they secure the ridge. September 26-28, 1915- In the Middle East, a British victory occurs at the Battle of Kut al-Amara in Mesopotamia as they defeat the Turks. The resounding victory spurs an ambitious move by the British to venture onward to quickly capture Baghdad. However, that attempt fails and the troops return to Kut-al-Amara and dig in. October 6, 1915- The invasion of Serbia begins as Austro-German troops attack from the north. Five days later, the Bulgarians attack from the east. The outnumbered Serbs have their poorly supplied troops stretched too thinly to defend both fronts. Belgrade then falls to the Germans and the Bulgarians capture Kumanova, severing the country's north-south rail line. This leaves the overwhelmed Serbian troops no option other than to retreat westward through the mountains into Albania. December 5, 1915- Hoping to overcome their earlier defeat at Kut al-Amara in Mesopotamia, Turkish troops lay siege to the town, surrounding the British garrison there, cutting them off completely. December 19, 1915- The Allies begin an orderly evacuation of the Gallipoli Peninsula. This comes after months of stalemate in which Turkish troops contained all breakthrough attempts while inflicting 250,000 casualties. The British Navy successfully evacuates 83,000 survivors by sea as the Turks watch without firing a shot, glad to see them leave. January 1916- President Woodrow Wilson begins an effort to organize a peace conference in Europe. February 18, 1916- In West Africa, the German colony of Cameroon falls to the French and British following 17 months of fighting. This leaves only one German colony remaining in Africa, known as German East Africa. There, 10,000 troops skillfully commanded by General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck prove to be an elusive but deadly target, as they are pursued by a British-led force ten times larger. Battle of Verdun February 21-December 18, 1916 February 21, 1916- On the Western Front, the German 5th Army attacks the French 2nd Army north of the historic city of Verdun, following a nine-hour artillery bombardment. The Germans under Chief of the General Staff, Erich Falkenhayn, seek to "bleed" the French Army to death by targeting the cherished city. At first, the Germans make rapid gains along the east bank of the Meuse River, overrunning bombed out French trenches, and capture lightly defended Fort Douaumont four days later without firing a shot. However, the German offensive soon stalls as the French rush in massive reinforcements and strengthen their defenses, under the new command of Henri Petain, who is determined to save Verdun. An early spring thaw also turns the entire battlefield into mud, hampering offensive maneuvers. March 6, 1916- Germans renew their Verdun offensive, this time attacking along the west bank of the Meuse River, targeting two strategic hills northwest of Verdun that form the main French position. However, by the end of March, the heavily defended hills are only partially in German hands. March 18, 1916- On the Eastern Front, the Russians oblige a French request to wage an offensive to divert German resources from Verdun. Although the Russians greatly outnumber the Germans in the northern sector of the Eastern Front, their poorly coordinated offensive around Vilna and at Lake Naroch is swiftly defeated by the Germans with 70,000 Russian casualties. April 9, 1916- The Germans attack again at Verdun, now along a 20-mile-wide front on both the east and west banks of the Meuse River. Once again the attack only yields partial gains in the face of stiff French resistance. April 18, 1916- President Woodrow Wilson threatens to sever diplomatic ties between the United States and Germany following the sinking of the passenger ferrySussexby a U-Boat in the English Channel. The attack marked the beginning of a new U-Boat campaign around the British Isles. But in response to Wilson, the Germans call off the U-Boats. April 29, 1916- In the Middle East, the five-month siege at Kut-al-Amara in Mesopotamia ends as 13,000 British and Indian soldiers, now on the verge of starvation, surrender to the Turks. The largest-ever surrender by the British Army comes after four failed attempts by British relief troops to break through to the surrounded garrison. May 3, 1916- At Verdun, the Germans begin another attack on the west bank of the Meuse. This time they gain the advantage and within three days capture the two French hills they had been striving for since early March, thus achieving a solid position northwest of Verdun. May 15, 1916- Austrian troops attack Italian mountain positions in the Trentino. The Italians withdraw southward, forcing the Austrians to stretch their supply lines over the difficult terrain. The arrival of Italian reinforcements and a successful counter-attack then halts the Austrian offensive completely. May 25, 1916- The era of the all-volunteer British Army ends as universal conscription takes effect requiring all eligible British men between the ages of 19 and 40 to report,excluding men working in agriculture, mining or the railroads. Battle of Jutland May 31, 1916- The main German and British naval fleets clash in the Battle of Jutland in the North Sea, as both sides try, but fail, to score a decisive victory. Forward battle cruisers from the British Grand Fleet are initially lured southward toward the German High Seas Fleet, but then turn completely around, luring the entire German fleet northward. As they get near, the British blast away at the German forward ships. The Germans return fire and the two fleets fire furiously at each other. However, the Germans, aware they are outgunned by the larger British fleet, disengage by abruptly turning away. In the dead of the night the Germans withdraw entirely. The British do not risk a pursuit and instead head home. Both sides claim victory. Although the Germans sink 14 of the 151 British ships while losing 11 of 99 ships, the British Navy retains its dominance of the North Sea and the naval blockade of Germany will remain intact for the war's duration. June 1, 1916- Germans at Verdun try to continue their offensive success along the Meuse River and now attack the French on the east bank, targeting Fort Vaux and the fortification at Thiaumont. Eight days later, both objectives are taken as the French suffer heavy casualties. The Germans now push onward toward a ridge that overlooks Verdun and edge toward the Meuse bridges. The entire nation of France now rallies behind their troops in the defense of Verdun as French generals vow it will not be taken. June 4, 1916- Four Russian armies on the Eastern Front, under their innovative new commander, General Alexei Brusilov, begin a general offensive in the southwest along a 300-mile front. Brusilov avoids the style of predictable narrow frontline attacks used previously, in favor of a sweeping offensive over hundreds of miles that is harder to pin down. Thinly stretched Austro-Hungarian troops defending this portion of the Front are taken by surprise. Realizing their distress, the Germans pull four divisions from Verdun and send them east. By the end of summer, the Germans will send 20 more divisions and merge the surviving Austro-Hungarian troops into the Germany Army. June 22, 1916- Germans resume their offensive near Verdun, targeting Fort Souville which overlooks the city and the Meuse bridges. Using poisonous phosgene gas at the start of the attack, they initially take the village of Fleury just two miles north of Verdun, but further advance southward is halted by a strong French counter-attack. Verdun has now become a battle of attrition for both sides with a death toll already approaching 500,000 men. Battle of the Somme July 1-November 18, 1916 June 24, 1916- The Allies begin a week-long artillery bombardment of German defensive positions on the Somme River in northern France, in preparation for a major British-led offensive. Over 1.5 million shells are fired along a 15-mile front to pulverize the intricate German trench system and to blow apart rows of barbed wire protecting the trenches. British Commander Douglas Haig believes this will allow an unhindered infantry advance and a rapid breakthrough of the German Front on the first day of battle. July 1, 1916- The British Army suffers the worst single-day death toll in its history as 18,800 soldiers are killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. The losses come as 13 attacking divisions encounter German defenses that are still intact despite the seven-day bombardment designed to knock them out. The British also attack in broad daylight, advancing in lines shoulder-to-shoulder only to be systematically mowed down by German machine-gunners. The Somme offensive quickly becomes a battle of attrition as British and French troops make marginal gains against the Germans but repeatedly fail to break through the entire Front as planned. July 10, 1916- The Germans attack again at Verdun, using poison gas, and advance toward Fort Souville. Four days later, the French counter-attack and halt the Germans. July 13, 1916- The British launch a night attack against German positions along a 3.5-mile portion of the Somme Front. After advancing nearly 1,000 yards, the advance is halted as the Germans regroup their defenses. Two days later, the British once again penetrate the German line and advance to High Wood but are then pushed back. August 27, 1916- Romania declares war on the Central Powers and begins an invasion of Austria-Hungary through the Carpathian Mountains. The Romanians face little opposition initially and advance 50 miles into Transylvania. August 28, 1916- Kaiser Wilhelm appoints Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg as Germany's new Chief of the General Staff, replacing Erich Falkenhayn following the disappointment at Verdun and recent setbacks on the Eastern Front. August 28, 1916- Italy declares war on Germany, thus expanding the scope of its military activities beyond the Italian-Austrian Front. August 29, 1916- Germany's entire economy is placed under the Hindenburg Plan allowing the military to exercise dictatorial-style powers to control the labor force, munitions production, food distribution and most aspects of daily life. September 1, 1916- Romania is invaded by the newly formed Danube Army, consisting of Germans, Turks and Bulgarians under the command of German General August von Mackensen. This marks the start of a multi-pronged invasion of Romania in response to its aggression against Austria-Hungary. September 15, 1916- The first-ever appearance of tanks on a battlefield occurs as British troops renew the Somme offensive and attack German positions along a five-mile front, advancing 2,000 yards with tank support. The British-developed tanks feature two small side-cannons and four machine-guns, operated by an eight-man crew. As the infantry advances, individual tanks provide support by blasting and rolling over the German barbed wire, piercing the frontline defense, and then roll along the length of the trench, raking the German soldiers with machine-gun fire. September 20, 1916- On the Eastern Front, the Brusilov Offensive grinds to a halt. Since its launch in early June, four Russian armies under the command of General Alexei Brusilov had swept eastward up to 60 miles deep along a 300-mile front while capturing 350,000 Austro-Hungarian troops. But by the end of summer, the Germans brought in 24 divisions from the Western Front and placed the surviving Austro-Hungarian troops under German command. The Russian attack withered after the loss of nearly a million men amid insufficient reserves. The humiliating withdrawal from the hard-won areas wrecks Russian troop morale, fueling political and social unrest in Russia. September 25, 1916- British and French troops renew their attacks in the Somme, capturing several villages north of the Somme River, including Thiepval, where the British successfully use tanks again. Following these successes, however, heavy rain turns the entire battlefield to mud, preventing effective maneuvers. October 8, 1916- The German Air Force (Luftstreikrafte) is founded as various aerial fighting groups are merged. October 10, 1916- Romanian troops return home after being pushed out of Hungary by two Austro-German armies. The Austro-German 9th Army then invades Romania and heads toward Bucharest. October 24, 1916- At Verdun, the French under General Robert Nivelle, begin an ambitious offensive designed to end the German threat there by targeting Fort Douaumont and other German-occupied sites on the east bank of the Meuse River. The attack is preceded by the heaviest artillery bombardment to-date by the French. Additionally, French infantry use an effective new tactic in which they slowly advance in stages, step-by-step behind encroaching waves of artillery fire. Using this creeping barrage tactic, they seize Fort Douaumont, then take Fort Vaux further east, nine days later. November 7, 1916- American voters re-elect President Woodrow Wilson who had campaigned on the slogan, "He kept us out of war." November 13, 1916- British troops stage a surprise attack and capture the towns of Beaumont Hamel and Beaucourt at the northern end of the Somme Front. November 18, 1916- The Battle of the Somme ends upon the first snowfall as the British and French decide to cease the offensive. By now, the Germans have been pushed back just a few miles along the entire 15-mile front, but the major breakthrough the Allies had planned never occurred. Both sides each suffered over 600,000 casualties during the five-month battle. Among the injured German soldiers is Corporal Adolf Hitler, wounded by shrapnel. November 20, 1916- Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary dies at age 86. He is succeeded by Archduke Charles who wants to take Austria-Hungary out of the war. December 6, 1916- Bucharest, capital of Romania, falls to the Austro-Germans. This effectively ends Romanian resistance to the Austro-German invasion and places the country's entire agricultural and industrial resources, including the Ploesti oil fields, in German hands. December 7, 1916- LLoyd George becomes Britain's new Prime Minister. His new War Cabinet immediately begins to organize the country for "total war." December 12, 1916- Joseph Joffre resigns under pressure from his position as Commander-in-Chief of the French Army, replaced by General Robert Nivelle. December 15, 1916- The last offensive in the Battle of Verdun begins as the French push the Germans out of Louvemont and Bezonvaux on the east bank of the Meuse River. Combined with other ground losses, the German withdrawal ends the immediate threat to Verdun and both sides now focus their efforts on battles elsewhere along the Western Front. Overall, the French and Germans suffered nearly a million casualties combined during the ten month battle in which the Germans failed to capture the city of Verdun. December 18, 1916- President Woodrow Wilson caps off a year-long effort to organize a peace conference in Europe by asking the combatants to outline their peace terms. See Part Six - World War One - Dates & Rest Of Timeline Info. Text 1917 Thur 1919 Thanks. World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 1 In Colour Film - Catastrophe https://rumble.com/v35gtvg-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-1-in-colour-film-catastrophe.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 2 In Colour Film - Slaughter In The Trenches https://rumble.com/v35iwdm-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-2-in-colour-film-slaughter-in-the-tren.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 3 In Colour Film - Blood In The Air https://rumble.com/v35lfes-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-3-in-colour-film-blood-in-the-air.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 4 In Colour Film - Killers Of The Sea https://rumble.com/v35mjdo-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-4-in-colour-film-killers-of-the-sea.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 5 In Colour Film - Mayhem On The Eastern Front https://rumble.com/v35oyly-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-5-in-colour-film-mayhem-on-the-eastern.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 6 In Colour Film - Victory and Despair https://rumble.com/v35ugei-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-6-in-colour-film-victory-and-despair.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 7 In Colour Film - Tactics And Strategy https://rumble.com/v35vyrr-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-7-in-colour-film-tactics-and-strategy.html Over 65 million men volunteered or were conscripted to fight in mass citizen armies. Millions of civilians also contributed to the war effort by working in industry, agriculture or jobs left open when men enlisted. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars:_1945%E2%80%931989 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars:_1990%E2%80%932002 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars:_2003%E2%80%93present https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_World_War_I https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_timelines_of_World_War_II World War I Pitted Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire against Great Britain, the United States, France, Russia, Italy and Japan. New military technology resulted in unprecedented carnage. By the time the war was over and the Allied Powers claimed victory, more than 16 million people—soldiers and civilians alike—were dead.

World War I Pitted Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire against Great Britain, the United States, France, Russia, Italy and Japan. New military technology resulted in unprecedented carnage. By the time the war was over and the Allied Powers claimed victory, more than 16 million people—soldiers and civilians alike—were dead. Pt. 6 of Seven. 1.It was a global war Over 30 nations declared war between 1914 and 1918. The majority joined on the side of the Allies, including Serbia, Russia, France, Britain, Italy and the United States. They were opposed by Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire, who together formed the Central Powers. What began as a relatively small conflict in southeast Europe became a war between European empires. Britain and its Empire’s entry into the war made this a truly global conflict fought on a geographical scale never seen before. Fighting occurred not only on the Western Front, but in eastern and southeast Europe, Africa and the Middle East. 2.It is Far Better to Face the Bullets... The First World War was not inevitable or accidental, but began as a result of human actions and decisions. Over 65 million men volunteered or were conscripted to fight in mass citizen armies. Millions of civilians also contributed to the war effort by working in industry, agriculture or jobs left open when men enlisted. Victory depended on popular support. Some nations were forced to surrender as their people, pushed to their physical and emotional limits, lost the will to continue fighting. The First World War was also a war against people. Invading armies committed atrocities against civilians in the areas they occupied. Attacks on civilians became increasingly common as each nation tried to break their opponents’ home morale and diminish popular support for the war. Propaganda demonised entire nations and attacked the ‘national characters’ of enemy peoples. 3.It was a war of production National resources were mobilised as each combatant nation raced to supply its armed forces with enough men and equipment. In Britain, early failures in munitions manufacturing led to full government intervention in war production. These controls helped its industry produce nearly 4 million rifles, 250,000 machine guns, 52,000 aeroplanes, 2,800 tanks, 25,000 artillery pieces and over 170 million rounds of artillery shells by 1918. 4.It was a war of innovation Advances in weaponry and military technology provoked tactical changes as each side tried to gain an advantage over the other. The introduction of aircraft into war left soldiers and civilians vulnerable to attacks from above for the first time. Major innovations were also made in manufacturing, chemistry and communications. Medical advances made the First World War the first major conflict in which British deaths in battle outnumbered deaths caused by disease. 5.It was a war of destruction The First World War left an estimated 16 million soldiers and civilians dead and countless others physically and psychologically wounded. The war also forever altered the world’s social and political landscape. It accelerated changes in attitudes towards gender and class and led to the collapse of the Russian, Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empires. The cost of waging total war - and of rebuilding afterwards - ravaged the national economies of both the victorious European Allies and the defeated Central Powers. The human cost of the First World War for Britain saw the creation of a new language of remembrance, which remains to this day. It can be seen in war memorials in cities, towns, schools, places of worship and workplaces, as well as in rituals such as Remembrance Sunday and the two-minute silence at 11am each 11 November. World War I Begins At the dawn of the 20thcentury, few anticipated a global war, but what came to be known as the Great War began on June 28, 1914, with the assassinations of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, while they were visiting Sarajevo, Bosnia, a country recently annexed into the Austrian Empire. Many Bosnians and their Serbian neighbors resented this foreign rule and the Archduke’s visit to Sarajevo provided the opportunity for a small band of Serbian dissidents to strike back. Austria responded to the assassinations by teaming up with its ally, Germany, and declaring war on Serbia. The conflict soon involved Russia, France and Belgium. Fearful of a full-scale world war that would threaten its sea routes to other countries, Great Britain joined the fight against Germany and Austria. Each country believed the fighting would last only a few months. Nations were categorized either as Central Powers or Allies. Countries that joined the Central Powers, such as Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire, supported Austria-Hungary and Germany. The Allies were Russia, France, Belgium and Great Britain, but they were later joined by Japan, Romania, China and the United States. No Man’s Land: Trench Warfare During World War I, trench warfare was a defensive military tactic used extensively by both sides, allowing soldiers some protection from enemy fire but also hindering troops from readily advancing and thus prolonging the war.Trench warfare was the major combat tactic in France and Belgium. Trenches were often dug up to 12 feet deep and stretched for miles. For stability, some trenches included wooden beams and/or sandbags. Even during lulls in the fighting, death occurred almost daily in the trenches due to a sniper’s bullet or the unsanitary living conditions which resulted in many diseases such as dysentery, typhus and cholera. Other diseases caused by the poor conditions weretrench mouth and trench foot*. *Trench mouth was an infection of the mouth due to overgrowth of certain oral bacteria. The condition was made worse by poor oral hygiene, smoking, malnutrition and psychological stress. To prevent trench foot, a fungal disease caused by exposure to wet and cold, soldiers frequently added wooden planks in the trenches to keep from having to stand in water. Barbed wire and explosive mines—as well as bullets and grenades—were essential weapons used to hinder infantry advances across “No Man’s Land,” the bleak landscape between the trenches of the opposing sides. New offensive weapons were implemented during the war includingtanks and poison gases*. *Tanks, armored against artillery fire, were capable of rolling over barbed wire as well as crossing treacherous terrain. Chlorine was one of the poisonous gases used in World War I. It was damaging to the eyes, nose, throat and lungs, and produced symptoms ranging from irritation to blindness and death.) In 1915, the Germans used poison gases against the Allies fighting in the trenches on the Western Front. To protect soldiers from chemical warfare, gas masks were developed. Great Britain made one of the first types of masks capable of minimizing the deadly impact of these gases on their troops. Though considered a novelty when the war began, aircraft were used by both sides for reconnaissance, allowing personnel to observe enemy troop positions, to direct artillery fire and to photograph enemy lines. By the end of the war, the concepts of aerial combat and aerial bombing had come into being. See Part Five - World War One - Dates & Rest Of Timeline Info. Text 1914 Thur 1916 Thanks. January 19, 1917- The British intercept atelegramsent by Alfred Zimmermann in the German Foreign Office to the German embassies in Washington, D.C., and Mexico City. Its message outlines plans for an alliance between Germany and Mexico against the United States. According to the scheme, Germany would provide tactical support while Mexico would benefit by expanding into the American Southwest, retrieving territories that had once been part of Mexico. The Zimmermann telegram is passed along by the British to the Americans and is then made public, causing an outcry from interventionists in the U.S., such as former president Teddy Roosevelt, who favor American military involvement in the war. February 1, 1917- The Germans resume unrestricted submarine warfare around the British Isles with the goal of knocking Britain out of the war by cutting off all imports to starve the British people into submission. February 3, 1917- The United States severs diplomatic ties with Germany after a U-Boat sinks the American grain shipHousatonic. Seven more American ships are sunk in February and March as the Germans sink 500 ships in just sixty days. February 25, 1917- In the Middle East, newly reinforced and replenished British troops retake Kut al-Amara in Mesopotamia from outnumbered Turks. The British then continue their advance and capture Baghdad, followed by Ramadi and Tikrit. Russian Revolution March 8, 1917- A mass protest by Russian civilians in Petrograd (St. Petersburg) erupts into a revolution against Czar Nicholas II and the war. Within days, Russian soldiers mutiny and join the revolution. March 15, 1917- The 300-year-old Romanov dynasty in Russia ends upon the abdication of Czar Nicholas II. In his place, a new democratically minded Provisional Government is established. Great Britain, France, the United States, and Italy rush to recognize the new government in the hope Russia will stay in the war and maintain its huge presence on the Eastern Front. March 15, 1917- Germans along the central portion of the Western Front in France begin a strategic withdrawal to the new Siegfried Line (called the Hindenburg Line by the Allies) which shortens the overall Front by 25 miles by eliminating an unneeded bulge. During the three-week long withdrawal, the Germans conduct a scorched earth policy, destroying everything of value. April 1917- British combat pilots on the Western Front suffer a 50 percent casualty rate during Bloody April as the Germans shoot down 150 fighter planes. The average life expectancy of an Allied fighter pilot is now three weeks, resulting from aerial dogfights and accidents. America Enters April 2, 1917- President Woodrow Wilson appears before the U.S. Congress and gives aspeechsaying "the world must be made safe for democracy" then asks the Congress for a declaration of war against Germany. April 6, 1917- The United States of America declares war on Germany. April 9, 1917- The British Army has one of its most productive days of the war as 3rd Army, supported by Canadian and Australian troops, makes rapid advances north of the Hindenburg Line at Arras and Vimy on the Western Front. The expansive first-day achievement in snowy weather includes a 3.5 mile territorial gain and the capture of Vimy Ridge by Canadians. However, similar to past offensives, the inability to capitalize on initial successes and maintain momentum gives the Germans an opportunity to regroup and further gains are thwarted. The British suffer 150,000 casualties during the offensive, while the Germans suffer 100,000. Nivelle Offensive April 16, 1917- The French 5th and 6th Armies attack along a 25-mile front south of the Hindenburg Line. The new offensive comes amid promises of a major breakthrough within 24-hours by the new French Commander-in-Chief, Robert Nivelle, who planned the operation. Nivelle once again utilizes his creeping barrage tactic in which his armies advance in stages closely behind successive waves of artillery fire. However, this time it is poorly coordinated and the troops fall far behind. The Germans also benefit from good intelligence and aerial reconnaissance and are mostly aware of the French plan. Nivelle's offensive collapses within days with over 100,000 casualties. French President Poincaré personally intervenes and Nivelle is relieved of his command. He is replaced as Commander-in-Chief by General Henri Petain, who must deal with a French Army that is now showing signs of mutiny. April 16, 1917- Political agitator Vladimir Lenin arrives back in Russia, following 12 years of exile in Switzerland. Special train transportation for his return was provided by the Germans in the hope that anti-war Lenin and his radical Bolshevik Party will disrupt Russia's new Provisional Government. Lenin joins other Bolsheviks in Petrograd who have already returned from exile including Joseph Stalin. May 18, 1917- The Selective Service Act is passed by the U.S. Congress, authorizing a draft. The small U.S. Army, presently consisting of 145,000 men, will be enlarged to 4,000,000 via the draft. May 19, 1917- The Provisional Government of Russia announces it will stay in the war. A large offensive for the Eastern Front is then planned by Alexander Kerensky, the new Minister of War. However, Russian soldiers and peasants are now flocking to Lenin's Bolshevik Party which opposes the war and the Provisional Government. French Mutiny May 27-June 1, 1917- The mutinous atmosphere in the French Army erupts into open insubordination as soldiers refuse orders to advance. More than half of the French divisions on the Western Front experience some degree of disruption by disgruntled soldiers, angry over the unending battles of attrition and appalling living conditions in the muddy, rat and lice-infested trenches. The new Commander-in-Chief, Henri Petain, cracks down on the mutiny by ordering mass arrests, followed by several firing squad executions that serve as a warning. Petain then suspends all French offensives and visits the troops to personally promise an improvement of the whole situation. With the French Army in disarray the main burden on the Western Front falls squarely upon the British. June 7, 1917- A tremendous underground explosion collapses the German-held Messines Ridge south of Ypres in Belgium. Upon detonation, 10,000 Germans stationed on the ridge vanish instantly. The British then storm the ridge forcing the surviving Germans to withdraw to a new defensive position further eastward. The 250-foot-high ridge had given the Germans a commanding defensive position. British, Australian and Canadian tunnelers had worked for a year to dig mines and place 600 tons of explosives. June 13, 1917- London suffers its highest civilian casualties of the war as German airplanes bomb the city, killing 158 persons and wounding 425. The British react to the new bombing campaign by forming home defense fighter squadrons and later conduct retaliatory bombing raids against Germany by British planes based in France. June 25, 1917- The first American troops land in France. July 1, 1917- Russian troops begin the Kerensky Offensive attempting to recapture the city of Lemberg (Lvov) on the Eastern Front. The Germans are lying in wait, fully aware of the battle plans which have been leaked to them. The Russians attack along a 40-mile front but suffer from a jumble of tactical problems including a lack of artillery coordination, poor troop placement, and serious disunity within the ranks reflecting the divisive political situation back home. The whole offensive disintegrates within five days. Sensing they might break the Russian Army, the Germans launch a furious counter-offensive and watch as Russian soldiers run away. July 2, 1917- Greece declares war on the Central Powers, following the abdication of pro-German King Constantine who is replaced by a pro-Allied administration led by Prime Minister Venizelos. Greek soldiers are now added to the Allied ranks. Third Battle of Ypres July 31-November 6, 1917 July 31, 1917- The British attempt once more to break through the German lines, this time by attacking positions east of Ypres, Belgium. However, by now the Germans have vastly improved their trench defenses including well-positioned artillery. Although the British 5th Army succeeds in securing forward trench positions, further progress is halted by heavy artillery barrages from the German 4th Army and rainy weather. August 10, 1917- The British resume their attack at Ypres, focusing on German artillery positions around Gheluvelt. The attack produces few gains as the Germans effectively bombard and then counter-attack. Six days later, the British try again, with similar results. The entire Ypres offensive then grinds to a halt as British Army Commander Douglas Haig ponders his strategy. September 1, 1917- On the Eastern Front, the final Russian battle in the war begins as the Germans attack toward Riga. The German 8th Army utilizes new storm troop tactics devised by General Oskar von Hutier. Bypassing any strong points as they move forward, storm troop battalions armed with light machine-guns, grenades and flame throwers focus on quickly infiltrating the rear areas to disrupt communications and take out artillery. The Russian 12th Army, under General Kornilov, is unable to hold itself together amid the storm troop attacks and abandons Riga, then begins a rapid retreat along the Dvina River, pursued by the Germans. September 20, 1917- A revised British strategy begins at Ypres designed to wear down the Germans. It features a series of intensive, narrowly focused artillery and troop attacks with limited objectives, to be launched every six days. The first such attack, along the Menin Road toward Gheluvelt, produces a gain of about 1,000 yards with 22,000 British and Australian casualties. Subsequent attacks yield similar results. October 12, 1917- The Ypres offensive culminates around the village of Passchendaele as Australian and New Zealand troops die by the thousands while attempting to press forward across a battlefield of liquid mud, advancing just 100 yards. Steady October rains create a slippery quagmire in which wounded soldiers routinely drown in mud-filled shell craters. Attack at Caporetto October 24, 1917- In northern Italy, a rout of the Italian Army begins as 35 German and Austrian divisions cross the Isonzo River into Italy at Caporetto and then rapidly push 41 Italian divisions 60 miles southward. By now, the Italians have been worn down from years of costly but inconclusive battles along the Isonzo and in the Trentino, amid a perceived lack of Allied support. Nearly 300,000 Italians surrender as the Austro-Germans advance, while some 400,000 desert. The Austro-Germans halt at the Piave River north of Venice only due to supply lines which have become stretched to the limit. October 26, 1917- At Ypres, a second attempt is made but fails to capture the village of Passchendaele, with Canadian troops participating this time. Four days later, the Allies attack again and edge closer as the Germans slowly begin pulling out. October 31, 1917- In the Middle East, the British led by General Edmund Allenby begin an attack against Turkish defensive lines stretching between Gaza and Beersheba in southern Palestine. The initial attack on Beersheba surprises the Turks and they pull troops away from Gaza which the British attack secondly. The Turks then retreat northward toward Jerusalem with the Allies in pursuit. Aiding the Allies, are a group of Arab fighters led by T. E. Lawrence, an Arab speaking English archeologist, later known as Lawrence of Arabia. He is instrumental in encouraging Arab opposition to the Turks and in disrupting their railroad and communication system. November 6, 1917- The village of Passchendaele is captured by Canadian troops. The Allied offensive then ceases, bringing the Third Battle of Ypres to an end with no significant gains amid 500,000 casualties experienced by all sides. October Revolution November 6-7, 1917- In Russia, Bolsheviks led by Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky overthrow the Provisional Government in what comes to be known as the October Revolution (Oct. 24-25 according to the Russian calendar). They establish a non-democratic Soviet Government based on Marxism which prohibits private enterprise and private land ownership. Lenin announces that Soviet Russia will immediately end its involvement in the war and renounces all existing treaties with the Allies. November 11, 1917- The German High Command, led by Erich Ludendorff, gathers at Mons, Belgium, to map out a strategy for 1918. Ludendorff bluntly states he is willing to accept a million German casualties in a daring plan to achieve victory in early 1918, before the American Army arrives in force. The goal is to drive a wedge between the British and French armies on the Western Front via a series of all-out offensives using Germany's finest divisions and intensive storm troop tactics. Once this succeeds, the plan is to first decimate the British Army to knock Britain out of the war, and then decimate the French Army, and thus secure final victory. November 15, 1917- Georges Clemenceau becomes France's new Prime Minister at age 76. Nicknamed "The Tiger," when asked about his agenda, he will simply answer, "I wage war." British Tank Attack November 20, 1917- The first-ever mass attack by tanks occurs as the British 3rd Army rolls 381 tanks accompanied by six infantry divisions in a coordinated tank-infantry-artillery attack of German trenches near Cambrai, France, an important rail center. The attack targets a 6-mile-wide portion of the Front and by the end of the first day appears to be a spectacular success with five miles gained and two Germans divisions wrecked. The news is celebrated by the ringing of church bells in England, for the first time since 1914. However, similar to past offensives, the opportunity to exploit first-day gains is missed, followed by the arrival of heavy German reinforcements and an effective counter-attack in which the Germans take back most of the ground they lost. December, 7, 1917- Romania concludes an armistice with the Central Powers due to the demise of Imperial Russia, its former military ally. December 9, 1917- Jerusalem is captured by the British. This ends four centuries of its control by the Ottoman (Turkish) Empire. December 15, 1917- Soviet Russia signs an armistice with Germany. With Russia's departure from the Eastern Front, forty-four German divisions become available to be redeployed to the Western Front in time for Ludendorff's Spring Offensive. January 1918- President Woodrow Wilson outlines an elaborate peace plan to the U.S. Congress containingFourteen Pointsas the basis of its establishment. March 3, 1918- At Brest-Litovsk, Soviet Russia signs a treaty with Germany formally ending its participation in the war. Harsh terms imposed by the Germans force the Russians to yield a quarter of their prewar territory and over half of Russia's industries. German Spring Offensives March 21, 1918- Germany's all-out gamble for victory begins upon the launch of the first of a series of successive spring offensives on the Western Front. The Saint Michael Offensive, named after Germany's patron saint, begins after a five-hour 6,000-gun artillery bombardment as 65 divisions from the German 2nd, 17th and 18th Armies attack the British 3rd and 5th Armies along a 60-mile front in the Somme. At first it seems destined to succeed as the thinly stretched British 5th Army is quickly overrun and wrecked. Using effective storm troop tactics, the Germans recapture all of the ground they lost in 1916 during the Battle of the Somme and press forward. However, during the two week offensive, the British 3rd Army manages to hold itself together and prevents the Germans from taking Arras and Amiens, key objectives of the offensive. March 26, 1918- At a strategic conference in Doullens, France, the British and French agree to appoint an Allied Supreme Commander on the Western Front, in place of the separate commanders they had been using, to better coordinate their efforts. Ferdinand Foch, Petain's highly regarded chief of staff, accepts the position. April 1, 1918- Britain's Royal Air Force (RAF) is founded upon the merging of the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service. By now, the British aviation industry has become the world leader. April 9-29, 1918- The second offensive in Germany's victory gamble, the Georgette Offensive, begins as 46 divisions from the German 6th Army attack the British 2nd Army around Ypres. The Germans push the British back three miles to the outskirts of Ypres, even taking back the hard-won Passchendaele Ridge. However, the arrival of British, French and Australian reinforcements from the south breaks the German momentum and the offensive halts. Georgette, similar to Michael, is only a partial success. General Ludendorff's goal of first separating the British and French armies via Michael and then destroying the British via Michael and Georgette is not achieved. Additionally, the Germans suffer 330,000 casualties in the two offensives and lack sufficient reserve troops. April 21, 1918- Germany's Red Baron (Manfred von Richthofen) is shot down and killed by the British. The German Ace was credited with shooting down 80 Allied aircraft. He is buried with military honors by the British. May 27-June 3, 1918- The Blücher-Yorck Offensive, Germany's third in a row, begins with the goal of bogging down the Allies in central France, thus preventing further reinforcements from reaching British positions in the north. Forty-one divisions of the German 1st and 7th Armies successfully attack the inadequate defenses of the French 6th Army along a 25-mile front east of the Aisne River. After a highly effective artillery barrage, German storm troops roll over the decimated 6th Army. This startling success emboldens General Ludendorff to change his overall strategy. He decides to make a run for Paris, hoping to draw the Allies into a final climactic battle that will decide the war. Within two days, the Germans cross the Aisne River and rapidly advance westward, coming within 50 miles of Paris. But the troops have been pushed to the limit for too long and soon succumb to exhaustion, unable to maintain the breakneck pace. The advance sputters to a halt as Allied reinforcements, including Americans, pour in to the region. First American Action May 28-29, 1918- Troops of the U.S. 1st Infantry Division capture the village of Cantigny from the Germans and hold it. The American Expeditionary Force (AEF) is commanded by General John Pershing who is determined to maintain all-American fighting units, rather than parcel out American troops to the British and French armies. By now, 650,000 American soldiers have arrived in France, with the number growing by 10,000 per day. June 6, 1918- The Battle of Belleau Wood involving the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division begins. During the three-week fight against the Germans, Americans experience their first significant battlefield casualties with 5,000 killed. June 9, 1918- The Germans launch their fourth offensive, once more with an eye toward Paris. In the hastily arranged Gneisenau Offensive the German 18th Army attacks in a southwest direction toward Paris. However, the Germans are stopped as French and American troops successfully counter-attack and the new offensive withers after just four days. June 15, 1918- Austrian troops begin an offensive along the Piave River in Italy, at the urging of the Germans. Although suffering from a lack of food, horses and supplies, they cross the river and establish a 12-mile front, but then realize they can not hold it against the now-revitalized Italian Army and withdraw after suffering 150,000 casualties. Following this, Austrian soldiers in Italy begin deserting. Mid 1918- Soldiers from all sides begin to succumb to a deadly strain of influenza. Troop losses from the flu epidemic soon exceed combat casualties, especially weakening the hard-pressed German Army. The worldwide epidemic lasts for about a year, killing an estimated 20 million persons, then vanishes as strangely as it had appeared. July 15-17, 1918- The last German offensive of the war, the Marne-Reims Offensive, begins with a two-pronged attack around Reims, France, by 52 divisions. The Allies have been anticipating this battle and lie in wait. The German attack to the east of Reims is crushed that day by the French. To the west of Reims, the advance is blocked by the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division, followed by a successful French and American counter-attack. July 17, 1918- Russian Bolsheviks murder former Czar Nicholas and his entire family. By now, an all-out civil war has erupted in Russia that features indiscriminate killings of civilians and captured fighters. Amid the chaos, disease and starvation envelop Russia. The fighting between Bolsheviks and their opponents will last three years, ending with a Bolshevik victory amid a Russian death toll estimated at 15 million persons. Allied Counter-Offensives July 18, 1918- A combined French and American attack along the Marne marks the first in a series of coordinated Allied counter-offensives on the Western Front. Three French armies accompanied by five American divisions cross the Marne River. In the face of this assault, the German 7th and 9th Armies begin a withdrawal from the Marne. August 8, 1918- Germans in the Somme experience the "Black Day of the German Army" as later described by General Ludendorff. This occurs as the British 4th Army using 456 tanks attacks German positions east of Amiens. Six German divisions quickly fall apart and 13,000 prisoners are taken during the rapid 7-mile advance. The attack is only slowed when the Germans rush in nine divisions, their last reserves on the Western Front. August 20, 1918- The French 10th Army takes 8,000 prisoners at Noyon and captures the Aisne Heights. August 21, 1918- The British 3rd Army begins an attack along a 10-mile front south of Arras, while the adjacent 4th Army resumes it attack in the Somme, as the Germans continue to fall back. September 12, 1918- The first stand-alone attack by Americans occurs as the U.S. 1st Army attacks the southernmost portion of the Western Front in France at St. Mihiel. The offensive is supported by an unprecedented 1,476 Allied aircraft used as part of a coordinated air-ground attack. Within 36 hours, the Americans take 15,000 prisoners and capture over 400 pieces of artillery as the Germans withdraw. September 15, 1918- The Allies push the Bulgarians out of Serbia as French, Serbian and Italian troops make rapid gains, advancing nearly 20 miles northward from Greece in three days. Bulgarian troops attempting to redeploy westward through the narrow Kosturino Pass are relentlessly bombarded by airplanes and overall troop morale collapses. Meanwhile, political turmoil strikes at home as anti-war riots erupt in Bulgaria's cities along with Russian-style revolutionary fervor that results in the proclamation of local soviets. September 19, 1918- In the Middle East, the Allies launch a cavalry attack to push the Turks out of Palestine. Australian and Indian cavalry divisions smash through the Turkish defenses around Megiddo on the first day and gallop northward, as British infantry follow, while the RAF and Arab fighters disrupt communication and supply lines. As the Turkish armies collapse, they withdraw northward toward Damascus with the Allies in pursuit. September 26, 1918- The U.S. 1st Army and French 4th Army begin a joint offensive to clear out the strongly defended corridor between the Meuse River and the Argonne Forest. Here, the Germans do not fall back and the battle soon resembles action from earlier years in the war. Amid a steady rain, the troops advance yard-by-yard over the muddy, crater-filled terrain with 75,000 American casualties suffered over six weeks of fighting. Hindenburg Line Broken September 27, 1918- The British 1st and 3rd Armies, aided by Australians and the U.S. 2nd Corps, break through a 20-mile portion of the Hindenburg Line between Cambrai and St. Quentin. September 28, 1918- Belgian and British troops push back the Germans in the Fourth Battle of Ypres. Unlike the previous drawn-out battles, this one lasts just two days as the Belgians take Dixmude and the British secure Messines. September 28, 1918- Confronted by the unstoppable strength of the Allies and faced with the prospect of an outright military defeat on the Western Front, General Ludendorff suffers a nervous collapse at his headquarters, losing all hope for victory. He then informs his superior, Paul von Hindenburg, the war must be ended. The next day, Ludendorff, accompanied by Hindenburg, meet with the Kaiser and urge him to end the war. The Kaiser's army is becoming weaker by the day amid irreversible troop losses, declining discipline and battle-readiness due to exhaustion, illness, food shortages, desertions and drunkenness. The Kaiser takes heed from Hindenburg and Ludendorff, and agrees with the need for an armistice. September 29, 1918- Bulgaria signs an armistice with the Allies, becoming the first of the Central Powers to quit the war. October 1, 1918- In the Middle East, Damascus is captured by Australian troops and Arab fighters. October 2, 1918- A military representative sent by Ludendorff to Berlin informs the legislature the war is lost and that armistice discussions should begin immediately. The German politicians are shocked by the news, having largely been kept in the dark by the General Staff and the Kaiser till now. Germans Request Armistice October 4, 1918- President Woodrow Wilson receives a request from the German government, sent via the Swiss, asking for armistice discussions on the basis of his Fourteen Points. The Germans have bypassed the French and British in the hope of negotiating with Wilson who they perceive as more lenient. They are disappointed, however, when Wilson responds with a list of demands as a prelude to discussions including German withdrawal from all occupied territories and a total halt of U-Boat attacks. October 5, 1918- The Allies break through the last remnants of the Hindenburg Line. October 6, 1918- A provisional government proclaims the state of Yugoslavia, signaling the beginning of the breakup of the old Hapsburg (Austro-Hungarian) Empire in central Europe which had existed for six centuries. October 7, 1918- Poland, formerly part of the Russian Empire, proclaims itself as an independent state. October 8, 1918- The British 3rd and 4th Armies take 8,000 German prisoners while advancing toward Cambrai and LeCateau. October 13, 1918- The Germans engage in a general retreat along a 60-mile portion of the Western Front in France stretching from St. Quentin southward to the Argonne Forest, as French and American armies steadily advance. October 14, 1918- Germans abandon positions along the Belgian coast and northernmost France as the British and Belgians steadily advance. October 17, 1918- King Albert of Belgium enters the city of Ostend on the Belgian coast. October 23, 1918- Under pressure from the French and British, President Wilson informs the German government that armistice negotiations can not ensue with the current military or Imperial war leaders still in place. An outraged General Ludendorff then disavows the negotiations as 'unconditional surrender' and is forced to resign by the Kaiser. In the face of such turmoil, the armistice negotiations are conducted principally by civilian members of Germany's government. This will become the basis of a postwar "stab in the back" claim by German militarists asserting their troops at the Front were sold out by the politicians back home. October 24, 1918- In southern Europe, the Allies cross the Piave River to push the Austrians out of Italy as seven Italian armies, incorporating British, French and American divisions, attack the four remaining Austro-Hungarian armies from the Trentino westward to the Gulf of Venice. In its final battle of the war, the Austro-Hungarian Army sees 30,000 soldiers killed and over 400,000 taken prisoner. October 29, 1918- The Czechs declare their independence from Austria. Two days later, Slovakia declares independence from Hungary. Czechoslovakia is subsequently formed. October 30, 1918- Turkey signs an armistice with the Allies, becoming the second of the Central Powers to quit the war. November 1, 1918- Belgrade is liberated by French and Serbian troops. November 1, 1918- After pausing to regroup and resupply, Allied armies resume their eastward march as the U.S. 1st Army and newly formed U.S. 2nd Army attack remaining German positions along the Meuse River near southern Belgium, while the Belgians and British move toward Ghent and Mons in Belgium. November 3, 1918- Mutiny strikes the German Navy at the ports of Kiel and Wilhelmshaven as sailors refuse orders to put to sea to engage in a final colossal battle with the British Navy. Along with this, revolutionary fervor and Bolshevist-style uprisings erupt in German cities including Munich, Stuttgart and Berlin. The extent of the unrest stuns German leaders, and even the Allies, who fear Germany might now succumb to a violent Bolshevist revolution in the manner of Russia. This brings a stark urgency to the armistice negotiations. November 3, 1918- The only remaining ally of Germany, Austria-Hungary, signs an armistice with Italy, leaving Germany alone in the war. November 5, 1918- The Germans are informed by President Wilson that armistice discussions can begin on the basis of his Fourteen Points as they requested, but that an armistice must be secured through France's Marshal Foch, the Allied Supreme Commander. November 8, 1918- At Compiègne, France, six representatives of the German government, with Matthias Erzberger as spokesman, are brusquely presented with armistice terms by Marshal Ferdinand Foch. The terms include German evacuation of all occupied territory, an Allied occupation of Germany west of the Rhine River, surrender of weaponry including all subs and battleships, and indefinite continuation of the naval blockade. November 9, 1918- The Kaiser's Imperial government collapses in ruin as a German republic is proclaimed with Friedrich Ebert heading the new provisional government. Kaiser Wilhelm then seeks refuge in Holland amid concerns for his safety after his generals warn him they may not be able to adequately protect him from the volatile situation in Germany. Armistice Ends Fighting November 11, 1918- At 5:10 am, in a railway car at Compiègne, France, the Germans sign the Armistice which is effective at 11 am--the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. Fighting continues all along the Western Front until precisely 11 o'clock, with 2,000 casualties experienced that day by all sides. Artillery barrages also erupt as 11 am draws near as soldiers yearn to claim they fired the very last shot in the war. November 12, 1918- A final action occurs as Germans in Africa under the command of the elusive General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck encounter British troops in Northern Rhodesia, where news of the Armistice had not reached the Germans. January 6, 1919- An attempt to overthrow Germany's provisional government occurs in Berlin as several buildings are seized by members of the communist Spartacus League led by Karl Liebknecht. The revolution is violently thwarted by bands ofFreikorpscomposed of ex-soldiers led by former German Army officers and Liebknecht is killed. January 18, 1919- The Paris Peace Conference opens with delegates from 32 nations invited. President Woodrow Wilson attends, marking the first-ever visit to Europe by a sitting president. January 19, 1919- The first-ever nationwide election in Germany results in pro-democracy political parties getting 75 percent of the vote. February 6, 1919- The newly elected German Assembly meets in Weimar and begins work on a new democratic constitution. April 28, 1919- The League of Nations is founded, championed by President Wilson as a means of peaceably resolving future conflicts. Germany is excluded for the time being. Despite Wilson's intentions, the United States never joins as an isolationist-minded U.S. Senate subsequently rejects membership to avoid further European entanglements. June 21, 1919- The Germans sink 74 of their own warships in anticipation of being forced to yield them to the Allies. Treaty of Versailles June 28, 1919- At the Palace of Versailles in France, a German delegation signs the Treaty formally ending the war. Its 230 pages contain terms that have little in common with Wilson's Fourteen Points as the Germans had hoped. Germans back home react with mass demonstrations against the perceived harshness, especially clauses that assess sole blame for the war on Germany. July 31, 1919- The Weimar Republic is born in Germany from a new constitution which provides for a liberal democracy. The government consists of two houses of Parliament (Reichstag) and a president elected by the people. The president can dissolve the Reichstag and rule by decree in the event of an emergency. September 1919- Corporal Adolf Hitler is ordered by the German Army to investigate a small political group in Munich called the German Workers' Party. Hitler soon joins the group and begins to build it up, later changing its name to the National Socialist German Workers' (Nazi) Party. The anti-democratic group vehemently opposes the Treaty of Versailles and claims the German Army was not defeated on the battlefield but was betrayed by a "stab in the back" wrought by disloyal politicians on the home front. March 1920-Freikorpsgroups attempt but fail to overthrow Germany's democratic government during the KappPutsch. April 1921- The Reparations Commission announces Germany must pay the Allies $28 billion over 42 years, via annual payments of cash and goods such as coal and timber. April 1922- Germany and Soviet Russia conclude the Treaty of Rapallo allowing for economic collaboration. Secret clauses in the treaty provide for German military activities prohibited by the Treaty of Versailles, including weapons manufacturing, to be done in Soviet Russia. January 1923- After Germany falls behind on its war reparation payments, French and Belgian troops occupy the Ruhr industrial region inside Germany. Workers there react by walking off the job. In a defiant show of support, the German government sends money to the out-of-work protestors. However, this soon leads to ruinous inflation and devaluation of the German deutsche mark--eventually four billion to the dollar--as the government prints an unlimited amount of money to satisfy its needs. November 9, 1923- Three thousand Nazis led by Adolf Hitler, and aided by former General Erich Ludendorff, attempt but fail to overthrow Germany's democratic government by staging an armedPutschin Munich. Hitler is then sentenced to prison where he composesMein Kampfa book outlining his racial, political and military philosophies, including the need for Germany to forcibly expand its borders eastward into Russia. The Nazis remain a fringe group until the worldwide economic collapse of 1929 causes political turmoil in Germany that generates popular support for Hitler, resulting in the election of Nazis to the government. In the early hours of October 4, 1918, German Chancellor Max von Baden, appointed byKaiser Wilhelm IIjust three days earlier, sends a telegraph message to the administration of PresidentWoodrow Wilsonin Washington, D.C., requesting an armistice between Germany and the Allied powers inWorld War I. By the end of September 1918, the Allies had made a tremendous resurgence on the Western Front, reversing the gains of the previous spring’s massive German offensive and pushing the German army in eastern France and western Belgium back to its last line of defenses, the so-called Hindenburg Line. Stunned and despondent, German GeneralErich Ludendorff, chief architect of that final spring offensive, reversed his previous optimism about the German military situation and demanded at a crown council meeting on September 29, that Germany seek an immediate armistice based on the terms President Wilson had laid out in his famous Fourteen Points address in January 1918. Feeling that the army’s leadership had completely usurped the government, Chancellor Georg von Hertling immediately resigned; Kaiser Wilhelm subsequently appointed his second cousin, Prince Max von Baden, to the post. As soon as von Baden arrived in Berlin to take office on October 1, he made it clear that he had no intention of admitting defeat until Germany had regained at least some ground on the battlefield; in this way he hoped to retain some powers of negotiation with the Allies. On October 3, however,Paul von Hindenburg, the German army’s chief of staff and head of the Third Supreme Command—as Germany’s military leadership was known—reiterated Ludendorff’s advice, stating that “The German army still stands firm and is defending itself against all attacks. The situation, however, is growing more critical daily, and may force the High Command to momentous decisions. In these circumstances it is imperative to stop the fighting in order to spare the German people and their allies unnecessary sacrifices. Every day of delay costs thousands of brave soldiers their lives.” Von Baden disagreed with Hindenburg, telling him that too early an armistice could mean Germany would lose valuable territory in Alsace-Lorraine and East Prussia, which had been implicit under the terms of the Fourteen Points, despite Wilson’s expressed desire for a “peace without victory.” Deciding to seek his own way apart from the Supreme Command, von Baden brought two Socialist members of the German Reichstag into his cabinet; they too, appraising the growing anti-war feeling on the home front and in the government, advised the chancellor to seek an armistice. On October 4, heeding their advice, von Baden telegraphed his request to Washington. Wilson’s response, in notes of October 14 and 23, made it clear that the Allies would only deal with a democratic Germany, not an imperial state with an effective military dictatorship presided over by the Supreme Command. Neither Wilson nor his even less conciliatory counterparts in Britain and France trusted von Baden’s declaration of October 5 that he was taking steps to move Germany towards parliamentary democracy. After Wilson’s second note arrived, Ludendorff’s resolve returned and he announced that the note should be rejected and the war resumed in full force. After peace had come so tantalizingly close, however, it proved even more difficult for Germans—on the battlefield as well as on the home front—to carry on. Within a month, Ludendorff had resigned, as the German position had deteriorated still further and it was determined that the war could not be allowed to continue. On November 7, Hindenburg contacted the Allied Supreme Commander,Ferdinand Foch, to open armistice negotiations; four days later, World War I came to an end. The League of Nations was established in 1919 by the victorious Allied powers after World War I. The League began organizational work in the fall of 1919, spending its first 10 months with a headquarters in London before moving to Geneva. The Covenant of the League of Nations went into effect on January 10, 1920, formally instituting the League of Nations. The League was seen as the epitome of a new world order based on mutual cooperation and the peaceful resolution of international conflicts. The Covenant bound its Member States to try to settle their disputes peacefully. By joining the League, Member States also renounced secret diplomacy, committed to reduce their armaments, and agreed to comply with international law. Although the League was unable to fulfill the hopes of its founders, its creation was an event of decisive importance in the history of international relations. The League of Nations was an international diplomatic group developed after World War I as a way to solve disputes between countries before they erupted into open warfare. A precursor to the United Nations, the League achieved some victories but had a mixed record of success, sometimes putting self-interest before becoming involved with conflict resolution, while also contending with governments that did not recognize its authority. The League effectively ceased operations during World War II. What Was the League of Nations? The League of Nations has its origins in theFourteen Pointsspeech of PresidentWoodrow Wilson, part of a presentation given in 1918 outlining of his ideas for peace after the carnage ofWorld War I. Wilson envisioned an organization that was charged with resolving conflicts before they exploded into bloodshed and warfare. By December of the same year, Wilson left for Paris to transform his Fourteen Points into what would become theTreaty of Versailles. Seven months later, he returned to the United States with a treaty that included the idea for what became the League of Nations. Republican Congressman fromMassachusettsHenry Cabot Lodgeled a battle against the treaty. Lodge believed both the treaty and the League undercut U.S. autonomy in international matters. In response, Wilson took the debate to the American people, embarking on a 27-day train journey to sell the treaty to live audiences but cut his tour short due to exhaustion and sickness. Upon arriving back inWashington, D.C., Wilson had a stroke. Congress did not ratify the treaty, and the United States refused to take part in the League of Nations. Isolationists in Congress feared it would draw the United Sates into international affairs unnecessarily. Paris Peace Conference In other countries, the League of Nations was a more popular idea. Under the leadership of Lord Cecil, theBritish Parliamentcreated the Phillimore Committee as an exploratory body and announced support of it. French liberals followed, with the leaders of Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium, Greece, Czechoslovakia and other smaller nations responding in kind. In 1919 the structure and process of the League were laid out in a covenant developed by all the countries taking part in theParis Peace Conference. The League began organizational work in the fall of 1919, spending its first 10 months with a headquarters inLondonbefore moving to Geneva. The Covenant of the League of Nations went into effect on January 10, 1920, formallyinstituting the League of Nations. By 1920, 48 countries had joined. League of Nations Plays it Safe The League struggled for the right opportunity to assert its authority. Secretary-General Sir Eric Drummond believed that failure was likely to damage the burgeoning organization, so it was best not to insinuate itself into just any dispute. When Russia, which was not a member of the League, attacked a port in Persia in 1920, Persia appealed to the League for help. The League refused to take part, believing that Russia would not acknowledge their jurisdiction and that would damage the League’s authority. Adding to the growing pains, some European countries had a hard time handing over autonomy when seeking help with disputes. There were situations in which the League had no choice but to get involved. From 1919 to 1935, the League acted as a trustee of a tiny region between France and Germany called the Saar. The League became the 15-year custodian of the coal-rich area to allow it time to determine on its own which of the two countries it wished to join, with Germany being the eventual choice. A similar situation happened in Danzig, which was set-up as a free city by the Treaty of Versailles and became the center of a dispute between Germany and Poland. The League administered Danzig for several years before it fell back under German rule. Disputes Solved by the League of Nations Poland was in frequent distress, fearing for its independence against threats from neighboring Russia, which in 1920 occupied the city of Vilna and handed it over to Lithuanian allies. Following a demand that Poland recognize Lithuanian independence, the League became involved. Vilna was returned to Poland, but hostilities with Lithuania continued. The League was also brought in as Poland grappled with Germany about Upper Silesia and with Czechoslovakia over the town of Teschen. Other areas of dispute that the League got involved in included the squabble between Finland and Sweden over the Aaland Islands; disputes between Hungary and Rumania; Finland’s separate quarrels with Russia, Yugoslavia and Austria; a border argument between Albania and Greece; and the tussle between France and England over Morocco. In 1923, following the murder of Italian General Enrico Tellini and his staff within the borders of Greece,Benito Mussoliniretaliated by bombing and invading the Greek island Corfu. Greece requested the League’s help, but Mussolini refused to work with it. The League was left on the sidelines watching as the dispute was solved instead by the Conference of Ambassadors, an Allied group that was later made part of the League. The Incident at Petrich followed two years later. It’s unclear precisely how the debacle in the border town of Petrich in Bulgaria started, but it resulted in the deaths of a Greek captain and retaliation from Greece in the form of invasion. Bulgaria apologized and begged the League for help. The League decreed a settlement that was accepted by both countries. Larger Efforts by the League of Nations Other League efforts include the Geneva Protocol, devised in the 1920s to limit what is now understood as chemical and biological weaponry, and the World Disarmament Conference in the 1930s, which was meant to make disarmament a reality but failed afterAdolf Hitlerbroke away from the conference and the League in 1933. In 1920 the League created its Mandates Commission, charged with protecting minorities. Its suggestions about Africa were treated seriously by France and Belgium but ignored by South Africa. In 1929, the Mandates Commission helped Iraq join the League. The Mandates Commission also got involved in tensions inPalestinebetween the incoming Jewish population and Palestinian Arabs, though any hopes of sustaining peace there was further complicated byNazipersecution of the Jews, which lead to a rise in immigration to Palestine. The League was also involved in theKellogg-Briand Pactof 1928, which sought to outlaw war. It was successfully adapted by over 60 countries. Put to the test when Japan invaded Mongolia in 1931, the League proved incapable of enforcing the pact. Why Did the League of Nations Fail? WhenWorld War IIbroke out, most members of the League were not involved and claimed neutrality, but members France and Germany were immediately impacted. In 1940, League members Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands and France all fell to Hitler. Switzerland became nervous about hosting an organization perceived as an Allied one, and the League began to dismantle its offices. Soon the Allies endorsed the idea of theUnited Nations, which held its first planning conference inSan Franciscoin 1944, effectively ending any need for the League of Nations to make a post-war return. The Fourteen Points speech of PresidentWoodrow Wilsonwas an address delivered before a joint meeting of Congress on January 8, 1918, during which Wilson outlined his vision for a stable, long-lasting peace in Europe, the Americas and the rest of the world followingWorld War I. Wilson’s proposal called for the victorious Allies to set unselfish peace terms with the vanquished Central Powers of World War I, including freedom of the seas, the restoration of territories conquered during the war and the right to national self-determination in such contentious regions as the Balkans. The devastation and carnage of the First World War grimly illustrated to Wilson the unavoidable relationship between international stability and American national security. At the same time, he sought to placate American isolationists by stating that the world must “be made fit and safe to live in; and particularly that it be made safe for every peace-loving nation which, like our own, wishes to live its own life, determine its own institutions, be assured of justice and fair dealing by the other peoples of the world as against force and selfish aggression.” What Were the Fourteen Points? In his speech, Wilson itemized 14 strategies to ensure national security and world peace. Several points addressed specific territorial issues in Europe, but the most significant sections set the tone for postwar American diplomacy and the ideals that would form the backbone of U.S. foreign policy as the nation achieved superpower status in the early 20th century. Wilson could foresee that international relations would only become more important to American security and global commerce. He advocated equal trade conditions, arms reduction and national sovereignty for former colonies of Europe’s weakening empires. One of Wilson’s purposes in delivering the Fourteen Points speech was to present a practical alternative to the traditional notion of an international balance of power preserved by alliances among nations—belief in the viability of which had been shattered by World War I—and to the Bolshevik-inspired dreams of world revolution that at the time were gaining ground both within and outside of Russia. Wilson hoped also to keep a conflict-ridden Russia in the war on the Allied side. This effort met with failure, as theBolsheviks sought peace with the Central Powersat the end of 1917, shortly after taking power following theRussian Revolution. In other ways, however, Wilson’s Fourteen Points played an essential role in world politics over the next several years. The speech was translated and distributed to the soldiers and citizens of Germany and Austria-Hungary and contributed to their decision to agree to anarmisticein November 1918. Treaty of Versailles Like the man himself, Wilson’s Fourteen Points were liberal, democratic and idealistic. He spoke in grand and inspiring terms, but was less certain of the specifics of how his aims would be achieved. At the Paris Peace Conference, Wilson had to contend with the leaders of the other victorious Allied nations, who disagreed with many of the Fourteen Points and demanded stiff penalties for Germany in theTreaty of Versailles. Importantly, Wilson urged the establishment of an international governing body of united nations for the purpose of guaranteeing political independence and territorial integrity to great and small countries alike. His idea gave birth to the short-livedLeague of Nations. The more viable United Nations would come into existence only after the conclusion of another devastating global conflict:World War II. World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 1 In Colour Film - Catastrophe https://rumble.com/v35gtvg-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-1-in-colour-film-catastrophe.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 2 In Colour Film - Slaughter In The Trenches https://rumble.com/v35iwdm-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-2-in-colour-film-slaughter-in-the-tren.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 3 In Colour Film - Blood In The Air https://rumble.com/v35lfes-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-3-in-colour-film-blood-in-the-air.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 4 In Colour Film - Killers Of The Sea https://rumble.com/v35mjdo-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-4-in-colour-film-killers-of-the-sea.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 5 In Colour Film - Mayhem On The Eastern Front https://rumble.com/v35oyly-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-5-in-colour-film-mayhem-on-the-eastern.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 6 In Colour Film - Victory and Despair https://rumble.com/v35ugei-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-6-in-colour-film-victory-and-despair.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 7 In Colour Film - Tactics And Strategy https://rumble.com/v35vyrr-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-7-in-colour-film-tactics-and-strategy.html Over 65 million men volunteered or were conscripted to fight in mass citizen armies. Millions of civilians also contributed to the war effort by working in industry, agriculture or jobs left open when men enlisted. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars:_1945%E2%80%931989 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars:_1990%E2%80%932002 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars:_2003%E2%80%93present https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_World_War_I https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_timelines_of_World_War_II World War I Pitted Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire against Great Britain, the United States, France, Russia, Italy and Japan. New military technology resulted in unprecedented carnage. By the time the war was over and the Allied Powers claimed victory, more than 16 million people—soldiers and civilians alike—were dead.

World War I Pitted Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire against Great Britain, the United States, France, Russia, Italy and Japan. New military technology resulted in unprecedented carnage. By the time the war was over and the Allied Powers claimed victory, more than 16 million people—soldiers and civilians alike—were dead. Pt. 7 of Seven. 1. It was a global war Over 30 nations declared war between 1914 and 1918. The majority joined on the side of the Allies, including Serbia, Russia, France, Britain, Italy and the United States. They were opposed by Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire, who together formed the Central Powers. What began as a relatively small conflict in southeast Europe became a war between European empires. Britain and its Empire’s entry into the war made this a truly global conflict fought on a geographical scale never seen before. Fighting occurred not only on the Western Front, but in eastern and southeast Europe, Africa and the Middle East. 2. It is Far Better to Face the Bullets... The First World War was not inevitable or accidental, but began as a result of human actions and decisions. Over 65 million men volunteered or were conscripted to fight in mass citizen armies. Millions of civilians also contributed to the war effort by working in industry, agriculture or jobs left open when men enlisted. Victory depended on popular support. Some nations were forced to surrender as their people, pushed to their physical and emotional limits, lost the will to continue fighting. The First World War was also a war against people. Invading armies committed atrocities against civilians in the areas they occupied. Attacks on civilians became increasingly common as each nation tried to break their opponents’ home morale and diminish popular support for the war. Propaganda demonised entire nations and attacked the ‘national characters’ of enemy peoples. 3. It was a war of production National resources were mobilised as each combatant nation raced to supply its armed forces with enough men and equipment. In Britain, early failures in munitions manufacturing led to full government intervention in war production. These controls helped its industry produce nearly 4 million rifles, 250,000 machine guns, 52,000 aeroplanes, 2,800 tanks, 25,000 artillery pieces and over 170 million rounds of artillery shells by 1918. 4. It was a war of innovation Advances in weaponry and military technology provoked tactical changes as each side tried to gain an advantage over the other. The introduction of aircraft into war left soldiers and civilians vulnerable to attacks from above for the first time. Major innovations were also made in manufacturing, chemistry and communications. Medical advances made the First World War the first major conflict in which British deaths in battle outnumbered deaths caused by disease. 5. It was a war of destruction The First World War left an estimated 16 million soldiers and civilians dead and countless others physically and psychologically wounded. The war also forever altered the world’s social and political landscape. It accelerated changes in attitudes towards gender and class and led to the collapse of the Russian, Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empires. The cost of waging total war - and of rebuilding afterwards - ravaged the national economies of both the victorious European Allies and the defeated Central Powers. The human cost of the First World War for Britain saw the creation of a new language of remembrance, which remains to this day. It can be seen in war memorials in cities, towns, schools, places of worship and workplaces, as well as in rituals such as Remembrance Sunday and the two-minute silence at 11am each 11 November. World War I Begins At the dawn of the 20th century, few anticipated a global war, but what came to be known as the Great War began on June 28, 1914, with the assassinations of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, while they were visiting Sarajevo, Bosnia, a country recently annexed into the Austrian Empire. Many Bosnians and their Serbian neighbors resented this foreign rule and the Archduke’s visit to Sarajevo provided the opportunity for a small band of Serbian dissidents to strike back. Austria responded to the assassinations by teaming up with its ally, Germany, and declaring war on Serbia. The conflict soon involved Russia, France and Belgium. Fearful of a full-scale world war that would threaten its sea routes to other countries, Great Britain joined the fight against Germany and Austria. Each country believed the fighting would last only a few months. Nations were categorized either as Central Powers or Allies. Countries that joined the Central Powers, such as Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire, supported Austria-Hungary and Germany. The Allies were Russia, France, Belgium and Great Britain, but they were later joined by Japan, Romania, China and the United States. No Man’s Land: Trench Warfare During World War I, trench warfare was a defensive military tactic used extensively by both sides, allowing soldiers some protection from enemy fire but also hindering troops from readily advancing and thus prolonging the war. Trench warfare was the major combat tactic in France and Belgium. Trenches were often dug up to 12 feet deep and stretched for miles. For stability, some trenches included wooden beams and/or sandbags. Even during lulls in the fighting, death occurred almost daily in the trenches due to a sniper’s bullet or the unsanitary living conditions which resulted in many diseases such as dysentery, typhus and cholera. Other diseases caused by the poor conditions were trench mouth and trench foot*. *Trench mouth was an infection of the mouth due to overgrowth of certain oral bacteria. The condition was made worse by poor oral hygiene, smoking, malnutrition and psychological stress. To prevent trench foot, a fungal disease caused by exposure to wet and cold, soldiers frequently added wooden planks in the trenches to keep from having to stand in water. Barbed wire and explosive mines—as well as bullets and grenades—were essential weapons used to hinder infantry advances across “No Man’s Land,” the bleak landscape between the trenches of the opposing sides. New offensive weapons were implemented during the war including tanks and poison gases*. *Tanks, armored against artillery fire, were capable of rolling over barbed wire as well as crossing treacherous terrain. Chlorine was one of the poisonous gases used in World War I. It was damaging to the eyes, nose, throat and lungs, and produced symptoms ranging from irritation to blindness and death.) In 1915, the Germans used poison gases against the Allies fighting in the trenches on the Western Front. To protect soldiers from chemical warfare, gas masks were developed. Great Britain made one of the first types of masks capable of minimizing the deadly impact of these gases on their troops. Though considered a novelty when the war began, aircraft were used by both sides for reconnaissance, allowing personnel to observe enemy troop positions, to direct artillery fire and to photograph enemy lines. By the end of the war, the concepts of aerial combat and aerial bombing had come into being. 1871- Following the defeat of France in the Franco-Prussian War, Germany is unified as an Imperial federation of states, led by the King of Prussia (Kaiser Wilhelm I). This spurs a new era of population growth and rapid industrialization. The Germans also forcibly annex the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine from France. 1882- Germany, Austria-Hungary (Hapsburg Empire) and Italy form the Triple Alliance. 1891- The Russian Empire and France form their own alliance in reaction to the Triple Alliance. 1898- Germany begins to build up its navy to challenge the British Navy's long-standing global supremacy. January 1902- Britain and Japan form a naval alliance. April 1904- The British reach a strategic agreement with France which includes mutual military support in the event of war. January 1905- Troops of Russian Czar Nicholas II fire upon peaceful demonstrators in St. Petersburg killing hundreds in what comes to be known as Bloody Sunday. May 1905- Russia suffers a military defeat at sea by newly industrialized Japan, thwarting Russia's territorial ambitions toward Manchuria and Korea. October 1905- Continuing political unrest in Russia, including a general strike, results in the creation of a national legislative assembly (Duma) by the Czar. February 1906-H.M.S. Dreadnoughtis launched by Britain, marking the advent of a new class of big-gun battleships. The Germans follow suit and begin building similar battleships as an all-out arms race ensues between Germany and Britain. August 1907- The British reach a strategic agreement with Russia. October 1908- Austria-Hungary, backed by Germany, annexes Bosnia-Herzegovina. Neighboring Serbia, with the backing of Russia, voices its objection in support of the Serbian minority living in Bosnia. March 1909- Germany forces Russia to endorse the annexation of Bosnia-Herzegovina by Austria-Hungary. 1910- Germany surpasses Britain as the leading manufacturing nation in Europe. The United States remains the world leader, surpassing all of the European manufacturing nations combined. October 1912- The Balkan War erupts in southern Europe as Serbia leads an attack by members of the Balkan League (Serbia, Bulgaria and Greece) against the Ottoman (Turkish) Empire to drive the Turks out of Europe. May 1913- The Balkan War ends with the Turks driven out of southern Europe. A peace settlement is then drawn up by the major European powers that divides up the former Turkish areas in southern Europe among the Balkan League nations. However, the peace is short-lived as Bulgaria, desiring a bigger share, attacks neighboring Greece and Serbia. Romania then attacks Bulgaria along with the Turks. This Second Balkan War results in Bulgaria losing territory and the Serbians becoming emboldened, leaving the Balkan region of southern Europe politically unstable. 1914 June 28, 1914- Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austrian throne, and his wife, visit Sarajevo in Bosnia. A bomb is thrown at their auto but misses. Undaunted, they continue their visit only to be shot and killed a short time later by a lone assassin. Believing the assassin to be a Serbian nationalist, the Austrians target their anger toward Serbia. Armistice Ends Fighting November 11, 1918 - At 5:10 am, in a railway car at Compiègne, France, the Germans sign the Armistice which is effective at 11 am--the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. Fighting continues all along the Western Front until precisely 11 o'clock, with 2,000 casualties experienced that day by all sides. Artillery barrages also erupt as 11 am draws near as soldiers yearn to claim they fired the very last shot in the war. November 12, 1918 - A final action occurs as Germans in Africa under the command of the elusive General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck encounter British troops in Northern Rhodesia, where news of the Armistice had not reached the Germans. January 6, 1919 - An attempt to overthrow Germany's provisional government occurs in Berlin as several buildings are seized by members of the communist Spartacus League led by Karl Liebknecht. The revolution is violently thwarted by bands of Freikorps composed of ex-soldiers led by former German Army officers and Liebknecht is killed. January 18, 1919 - The Paris Peace Conference opens with delegates from 32 nations invited. President Woodrow Wilson attends, marking the first-ever visit to Europe by a sitting president. January 19, 1919 - The first-ever nationwide election in Germany results in pro-democracy political parties getting 75 percent of the vote. February 6, 1919 - The newly elected German Assembly meets in Weimar and begins work on a new democratic constitution. April 28, 1919 - The League of Nations is founded, championed by President Wilson as a means of peaceably resolving future conflicts. Germany is excluded for the time being. Despite Wilson's intentions, the United States never joins as an isolationist-minded U.S. Senate subsequently rejects membership to avoid further European entanglements. June 21, 1919 - The Germans sink 74 of their own warships in anticipation of being forced to yield them to the Allies. Treaty of Versailles June 28, 1919 - At the Palace of Versailles in France, a German delegation signs the Treaty formally ending the war. Its 230 pages contain terms that have little in common with Wilson's Fourteen Points as the Germans had hoped. Germans back home react with mass demonstrations against the perceived harshness, especially clauses that assess sole blame for the war on Germany. July 31, 1919 - The Weimar Republic is born in Germany from a new constitution which provides for a liberal democracy. The government consists of two houses of Parliament (Reichstag) and a president elected by the people. The president can dissolve the Reichstag and rule by decree in the event of an emergency. September 1919 - Corporal Adolf Hitler is ordered by the German Army to investigate a small political group in Munich called the German Workers' Party. Hitler soon joins the group and begins to build it up, later changing its name to the National Socialist German Workers' (Nazi) Party. The anti-democratic group vehemently opposes the Treaty of Versailles and claims the German Army was not defeated on the battlefield but was betrayed by a "stab in the back" wrought by disloyal politicians on the home front. March 1920 - Freikorps groups attempt but fail to overthrow Germany's democratic government during the Kapp Putsch. April 1921 - The Reparations Commission announces Germany must pay the Allies $28 billion over 42 years, via annual payments of cash and goods such as coal and timber. April 1922 - Germany and Soviet Russia conclude the Treaty of Rapallo allowing for economic collaboration. Secret clauses in the treaty provide for German military activities prohibited by the Treaty of Versailles, including weapons manufacturing, to be done in Soviet Russia. January 1923 - After Germany falls behind on its war reparation payments, French and Belgian troops occupy the Ruhr industrial region inside Germany. Workers there react by walking off the job. In a defiant show of support, the German government sends money to the out-of-work protestors. However, this soon leads to ruinous inflation and devaluation of the German deutsche mark--eventually four billion to the dollar--as the government prints an unlimited amount of money to satisfy its needs. November 9, 1923 - Three thousand Nazis led by Adolf Hitler, and aided by former General Erich Ludendorff, attempt but fail to overthrow Germany's democratic government by staging an armed Putsch in Munich. Hitler is then sentenced to prison where he composes Mein Kampf a book outlining his racial, political and military philosophies, including the need for Germany to forcibly expand its borders eastward into Russia. The Nazis remain a fringe group until the worldwide economic collapse of 1929 causes political turmoil in Germany that generates popular support for Hitler, resulting in the election of Nazis to the government. In the early hours of October 4, 1918, German Chancellor Max von Baden, appointed by Kaiser Wilhelm II just three days earlier, sends a telegraph message to the administration of President Woodrow Wilson in Washington, D.C., requesting an armistice between Germany and the Allied powers in World War I. By the end of September 1918, the Allies had made a tremendous resurgence on the Western Front, reversing the gains of the previous spring’s massive German offensive and pushing the German army in eastern France and western Belgium back to its last line of defenses, the so-called Hindenburg Line. Stunned and despondent, German General Erich Ludendorff, chief architect of that final spring offensive, reversed his previous optimism about the German military situation and demanded at a crown council meeting on September 29, that Germany seek an immediate armistice based on the terms President Wilson had laid out in his famous Fourteen Points address in January 1918. Feeling that the army’s leadership had completely usurped the government, Chancellor Georg von Hertling immediately resigned; Kaiser Wilhelm subsequently appointed his second cousin, Prince Max von Baden, to the post. As soon as von Baden arrived in Berlin to take office on October 1, he made it clear that he had no intention of admitting defeat until Germany had regained at least some ground on the battlefield; in this way he hoped to retain some powers of negotiation with the Allies. On October 3, however, Paul von Hindenburg, the German army’s chief of staff and head of the Third Supreme Command—as Germany’s military leadership was known—reiterated Ludendorff’s advice, stating that “The German army still stands firm and is defending itself against all attacks. The situation, however, is growing more critical daily, and may force the High Command to momentous decisions. In these circumstances it is imperative to stop the fighting in order to spare the German people and their allies unnecessary sacrifices. Every day of delay costs thousands of brave soldiers their lives.” Von Baden disagreed with Hindenburg, telling him that too early an armistice could mean Germany would lose valuable territory in Alsace-Lorraine and East Prussia, which had been implicit under the terms of the Fourteen Points, despite Wilson’s expressed desire for a “peace without victory.” Deciding to seek his own way apart from the Supreme Command, von Baden brought two Socialist members of the German Reichstag into his cabinet; they too, appraising the growing anti-war feeling on the home front and in the government, advised the chancellor to seek an armistice. On October 4, heeding their advice, von Baden telegraphed his request to Washington. Wilson’s response, in notes of October 14 and 23, made it clear that the Allies would only deal with a democratic Germany, not an imperial state with an effective military dictatorship presided over by the Supreme Command. Neither Wilson nor his even less conciliatory counterparts in Britain and France trusted von Baden’s declaration of October 5 that he was taking steps to move Germany towards parliamentary democracy. After Wilson’s second note arrived, Ludendorff’s resolve returned and he announced that the note should be rejected and the war resumed in full force. After peace had come so tantalizingly close, however, it proved even more difficult for Germans—on the battlefield as well as on the home front—to carry on. Within a month, Ludendorff had resigned, as the German position had deteriorated still further and it was determined that the war could not be allowed to continue. On November 7, Hindenburg contacted the Allied Supreme Commander, Ferdinand Foch, to open armistice negotiations; four days later, World War I came to an end. The League of Nations was established in 1919 by the victorious Allied powers after World War I. The League began organizational work in the fall of 1919, spending its first 10 months with a headquarters in London before moving to Geneva. The Covenant of the League of Nations went into effect on January 10, 1920, formally instituting the League of Nations. The League was seen as the epitome of a new world order based on mutual cooperation and the peaceful resolution of international conflicts. The Covenant bound its Member States to try to settle their disputes peacefully. By joining the League, Member States also renounced secret diplomacy, committed to reduce their armaments, and agreed to comply with international law. Although the League was unable to fulfill the hopes of its founders, its creation was an event of decisive importance in the history of international relations. The League of Nations was an international diplomatic group developed after World War I as a way to solve disputes between countries before they erupted into open warfare. A precursor to the United Nations, the League achieved some victories but had a mixed record of success, sometimes putting self-interest before becoming involved with conflict resolution, while also contending with governments that did not recognize its authority. The League effectively ceased operations during World War II. What Was the League of Nations? The League of Nations has its origins in the Fourteen Points speech of President Woodrow Wilson, part of a presentation given in 1918 outlining of his ideas for peace after the carnage of World War I. Wilson envisioned an organization that was charged with resolving conflicts before they exploded into bloodshed and warfare. By December of the same year, Wilson left for Paris to transform his Fourteen Points into what would become the Treaty of Versailles. Seven months later, he returned to the United States with a treaty that included the idea for what became the League of Nations. Republican Congressman from Massachusetts Henry Cabot Lodge led a battle against the treaty. Lodge believed both the treaty and the League undercut U.S. autonomy in international matters. In response, Wilson took the debate to the American people, embarking on a 27-day train journey to sell the treaty to live audiences but cut his tour short due to exhaustion and sickness. Upon arriving back in Washington, D.C., Wilson had a stroke. Congress did not ratify the treaty, and the United States refused to take part in the League of Nations. Isolationists in Congress feared it would draw the United Sates into international affairs unnecessarily. Paris Peace Conference In other countries, the League of Nations was a more popular idea. Under the leadership of Lord Cecil, the British Parliament created the Phillimore Committee as an exploratory body and announced support of it. French liberals followed, with the leaders of Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium, Greece, Czechoslovakia and other smaller nations responding in kind. In 1919 the structure and process of the League were laid out in a covenant developed by all the countries taking part in the Paris Peace Conference. The League began organizational work in the fall of 1919, spending its first 10 months with a headquarters in London before moving to Geneva. The Covenant of the League of Nations went into effect on January 10, 1920, formally instituting the League of Nations. By 1920, 48 countries had joined. League of Nations Plays it Safe The League struggled for the right opportunity to assert its authority. Secretary-General Sir Eric Drummond believed that failure was likely to damage the burgeoning organization, so it was best not to insinuate itself into just any dispute. When Russia, which was not a member of the League, attacked a port in Persia in 1920, Persia appealed to the League for help. The League refused to take part, believing that Russia would not acknowledge their jurisdiction and that would damage the League’s authority. Adding to the growing pains, some European countries had a hard time handing over autonomy when seeking help with disputes. There were situations in which the League had no choice but to get involved. From 1919 to 1935, the League acted as a trustee of a tiny region between France and Germany called the Saar. The League became the 15-year custodian of the coal-rich area to allow it time to determine on its own which of the two countries it wished to join, with Germany being the eventual choice. A similar situation happened in Danzig, which was set-up as a free city by the Treaty of Versailles and became the center of a dispute between Germany and Poland. The League administered Danzig for several years before it fell back under German rule. Disputes Solved by the League of Nations Poland was in frequent distress, fearing for its independence against threats from neighboring Russia, which in 1920 occupied the city of Vilna and handed it over to Lithuanian allies. Following a demand that Poland recognize Lithuanian independence, the League became involved. Vilna was returned to Poland, but hostilities with Lithuania continued. The League was also brought in as Poland grappled with Germany about Upper Silesia and with Czechoslovakia over the town of Teschen. Other areas of dispute that the League got involved in included the squabble between Finland and Sweden over the Aaland Islands; disputes between Hungary and Rumania; Finland’s separate quarrels with Russia, Yugoslavia and Austria; a border argument between Albania and Greece; and the tussle between France and England over Morocco. In 1923, following the murder of Italian General Enrico Tellini and his staff within the borders of Greece, Benito Mussolini retaliated by bombing and invading the Greek island Corfu. Greece requested the League’s help, but Mussolini refused to work with it. The League was left on the sidelines watching as the dispute was solved instead by the Conference of Ambassadors, an Allied group that was later made part of the League. The Incident at Petrich followed two years later. It’s unclear precisely how the debacle in the border town of Petrich in Bulgaria started, but it resulted in the deaths of a Greek captain and retaliation from Greece in the form of invasion. Bulgaria apologized and begged the League for help. The League decreed a settlement that was accepted by both countries. Larger Efforts by the League of Nations Other League efforts include the Geneva Protocol, devised in the 1920s to limit what is now understood as chemical and biological weaponry, and the World Disarmament Conference in the 1930s, which was meant to make disarmament a reality but failed after Adolf Hitler broke away from the conference and the League in 1933. In 1920 the League created its Mandates Commission, charged with protecting minorities. Its suggestions about Africa were treated seriously by France and Belgium but ignored by South Africa. In 1929, the Mandates Commission helped Iraq join the League. The Mandates Commission also got involved in tensions in Palestine between the incoming Jewish population and Palestinian Arabs, though any hopes of sustaining peace there was further complicated by Nazi persecution of the Jews, which lead to a rise in immigration to Palestine. The League was also involved in the Kellogg-Briand Pact of 1928, which sought to outlaw war. It was successfully adapted by over 60 countries. Put to the test when Japan invaded Mongolia in 1931, the League proved incapable of enforcing the pact. Why Did the League of Nations Fail? When World War II broke out, most members of the League were not involved and claimed neutrality, but members France and Germany were immediately impacted. In 1940, League members Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands and France all fell to Hitler. Switzerland became nervous about hosting an organization perceived as an Allied one, and the League began to dismantle its offices. Soon the Allies endorsed the idea of the United Nations, which held its first planning conference in San Francisco in 1944, effectively ending any need for the League of Nations to make a post-war return. The Fourteen Points speech of President Woodrow Wilson was an address delivered before a joint meeting of Congress on January 8, 1918, during which Wilson outlined his vision for a stable, long-lasting peace in Europe, the Americas and the rest of the world following World War I. Wilson’s proposal called for the victorious Allies to set unselfish peace terms with the vanquished Central Powers of World War I, including freedom of the seas, the restoration of territories conquered during the war and the right to national self-determination in such contentious regions as the Balkans. The devastation and carnage of the First World War grimly illustrated to Wilson the unavoidable relationship between international stability and American national security. At the same time, he sought to placate American isolationists by stating that the world must “be made fit and safe to live in; and particularly that it be made safe for every peace-loving nation which, like our own, wishes to live its own life, determine its own institutions, be assured of justice and fair dealing by the other peoples of the world as against force and selfish aggression.” What Were the Fourteen Points? In his speech, Wilson itemized 14 strategies to ensure national security and world peace. Several points addressed specific territorial issues in Europe, but the most significant sections set the tone for postwar American diplomacy and the ideals that would form the backbone of U.S. foreign policy as the nation achieved superpower status in the early 20th century. Wilson could foresee that international relations would only become more important to American security and global commerce. He advocated equal trade conditions, arms reduction and national sovereignty for former colonies of Europe’s weakening empires. One of Wilson’s purposes in delivering the Fourteen Points speech was to present a practical alternative to the traditional notion of an international balance of power preserved by alliances among nations—belief in the viability of which had been shattered by World War I—and to the Bolshevik-inspired dreams of world revolution that at the time were gaining ground both within and outside of Russia. Wilson hoped also to keep a conflict-ridden Russia in the war on the Allied side. This effort met with failure, as the Bolsheviks sought peace with the Central Powers at the end of 1917, shortly after taking power following the Russian Revolution. In other ways, however, Wilson’s Fourteen Points played an essential role in world politics over the next several years. The speech was translated and distributed to the soldiers and citizens of Germany and Austria-Hungary and contributed to their decision to agree to an armistice in November 1918. Treaty of Versailles Like the man himself, Wilson’s Fourteen Points were liberal, democratic and idealistic. He spoke in grand and inspiring terms, but was less certain of the specifics of how his aims would be achieved. At the Paris Peace Conference, Wilson had to contend with the leaders of the other victorious Allied nations, who disagreed with many of the Fourteen Points and demanded stiff penalties for Germany in the Treaty of Versailles. Importantly, Wilson urged the establishment of an international governing body of united nations for the purpose of guaranteeing political independence and territorial integrity to great and small countries alike. His idea gave birth to the short-lived League of Nations. The more viable United Nations would come into existence only after the conclusion of another devastating global conflict: World War II. World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 1 In Colour Film - Catastrophe https://rumble.com/v35gtvg-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-1-in-colour-film-catastrophe.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 2 In Colour Film - Slaughter In The Trenches https://rumble.com/v35iwdm-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-2-in-colour-film-slaughter-in-the-tren.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 3 In Colour Film - Blood In The Air https://rumble.com/v35lfes-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-3-in-colour-film-blood-in-the-air.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 4 In Colour Film - Killers Of The Sea https://rumble.com/v35mjdo-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-4-in-colour-film-killers-of-the-sea.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 5 In Colour Film - Mayhem On The Eastern Front https://rumble.com/v35oyly-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-5-in-colour-film-mayhem-on-the-eastern.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 6 In Colour Film - Victory and Despair https://rumble.com/v35ugei-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-6-in-colour-film-victory-and-despair.html World War One - Dates & Timeline Pt. 7 In Colour Film - Tactics And Strategy https://rumble.com/v35vyrr-world-war-one-dates-and-timeline-pt.-7-in-colour-film-tactics-and-strategy.html Over 65 million men volunteered or were conscripted to fight in mass citizen armies. Millions of civilians also contributed to the war effort by working in industry, agriculture or jobs left open when men enlisted. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars:_1945%E2%80%931989 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars:_1990%E2%80%932002 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars:_2003%E2%80%93present https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_World_War_I https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_timelines_of_World_War_II World War I Pitted Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire against Great Britain, the United States, France, Russia, Italy and Japan. New military technology resulted in unprecedented carnage. By the time the war was over and the Allied Powers claimed victory, more than 16 million people—soldiers and civilians alike—were dead.

True History World War Two was a global war that lasted from Sept. 18-1931 to Aug. 14-1945 Explore the true timeline of key events before and during World War 2. The mass murder of Europe’s Jews took place in the context of World War Two. As German troops invaded and occupied more and more territory in Europe, the Soviet Union, and North Africa, the regime’s racial and anti-Semitic policies became more radical, moving from persecution to genocide. America's isolation from war ended on December 7, 1941, when Japan staged a surprise attack on American military installations in the Pacific. The Second Sino-Japanese War was a full-scale war between China and the Empire of Japan that lasted from 1931 to 1945. China was aided by the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Nazi Germany before its alliance with Japan. The war is often regarded as the beginning of World War II in Asia, although some scholars consider the European War and the Pacific War to be entirely separate, albeit concurrent. Around 20 million people, mostly civilians, were killed in the war. The United States advised and supported China's ground war, while basing only a few of its own units in China for operations against Japanese forces in the region and Japan itself. The war's end brought a devastating blow to American diplomacy as China ultimately fell to communism, forever changing the global balance of power in the emerging Cold War. In the 1930s, the Great Depression and the memory of tragic losses in World War I contributed to pushing American public opinion and policy towards isolationism. Isolationists advocated non-involvement in European and Asian conflicts and non-entanglement in international politics. Although the United States took measures to avoid political and military conflicts across the oceans, it continued to expand economically and protect its interests in Latin America. Isolationists believed that World War II was ultimately a dispute between foreign nations and that the United States had no good reason to get involved. The best policy, they claimed, was for the United States to build up its own defenses and avoid antagonizing either side. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, isolationists such as Charles Lindbergh's America First Committee and Herbert Hoover announced their support of the war effort. World War II was a global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945. The main combatants were the Axis powers (Germany, Italy, and Japan) and the Allies (France, Great Britain, the United States, the Soviet Union, and China). The European theater of World War II saw heavy fighting across Europe for almost six years, starting with Germany's invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939 and ending with the Western Allies conquering most of Western Europe, the Soviet Union conquering most of Eastern Europe including the German capital Berlin and Germany's unconditional surrender on 8 May 1945. The war continued primarily between the European Axis powers and the British Empire, with war in the Balkans, the aerial Battle of Britain, the Blitz of the United Kingdom, and the Battle of the Atlantic. The SOE operated in every nation in Europe and southeast Asia that was under the rule of an Axis power. Adolf Hitler and his National Socialist (Nazi Party) rearmed the nation and signed treaties with Italy and Japan to further his ambitions of world domination. The League of Nations was established in 1919 by the victorious Allied powers after World War I. The League began organizational work in the fall of 1919, spending its first 10 months with a headquarters in London before moving to Geneva. The Covenant of the League of Nations went into effect on January 10, 1920, formally instituting the League of Nations. The League was seen as the epitome of a new world order based on mutual cooperation and the peaceful resolution of international conflicts. The Covenant bound its Member States to try to settle their disputes peacefully. By joining the League, Member States also renounced secret diplomacy, committed to reduce their armaments, and agreed to comply with international law. Although the League was unable to fulfill the hopes of its founders, its creation was an event of decisive importance in the history of international relations. "World War II in Colour" is a 13-episode British television docuseries that recounts the major events of World War II, covering the Western Front, Eastern Front, North African Campaign, and the Pacific War. The show is in full color, combining both original and colorized footage. It was first broadcast in 2008-2009 and was on syndication in the United States on the Military Channel. In 2021, Channel 5 broadcast a sister series called "Thirties in Colour: Countdown to War" on their 5Select channel, which would be replaced in the schedules by the 2009 series in September 2021, once the new programme had got to the point of war in its timeline. "Greatest Events of WWII in Colour" is a docuseries that documents some of the events of World War II while showing colorized archive footage of such events. It was released on Netflix as an original series on November 8, 2019, and uses highly advanced colorization techniques to show critical moments from World War II, from Stalingrad to The Battle of Britain, in a whole new light. World War II may have started more than 75 years ago, but people still think about it a lot. You cannot go online without seeing someone be compared to Hitler or the Nazis. Hollywood cannot churn out movies about it fast enough, and there are thousands of books to read on the subject. Even people who don't normally consider themselves history experts are pretty sure they know the basics when it comes to World War II. Except so much of what we think we know is wrong. Propaganda was flying around from all sides during the war, and even after all these years we still believe some of it. Hindsight has made some countries into cowards and some into heroes, while leaders from the time are either completely evil or pure perfection. Obviously, anything as messy as war is a lot more complicated than that. Here are some of the biggest myths you probably believe about World War Two. September 18, 1931Japan invades Manchuria. October 2, 1935–May 1936FascistItalyinvades, conquers, and annexes Ethiopia. October 25–November 1, 1936Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy sign a treaty of cooperation on October 25. On November 1, the Rome-BerlinAxisis announced. November 25, 1936Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan sign the Anti-Comintern Pact. The pact is directed against the Soviet Union and the international Communist movement. July 7, 1937Japan invades China. November 26, 1937Italy joins Germany and Japan in the Anti-Comintern Pact. March 11–13, 1938Germany incorporatesAustriain theAnschluss. September 29, 1938Germany, Italy, Great Britain, and France sign the Munich agreement which forces theCzechoslovak Republicto cede the Sudetenland, including key Czechoslovak military defense positions, to Nazi Germany. March 14–15, 1939Under German pressure, the Slovaks declare their independence and form a Slovak Republic. The Germans occupy the dismantled Czech lands in violation of the Munich agreement and form the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. March 31, 1939France and Great Britain guarantee the integrity of the borders of the Polish state. April 7–15, 1939Fascist Italy invades and annexes Albania. August 23, 1939Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union sign anon-aggression agreementand a secret protocol dividing eastern Europe into spheres of influence. September 1, 1939Germany invades Poland, initiatingWorld War II in Europe. September 3, 1939Honoring their guarantee of Poland’s borders, Great Britain and France declare war on Germany. September 17, 1939The Soviet Union invades Poland from the east. The Polish government flees into exile via Romania, first to France and then later to Great Britain. September 27–29, 1939Warsaw surrenders on September 27. Germany and the Soviet Union divide Poland between them. November 30, 1939–March 12, 1940The Soviet Union invades Finland, initiating the so-called Winter War. The Finns sue for an armistice and cede the northern shores of Lake Ladoga to the Soviet Union. They also cede the small Finnish coastline on the Arctic Sea. April 9, 1940–June 9, 1940Germany invadesDenmarkandNorway. Denmark surrenders on the day of the attack. Norway holds out until June 9. May 10, 1940–June 22, 1940Germany attacks western Europe, specifically France and the neutral Low Countries (Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg). Luxembourg is occupied on May 10; the Netherlands surrenders on May 14; and Belgium surrenders on May 28. On June 22, France signs an armistice agreement by which the Germans occupy the northern half of the country and the entire Atlantic coastline. In southern France, a collaborationist regime with its capital in Vichy is established. June 10, 1940Italyenters the war. Italy invades southern France on June 21. June 28, 1940The Soviet Union forcesRomaniato cede the eastern province of Bessarabia and the northern half of Bukovina to Soviet Ukraine. June 14, 1940–August 6, 1940The Soviet Union occupies the Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania) on June 14–18. On July 14–15, it engineers Communist coup d’états in each of these countries and then annexes them as Soviet Republics on August 3–6. July 10, 1940–October 31, 1940The air war known as the Battle of Britain ends in defeat for Nazi Germany. August 30, 1940Second Vienna Award: Germany and Italy arbitrate a decision on the division of the disputed province of Transylvania between Romania and Hungary. The loss of northern Transylvania forces Romanian King Carol to abdicate in favor of his son, Michael, and brings to power a dictatorship under General Ion Antonescu. September 13, 1940The Italians invade British-controlledEgyptfrom Italian-controlled Libya. September 27, 1940Germany, Italy, and Japan sign the Tripartite Pact. October 1940Italy invadesGreecefrom Albania on October 28. November 1940Hungary (November 20), Romania (November 23), and Slovakia (November 24) join theAxis. February 1941The Germans send the Afrika Korps toNorth Africato reinforce the faltering Italians. March 1, 1941Bulgariajoins theAxis. April 6, 1941–June 1941Germany, Italy, and Hungary invadeYugoslaviaand, together with Bulgaria, dismember it. Yugoslavia surrenders on April 17. Germany and Bulgaria invade Greece in support of the Italians. Resistance in Greece ceases in early June 1941. April 10, 1941The leaders of the terrorist Ustaša movement proclaim the so-called Independent State of Croatia. Recognized immediately by Germany and Italy, the new state includes the province of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Croatia joins the Axis powers formally on June 15, 1941. June 22, 1941–November 1941Nazi Germany and its Axis partners (except Bulgaria)invade the Soviet Union. Finland, seeking redress for the territorial losses in the armistice concluding theso-called WinterWar, agrees to participate in the invasion. The Germansquickly overrun the Baltic states and, joined by the Finns, lay siege to Leningrad (St. Petersburg) by September. In the center, the Germans capture Smolensk in early August and drive on Moscow by October. In the south, German and Romanian troops capture Kiev (Kyiv) in September and capture Rostov on the Don River in November. December 6, 1941A Soviet counteroffensive drives the Germans from the Moscow suburbs in chaotic retreat. December 7, 1941Japan bombsPearl Harbor. December 8, 1941The United States declares war on Japan, entering World War II. Japanese troops land in the Philippines, French Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia), and British Singapore. The Japanese occupy the Philippines, Indochina, and Singapore by April 1942 and take control of Burma in May. December 11–13, 1941Nazi Germany and its Axis partners declare war on the United States. May 30, 1942–May 1945The British bomb Köln (Cologne), in the start of a bombing campaign that brings the war home to Germany. Over the next three years Anglo-American bombing reduces urban Germany to rubble. June 1942The US Navy halts the Japanese naval advance in the central Pacific at Midway. June 28, 1942–September 1942Germany and its Axis partners launch a new offensive in the Soviet Union. German troops fight their way into Stalingrad (Volgograd) on the Volga River by mid-September and penetrate deep into the Caucasus after securing the Crimean Peninsula. With German forces in North Africa having penetrated Egypt, Germany was at the height of its military success in World War II. August 7, 1942–February 9, 1943For the first time, Allied forces go on the offensive against Japanese forces by landing on and taking Tulagi, Florida, and Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. October 23–24, 1942British troops defeat the Germans and Italians atEl Alameinin Egypt, sending the Axis forces in chaotic retreat across Libya to the eastern border of Tunisia. November 8, 1942US and British troops land at several points on the beaches of Algeria and Morocco in French North Africa. The failure of the Vichy French troops to defend against the invasion enables the Allies to move swiftly to the western border of Tunisia and triggers the German occupation of southern France on November 11. November 23, 1942–February 2, 1943Soviet troops counterattack, breaking through the Hungarian and Romanian lines northwest and southwest of Stalingrad and trapping the German Sixth Army in the city. Forbidden by Hitler to retreat or try to break out of the Soviet ring, the survivors of the Sixth Army surrender on January 30 and February 2, 1943. May 13, 1943Axis forces in Tunisia surrender to the Allies, ending the North African campaign. July 5, 1943The Germans launch a massive tank offensive near Kursk in the Soviet Union. The Soviets blunt the attack within a week and begin an offensive initiative of their own. July 10, 1943US and British troops land on Sicily. By mid-August, the Allies control Sicily. July 25, 1943The Fascist Grand Council deposes Benito Mussolini, enabling Italian Marshall Pietro Badoglio to form a new government. September 8, 1943The Badoglio government surrenders unconditionally to the Allies. The Germans immediately seize control of Rome and northern Italy, establishing a puppet Fascist regime under Mussolini, who is freed from imprisonment by German commandos on September 12. September 9, 1943Allied troops land on the beaches of Salerno near Naples. November 6, 1943Soviet troops liberate Kiev. January 22, 1944Allied troops land successfully near Anzio, just south of Rome. March 19, 1944Fearing Hungary’s intention to desert the Axis partnership, theGermans occupy Hungaryand compel the regent, Admiral Miklos Horthy, to appoint a pro-German minister president. June 4, 1944Allied troops liberate Rome. Within six weeks, Anglo-American bombers could hit targets in eastern Germany for the first time. June 6, 1944British, US, and Canadian troops successfullyland on the Normandy beachesof France, opening a “Second Front” against the Germans. June 22, 1944The Soviets launch a massive offensive in eastern Belorussia (Belarus), destroying the German Army Group Center and driving westward to the Vistula River toward Warsaw in central Poland by August 1. July 25, 1944Allied forces break out of the Normandy beachhead and race eastward towardsParis. August 1, 1944–October 5, 1944The Home Army (the non-communist Polish resistance) rises up against the Germans in an effort to liberate Warsaw before the arrival of Soviet troops. The Soviet advance halts on the east bank of the Vistula. On October 5, the Germans accept the surrender of the remnants of the Home Army forces fighting in Warsaw. August 15, 1944Allied forces land in southern France near Nice and advance rapidly towards the Rhine River to the northeast. August 20–25, 1944Allied troops reach Paris. On August 25, Free French forces, supported by Allied troops, enter the French capital. By September, the Allies reach the German border. By December, virtually all of France, most of Belgium, and part of the southern Netherlands are liberated. August 23, 1944The appearance of Soviet troops on the Prut River induces the Romanian opposition to overthrow the Antonescu regime. The new government concludes an armistice and immediately switches sides in the war. The Romanian turnaround compels Bulgaria to surrender on September 8, and the Germans to evacuate Greece, Albania, and southern Yugoslavia in October. August 29, 1944–October 28, 1944Under the leadership of the Slovak National Council, consisting of both Communists and non-Communists, underground Slovak resistance units rise against the Germans and the indigenous fascist Slovak regime. In late October, the Germans capture Banská Bystrica, the headquarters of the uprising, and put an end to organized resistance. September 4, 1944Finland agrees to sign an armistice with the Soviet Union and to expel German forces. October 15, 1944The Hungarian fascist Arrow Cross movement carries out a coup d’état with German support to prevent the Hungarian government from pursuing negotiations for surrender to the Soviets. October 20, 1944US troops land in the Philippines. December 16, 1944The Germans launch a final offensive in the west, known as theBattle of the Bulge, in an attempt to re-conquer Belgium and split the Allied forces along the German border. By January 1, 1945, the Germans are in retreat. January 12, 1945The Soviets launch a new offensive, liberating Warsaw and Krakow in January. They capture Budapest after a two-month siege on February 13, driving the Germans and their Hungarian collaborators out of Hungary in early April. March 7, 1945US troops cross the Rhine River atRemagen. April 4, 1945The capture of Bratislava forces Slovakia to surrender. April 13, 1945Soviet forces capture Vienna. April 16, 1945The Soviets launch their final offensive, encircling Berlin. April 1945Partisan units, led by Yugoslav Communist leader Josip Tito, capture Zagreb and topple the Ustaša regime. The top Ustaša leaders flee to Italy and Austria. April 30, 1945Hitler commits suicide. May 7–8, 1945Germany signs an unconditional surrender at the headquarters of US General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Commander of Allied forces in northwest Europe, at Reims on May 7. The surrender takes effect on May 8 at 11:01 PM Central European time (CET). May 8, 1945Germany signs a second, very similar, document of surrender in Berlin. It also comes into effect on May 8 at 11:01 PM CET. In Moscow, this was already after midnight on May 9. May 1945Allied troops conquer Okinawa, the last island stop before the main Japanese islands. August 6, 1945The United States drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. August 8, 1945The Soviet Union declares war on Japan and invades Manchuria. August 9, 1945The United States drops an atomic bomb on Nagasaki. September 2, 1945Having agreed in principle to unconditional surrender on August 14, 1945, Japan formally surrenders, ending World War 2. 1. "The Gathering Storm" - https://rumble.com/v34gknj-world-war-two-dates-and-timeline-pt.-1-in-colour-film-the-gathering-storm.html Just years afterWorld War I, Germany and other nations are in an economic depression. Leader approval ratings of Germany, Italy, Japan and Spain are shallow, giving the rise to military dictators along with their parties. Years afterAdolf Hitlerbecomes Chancellor of Germany, he and his generals plot theinvasion of Poland. 2. "Lightning War" - https://rumble.com/v34i301-world-war-two-dates-and-timeline-pt.-2-in-colour-film-the-lightning-war.html The Germans develop a new military tactic known asBlitzkrieg. The Nazis useBlitzkrieg, dominating land and air warfare, allowing them to take Poland andconquer Francein matters of weeks. Britain and Canada, as well as other Commonwealth countries, declare war on Germany. 3. "Britain at Bay" - https://rumble.com/v34jxp4-world-war-two-dates-and-timeline-pt.-3-in-colour-film-britain-at-bay.html July 1940, Britain is standing on its last legs while being pummeled by Germany. Though Hitler has better soldiers and a more powerful air force, critical errors of theLuftwaffeallow Britain to regain strength and start pushing back. 4. "Hitler Strikes East" - https://rumble.com/v34lpsx-world-war-two-dates-and-timeline-pt.-4-in-colour-film-hitler-strikes-east.html After the unsuccessful attempt to defeat the British, Hitler focuses his attention on theSoviet Union. This proves to be quite a military gamble. 5. "Red Sun Rampant" - https://rumble.com/v34qnxk-world-war-two-dates-and-timeline-pt.-5-in-colour-film-red-sun-rampant.html On 7 December 1941, the Japanese bomb the U.S. Fleet in Pearl Harbor. The United States officially enters World War II starting with the Pacific Front. 6. "The Mediterranean and North Africa" - https://rumble.com/v34sbv4-world-war-two-dates-and-timeline-pt.-6-in-colour-film-mediterranean-and-nor.html After success in North Africa and Greece,AlliespushBenito Mussolini's forces all the way back to Italy. Italy is then knocked out of the war, Mussolini is deposed, and the Allies start to put real pressure onNazi Germany. 7. "Turning the Tide" - https://rumble.com/v34u5o6-world-war-two-dates-and-timeline-pt.-7-in-colour-film-turning-the-tide.html The Allies and the Axis are searching for a final blow to each other to end the war. While the Allies try out strategic fire bombing, Hitler tries cutting off American supply lines with submarines. Right now this is a stalemate. 8. "The Soviet Steamroller" - https://rumble.com/v34wd06-world-war-two-dates-and-timeline-pt.-8-in-colour-film-the-soviet-steamrolle.html After Hitler's gamble in the East fails, failing to defeatStalingradandMoscow, the Soviet Union, with its vast resources and armies, starts to slowly push back and grow. Hitler is now on the defence on ⅔ of his fronts. 9. "Overlord" - https://rumble.com/v34ymj6-world-war-two-dates-and-timeline-pt.-9-in-colour-film-overlord-d-day-.html After careful planning and tremendous secrecy but more importantly the lack of Hitler's attention, the Allies successfully breach mainland Western Europe through theNormandy landings. After thousands of lives are lost to the operation, the Allies are able to start the liberation of Western Europe. 10. "Closing the Ring" - https://rumble.com/v350hxe-world-war-two-dates-and-timeline-pt.-10-in-colour-film-closing-the-ring.html The Allies are now on the offensive on all three fronts. As their forces push through Europe soldiers start uncovering Hitler's death camps. This was the Allies' first concrete knowledge of the Holocaust. 11. "The Island War" - https://rumble.com/v352ipq-world-war-two-dates-and-timeline-pt.-11-in-colour-film-the-island-war.html An aggressive war is being waged against the Japanese. The United States is now starting to use a new tactic of island-hopping, resulting in the slow crumbling of the Japanese air force and navy. 12. "Victory in Europe" - https://rumble.com/v353y2w-world-war-two-dates-and-timeline-pt.-12-in-colour-film-victory-in-europe.html From three sides, the British, Canadians, Americans, and Soviets are starting to shred through what is left of the Third Reich. As the Nazi forces see their final days, Hitler commits suicide, and the Allies begin dividing up Europe. 13. "Victory in the Pacific" - https://rumble.com/v356qha-world-war-two-dates-and-timeline-pt.-13-in-colour-film-victory-in-the-pacif.html The Americans wipe out Japan's air force through a strategy of island-hopping. As the Americans face the decision of what to do with mainland Japan, President Truman calls to bomb Hiroshima and Nagasaki with nuclear weapons. Japan had no choice but to surrender, and the Cold War begins. 1933 January 30, 1933 - Adolf Hitler is appointed Chancellor of Germany a nation with a Jewish population of 566,000. February 22, 1933 - 40,000 SA and SS men are sworn in as auxiliary police. February 27, 1933 - Nazis burn Reichstag building to create crisis atmosphere. February 28, 1933 - Emergency powers granted to Hitler as a result of the Reichstag fire. March 22, 1933 - Nazis open Dachau concentration camp near Munich, to be followed by Buchenwald near Weimar in central Germany, Sachsenhausen near Berlin in northern Germany, and Ravensbrück for women. March 24, 1933 - German Parliament passes Enabling Act giving Hitler dictatorial powers. April 1, 1933 - Nazis stage boycott of Jewish shops and businesses. April 11, 1933 - Nazis issue a Decree defining a non-Aryan as "anyone descended from non-Aryan, especially Jewish, parents or grandparents. One parent or grandparent classifies the descendant as non-Aryan...especially if one parent or grandparent was of the Jewish faith." April 26, 1933 - The Gestapo is born, created by Hermann Göring in the German state of Prussia. May 10, 1933 - Burning of books in Berlin and throughout Germany. July 14, 1933 - Nazi Party is declared the only legal party in Germany; Also, Nazis pass Law to strip Jewish immigrants from Poland of their German citizenship. In July - Nazis pass law allowing for forced sterilization of those found by a Hereditary Health Court to have genetic defects. In September - Nazis establish Reich Chamber of Culture, then exclude Jews from the Arts. September 29, 1933 - Nazis prohibit Jews from owning land. October 4, 1933 - Jews are prohibited from being newspaper editors. November 24, 1933 - Nazis pass a Law against Habitual and Dangerous Criminals, which allows beggars, the homeless, alcoholics and the unemployed to be sent to concentration camps. 1934 January 24, 1934 - Jews are banned from the German Labor Front. May 17, 1934 - Jews not allowed national health insurance. June 30, 1934 - The Night of Long Knives occurs as Hitler, Göring and Himmler conduct a purge of the SA (storm trooper) leadership. July 20, 1934 - The SS (Schutzstaffel) is made an independent organization from the SA. July 22, 1934 - Jews are prohibited from getting legal qualifications. August 2, 1934 - German President von Hindenburg dies. Hitler becomes Führer. August 19, 1934 - Hitler receives a 90 percent 'Yes' vote from German voters approving his new powers. 1935 May 21, 1935 - Nazis ban Jews from serving in the military. June 26, 1935 - Nazis pass law allowing forced abortions on women to prevent them from passing on hereditary diseases. August 6, 1935 - Nazis force Jewish performers/artists to join Jewish Cultural Unions. September 15, 1935 - Nuremberg Race Laws against Jews decreed. 1936 February 10, 1936 - The German Gestapo is placed above the law. In March - SS Deathshead division is established to guard concentration camps. March 7, 1936 - Nazis occupy the Rhineland. June 17, 1936 - Heinrich Himmler is appointed chief of the German Police. August 1, 1936 - Olympic games begin in Berlin. Hitler and top Nazis seek to gain legitimacy through favorable public opinion from foreign visitors and thus temporarily refrain from actions against Jews. In August - Nazis set up an Office for Combating Homosexuality and Abortions (by healthy women). 1937 In January - Jews are banned from many professional occupations including teaching Germans, and from being accountants or dentists. They are also denied tax reductions and child allowances. November 8, 1937 - 'Eternal Jew' travelling exhibition opens in Munich. 1938 March 12/13, 1938 - Nazi troops enter Austria, which has a population of 200,000 Jews, mainly living in Vienna. Hitler announces Anschluss (union) with Austria. In March - After the Anschluss, the SS is placed in charge of Jewish affairs in Austria with Adolf Eichmann establishing an Office for Jewish Emigration in Vienna. Himmler then establishes Mauthausen concentration camp near Linz. April 22, 1938 - Nazis prohibit Aryan 'front-ownership' of Jewish businesses. April 26, 1938 - Nazis order Jews to register wealth and property. June 14, 1938 - Nazis order Jewish-owned businesses to register. In July - At Evian, France, the U.S. convenes a League of Nations conference with delegates from 32 countries to consider helping Jews fleeing Hitler, but results in inaction as no country will accept them. July 6, 1938 - Nazis prohibited Jews from trading and providing a variety of specified commercial services. July 23, 1938 - Nazis order Jews over age 15 to apply for identity cards from the police, to be shown on demand to any police officer. July 25, 1938 - Jewish doctors prohibited by law from practicing medicine. August 11, 1938 - Nazis destroy the synagogue in Nuremberg. August 17, 1938 - Nazis require Jewish women to add Sarah and men to add Israel to their names on all legal documents including passports. September 27, 1938 - Jews are prohibited from all legal practices. October 5, 1938 - Law requires Jewish passports to be stamped with a large red "J." October 15, 1938 - Nazi troops occupy the Sudetenland. October 28, 1938 - Nazis arrest 17,000 Jews of Polish nationality living in Germany, then expel them back to Poland which refuses them entry, leaving them in 'No-Man's Land' near the Polish border for several months. November 7, 1938 - Ernst vom Rath, third secretary in the German Embassy in Paris, is shot and mortally wounded by Herschel Grynszpan, the 17-year-old son of one of the deported Polish Jews. Rath dies on November 9, precipitating Kristallnacht. November 9/10 - Kristallnacht - The Night of Broken Glass. November 12, 1938 - Nazis fine Jews one billion marks for damages related to Kristallnacht. November 15, 1938 - Jewish pupils are expelled from all non-Jewish German schools. December 3, 1938 - Law for compulsory Aryanization of all Jewish businesses. December 14, 1938 - Hermann Göring takes charge of resolving the "Jewish Question." 1939 January 24, 1939 - SS leader Reinhard Heydrich is ordered by Göring to speed up the emigration of Jews. January 30, 1939 - Hitler threatens Jews during Reichstag speech. February 21, 1939 - Nazis force Jews to hand over all gold and silver items. March 15/16 - Nazi troops seize Czechoslovakia (Jewish pop. 350,000). April 19, 1939 - Slovakia passes its own version of the Nuremberg Laws. April 30, 1939 - Jews lose rights as tenants and are relocated into Jewish houses. In May - The St. Louis, a ship crowded with 930 Jewish refugees, is turned away by Cuba, the United States and other countries and returns to Europe. July 4, 1939 - German Jews denied the right to hold government jobs. July 21, 1939 - Adolf Eichmann is appointed director of the Prague Office of Jewish Emigration. September 1, 1939 - Nazis invade Poland (Jewish pop. 3.35 million, the largest in Europe). Beginning of SS activity in Poland. See also: The History Place - World War II in Europe Timeline September 1, 1939 - Jews in Germany are forbidden to be outdoors after 8 p.m. in winter and 9 p.m. in summer. September 3, 1939 - Great Britain and France declare war on Germany. September 4, 1939 - Warsaw is cut off by the German Army. September 17, 1939 - Soviet troops invade eastern Poland. September 21, 1939 - Heydrich issues instructions to SS Einsatzgruppen (special action squads) in Poland regarding treatment of Jews, stating they are to be gathered into ghettos near railroads for the future "final goal." He also orders a census and the establishment of Jewish administrative councils within the ghettos to implement Nazi policies and decrees. September 23, 1939 - German Jews are forbidden to own wireless (radio) sets. September 27, 1939 - Warsaw surrenders; Heydrich becomes leader of RSHA. September 29, 1939 - Nazis and Soviets divide up Poland. Over two million Jews reside in Nazi controlled areas, leaving 1.3 million in the Soviet area. In September - Quote from Nazi newspaper, Der Stürmer, published by Julius Streicher - "The Jewish people ought to be exterminated root and branch. Then the plague of pests would have disappeared in Poland at one stroke." In October - Nazis begin euthanasia on sick and disabled in Germany. October 6, 1939 - Proclamation by Hitler on the isolation of Jews. October 12, 1939 - Evacuation of Jews from Vienna. October 12, 1939 - Hans Frank appointed Nazi Gauleiter (governor) of Poland. October 26, 1939 - Forced labor decree issued for Polish Jews aged 14 to 60. November 23, 1939 - Yellow stars required to be worn by Polish Jews over age 10. In December - Adolf Eichmann takes over section IV B4 of the Gestapo dealing solely with Jewish affairs and evacuations. 1940 January 25, 1940 - Nazis choose the town of Oswiecim (Auschwitz) in Poland near Krakow as the site of a new concentration camp. In January - Quote from Nazi newspaper, Der Stürmer, published by Julius Streicher - "The time is near when a machine will go into motion which is going to prepare a grave for the world's criminal - Judah - from which there will be no resurrection." February 12, 1940 - First deportation of German Jews into occupied Poland. April 9, 1940 - Nazis invade Denmark (Jewish pop. 8,000) and Norway (Jewish pop. 2,000). April 30, 1940 - The Lodz Ghetto in occupied Poland is sealed off from the outside world with 230,000 Jews locked inside. May 1, 1940 - Rudolf Höss is chosen to be kommandant of Auschwitz. May 10, 1940 - Nazis invade France (Jewish pop. 350,000), Belgium (Jewish pop. 65,000), Holland (Jewish pop. 140,000), and Luxembourg (Jewish pop. 3,500). June 14, 1940 - Paris is occupied by the Nazis. June 22, 1940 - France signs an armistice with Hitler. In July - Eichmann's Madagascar Plan is presented, proposing to deport all European Jews to the island of Madagascar, off the coast of east Africa. July 17, 1940 - The first anti-Jewish measures are taken in Vichy France. August 8, 1940 - Romania introduces anti-Jewish measures restricting education and employment, then later begins "Romanianization" of Jewish businesses. September 27, 1940 - Tripartite (Axis) Pact signed by Germany, Italy and Japan. October 3, 1940 - Vichy France passes its own version of the Nuremberg Laws. October 7, 1940 - Nazis invade Romania (Jewish pop. 34,000). October 22, 1940 - Deportation of 29,000 German Jews from Baden, the Saar, and Alsace-Lorraine into Vichy France. In November - Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia become Nazi Allies. In November - The Krakow Ghetto is sealed off containing 70,000 Jews. November 15, 1940 - The Warsaw Ghetto, containing over 400,000 Jews, is sealed off. 1941 In 1941 - Hans Frank, Gauleiter of Poland, states, "I ask nothing of the Jews except that they should disappear." In January - Quote from Nazi newspaper, Der Stürmer, published by Julius Streicher - "Now judgment has begun and it will reach its conclusion only when knowledge of the Jews has been erased from the earth." In January - A pogrom in Romania results in over 2,000 Jews killed. February 22, 1941 - 430 Jewish hostages are deported from Amsterdam after a Dutch Nazi is killed by Jews. In March - Hitler's Commissar Order authorizes execution of anyone suspected of being a Communist official in territories about to be seized from Soviet Russia. March 1, 1941 - Himmler makes his first visit to Auschwitz, during which he orders Kommandant Höss to begin massive expansion, including a new compound to be built at nearby Birkenau that can hold 100,000 prisoners. March 2, 1941 - Nazis occupy Bulgaria (Jewish pop. 50,000). March 7, 1941 - German Jews ordered into forced labor. March 26, 1941 - The German Army High Command gives approval to RSHA and Heydrich on the tasks of SS murder squads (Einsatzgruppen) in occupied Poland. March 29, 1941 - A 'Commissariat' for Jewish Affairs is set up in Vichy France. April 6, 1941 - Nazis invade Yugoslavia (Jewish pop. 75,000) and Greece (Jewish pop. 77,000). May 14, 1941 - 3,600 Jews arrested in Paris. May 16, 1941 - French Marshal Petain issues a radio broadcast approving collaboration with Hitler. June 22, 1941 - Nazis invade Russia (Jewish pop. 3 million). June 29/30 - Romanian troops conduct a pogrom against Jews in the town of Jassy, killing 10,000. Summer - Himmler summons Auschwitz Kommandant Höss to Berlin and tells him, "The Führer has ordered the Final Solution of the Jewish question. We, the SS, have to carry out this order...I have therefore chosen Auschwitz for this purpose." In July - As the German Army advances, SS Einsatzgruppen follow along and conduct mass murder of Jews in seized lands. In July - Ghettos established at Kovno, Minsk, Vitebsk and Zhitomer. Also in July, the government of Vichy France seizes Jewish owned property. July 17, 1941 - Nazi racial 'philosopher' Alfred Rosenberg is appointed Reich Minister for the Eastern Occupied Territories to administer territories seized from the Soviet Union. July 21, 1941 - In occupied Poland near Lublin, Majdanek concentration camp becomes operational. July 25/26 - 3,800 Jews killed during a pogrom by Lithuanians in Kovno. July 31, 1941 - Göring instructs Heydrich to prepare for Final Solution. In August - Jews in Romania forced into Transnistria. By December, 70,000 perish. In August - Ghettos established at Bialystok and Lvov. August 26, 1941 - The Hungarian Army rounds up 18,000 Jews at Kamenets-Podolsk. September 3, 1941 - The first test use of Zyklon-B gas at Auschwitz. September 1, 1941 - German Jews ordered to wear yellow stars. September 6, 1941 - The Vilna Ghetto is established containing 40,000 Jews. September 17, 1941 - Beginning of general deportation of German Jews. September 19, 1941 - Nazis take Kiev. September 27/28 - 23,000 Jews killed at Kamenets-Podolsk, in the Ukraine. September 29/30 - SS Einsatzgruppen murder 33,771 Jews at Babi Yar near Kiev. In October - 35,000 Jews from Odessa shot. October 2, 1941 - Beginning of the German Army drive on Moscow. October 23, 1941 - Nazis forbid emigration of Jews from the Reich. In November - SS Einsatzgruppe B reports a tally of 45,476 Jews killed. November 24, 1941 - Theresienstadt Ghetto is established near Prague, Czechoslovakia. The Nazis will use it as a model ghetto for propaganda purposes. November 30, 1941 - Near Riga, a mass shooting of Latvian and German Jews. December 7, 1941 - Japanese attack United States at Pearl Harbor. The next day the U.S. and Great Britain declare war on Japan. December 8, 1941 - In occupied Poland, near Lodz, Chelmno extermination camp becomes operational. Jews taken there are placed in mobile gas vans and driven to a burial place while carbon monoxide from the engine exhaust is fed into the sealed rear compartment, killing them. The first gassing victims include 5,000 Gypsies who had been deported from the Reich to Lodz. December 11, 1941 - Hitler declares war on the United States. President Roosevelt then asks Congress for a declaration of war on Germany saying, "Never before has there been a greater challenge to life, liberty and civilization." The U.S.A. then enters the war in Europe and will concentrate nearly 90 percent of its military resources to defeat Hitler. December 12, 1941 - The ship "Struma" leaves Romania for Palestine carrying 769 Jews but is later denied permission by British authorities to allow the passengers to disembark. In February 1942, it sails back into the Black Sea where it is intercepted by a Russian submarine and sunk as an "enemy target." December 16, 1941 - During a cabinet meeting, Hans Frank, Gauleiter of Poland, states - "Gentlemen, I must ask you to rid yourselves of all feeling of pity. We must annihilate the Jews wherever we find them and wherever it is possible in order to maintain there the structure of the Reich as a whole..." 1942 In January - Mass killings of Jews using Zyklon-B begin at Auschwitz-Birkenau in Bunker I (the red farmhouse) in Birkenau with the bodies being buried in mass graves in a nearby meadow. January 20, 1942 - Wannsee Conference to coordinate the "Final Solution." January 31, 1942 - SS Einsatzgruppe A reports a tally of 229,052 Jews killed. In March - In occupied Poland, Belzec extermination camp becomes operational. The camp is fitted with permanent gas chambers using carbon monoxide piped in from engines placed outside the chamber, but will later substitute Zyklon-B. March 17, 1942 - The deportation of Jews from Lublin to Belzec. March 24, 1942 - The start of deportation of Slovak Jews to Auschwitz. March 27, 1942 - The start of deportation of French Jews to Auschwitz. March 28, 1942 - Fritz Sauckel named Chief of Manpower to expedite recruitment of slave labor. March 30, 1942 - First trainloads of Jews from Paris arrive at Auschwitz. In April - First transports of Jews arrive at Majdanek. April 20, 1942 - German Jews are banned from using public transportation. In May - In occupied Poland, Sobibor extermination camp becomes operational. The camp is fitted with three gas chambers using carbon monoxide piped in from engines, but will later substitute Zyklon-B. May 18, 1942 - The New York Times reports on an inside page that Nazis have machine-gunned over 100,000 Jews in the Baltic states, 100,000 in Poland and twice as many in western Russia. May 27, 1942 - SS leader Heydrich is mortally wounded by Czech Underground agents. In June - Gas vans used in Riga. June 1, 1942 - Jews in France, Holland, Belgium, Croatia, Slovakia, Romania ordered to wear yellow stars. June 4, 1942 - Heydrich dies of his wounds. June 5, 1942 - SS report 97,000 persons have been "processed" in mobile gas vans. June 10, 1942 - Nazis liquidate Lidice in retaliation for Heydrich's death. June 11, 1942 - Eichmann meets with representatives from France, Belgium and Holland to coordinate deportation plans for Jews. June 30, 1942 - At Auschwitz, a second gas chamber, Bunker II (the white farmhouse), is made operational at Birkenau due to the number of Jews arriving. June 30 and July 2 - The New York Times reports via the London Daily Telegraph that over 1,000,000 Jews have already been killed by Nazis. Summer - Swiss representatives of the World Jewish Congress receive information from a German industrialist regarding the Nazi plan to exterminate the Jews. They then pass the information on to London and Washington. July 2, 1942 - Jews from Berlin sent to Theresienstadt. July 7, 1942 - Himmler grants permission for sterilization experiments at Auschwitz. July 14, 1942 - Beginning of deportation of Dutch Jews to Auschwitz. July 16/17 - 12,887 Jews of Paris are rounded up and sent to Drancy Internment Camp located outside the city. A total of approximately 74,000 Jews, including 11,000 children, will eventually be transported from Drancy to Auschwitz, Majdanek and Sobibor. July 17/18 - Himmler visits Auschwitz-Birkenau for two days, inspecting all ongoing construction and expansion, then observes the extermination process from start to finish as two trainloads of Jews arrive from Holland. Kommandant Höss is then promoted. Construction includes four large gas chamber/crematories. July 19, 1942 - Himmler orders Operation Reinhard, mass deportations of Jews in Poland to extermination camps. July 22, 1942 - Beginning of deportations from the Warsaw Ghetto to the new extermination camp, Treblinka. Also, beginning of the deportation of Belgian Jews to Auschwitz. July 23, 1942 - Treblinka extermination camp opened in occupied Poland, east of Warsaw. The camp is fitted with two buildings containing 10 gas chambers, each holding 200 persons. Carbon monoxide gas is piped in from engines placed outside the chamber, but Zyklon-B will later be substituted. Bodies are burned in open pits. In August - The start of deportations of Croatian Jews to Auschwitz. August 23, 1942 - Beginning of German Army attack on Stalingrad in Russia. August 26-28 - 7,000 Jews arrested in unoccupied France. September 9, 1942 - Open pit burning of bodies begins at Auschwitz in place of burial. The decision is made to dig up and burn those already buried, 107,000 corpses, to prevent fouling of ground water. September 18, 1942 - Reduction of food rations for Jews in Germany. September 26, 1942 - SS begins cashing in possessions and valuables of Jews from Auschwitz and Majdanek. German banknotes are sent to the Reichs Bank. Foreign currency, gold, jewels and other valuables are sent to SS Headquarters of the Economic Administration. Watches, clocks and pens are distributed to troops at the front. Clothing is distributed to German families. By February 1943, over 800 boxcars of confiscated goods will have left Auschwitz. October 5, 1942 - Himmler orders all Jews in concentration camps in Germany to be sent to Auschwitz and Majdanek. October 5, 1942 - A German eyewitness observes SS mass murder. October 14, 1942 - Mass killing of Jews from Mizocz Ghetto in the Ukraine. October 22, 1942 - SS put down a revolt at Sachsenhausen by a group of Jews about to be sent to Auschwitz. October 25, 1942 - Deportations of Jews from Norway to Auschwitz begin. October 28, 1942 - The first transport from Theresienstadt arrives at Auschwitz. In November - The mass killing of 170,000 Jews in the area of Bialystok. December 10, 1942 - The first transport of Jews from Germany arrives at Auschwitz. In December - Exterminations at Belzec cease after an estimated 600,000 Jews have been murdered. The camp is then dismantled, plowed over and planted. December 17, 1942 - British Foreign Secretary Eden tells the British House of Commons the Nazis are "now carrying into effect Hitler's oft repeated intention to exterminate the Jewish people of Europe." The U.S. declares those crimes will be avenged. December 28, 1942 - Sterilization experiments on women at Birkenau begin. Map of Concentration/Death Camps 1943 In 1943 - The number of Jews killed by SS Einsatzgruppen passes one million. Nazis then use special units of slave laborers to dig up and burn the bodies to remove all traces. January 18, 1943 - First resistance by Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto. January 29, 1943 - Nazis order all Gypsies arrested and sent to extermination camps. January 30, 1943 - Ernst Kaltenbrunner succeeds Heydrich as head of RSHA. In February - The Romanian government proposes to the Allies the transfer of 70,000 Jews to Palestine, but receives no response from Britain or the U.S. In February - Greek Jews are ordered into ghettos. February 2, 1943 - Germans surrender to Russian troops at Stalingrad in the first big defeat of Hitler's armies. February 27, 1943 - Jews working in Berlin armaments industry are sent to Auschwitz. In March - The start of deportations of Jews from Greece to Auschwitz, lasting until August, totaling 49,900 persons. March 1, 1943 - In New York, American Jews hold a mass rally at Madison Square Garden to pressure the U.S. government into helping the Jews of Europe. March 14, 1943 - The Krakow Ghetto is liquidated. March 17, 1943 - Bulgaria states opposition to deportation of its Jews. March 22, 1943 - Newly built gas chamber/crematory IV opens at Auschwitz. March 31, 1943 - Newly built gas chamber/crematory II opens at Auschwitz. April 4, 1943 - Newly built gas chamber/crematory V opens at Auschwitz. April 9, 1943 - Exterminations at Chelmno cease. The camp will be reactivated in the spring of 1944 to liquidate ghettos. In all, Chelmno will total 300,000 deaths. April 19-30 - The Bermuda Conference occurs as representatives from the United States and Britain discuss the problem of refugees from Nazi-occupied countries, but results in inaction concerning the plight of the Jews. April 19, 1943 - Waffen-SS attacks Jewish Resistance in Warsaw Ghetto. In May - SS Dr. Josef Mengele arrives at Auschwitz. May 13, 1943 - German and Italian troops in North Africa surrender to Allies. May 19, 1943 - Nazis declare Berlin to be Judenfrei (cleansed of Jews). June 11, 1943 - Himmler orders liquidation of all Jewish ghettos in occupied Poland. June 25, 1943 - Newly built gas chamber/crematory III opens at Auschwitz. With its completion, the four new crematories at Auschwitz have a daily capacity of 4,756 bodies. July 9/10 - Allied troops land in Sicily. August 2, 1943 - Two hundred Jews escape from Treblinka extermination camp during a revolt. Nazis then hunt them down one by one. August 16, 1943 - The Bialystok Ghetto is liquidated. In August - Exterminations cease at Treblinka, after an estimated 870,000 deaths. In September - The Vilna and Minsk Ghettos are liquidated. September 11, 1943 - Germans occupy Rome, after occupying northern and central Italy, containing in all about 35,000 Jews. September 11, 1943 - Beginning of Jewish family transports from Theresienstadt to Auschwitz. In October - The Danish Underground helps transport 7,220 Danish Jews to safety in Sweden by sea. October 4 - Himmler talks openly about the Final Solution at Posen. October 14, 1943 - Massive escape from Sobibor as Jews and Soviet POWs break out, with 300 making it safely into nearby woods. Of those 300, fifty will survive. Exterminations then cease at Sobibor, after over 250,000 deaths. All traces of the death camp are then removed and trees are planted. October 16, 1943 - Jews in Rome rounded up, with over 1,000 sent to Auschwitz. In November - The Riga Ghetto is liquidated. In November - The U.S. Congress holds hearings regarding the U.S. State Department's inaction regarding European Jews, despite mounting reports of mass extermination. November 3, 1943 - Nazis carry out Operation Harvest Festival in occupied Poland, killing 42,000 Jews. November 4, 1943 - Quote from Nazi newspaper, Der Stürmer, published by Julius Streicher - "It is actually true that the Jews have, so to speak, disappeared from Europe and that the Jewish 'Reservoir of the East' from which the Jewish pestilence has for centuries beset the peoples of Europe has ceased to exist. But the Führer of the German people at the beginning of the war prophesied what has now come to pass." November 11, 1943 - Auschwitz Kommandant Höss is promoted to chief inspector of concentration camps. The new kommandant, Liebehenschel, then divides up the vast Auschwitz complex of over 30 sub-camps into three main sections. December 2, 1943 - The first transport of Jews from Vienna arrives at Auschwitz. December 16, 1943 - The chief surgeon at Auschwitz reports that 106 castration operations have been performed. 1944 January 3, 1944 - Russian troops reach former Polish border. January 24, 1944 - In response to political pressure to help Jews under Nazi control, President Roosevelt creates the War Refugee Board. January 25, 1944 - Diary entry by Hans Frank, Gauleiter of Poland, concerning the fate of 2.5 million Jews originally under his jurisdiction - "At the present time we still have in the General Government perhaps 100,000 Jews." In February - Eichmann visits Auschwitz. March 19, 1944 - Nazis occupy Hungary (Jewish pop. 725,000). Eichmann arrives with Gestapo "Special Section Commandos." March 24, 1944 - President Roosevelt issues a statement condemning German and Japanese ongoing "crimes against humanity." April 5, 1944 - A Jewish inmate, Siegfried Lederer, escapes from Auschwitz-Birkenau and makes it safely to Czechoslovakia. He then warns the Elders of the Council at Theresienstadt about Auschwitz. April 6, 1944 - Nazis raid a French home for Jewish children. April 7, 1944 - Two Jewish inmates escape from Auschwitz-Birkenau and make it safely to Czechoslovakia. One of them, Rudolf Vrba, submits a report to the Papal Nuncio in Slovakia which is forwarded to the Vatican, received there in mid June. April 14, 1944 - First transports of Jews from Athens to Auschwitz, totaling 5,200 persons. In May - Himmler's agents secretly propose to the Western Allies to trade Jews for trucks, other commodities or money. May 8, 1944 - Rudolf Höss returns to Auschwitz, ordered by Himmler to oversee the extermination of Hungarian Jews. May 15, 1944 - Beginning of the deportation of Jews from Hungary to Auschwitz. May 16, 1944 - Jews from Hungary arrive at Auschwitz. Eichmann arrives to personally oversee and speed up the extermination process. By May 24, an estimated 100,000 have been gassed. Between May 16 and May 31, the SS report collecting 88 pounds of gold and white metal from the teeth of those gassed. By the end of June, 381,661 persons - half of the Jews in Hungary - arrive at Auschwitz. In June - A Red Cross delegation visits Theresienstadt after the Nazis have carefully prepared the camp and the Jewish inmates, resulting in a favorable report. June 6, 1944 - D-Day: Allied landings in Normandy on the coast of northern France. June 12, 1944 - Rosenberg orders Hay Action, the kidnapping of 40,000 Polish children aged ten to fourteen for slave labor in the Reich. Summer - Auschwitz-Birkenau records its highest-ever daily number of persons gassed and burned at just over 9,000. Six huge pits are used to burn bodies, as the number exceeds the capacity of the crematories. In July - Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg arrives in Budapest, Hungary, and proceeds to save nearly 33,000 Jews by issuing diplomatic papers and establishing 'safe houses.' July 24, 1944 - Russian troops liberate the first concentration camp, at Majdanek where over 360,000 had been murdered. August 4, 1944 - Anne Frank and family are arrested by the Gestapo in Amsterdam, then sent to Auschwitz. Anne and her sister Margot are later sent to Bergen-Belsen where Anne dies of typhus on March 15, 1945. August 6, 1944 - Lodz, the last Jewish ghetto in Poland, is liquidated with 60,000 Jews sent to Auschwitz. October 7, 1944 - A revolt by Sonderkommando (Jewish slave laborers) at Auschwitz-Birkenau results in complete destruction of Crematory IV. October 15, 1944 - Nazis seize control of the Hungarian puppet government, then resume deporting Jews, which had temporarily ceased due to international political pressure to stop Jewish persecutions. October 17, 1944 - Eichmann arrives in Hungary. October 28, 1944 - The last transport of Jews to be gassed, 2,000 from Theresienstadt, arrives at Auschwitz. October 30, 1944 - Last use of the gas chambers at Auschwitz. November 8, 1944 - Nazis force 25,000 Jews to walk over 100 miles in rain and snow from Budapest to the Austrian border, followed by a second forced march of 50,000 persons, ending at Mauthausen. November 25, 1944 - Himmler orders destruction of the crematories at Auschwitz. Late 1944 - Oskar Schindler saves 1200 Jews by moving them from Plaszow labor camp to his hometown of Brunnlitz. 1945 In 1945 - As Allied troops advance, the Nazis conduct death marches of concentration camp inmates away from outlying areas. January 6, 1945 - Russians liberate Budapest, freeing over 80,000 Jews. January 14, 1945 - Invasion of eastern Germany by Russian troops. January 17, 1945 - Liberation of Warsaw by the Russians. January 18, 1945 - Nazis evacuate 66,000 from Auschwitz. January 27, 1945 - Russian troops liberate Auschwitz. By this time, an estimated 2,000,000 persons, including 1,500,000 Jews, have been murdered there. April 4, 1945 - Ohrdruf camp is liberated, later visited by General Eisenhower. April 10, 1945 - Allies liberate Buchenwald. April 15, 1945 - Approximately 40,000 prisoners freed at Bergen-Belsen by the British, who report "both inside and outside the huts was a carpet of dead bodies, human excreta, rags and filth." April 23, 1945 - Berlin is reached by Russian troops. April 29, 1945 - U.S. 7th Army liberates Dachau. April 30, 1945 - Hitler commits suicide in his Berlin bunker. April 30, 1945 - Americans free 33,000 inmates from concentration camps. May 2, 1945 - Theresienstadt taken over by the Red Cross. May 5, 1945 - Mauthausen liberated. May 7, 1945 - Unconditional German surrender signed by General Alfred Jodl at Reims. May 9, 1945 - Hermann Göring captured by members of U.S. 7th Army. May 23, 1945 - SS-Reichsführer Himmler commits suicide while in British custody. November 20, 1945 - Opening of the Nuremberg International Military Tribunal. Holocaust Statistics 1946 March 11, 1946 - Former Auschwitz Kommandant Höss, posing as a farm worker, is arrested by the British. He testifies at Nuremberg, then is later tried in Warsaw, found guilty and hanged at Auschwitz, April 16, 1947, near Crematory I. "History will mark me as the greatest mass murderer of all time," Höss writes while in prison, along with his memoirs about Auschwitz. October 16, 1946 - Göring commits suicide two hours before the scheduled execution of the first group of major Nazi war criminals at Nuremberg. During his imprisonment, a (now repentant) Hans Frank states, "A thousand years will pass and the guilt of Germany will not be erased." Frank and the others are hanged and the bodies are brought to Dachau and burned (the final use of the crematories there) with the ashes then scattered into a river. December 9, 1946 - 23 former SS doctors and scientists go on trial before a U.S. Military Tribunal at Nuremberg. Sixteen are found guilty, with 7 hanged. 1947 September 15, 1947 - Twenty one former SS-Einsatz leaders go on trial before a U.S. Military Tribunal in Nuremberg. Fourteen are sentenced to death, with only 4 (the group commanders) actually being executed - the other death sentences having been commuted.

True History World War Two was a global war that lasted from Sept. 18-1931 to Aug. 14-1945 Explore the true timeline of key events before and during World War 2. The mass murder of Europe’s Jews took place in the context of World War Two. As German troops invaded and occupied more and more territory in Europe, the Soviet Union, and North Africa, the regime’s racial and anti-Semitic policies became more radical, moving from persecution to genocide. America's isolation from war ended on December 7, 1941, when Japan staged a surprise attack on American military installations in the Pacific. The Second Sino-Japanese War was a full-scale war between China and the Empire of Japan that lasted from 1931 to 1945. China was aided by the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Nazi Germany before its alliance with Japan. The war is often regarded as the beginning of World War II in Asia, although some scholars consider the European War and the Pacific War to be entirely separate, albeit concurrent. Around 20 million people, mostly civilians, were killed in the war. The United States advised and supported China's ground war, while basing only a few of its own units in China for operations against Japanese forces in the region and Japan itself. The war's end brought a devastating blow to American diplomacy as China ultimately fell to communism, forever changing the global balance of power in the emerging Cold War. In the 1930s, the Great Depression and the memory of tragic losses in World War I contributed to pushing American public opinion and policy towards isolationism. Isolationists advocated non-involvement in European and Asian conflicts and non-entanglement in international politics. Although the United States took measures to avoid political and military conflicts across the oceans, it continued to expand economically and protect its interests in Latin America. Isolationists believed that World War II was ultimately a dispute between foreign nations and that the United States had no good reason to get involved. The best policy, they claimed, was for the United States to build up its own defenses and avoid antagonizing either side. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, isolationists such as Charles Lindbergh's America First Committee and Herbert Hoover announced their support of the war effort. World War II was a global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945. The main combatants were the Axis powers (Germany, Italy, and Japan) and the Allies (France, Great Britain, the United States, the Soviet Union, and China). The European theater of World War II saw heavy fighting across Europe for almost six years, starting with Germany's invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939 and ending with the Western Allies conquering most of Western Europe, the Soviet Union conquering most of Eastern Europe including the German capital Berlin and Germany's unconditional surrender on 8 May 1945. The war continued primarily between the European Axis powers and the British Empire, with war in the Balkans, the aerial Battle of Britain, the Blitz of the United Kingdom, and the Battle of the Atlantic. The SOE operated in every nation in Europe and southeast Asia that was under the rule of an Axis power. Adolf Hitler and his National Socialist (Nazi Party) rearmed the nation and signed treaties with Italy and Japan to further his ambitions of world domination. The League of Nations was established in 1919 by the victorious Allied powers after World War I. The League began organizational work in the fall of 1919, spending its first 10 months with a headquarters in London before moving to Geneva. The Covenant of the League of Nations went into effect on January 10, 1920, formally instituting the League of Nations. The League was seen as the epitome of a new world order based on mutual cooperation and the peaceful resolution of international conflicts. The Covenant bound its Member States to try to settle their disputes peacefully. By joining the League, Member States also renounced secret diplomacy, committed to reduce their armaments, and agreed to comply with international law. Although the League was unable to fulfill the hopes of its founders, its creation was an event of decisive importance in the history of international relations. "World War II in Colour" is a 13-episode British television docuseries that recounts the major events of World War II, covering the Western Front, Eastern Front, North African Campaign, and the Pacific War. The show is in full color, combining both original and colorized footage. It was first broadcast in 2008-2009 and was on syndication in the United States on the Military Channel. In 2021, Channel 5 broadcast a sister series called "Thirties in Colour: Countdown to War" on their 5Select channel, which would be replaced in the schedules by the 2009 series in September 2021, once the new programme had got to the point of war in its timeline. "Greatest Events of WWII in Colour" is a docuseries that documents some of the events of World War II while showing colorized archive footage of such events. It was released on Netflix as an original series on November 8, 2019, and uses highly advanced colorization techniques to show critical moments from World War II, from Stalingrad to The Battle of Britain, in a whole new light. World War II may have started more than 75 years ago, but people still think about it a lot. You cannot go online without seeing someone be compared to Hitler or the Nazis. Hollywood cannot churn out movies about it fast enough, and there are thousands of books to read on the subject. Even people who don't normally consider themselves history experts are pretty sure they know the basics when it comes to World War II. Except so much of what we think we know is wrong. Propaganda was flying around from all sides during the war, and even after all these years we still believe some of it. Hindsight has made some countries into cowards and some into heroes, while leaders from the time are either completely evil or pure perfection. Obviously, anything as messy as war is a lot more complicated than that. Here are some of the biggest myths you probably believe about World War Two. September 18, 1931Japan invades Manchuria. October 2, 1935–May 1936FascistItalyinvades, conquers, and annexes Ethiopia. October 25–November 1, 1936Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy sign a treaty of cooperation on October 25. On November 1, the Rome-BerlinAxisis announced. November 25, 1936Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan sign the Anti-Comintern Pact. The pact is directed against the Soviet Union and the international Communist movement. July 7, 1937Japan invades China. November 26, 1937Italy joins Germany and Japan in the Anti-Comintern Pact. March 11–13, 1938Germany incorporatesAustriain theAnschluss. September 29, 1938Germany, Italy, Great Britain, and France sign the Munich agreement which forces theCzechoslovak Republicto cede the Sudetenland, including key Czechoslovak military defense positions, to Nazi Germany. March 14–15, 1939Under German pressure, the Slovaks declare their independence and form a Slovak Republic. The Germans occupy the dismantled Czech lands in violation of the Munich agreement and form the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. March 31, 1939France and Great Britain guarantee the integrity of the borders of the Polish state. April 7–15, 1939Fascist Italy invades and annexes Albania. August 23, 1939Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union sign anon-aggression agreementand a secret protocol dividing eastern Europe into spheres of influence. September 1, 1939Germany invades Poland, initiatingWorld War II in Europe. September 3, 1939Honoring their guarantee of Poland’s borders, Great Britain and France declare war on Germany. September 17, 1939The Soviet Union invades Poland from the east. The Polish government flees into exile via Romania, first to France and then later to Great Britain. September 27–29, 1939Warsaw surrenders on September 27. Germany and the Soviet Union divide Poland between them. November 30, 1939–March 12, 1940The Soviet Union invades Finland, initiating the so-called Winter War. The Finns sue for an armistice and cede the northern shores of Lake Ladoga to the Soviet Union. They also cede the small Finnish coastline on the Arctic Sea. April 9, 1940–June 9, 1940Germany invadesDenmarkandNorway. Denmark surrenders on the day of the attack. Norway holds out until June 9. May 10, 1940–June 22, 1940Germany attacks western Europe, specifically France and the neutral Low Countries (Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg). Luxembourg is occupied on May 10; the Netherlands surrenders on May 14; and Belgium surrenders on May 28. On June 22, France signs an armistice agreement by which the Germans occupy the northern half of the country and the entire Atlantic coastline. In southern France, a collaborationist regime with its capital in Vichy is established. June 10, 1940Italyenters the war. Italy invades southern France on June 21. June 28, 1940The Soviet Union forcesRomaniato cede the eastern province of Bessarabia and the northern half of Bukovina to Soviet Ukraine. June 14, 1940–August 6, 1940The Soviet Union occupies the Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania) on June 14–18. On July 14–15, it engineers Communist coup d’états in each of these countries and then annexes them as Soviet Republics on August 3–6. July 10, 1940–October 31, 1940The air war known as the Battle of Britain ends in defeat for Nazi Germany. August 30, 1940Second Vienna Award: Germany and Italy arbitrate a decision on the division of the disputed province of Transylvania between Romania and Hungary. The loss of northern Transylvania forces Romanian King Carol to abdicate in favor of his son, Michael, and brings to power a dictatorship under General Ion Antonescu. September 13, 1940The Italians invade British-controlledEgyptfrom Italian-controlled Libya. September 27, 1940Germany, Italy, and Japan sign the Tripartite Pact. October 1940Italy invadesGreecefrom Albania on October 28. November 1940Hungary (November 20), Romania (November 23), and Slovakia (November 24) join theAxis. February 1941The Germans send the Afrika Korps toNorth Africato reinforce the faltering Italians. March 1, 1941Bulgariajoins theAxis. April 6, 1941–June 1941Germany, Italy, and Hungary invadeYugoslaviaand, together with Bulgaria, dismember it. Yugoslavia surrenders on April 17. Germany and Bulgaria invade Greece in support of the Italians. Resistance in Greece ceases in early June 1941. April 10, 1941The leaders of the terrorist Ustaša movement proclaim the so-called Independent State of Croatia. Recognized immediately by Germany and Italy, the new state includes the province of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Croatia joins the Axis powers formally on June 15, 1941. June 22, 1941–November 1941Nazi Germany and its Axis partners (except Bulgaria)invade the Soviet Union. Finland, seeking redress for the territorial losses in the armistice concluding theso-called WinterWar, agrees to participate in the invasion. The Germansquickly overrun the Baltic states and, joined by the Finns, lay siege to Leningrad (St. Petersburg) by September. In the center, the Germans capture Smolensk in early August and drive on Moscow by October. In the south, German and Romanian troops capture Kiev (Kyiv) in September and capture Rostov on the Don River in November. December 6, 1941A Soviet counteroffensive drives the Germans from the Moscow suburbs in chaotic retreat. December 7, 1941Japan bombsPearl Harbor. December 8, 1941The United States declares war on Japan, entering World War II. Japanese troops land in the Philippines, French Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia), and British Singapore. The Japanese occupy the Philippines, Indochina, and Singapore by April 1942 and take control of Burma in May. December 11–13, 1941Nazi Germany and its Axis partners declare war on the United States. May 30, 1942–May 1945The British bomb Köln (Cologne), in the start of a bombing campaign that brings the war home to Germany. Over the next three years Anglo-American bombing reduces urban Germany to rubble. June 1942The US Navy halts the Japanese naval advance in the central Pacific at Midway. June 28, 1942–September 1942Germany and its Axis partners launch a new offensive in the Soviet Union. German troops fight their way into Stalingrad (Volgograd) on the Volga River by mid-September and penetrate deep into the Caucasus after securing the Crimean Peninsula. With German forces in North Africa having penetrated Egypt, Germany was at the height of its military success in World War II. August 7, 1942–February 9, 1943For the first time, Allied forces go on the offensive against Japanese forces by landing on and taking Tulagi, Florida, and Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. October 23–24, 1942British troops defeat the Germans and Italians atEl Alameinin Egypt, sending the Axis forces in chaotic retreat across Libya to the eastern border of Tunisia. November 8, 1942US and British troops land at several points on the beaches of Algeria and Morocco in French North Africa. The failure of the Vichy French troops to defend against the invasion enables the Allies to move swiftly to the western border of Tunisia and triggers the German occupation of southern France on November 11. November 23, 1942–February 2, 1943Soviet troops counterattack, breaking through the Hungarian and Romanian lines northwest and southwest of Stalingrad and trapping the German Sixth Army in the city. Forbidden by Hitler to retreat or try to break out of the Soviet ring, the survivors of the Sixth Army surrender on January 30 and February 2, 1943. May 13, 1943Axis forces in Tunisia surrender to the Allies, ending the North African campaign. July 5, 1943The Germans launch a massive tank offensive near Kursk in the Soviet Union. The Soviets blunt the attack within a week and begin an offensive initiative of their own. July 10, 1943US and British troops land on Sicily. By mid-August, the Allies control Sicily. July 25, 1943The Fascist Grand Council deposes Benito Mussolini, enabling Italian Marshall Pietro Badoglio to form a new government. September 8, 1943The Badoglio government surrenders unconditionally to the Allies. The Germans immediately seize control of Rome and northern Italy, establishing a puppet Fascist regime under Mussolini, who is freed from imprisonment by German commandos on September 12. September 9, 1943Allied troops land on the beaches of Salerno near Naples. November 6, 1943Soviet troops liberate Kiev. January 22, 1944Allied troops land successfully near Anzio, just south of Rome. March 19, 1944Fearing Hungary’s intention to desert the Axis partnership, theGermans occupy Hungaryand compel the regent, Admiral Miklos Horthy, to appoint a pro-German minister president. June 4, 1944Allied troops liberate Rome. Within six weeks, Anglo-American bombers could hit targets in eastern Germany for the first time. June 6, 1944British, US, and Canadian troops successfullyland on the Normandy beachesof France, opening a “Second Front” against the Germans. June 22, 1944The Soviets launch a massive offensive in eastern Belorussia (Belarus), destroying the German Army Group Center and driving westward to the Vistula River toward Warsaw in central Poland by August 1. July 25, 1944Allied forces break out of the Normandy beachhead and race eastward towardsParis. August 1, 1944–October 5, 1944The Home Army (the non-communist Polish resistance) rises up against the Germans in an effort to liberate Warsaw before the arrival of Soviet troops. The Soviet advance halts on the east bank of the Vistula. On October 5, the Germans accept the surrender of the remnants of the Home Army forces fighting in Warsaw. August 15, 1944Allied forces land in southern France near Nice and advance rapidly towards the Rhine River to the northeast. August 20–25, 1944Allied troops reach Paris. On August 25, Free French forces, supported by Allied troops, enter the French capital. By September, the Allies reach the German border. By December, virtually all of France, most of Belgium, and part of the southern Netherlands are liberated. August 23, 1944The appearance of Soviet troops on the Prut River induces the Romanian opposition to overthrow the Antonescu regime. The new government concludes an armistice and immediately switches sides in the war. The Romanian turnaround compels Bulgaria to surrender on September 8, and the Germans to evacuate Greece, Albania, and southern Yugoslavia in October. August 29, 1944–October 28, 1944Under the leadership of the Slovak National Council, consisting of both Communists and non-Communists, underground Slovak resistance units rise against the Germans and the indigenous fascist Slovak regime. In late October, the Germans capture Banská Bystrica, the headquarters of the uprising, and put an end to organized resistance. September 4, 1944Finland agrees to sign an armistice with the Soviet Union and to expel German forces. October 15, 1944The Hungarian fascist Arrow Cross movement carries out a coup d’état with German support to prevent the Hungarian government from pursuing negotiations for surrender to the Soviets. October 20, 1944US troops land in the Philippines. December 16, 1944The Germans launch a final offensive in the west, known as theBattle of the Bulge, in an attempt to re-conquer Belgium and split the Allied forces along the German border. By January 1, 1945, the Germans are in retreat. January 12, 1945The Soviets launch a new offensive, liberating Warsaw and Krakow in January. They capture Budapest after a two-month siege on February 13, driving the Germans and their Hungarian collaborators out of Hungary in early April. March 7, 1945US troops cross the Rhine River atRemagen. April 4, 1945The capture of Bratislava forces Slovakia to surrender. April 13, 1945Soviet forces capture Vienna. April 16, 1945The Soviets launch their final offensive, encircling Berlin. April 1945Partisan units, led by Yugoslav Communist leader Josip Tito, capture Zagreb and topple the Ustaša regime. The top Ustaša leaders flee to Italy and Austria. April 30, 1945Hitler commits suicide. May 7–8, 1945Germany signs an unconditional surrender at the headquarters of US General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Commander of Allied forces in northwest Europe, at Reims on May 7. The surrender takes effect on May 8 at 11:01 PM Central European time (CET). May 8, 1945Germany signs a second, very similar, document of surrender in Berlin. It also comes into effect on May 8 at 11:01 PM CET. In Moscow, this was already after midnight on May 9. May 1945Allied troops conquer Okinawa, the last island stop before the main Japanese islands. August 6, 1945The United States drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. August 8, 1945The Soviet Union declares war on Japan and invades Manchuria. August 9, 1945The United States drops an atomic bomb on Nagasaki. September 2, 1945Having agreed in principle to unconditional surrender on August 14, 1945, Japan formally surrenders, ending World War 2. 1. "The Gathering Storm" - https://rumble.com/v34gknj-world-war-two-dates-and-timeline-pt.-1-in-colour-film-the-gathering-storm.html Just years afterWorld War I, Germany and other nations are in an economic depression. Leader approval ratings of Germany, Italy, Japan and Spain are shallow, giving the rise to military dictators along with their parties. Years afterAdolf Hitlerbecomes Chancellor of Germany, he and his generals plot theinvasion of Poland. 2. "Lightning War" - https://rumble.com/v34i301-world-war-two-dates-and-timeline-pt.-2-in-colour-film-the-lightning-war.html The Germans develop a new military tactic known asBlitzkrieg. The Nazis useBlitzkrieg, dominating land and air warfare, allowing them to take Poland andconquer Francein matters of weeks. Britain and Canada, as well as other Commonwealth countries, declare war on Germany. 3. "Britain at Bay" - https://rumble.com/v34jxp4-world-war-two-dates-and-timeline-pt.-3-in-colour-film-britain-at-bay.html July 1940, Britain is standing on its last legs while being pummeled by Germany. Though Hitler has better soldiers and a more powerful air force, critical errors of theLuftwaffeallow Britain to regain strength and start pushing back. 4. "Hitler Strikes East" - https://rumble.com/v34lpsx-world-war-two-dates-and-timeline-pt.-4-in-colour-film-hitler-strikes-east.html After the unsuccessful attempt to defeat the British, Hitler focuses his attention on theSoviet Union. This proves to be quite a military gamble. 5. "Red Sun Rampant" - https://rumble.com/v34qnxk-world-war-two-dates-and-timeline-pt.-5-in-colour-film-red-sun-rampant.html On 7 December 1941, the Japanese bomb the U.S. Fleet in Pearl Harbor. The United States officially enters World War II starting with the Pacific Front. 6. "The Mediterranean and North Africa" - https://rumble.com/v34sbv4-world-war-two-dates-and-timeline-pt.-6-in-colour-film-mediterranean-and-nor.html After success in North Africa and Greece,AlliespushBenito Mussolini's forces all the way back to Italy. Italy is then knocked out of the war, Mussolini is deposed, and the Allies start to put real pressure onNazi Germany. 7. "Turning the Tide" - https://rumble.com/v34u5o6-world-war-two-dates-and-timeline-pt.-7-in-colour-film-turning-the-tide.html The Allies and the Axis are searching for a final blow to each other to end the war. While the Allies try out strategic fire bombing, Hitler tries cutting off American supply lines with submarines. Right now this is a stalemate. 8. "The Soviet Steamroller" - https://rumble.com/v34wd06-world-war-two-dates-and-timeline-pt.-8-in-colour-film-the-soviet-steamrolle.html After Hitler's gamble in the East fails, failing to defeatStalingradandMoscow, the Soviet Union, with its vast resources and armies, starts to slowly push back and grow. Hitler is now on the defence on ⅔ of his fronts. 9. "Overlord" - https://rumble.com/v34ymj6-world-war-two-dates-and-timeline-pt.-9-in-colour-film-overlord-d-day-.html After careful planning and tremendous secrecy but more importantly the lack of Hitler's attention, the Allies successfully breach mainland Western Europe through theNormandy landings. After thousands of lives are lost to the operation, the Allies are able to start the liberation of Western Europe. 10. "Closing the Ring" - https://rumble.com/v350hxe-world-war-two-dates-and-timeline-pt.-10-in-colour-film-closing-the-ring.html The Allies are now on the offensive on all three fronts. As their forces push through Europe soldiers start uncovering Hitler's death camps. This was the Allies' first concrete knowledge of the Holocaust. 11. "The Island War" - https://rumble.com/v352ipq-world-war-two-dates-and-timeline-pt.-11-in-colour-film-the-island-war.html An aggressive war is being waged against the Japanese. The United States is now starting to use a new tactic of island-hopping, resulting in the slow crumbling of the Japanese air force and navy. 12. "Victory in Europe" - https://rumble.com/v353y2w-world-war-two-dates-and-timeline-pt.-12-in-colour-film-victory-in-europe.html From three sides, the British, Canadians, Americans, and Soviets are starting to shred through what is left of the Third Reich. As the Nazi forces see their final days, Hitler commits suicide, and the Allies begin dividing up Europe. 13. "Victory in the Pacific" - https://rumble.com/v356qha-world-war-two-dates-and-timeline-pt.-13-in-colour-film-victory-in-the-pacif.html The Americans wipe out Japan's air force through a strategy of island-hopping. As the Americans face the decision of what to do with mainland Japan, President Truman calls to bomb Hiroshima and Nagasaki with nuclear weapons. Japan had no choice but to surrender, and the Cold War begins. 1933 January 30, 1933 - Adolf Hitler is appointed Chancellor of Germany a nation with a Jewish population of 566,000. February 22, 1933 - 40,000 SA and SS men are sworn in as auxiliary police. February 27, 1933 - Nazis burn Reichstag building to create crisis atmosphere. February 28, 1933 - Emergency powers granted to Hitler as a result of the Reichstag fire. March 22, 1933 - Nazis open Dachau concentration camp near Munich, to be followed by Buchenwald near Weimar in central Germany, Sachsenhausen near Berlin in northern Germany, and Ravensbrück for women. March 24, 1933 - German Parliament passes Enabling Act giving Hitler dictatorial powers. April 1, 1933 - Nazis stage boycott of Jewish shops and businesses. April 11, 1933 - Nazis issue a Decree defining a non-Aryan as "anyone descended from non-Aryan, especially Jewish, parents or grandparents. One parent or grandparent classifies the descendant as non-Aryan...especially if one parent or grandparent was of the Jewish faith." April 26, 1933 - The Gestapo is born, created by Hermann Göring in the German state of Prussia. May 10, 1933 - Burning of books in Berlin and throughout Germany. July 14, 1933 - Nazi Party is declared the only legal party in Germany; Also, Nazis pass Law to strip Jewish immigrants from Poland of their German citizenship. In July - Nazis pass law allowing for forced sterilization of those found by a Hereditary Health Court to have genetic defects. In September - Nazis establish Reich Chamber of Culture, then exclude Jews from the Arts. September 29, 1933 - Nazis prohibit Jews from owning land. October 4, 1933 - Jews are prohibited from being newspaper editors. November 24, 1933 - Nazis pass a Law against Habitual and Dangerous Criminals, which allows beggars, the homeless, alcoholics and the unemployed to be sent to concentration camps. 1934 January 24, 1934 - Jews are banned from the German Labor Front. May 17, 1934 - Jews not allowed national health insurance. June 30, 1934 - The Night of Long Knives occurs as Hitler, Göring and Himmler conduct a purge of the SA (storm trooper) leadership. July 20, 1934 - The SS (Schutzstaffel) is made an independent organization from the SA. July 22, 1934 - Jews are prohibited from getting legal qualifications. August 2, 1934 - German President von Hindenburg dies. Hitler becomes Führer. August 19, 1934 - Hitler receives a 90 percent 'Yes' vote from German voters approving his new powers. 1935 May 21, 1935 - Nazis ban Jews from serving in the military. June 26, 1935 - Nazis pass law allowing forced abortions on women to prevent them from passing on hereditary diseases. August 6, 1935 - Nazis force Jewish performers/artists to join Jewish Cultural Unions. September 15, 1935 - Nuremberg Race Laws against Jews decreed. 1936 February 10, 1936 - The German Gestapo is placed above the law. In March - SS Deathshead division is established to guard concentration camps. March 7, 1936 - Nazis occupy the Rhineland. June 17, 1936 - Heinrich Himmler is appointed chief of the German Police. August 1, 1936 - Olympic games begin in Berlin. Hitler and top Nazis seek to gain legitimacy through favorable public opinion from foreign visitors and thus temporarily refrain from actions against Jews. In August - Nazis set up an Office for Combating Homosexuality and Abortions (by healthy women). 1937 In January - Jews are banned from many professional occupations including teaching Germans, and from being accountants or dentists. They are also denied tax reductions and child allowances. November 8, 1937 - 'Eternal Jew' travelling exhibition opens in Munich. 1938 March 12/13, 1938 - Nazi troops enter Austria, which has a population of 200,000 Jews, mainly living in Vienna. Hitler announces Anschluss (union) with Austria. In March - After the Anschluss, the SS is placed in charge of Jewish affairs in Austria with Adolf Eichmann establishing an Office for Jewish Emigration in Vienna. Himmler then establishes Mauthausen concentration camp near Linz. April 22, 1938 - Nazis prohibit Aryan 'front-ownership' of Jewish businesses. April 26, 1938 - Nazis order Jews to register wealth and property. June 14, 1938 - Nazis order Jewish-owned businesses to register. In July - At Evian, France, the U.S. convenes a League of Nations conference with delegates from 32 countries to consider helping Jews fleeing Hitler, but results in inaction as no country will accept them. July 6, 1938 - Nazis prohibited Jews from trading and providing a variety of specified commercial services. July 23, 1938 - Nazis order Jews over age 15 to apply for identity cards from the police, to be shown on demand to any police officer. July 25, 1938 - Jewish doctors prohibited by law from practicing medicine. August 11, 1938 - Nazis destroy the synagogue in Nuremberg. August 17, 1938 - Nazis require Jewish women to add Sarah and men to add Israel to their names on all legal documents including passports. September 27, 1938 - Jews are prohibited from all legal practices. October 5, 1938 - Law requires Jewish passports to be stamped with a large red "J." October 15, 1938 - Nazi troops occupy the Sudetenland. October 28, 1938 - Nazis arrest 17,000 Jews of Polish nationality living in Germany, then expel them back to Poland which refuses them entry, leaving them in 'No-Man's Land' near the Polish border for several months. November 7, 1938 - Ernst vom Rath, third secretary in the German Embassy in Paris, is shot and mortally wounded by Herschel Grynszpan, the 17-year-old son of one of the deported Polish Jews. Rath dies on November 9, precipitating Kristallnacht. November 9/10 - Kristallnacht - The Night of Broken Glass. November 12, 1938 - Nazis fine Jews one billion marks for damages related to Kristallnacht. November 15, 1938 - Jewish pupils are expelled from all non-Jewish German schools. December 3, 1938 - Law for compulsory Aryanization of all Jewish businesses. December 14, 1938 - Hermann Göring takes charge of resolving the "Jewish Question." 1939 January 24, 1939 - SS leader Reinhard Heydrich is ordered by Göring to speed up the emigration of Jews. January 30, 1939 - Hitler threatens Jews during Reichstag speech. February 21, 1939 - Nazis force Jews to hand over all gold and silver items. March 15/16 - Nazi troops seize Czechoslovakia (Jewish pop. 350,000). April 19, 1939 - Slovakia passes its own version of the Nuremberg Laws. April 30, 1939 - Jews lose rights as tenants and are relocated into Jewish houses. In May - The St. Louis, a ship crowded with 930 Jewish refugees, is turned away by Cuba, the United States and other countries and returns to Europe. July 4, 1939 - German Jews denied the right to hold government jobs. July 21, 1939 - Adolf Eichmann is appointed director of the Prague Office of Jewish Emigration. September 1, 1939 - Nazis invade Poland (Jewish pop. 3.35 million, the largest in Europe). Beginning of SS activity in Poland. See also: The History Place - World War II in Europe Timeline September 1, 1939 - Jews in Germany are forbidden to be outdoors after 8 p.m. in winter and 9 p.m. in summer. September 3, 1939 - Great Britain and France declare war on Germany. September 4, 1939 - Warsaw is cut off by the German Army. September 17, 1939 - Soviet troops invade eastern Poland. September 21, 1939 - Heydrich issues instructions to SS Einsatzgruppen (special action squads) in Poland regarding treatment of Jews, stating they are to be gathered into ghettos near railroads for the future "final goal." He also orders a census and the establishment of Jewish administrative councils within the ghettos to implement Nazi policies and decrees. September 23, 1939 - German Jews are forbidden to own wireless (radio) sets. September 27, 1939 - Warsaw surrenders; Heydrich becomes leader of RSHA. September 29, 1939 - Nazis and Soviets divide up Poland. Over two million Jews reside in Nazi controlled areas, leaving 1.3 million in the Soviet area. In September - Quote from Nazi newspaper, Der Stürmer, published by Julius Streicher - "The Jewish people ought to be exterminated root and branch. Then the plague of pests would have disappeared in Poland at one stroke." In October - Nazis begin euthanasia on sick and disabled in Germany. October 6, 1939 - Proclamation by Hitler on the isolation of Jews. October 12, 1939 - Evacuation of Jews from Vienna. October 12, 1939 - Hans Frank appointed Nazi Gauleiter (governor) of Poland. October 26, 1939 - Forced labor decree issued for Polish Jews aged 14 to 60. November 23, 1939 - Yellow stars required to be worn by Polish Jews over age 10. In December - Adolf Eichmann takes over section IV B4 of the Gestapo dealing solely with Jewish affairs and evacuations. 1940 January 25, 1940 - Nazis choose the town of Oswiecim (Auschwitz) in Poland near Krakow as the site of a new concentration camp. In January - Quote from Nazi newspaper, Der Stürmer, published by Julius Streicher - "The time is near when a machine will go into motion which is going to prepare a grave for the world's criminal - Judah - from which there will be no resurrection." February 12, 1940 - First deportation of German Jews into occupied Poland. April 9, 1940 - Nazis invade Denmark (Jewish pop. 8,000) and Norway (Jewish pop. 2,000). April 30, 1940 - The Lodz Ghetto in occupied Poland is sealed off from the outside world with 230,000 Jews locked inside. May 1, 1940 - Rudolf Höss is chosen to be kommandant of Auschwitz. May 10, 1940 - Nazis invade France (Jewish pop. 350,000), Belgium (Jewish pop. 65,000), Holland (Jewish pop. 140,000), and Luxembourg (Jewish pop. 3,500). June 14, 1940 - Paris is occupied by the Nazis. June 22, 1940 - France signs an armistice with Hitler. In July - Eichmann's Madagascar Plan is presented, proposing to deport all European Jews to the island of Madagascar, off the coast of east Africa. July 17, 1940 - The first anti-Jewish measures are taken in Vichy France. August 8, 1940 - Romania introduces anti-Jewish measures restricting education and employment, then later begins "Romanianization" of Jewish businesses. September 27, 1940 - Tripartite (Axis) Pact signed by Germany, Italy and Japan. October 3, 1940 - Vichy France passes its own version of the Nuremberg Laws. October 7, 1940 - Nazis invade Romania (Jewish pop. 34,000). October 22, 1940 - Deportation of 29,000 German Jews from Baden, the Saar, and Alsace-Lorraine into Vichy France. In November - Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia become Nazi Allies. In November - The Krakow Ghetto is sealed off containing 70,000 Jews. November 15, 1940 - The Warsaw Ghetto, containing over 400,000 Jews, is sealed off. 1941 In 1941 - Hans Frank, Gauleiter of Poland, states, "I ask nothing of the Jews except that they should disappear." In January - Quote from Nazi newspaper, Der Stürmer, published by Julius Streicher - "Now judgment has begun and it will reach its conclusion only when knowledge of the Jews has been erased from the earth." In January - A pogrom in Romania results in over 2,000 Jews killed. February 22, 1941 - 430 Jewish hostages are deported from Amsterdam after a Dutch Nazi is killed by Jews. In March - Hitler's Commissar Order authorizes execution of anyone suspected of being a Communist official in territories about to be seized from Soviet Russia. March 1, 1941 - Himmler makes his first visit to Auschwitz, during which he orders Kommandant Höss to begin massive expansion, including a new compound to be built at nearby Birkenau that can hold 100,000 prisoners. March 2, 1941 - Nazis occupy Bulgaria (Jewish pop. 50,000). March 7, 1941 - German Jews ordered into forced labor. March 26, 1941 - The German Army High Command gives approval to RSHA and Heydrich on the tasks of SS murder squads (Einsatzgruppen) in occupied Poland. March 29, 1941 - A 'Commissariat' for Jewish Affairs is set up in Vichy France. April 6, 1941 - Nazis invade Yugoslavia (Jewish pop. 75,000) and Greece (Jewish pop. 77,000). May 14, 1941 - 3,600 Jews arrested in Paris. May 16, 1941 - French Marshal Petain issues a radio broadcast approving collaboration with Hitler. June 22, 1941 - Nazis invade Russia (Jewish pop. 3 million). June 29/30 - Romanian troops conduct a pogrom against Jews in the town of Jassy, killing 10,000. Summer - Himmler summons Auschwitz Kommandant Höss to Berlin and tells him, "The Führer has ordered the Final Solution of the Jewish question. We, the SS, have to carry out this order...I have therefore chosen Auschwitz for this purpose." In July - As the German Army advances, SS Einsatzgruppen follow along and conduct mass murder of Jews in seized lands. In July - Ghettos established at Kovno, Minsk, Vitebsk and Zhitomer. Also in July, the government of Vichy France seizes Jewish owned property. July 17, 1941 - Nazi racial 'philosopher' Alfred Rosenberg is appointed Reich Minister for the Eastern Occupied Territories to administer territories seized from the Soviet Union. July 21, 1941 - In occupied Poland near Lublin, Majdanek concentration camp becomes operational. July 25/26 - 3,800 Jews killed during a pogrom by Lithuanians in Kovno. July 31, 1941 - Göring instructs Heydrich to prepare for Final Solution. In August - Jews in Romania forced into Transnistria. By December, 70,000 perish. In August - Ghettos established at Bialystok and Lvov. August 26, 1941 - The Hungarian Army rounds up 18,000 Jews at Kamenets-Podolsk. September 3, 1941 - The first test use of Zyklon-B gas at Auschwitz. September 1, 1941 - German Jews ordered to wear yellow stars. September 6, 1941 - The Vilna Ghetto is established containing 40,000 Jews. September 17, 1941 - Beginning of general deportation of German Jews. September 19, 1941 - Nazis take Kiev. September 27/28 - 23,000 Jews killed at Kamenets-Podolsk, in the Ukraine. September 29/30 - SS Einsatzgruppen murder 33,771 Jews at Babi Yar near Kiev. In October - 35,000 Jews from Odessa shot. October 2, 1941 - Beginning of the German Army drive on Moscow. October 23, 1941 - Nazis forbid emigration of Jews from the Reich. In November - SS Einsatzgruppe B reports a tally of 45,476 Jews killed. November 24, 1941 - Theresienstadt Ghetto is established near Prague, Czechoslovakia. The Nazis will use it as a model ghetto for propaganda purposes. November 30, 1941 - Near Riga, a mass shooting of Latvian and German Jews. December 7, 1941 - Japanese attack United States at Pearl Harbor. The next day the U.S. and Great Britain declare war on Japan. December 8, 1941 - In occupied Poland, near Lodz, Chelmno extermination camp becomes operational. Jews taken there are placed in mobile gas vans and driven to a burial place while carbon monoxide from the engine exhaust is fed into the sealed rear compartment, killing them. The first gassing victims include 5,000 Gypsies who had been deported from the Reich to Lodz. December 11, 1941 - Hitler declares war on the United States. President Roosevelt then asks Congress for a declaration of war on Germany saying, "Never before has there been a greater challenge to life, liberty and civilization." The U.S.A. then enters the war in Europe and will concentrate nearly 90 percent of its military resources to defeat Hitler. December 12, 1941 - The ship "Struma" leaves Romania for Palestine carrying 769 Jews but is later denied permission by British authorities to allow the passengers to disembark. In February 1942, it sails back into the Black Sea where it is intercepted by a Russian submarine and sunk as an "enemy target." December 16, 1941 - During a cabinet meeting, Hans Frank, Gauleiter of Poland, states - "Gentlemen, I must ask you to rid yourselves of all feeling of pity. We must annihilate the Jews wherever we find them and wherever it is possible in order to maintain there the structure of the Reich as a whole..." 1942 In January - Mass killings of Jews using Zyklon-B begin at Auschwitz-Birkenau in Bunker I (the red farmhouse) in Birkenau with the bodies being buried in mass graves in a nearby meadow. January 20, 1942 - Wannsee Conference to coordinate the "Final Solution." January 31, 1942 - SS Einsatzgruppe A reports a tally of 229,052 Jews killed. In March - In occupied Poland, Belzec extermination camp becomes operational. The camp is fitted with permanent gas chambers using carbon monoxide piped in from engines placed outside the chamber, but will later substitute Zyklon-B. March 17, 1942 - The deportation of Jews from Lublin to Belzec. March 24, 1942 - The start of deportation of Slovak Jews to Auschwitz. March 27, 1942 - The start of deportation of French Jews to Auschwitz. March 28, 1942 - Fritz Sauckel named Chief of Manpower to expedite recruitment of slave labor. March 30, 1942 - First trainloads of Jews from Paris arrive at Auschwitz. In April - First transports of Jews arrive at Majdanek. April 20, 1942 - German Jews are banned from using public transportation. In May - In occupied Poland, Sobibor extermination camp becomes operational. The camp is fitted with three gas chambers using carbon monoxide piped in from engines, but will later substitute Zyklon-B. May 18, 1942 - The New York Times reports on an inside page that Nazis have machine-gunned over 100,000 Jews in the Baltic states, 100,000 in Poland and twice as many in western Russia. May 27, 1942 - SS leader Heydrich is mortally wounded by Czech Underground agents. In June - Gas vans used in Riga. June 1, 1942 - Jews in France, Holland, Belgium, Croatia, Slovakia, Romania ordered to wear yellow stars. June 4, 1942 - Heydrich dies of his wounds. June 5, 1942 - SS report 97,000 persons have been "processed" in mobile gas vans. June 10, 1942 - Nazis liquidate Lidice in retaliation for Heydrich's death. June 11, 1942 - Eichmann meets with representatives from France, Belgium and Holland to coordinate deportation plans for Jews. June 30, 1942 - At Auschwitz, a second gas chamber, Bunker II (the white farmhouse), is made operational at Birkenau due to the number of Jews arriving. June 30 and July 2 - The New York Times reports via the London Daily Telegraph that over 1,000,000 Jews have already been killed by Nazis. Summer - Swiss representatives of the World Jewish Congress receive information from a German industrialist regarding the Nazi plan to exterminate the Jews. They then pass the information on to London and Washington. July 2, 1942 - Jews from Berlin sent to Theresienstadt. July 7, 1942 - Himmler grants permission for sterilization experiments at Auschwitz. July 14, 1942 - Beginning of deportation of Dutch Jews to Auschwitz. July 16/17 - 12,887 Jews of Paris are rounded up and sent to Drancy Internment Camp located outside the city. A total of approximately 74,000 Jews, including 11,000 children, will eventually be transported from Drancy to Auschwitz, Majdanek and Sobibor. July 17/18 - Himmler visits Auschwitz-Birkenau for two days, inspecting all ongoing construction and expansion, then observes the extermination process from start to finish as two trainloads of Jews arrive from Holland. Kommandant Höss is then promoted. Construction includes four large gas chamber/crematories. July 19, 1942 - Himmler orders Operation Reinhard, mass deportations of Jews in Poland to extermination camps. July 22, 1942 - Beginning of deportations from the Warsaw Ghetto to the new extermination camp, Treblinka. Also, beginning of the deportation of Belgian Jews to Auschwitz. July 23, 1942 - Treblinka extermination camp opened in occupied Poland, east of Warsaw. The camp is fitted with two buildings containing 10 gas chambers, each holding 200 persons. Carbon monoxide gas is piped in from engines placed outside the chamber, but Zyklon-B will later be substituted. Bodies are burned in open pits. In August - The start of deportations of Croatian Jews to Auschwitz. August 23, 1942 - Beginning of German Army attack on Stalingrad in Russia. August 26-28 - 7,000 Jews arrested in unoccupied France. September 9, 1942 - Open pit burning of bodies begins at Auschwitz in place of burial. The decision is made to dig up and burn those already buried, 107,000 corpses, to prevent fouling of ground water. September 18, 1942 - Reduction of food rations for Jews in Germany. September 26, 1942 - SS begins cashing in possessions and valuables of Jews from Auschwitz and Majdanek. German banknotes are sent to the Reichs Bank. Foreign currency, gold, jewels and other valuables are sent to SS Headquarters of the Economic Administration. Watches, clocks and pens are distributed to troops at the front. Clothing is distributed to German families. By February 1943, over 800 boxcars of confiscated goods will have left Auschwitz. October 5, 1942 - Himmler orders all Jews in concentration camps in Germany to be sent to Auschwitz and Majdanek. October 5, 1942 - A German eyewitness observes SS mass murder. October 14, 1942 - Mass killing of Jews from Mizocz Ghetto in the Ukraine. October 22, 1942 - SS put down a revolt at Sachsenhausen by a group of Jews about to be sent to Auschwitz. October 25, 1942 - Deportations of Jews from Norway to Auschwitz begin. October 28, 1942 - The first transport from Theresienstadt arrives at Auschwitz. In November - The mass killing of 170,000 Jews in the area of Bialystok. December 10, 1942 - The first transport of Jews from Germany arrives at Auschwitz. In December - Exterminations at Belzec cease after an estimated 600,000 Jews have been murdered. The camp is then dismantled, plowed over and planted. December 17, 1942 - British Foreign Secretary Eden tells the British House of Commons the Nazis are "now carrying into effect Hitler's oft repeated intention to exterminate the Jewish people of Europe." The U.S. declares those crimes will be avenged. December 28, 1942 - Sterilization experiments on women at Birkenau begin. Map of Concentration/Death Camps 1943 In 1943 - The number of Jews killed by SS Einsatzgruppen passes one million. Nazis then use special units of slave laborers to dig up and burn the bodies to remove all traces. January 18, 1943 - First resistance by Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto. January 29, 1943 - Nazis order all Gypsies arrested and sent to extermination camps. January 30, 1943 - Ernst Kaltenbrunner succeeds Heydrich as head of RSHA. In February - The Romanian government proposes to the Allies the transfer of 70,000 Jews to Palestine, but receives no response from Britain or the U.S. In February - Greek Jews are ordered into ghettos. February 2, 1943 - Germans surrender to Russian troops at Stalingrad in the first big defeat of Hitler's armies. February 27, 1943 - Jews working in Berlin armaments industry are sent to Auschwitz. In March - The start of deportations of Jews from Greece to Auschwitz, lasting until August, totaling 49,900 persons. March 1, 1943 - In New York, American Jews hold a mass rally at Madison Square Garden to pressure the U.S. government into helping the Jews of Europe. March 14, 1943 - The Krakow Ghetto is liquidated. March 17, 1943 - Bulgaria states opposition to deportation of its Jews. March 22, 1943 - Newly built gas chamber/crematory IV opens at Auschwitz. March 31, 1943 - Newly built gas chamber/crematory II opens at Auschwitz. April 4, 1943 - Newly built gas chamber/crematory V opens at Auschwitz. April 9, 1943 - Exterminations at Chelmno cease. The camp will be reactivated in the spring of 1944 to liquidate ghettos. In all, Chelmno will total 300,000 deaths. April 19-30 - The Bermuda Conference occurs as representatives from the United States and Britain discuss the problem of refugees from Nazi-occupied countries, but results in inaction concerning the plight of the Jews. April 19, 1943 - Waffen-SS attacks Jewish Resistance in Warsaw Ghetto. In May - SS Dr. Josef Mengele arrives at Auschwitz. May 13, 1943 - German and Italian troops in North Africa surrender to Allies. May 19, 1943 - Nazis declare Berlin to be Judenfrei (cleansed of Jews). June 11, 1943 - Himmler orders liquidation of all Jewish ghettos in occupied Poland. June 25, 1943 - Newly built gas chamber/crematory III opens at Auschwitz. With its completion, the four new crematories at Auschwitz have a daily capacity of 4,756 bodies. July 9/10 - Allied troops land in Sicily. August 2, 1943 - Two hundred Jews escape from Treblinka extermination camp during a revolt. Nazis then hunt them down one by one. August 16, 1943 - The Bialystok Ghetto is liquidated. In August - Exterminations cease at Treblinka, after an estimated 870,000 deaths. In September - The Vilna and Minsk Ghettos are liquidated. September 11, 1943 - Germans occupy Rome, after occupying northern and central Italy, containing in all about 35,000 Jews. September 11, 1943 - Beginning of Jewish family transports from Theresienstadt to Auschwitz. In October - The Danish Underground helps transport 7,220 Danish Jews to safety in Sweden by sea. October 4 - Himmler talks openly about the Final Solution at Posen. October 14, 1943 - Massive escape from Sobibor as Jews and Soviet POWs break out, with 300 making it safely into nearby woods. Of those 300, fifty will survive. Exterminations then cease at Sobibor, after over 250,000 deaths. All traces of the death camp are then removed and trees are planted. October 16, 1943 - Jews in Rome rounded up, with over 1,000 sent to Auschwitz. In November - The Riga Ghetto is liquidated. In November - The U.S. Congress holds hearings regarding the U.S. State Department's inaction regarding European Jews, despite mounting reports of mass extermination. November 3, 1943 - Nazis carry out Operation Harvest Festival in occupied Poland, killing 42,000 Jews. November 4, 1943 - Quote from Nazi newspaper, Der Stürmer, published by Julius Streicher - "It is actually true that the Jews have, so to speak, disappeared from Europe and that the Jewish 'Reservoir of the East' from which the Jewish pestilence has for centuries beset the peoples of Europe has ceased to exist. But the Führer of the German people at the beginning of the war prophesied what has now come to pass." November 11, 1943 - Auschwitz Kommandant Höss is promoted to chief inspector of concentration camps. The new kommandant, Liebehenschel, then divides up the vast Auschwitz complex of over 30 sub-camps into three main sections. December 2, 1943 - The first transport of Jews from Vienna arrives at Auschwitz. December 16, 1943 - The chief surgeon at Auschwitz reports that 106 castration operations have been performed. 1944 January 3, 1944 - Russian troops reach former Polish border. January 24, 1944 - In response to political pressure to help Jews under Nazi control, President Roosevelt creates the War Refugee Board. January 25, 1944 - Diary entry by Hans Frank, Gauleiter of Poland, concerning the fate of 2.5 million Jews originally under his jurisdiction - "At the present time we still have in the General Government perhaps 100,000 Jews." In February - Eichmann visits Auschwitz. March 19, 1944 - Nazis occupy Hungary (Jewish pop. 725,000). Eichmann arrives with Gestapo "Special Section Commandos." March 24, 1944 - President Roosevelt issues a statement condemning German and Japanese ongoing "crimes against humanity." April 5, 1944 - A Jewish inmate, Siegfried Lederer, escapes from Auschwitz-Birkenau and makes it safely to Czechoslovakia. He then warns the Elders of the Council at Theresienstadt about Auschwitz. April 6, 1944 - Nazis raid a French home for Jewish children. April 7, 1944 - Two Jewish inmates escape from Auschwitz-Birkenau and make it safely to Czechoslovakia. One of them, Rudolf Vrba, submits a report to the Papal Nuncio in Slovakia which is forwarded to the Vatican, received there in mid June. April 14, 1944 - First transports of Jews from Athens to Auschwitz, totaling 5,200 persons. In May - Himmler's agents secretly propose to the Western Allies to trade Jews for trucks, other commodities or money. May 8, 1944 - Rudolf Höss returns to Auschwitz, ordered by Himmler to oversee the extermination of Hungarian Jews. May 15, 1944 - Beginning of the deportation of Jews from Hungary to Auschwitz. May 16, 1944 - Jews from Hungary arrive at Auschwitz. Eichmann arrives to personally oversee and speed up the extermination process. By May 24, an estimated 100,000 have been gassed. Between May 16 and May 31, the SS report collecting 88 pounds of gold and white metal from the teeth of those gassed. By the end of June, 381,661 persons - half of the Jews in Hungary - arrive at Auschwitz. In June - A Red Cross delegation visits Theresienstadt after the Nazis have carefully prepared the camp and the Jewish inmates, resulting in a favorable report. June 6, 1944 - D-Day: Allied landings in Normandy on the coast of northern France. June 12, 1944 - Rosenberg orders Hay Action, the kidnapping of 40,000 Polish children aged ten to fourteen for slave labor in the Reich. Summer - Auschwitz-Birkenau records its highest-ever daily number of persons gassed and burned at just over 9,000. Six huge pits are used to burn bodies, as the number exceeds the capacity of the crematories. In July - Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg arrives in Budapest, Hungary, and proceeds to save nearly 33,000 Jews by issuing diplomatic papers and establishing 'safe houses.' July 24, 1944 - Russian troops liberate the first concentration camp, at Majdanek where over 360,000 had been murdered. August 4, 1944 - Anne Frank and family are arrested by the Gestapo in Amsterdam, then sent to Auschwitz. Anne and her sister Margot are later sent to Bergen-Belsen where Anne dies of typhus on March 15, 1945. August 6, 1944 - Lodz, the last Jewish ghetto in Poland, is liquidated with 60,000 Jews sent to Auschwitz. October 7, 1944 - A revolt by Sonderkommando (Jewish slave laborers) at Auschwitz-Birkenau results in complete destruction of Crematory IV. October 15, 1944 - Nazis seize control of the Hungarian puppet government, then resume deporting Jews, which had temporarily ceased due to international political pressure to stop Jewish persecutions. October 17, 1944 - Eichmann arrives in Hungary. October 28, 1944 - The last transport of Jews to be gassed, 2,000 from Theresienstadt, arrives at Auschwitz. October 30, 1944 - Last use of the gas chambers at Auschwitz. November 8, 1944 - Nazis force 25,000 Jews to walk over 100 miles in rain and snow from Budapest to the Austrian border, followed by a second forced march of 50,000 persons, ending at Mauthausen. November 25, 1944 - Himmler orders destruction of the crematories at Auschwitz. Late 1944 - Oskar Schindler saves 1200 Jews by moving them from Plaszow labor camp to his hometown of Brunnlitz. 1945 In 1945 - As Allied troops advance, the Nazis conduct death marches of concentration camp inmates away from outlying areas. January 6, 1945 - Russians liberate Budapest, freeing over 80,000 Jews. January 14, 1945 - Invasion of eastern Germany by Russian troops. January 17, 1945 - Liberation of Warsaw by the Russians. January 18, 1945 - Nazis evacuate 66,000 from Auschwitz. January 27, 1945 - Russian troops liberate Auschwitz. By this time, an estimated 2,000,000 persons, including 1,500,000 Jews, have been murdered there. April 4, 1945 - Ohrdruf camp is liberated, later visited by General Eisenhower. April 10, 1945 - Allies liberate Buchenwald. April 15, 1945 - Approximately 40,000 prisoners freed at Bergen-Belsen by the British, who report "both inside and outside the huts was a carpet of dead bodies, human excreta, rags and filth." April 23, 1945 - Berlin is reached by Russian troops. April 29, 1945 - U.S. 7th Army liberates Dachau. April 30, 1945 - Hitler commits suicide in his Berlin bunker. April 30, 1945 - Americans free 33,000 inmates from concentration camps. May 2, 1945 - Theresienstadt taken over by the Red Cross. May 5, 1945 - Mauthausen liberated. May 7, 1945 - Unconditional German surrender signed by General Alfred Jodl at Reims. May 9, 1945 - Hermann Göring captured by members of U.S. 7th Army. May 23, 1945 - SS-Reichsführer Himmler commits suicide while in British custody. November 20, 1945 - Opening of the Nuremberg International Military Tribunal. Holocaust Statistics 1946 March 11, 1946 - Former Auschwitz Kommandant Höss, posing as a farm worker, is arrested by the British. He testifies at Nuremberg, then is later tried in Warsaw, found guilty and hanged at Auschwitz, April 16, 1947, near Crematory I. "History will mark me as the greatest mass murderer of all time," Höss writes while in prison, along with his memoirs about Auschwitz. October 16, 1946 - Göring commits suicide two hours before the scheduled execution of the first group of major Nazi war criminals at Nuremberg. During his imprisonment, a (now repentant) Hans Frank states, "A thousand years will pass and the guilt of Germany will not be erased." Frank and the others are hanged and the bodies are brought to Dachau and burned (the final use of the crematories there) with the ashes then scattered into a river. December 9, 1946 - 23 former SS doctors and scientists go on trial before a U.S. Military Tribunal at Nuremberg. Sixteen are found guilty, with 7 hanged. 1947 September 15, 1947 - Twenty one former SS-Einsatz leaders go on trial before a U.S. Military Tribunal in Nuremberg. Fourteen are sentenced to death, with only 4 (the group commanders) actually being executed - the other death sentences having been commuted.