WWI-Grandad's War
Timeline of Events
Many variables contributed to the start of the war, but the triggering point was the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand & his wife, of Austria-Hungary on 28 June 1914. A Serbian Nationalist group, called the Black Hand, supplied students with weapons for the attempt. Gavrilo Princip, one of the students was the assassin. National pride of nations, military expansion, alliances and antagonism left over from the 19th Century also played a part as well as many other factors.
1914
28 July 1914: The Austrian government, blamed the Serbian government for the assassination, and declared war on Serbia. Germany, thinking that Russia-a Serbian ally wouldn't join in the war, decided to support Austria, if needed. They were mistaken however, and Russia along with their French allies, mobilized their troops in support of Serbia.
August 1914: A plan drawn up by German General Von Schleiffen in 1905, laid out a plan, whereby Germany would invade France, by way of Belgium, in the event of a Russian attack. Because of sides drawn up over Serbia, Germany declared war on Russia on 1 August 1914.
Germany declared war on Belgium, which was neutral in the war, and moved quickly to defeat France. This action prompted Britain to declare war on Germany on 4 August 1914. Austria-Hungary declared war on Russia several days later.
In the Battle of the Frontiers, on 22 August, a small German force, anticipated a French assault of the Alsace-Lorraine region and an attack on the German center in the Ardennes. Digging in, they kept the French occupied, until the main German Force swept in through Belgium. This pincer maneuver trapped the French, between the two German forces and all but annihilated 27,000 French troops in a single day.
The Battle of Tannenberg which lasted from 26-30 August 1914, was the first conflict of World War One, fought between the Russian Empire and the German Empire. The battle was fought between the German Eighth Army and the Russian First and Second Armies. The Russian Second Army, was almost entirely eliminated-losing tens of thousands of troops. Though the Germans won the battle, they lost nearly 13,000 men.
Sept. 1914: The First Battle of the Marne, took place from 6-13 Sept. 1914. It saw an allied victory against the German Army. Six French field armies and one British Army, effectively stopped the month long German advance towards Paris. This action, set the stage for four long years of trench warfare along the Western Front.
2-5 Nov. 1914: Because of Turkey's involvement with Germany in attacking Russia, Russia declared war on Turkey. A few days later, Britain and France, declared war on Turkey.
Zeppelin III in Flight
(LOC-ggbain-04188)
Christmas-1914: The first Zeppelins, appeared off the English coast, and were used by the Germans as observation platforms. Later on, Zeppelins were used as bombing platforms.
A curious thing happened on Christmas Day. Troops from both sides, met in the middle of no-man's-land, shook hands and exchanged buttons, badges and cigarettes.
It would be the last sentimental ritual of a 19th century era.