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World War 1 How did the World War 1 begin?World War 1 is one of the most important and destructive event in world history, with mass losses, from each side. It was World War I which made clear the fact that there are a lot to be done for world peace to be kept safe. The beginning of World War 1 is an example of how “one thing lead to another”. The spark that caused the outbreak of World War 1 was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914. He was executed by members of the Serbian society Black Hand. This event caused a chain of reactions which led to World War I. Initially the Austro-Hungarian empire declare war  on Serbia (July 28 1914), accusing them that they were involved in Black Hand’s assassinations of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Russia which was in a treaty with Serbia mobilized its vast army to defend Serbia (July 31 1914). Germany, which was in a treaty with Austria-Hungary, declared war on Russia (August 1 1914). Then France, which was in treaty with Russia, declared war on Germany (August 3 1914). The following step was that Britain, also allied with France, decided to defend France (August 4 1914). The World War I was a fact..U.S.A.’s president Woodrow Wilson declared that U.S. would stay neutral. This lasted till 1917 when Germany developed submarine warfare. Then U.S.A. entered the World War 1. Japan, a British ally, declared war on Germany and two days later Germany declared war to Japan. Italy, which was in treaty with Austria-Hungary and Germany, decided to stay neutral, claiming that they would enter the war only to help Germany in a ‘defensive war’. Finally Italy got in the war, by siding with the allies.   The timeline of World War 1The most powerful nations of the world took place in the World War I. The war was crucial. The first German attack was via Belgium (a neutral country) - August 4 –, obtaining to invade to France using the shortest route. One of the most important battles of World War 1 was the "The Battle of the Frontiers" where 27,000 French soldiers died on a single day (August 22, 1914) in an offensive thrust to the east of Paris, towards the German borders. Between 26 and 30 August Germany succeeded to defeat the Russian great army in Tennenberg. The leaders of German army were Erich Ludendorff and Paul von Hindenburg. This was the most painful loss for Russia during the World War I. The first battle of Marnes, stops the German invasion in France (September 5-10). An unofficial Christmas truce was declared by the soldiers fighting in the western front due to the Christmas eve (25 December 1914). This was an unusual break for the World War I battles.  The next great battle of World War I took place in Gallipoli when the Allies fought for 9 month to get the Turkish peninsula. The Battle of Gallipoli started on April 25, 1915. The sinking of Lusitania, from german submarine, increased the U.S.A. opinion against Germany and brought U.S.A. close to a conflict with Germany. On December 28 1915, the british troops withdraw from Gallipoli.  World War 1 kept going. During February 21 – December 18 the longest battle of World War I took place. The battle of Verdun had no clear winner and about 1 million casualties. The only important naval battle of World War I took place in Jutland. Result: Draw. Another battle with 1 million casualties took place in Somme (July 1 – November 18). The tanks, a powerful weapon introduced by the British, was not capable to make any great difference in this battle. An important moment of World War 1 was on January 19 1917 the british decoded a message from German Reich Secretary Zimmerman to Mexico pushing Mexico to enter the war against Britain. That was the reason for President Woodrow Wilson to ask Congress the permission to declare war on Germany. The French suffered heavy losses at Chemin De Dames (over 250000 casualties) and that caused over 500000 mutiny. The first U.S.A. troops reach France. Probably the power of U.S.A. forces was the reason for the final win of the Allies in World War 1. 700000 casualties is the result of the third battle of Ypres (July 31-November 10 1917). On December 9 the British conquer Jerusalem from the Turks.  Germany tries to win the war before U.S.A. reach the trenches. But their advance is stopped in late June 1918. But the World War I had much more battles, losses and blood. On April 25 the British and Australian troops stopped the German near Amiens whether the American forces defeated the Germans on May 31 at  Chateau-Thierry. Wilson, President of America agrees to cooperate with the allies. The Allies are now stronger than ever and the end of World War 1 seems to reach to an end. The attack of the Allies on the Somme (on August 8 1918) forces the German army to retreat. After two months (27 September) the allies break through German Fortifications at the Hindeberg.Germans naval forces begin mutiny. On November 9 the German leader Kaiser Wihlelm abdicates. It is time for the end of the World War 1. At 11 o’ clock, of 11/11 1918 the Germans and the Allies sign an Armistice. What happened after the end of World War 1 President Woodrow Wilson went to Paris for the Paris Peace Conference on  December 4 1918. The valuable peace treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28 by the Big Four (Lloyd George, Vittorio Orlando, George Clemenceau and Woodrow Wilson from Britain, Italy, France and the United States, respectively). President Wilson, tried to bring his campaign for the ratification of the Treaty Of Versailles and its League of Nation to American people, but unfortunately he collapses and his tour is over on September 19 1919. Great cemeteries-memorials of the World War 1 were built in the fronts. Besides the Unknown Warrior is buried in Westminster Abbey, London (November 11, 1920). American Senate failed to ratify the Treaty of Versailles. Adolf Hitler, the inspirer of World War 2 was imprisoned for sedition against the Weimar Republic. In prison he writes ‘Mein Kampf’ (1924, 1925). In 1933 Adolf Hitler was named Chanchellor of Germany by President Hindenburg (January 30, 1933). In September 1939 World War 2 begins..  |