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Heir to the Austrian Throne, Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sohpie were assassinated by a 19 year old member of Young Bosnia, Gavrilo Princip. The Young Bosnia terroist group were assisted by Danco Ilic, a member of the Black Hand, a group directed by the Serbian Military Intelligence.
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After the assassination of the heir to the throne, Austria presented Serbia with an Ultimatum. The ultimatum was recieved after Austria was guaranteed support from Germany. Even with a ultimatum presented, Austria knew Serbia would never agree to it, especially the demand for Austrian troops to track down Serbian terroists in their own land of Serbia.
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Although Sebia agreed to many terms on the ultimatum, Austria still declared war on Serbia. Russia then began to mobilise troops to help support Serbia. Germany decided to declare war on Russia on August 1st. Germany then declared war on France, after France's decision to support Russia.
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They said it was the war to end all wars, but very quickly the end of World War 1 soon spiraled into World War 2. The following link shows never seen before photos from the front line of World War 1.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/world-war-one/10849528/In-pictures-Never-before-seen-photographs-from-World-War-One-frontline.html?frame=2919232 -
Russia mobilises its army against Austria-Hungary in favor of it's ally, Serbia.
this reaction leads to the other European powers mobilising their armies and therefore causing hostilities to outbreak -
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Now instead of having to only fight on one front, German troops were now forced to fight on the Western Front against France but also on the Eastern front against Russia.
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The Schliffen Plan was Germany's plan for war against France and Russia. Designed by Alfed von Schliffen, the plan was that Germans would take over France in 6 weeks after invading Belgium and attacking France from behind. Afterwards, german troops would then focus all of their attention to defeating Russia. didn't work because Germany underestimated the Belgium resistance.
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In response to the invasion of Belgium, Britain declare war on Germany. France, Australia, New Zealand and Canada enter the war to support their ally Britain.
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Now that Britain was at war with Germany, the Labour Leader of Australia, Andrew Fisher, had a popular view when he announced that Australia would back Britain 'to the last man and the last shilling.'
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Germany invades Belgium beggining World War 1.
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The Battle of Frontiers was the first battle action on the Westernfront. It was fought between the German army and the Belgian Army.
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Australian volunteers had to pass physical and medical standards for oversea service. Due to two failed attempts of conscription, istment still remained voluntary for the remainder of the war.
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The Australian Naval and Military Expenditionary Force seize the german wireless station at Bita Paka.
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-Battle of Langemarck (21st October - 24th October 1914)
-Battle of Gheluvelt (29th October - 31st October 1914)
-Battle of Nonneboschen (11th November - 22nd November 1914) -
First Battle of Picardy (22nd - 26th September 1914)
First Battle of Albert (22nd - 25th September 1914)
First Battle of Artois, (27th September - 10th October 1914)
Battle of La Bassée (10th October - 2nd November 1914)
First Battle of Arras (1st October - 4th October 1914)
First Battle of Messines (12th October - 2nd November 1914)
Battle of Armentières (13th October - 2nd November 1914)
Battle of the Yser (16th October - 10th November)
First Battle of Ypres (19th October - 22nd November 1914) -
The German raider 'Emden' is sunk by the light cruiser 'Sydney' in the Indian ocean. This was considered an amazing defeat, because the 'Emden' had already sunk 25 Allied steamers, 2 warships and had raided many Allied bases in the Pacific Ocean.
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Australian and New Zealand troops were sent to Egypt to protect the Suaz Canal againts the Ottoman Turkish troops.
the news of Egypt was upsetting as for many men wanted to fight Germany in the main battlefields of war. -
The unofficial Christmas Truce is declared.
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The Australian and New Zealand Army Corp (ANZAC) is formed in Egypt. The acronym was created by a military clerk.
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Chlorine gas filled shells are thrown at the Allied lines. It was the first time large amounts of gas were used in battles and this resulted in the near-collpase of the French lines. The German's however were unable to take advantage of the breach.
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Now known as Anzac Day the morning of the 25th of April, Austrlian troops landed on the beaches of Gallipoli. Among the landing was a lot of confusion and fighting. That night the Turkish launched counterattacks, that were ferocious, In that day of the first landing of the Anzacs at least 2300 lost their lives.
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The Gallipoli campaign was an unsuccessful attempt by the Allied powers to control the sea route from Europe to Russia.
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The German submarine sinks the passenger liner Lusitania. On board was 1, 198 people.
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Between 18-19 May, Turkish troops participated in a massive counterattack as 4200 Turkish were ordered to drive the ANZACs out of their positions and back into the sea. 10 000 men laid wounded or dead in no man's land. Afterwards a truce was agreed so that before fighting resumed, troops from both sides were allowed to bury their dead.
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A truce was negotiated by Australian and Turkish troops to recover the dead from No-mans land for burial.
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All the wounded men that were killed and wounded were only a few metres away from their own lines.
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The Nek was an attack that was aimed to divert Turkish troops. The Australian Light Horse made bayonet charges on ground called The Nek. The attacks continued even though capturing the ridges failed. The attack of The Nek finished too soon, allowing the Turkish troops to get back to their firing positions. Four lines, of approxiametley 150 men in each charged from Australian trenches towards the enemies side. Nearly all fell down dead or wounded due to machine guns.
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On the night of the 19th of December, Allied troops secretly evacuated Gallipoli after Herbert Kitchener, suggested that an evacuation should take place. On the 20th of December, Turkish troops ran down the hill to find that an evacuation had occured.
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The longest and bloodiest battle of World War 1 begins.
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The New Zealand Division is formed with three infantry brigades. The Division is sent to the Western Front and arrives in France from Egypt in April.
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Official ANZAC Day is marked by a variety of ceromonies and services in Australia, a march through London and a sports day in Egypt.
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When Britain and France attacked on the Somme, there was an intention of drawing man troops away from their attack on the French at Verdun. Britain suffered their worst loss, on the first day, with 57 470 casualties. When the battle finished, neither side had been able to break the stalemate. Germany lost 450 000 men, France lost 200 000 and ritain lost 420 000.
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The British emply the first tanks from Deville Wood to be used in the war.
Tanks were useful for breaking thorugh barbed wire and clearing oths for the infantry. Other equipment that was first used in the war included, trucks, airships and planes, submarines, telegraph, machine guns, long range artillery, exploding shells, flame throwers and poisonous gas. -
Germany resumes submarine warfare in Europe's waterways.
This draws the United States into the war causes the defeat of Germany. -
The Zimmerman Telegram was a communication issued from the German Foreign Office. It proposed a military alliance between Germany and Mexico.
Britain inetrcepted the telegram and deciphered the coded message. -
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Revolution in Russia leads to withdrawal from the war by the Russians.
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Troops of the 4th Australian Division occupied positions around the village of Dernancourt. Whilst there, they were met with the German Army's Spring Offensive advance. The fighting extended from Dernancourt to Albert. A tactical withdrawal enabled the 4th Division to strengthen its defensive line. The fighting cost the 4th Division 1,230 casualties.
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The Royal Air Force is founded.
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Australia fought its last battle in October. The Armistice was signed on the 11th of November 1918, and declared the end of the Great War.
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Allied Armies march into Germany. Hungary declares independence.
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Germany and the allied nations signed the Treaty of Versailles, which formally ended the war.
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Leaders from France, US and England wanted a treaty that would prevent another war from occuring. The treaty took six months for all the details to be completed. Britain and France wanted revenge and repayment for all they had lost. Germany gave Britain and France what they wanted but not happily. Germans saw the treaty as an attempt to ruin their country. ue the Germans were forced to sign the treaty, they felt it was unfair and decided they would do whatever they could to undermine the treaty.
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The treaty was known as the 'Unhappy Compromise.'
An arising politician Adolf Hitler, channeled resentment into German nationalism. Anger caused by the treaty helped provoke the very thing the treaty was meant to prevent, the beginning of World War 2
