World War I, a Brief History
A Sense of War
28 June 1914: Many variables contributed to the start of the war, but the triggering point was the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand and his wife, of Austria-Hungary by Serbian Nationalists. 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.
Austria-Hungary and Germany were linked together by bloodlines and military alliances. They were also linked to the Ottoman Empire (Turkey), thus creating what was to become the Central Powers.
Germanys strength came from their defeat of France in 1870, which gave them the Alsace and Lorraine territories. After that defeat, France rebuilt her military with the intention to retake her territories back from Germany. France was tied to Great Britain and Russia through defense treaties. These three powers backed Serbia when Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia.
War breaks Out
Other countries joined in the fight, (the United States being neutral at the time), with battles fought in Europe, mainly Belgium and France. Germany won the earliest battles, but Britain and France stopped them at the Battle of the Marne on 6 Sept. 1914. Trench Warfare then took hold on the Western Front, and for the next 31/2 years there was a virtual stalemate, with neither side advancing. Death and destruction reigned during this time.
Ypres, Gallipoli, Verdan and the Argonne Forest became final resting places for the dead. Russia fought Austria-Hungary on the eastern front, and Germany until 1917, when the Russian Revolution put the Bolsheviks in power, who made peace with Germany in 1918.
America's Involvement
America didn't want to get involved in the war. We had long been in a state of neutrality and isolationism. Large populations of Germans and Irish didn't want to get involved in their countries disputes or battles.
The sinking of the Lustania on 7 May 1915, increased tensions between the United States and Germany, however other factors were involved. President Woodrow Wilson won re-election in 1918 under his slogan of He kept us out of War.
Tensions gradually increased as more Americans were killed on ships in European waters.
Additionally, The British Secret Service in 1917, intercepted the Zimmerman Telegram. This was a telegram sent from the German Foreign Minister to the German Ambassador in Mexico. In the telegram the Germans offered Mexico the states of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, if they would keep America wrapped up and out of the war in Europe. When President Wilson broke off relations with Germany, because of unrestricted submarine warfare, they released the information.