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Assaination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Extreme nationalism led to the assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary and his wife Sophie. They were shot in Sarajevo which was the capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina, a section of Austria-Hungary. Their assassinators were Serbian extreme nationalists who believed that Serbians living in Bosnia-Hersegovina should be free from Austrian rule and be a part of Serbia. This assassination was the initial spark that led to World War 1. -
Woman serve as nurses
Since women were not allowed to enlist as soldiers or in other parts of the army, many Canadian women enlisted as nurses.3000 women were the first women to officially serve in the Armed Forces. Some of their jobs included, taking care of the ill and wounded in field hospitals and working in hospitals in Britian and France. -
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World War 1 Major Events
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Germany gives blank cheque to Austria-Hungary
The German Kaiser gave Austria-Hungary a blank cheque that signified Germany's support of Austria-Hungary if they were to go to war. It also marked the need to make new allies in the Balkan territory. -
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia
After the assassination of the Austrian Archduke, Austria-Hungary threaten to go to war against Serbia. First they offered an ultimatum with requirements such as all anti-Austria propaganda be taken down. Even though Serbia followed up on all requests except one, Austria-Hungary separted political ties from Serbia and declared war. -
Russia starts to mobilize troops
After hearing of Germany's support for Serbia, Russia was encouraged by other European troops to mobilize as a precaution. However, this action caused worry in Germany and they too began to mobilize its troops. -
Germany declares war on Russia
After Germany declares war on Russia, both France and Belgium started to mobilize their troops. Germany declared war because of the threat of Russian attack and asked Russia to back down. After Russia refused, Germany declared official war. -
Ottomon Empire enters war
The Ottomon Empire joined the Central Powers in WW1 in order to keep critical ties with the countries involved, especially to keep control over vital water ways like the Suex Canal. -
Germany Declares war on France
On the same day Germany invaded Belgium, it also declared war with France, which was a part of a long-held strategy made by the Cheif of Staff of the German Army, Alfred von Schlieffen. The plan was to have a two-front war with France and Russia. The same day Germany declared war on France, France returned the declaration with one of their own against Germany. This was the start of a full-fledged world war. -
Germans invade Belgium
Before invading Belgium, (a neutral country) Germany asked to have free passage through Belgium to France. The ultimatum given to Belgium was to allow free passage or go to war with Germany. Belgium refused and Germany invaded. -
Britain declares war. Canada is automatically at war.
Belgium's neutrality was guaranteed by Britain and when this neutrality was threatened by Germany, Britain could either step in and fight against Germany and participate in the war starting in mainland Europe, or it could stay neutral. Great Britain decided to declare war against Germany and protect Belgium. This is considered the true start of WW1 since Great Britain was a huge world power. Since Canada was a British Colony, Britain's declaration of war meant that Canada was also going to war. -
Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia
Since both Serbia and Russia were Slavic nations, Russia backed up Serbia after Austria-Hungary declared war. After, Russia mobilized its troops, Austria-Hungary felt threatened, especially because both Great Britain and France were allied with Russia. This led to Austria-Hungary declaring war on Russia. -
The Defence of the Realm Act (DORA) introduced
The Defence of the Realm Act (DORA) was a list of rules and regulations that controlled all British citizens. It stated what a citizen could and could not do, as well as what the government could and could not do. It was added to as the war continued. Some examples of rules are as followed:
- no one is allowed to pubically speak about military plans
- the government could take over any piece of land desired -
Russia invades Germany by attacking Easy Prussia
On August 17th, Russia invaded East Prussia in order to fulfill a promise made to France. Since Germany's plan was to attack both the Western and Eastern Fronts, Russia invaded East Prussia to reduce the amount of resources, and pressure on the Western Front in France. It was to divide the German armies into smaller ranks. -
The War Measures Act is invoked
The War Measures Act enabled the government of Canada to pass any law desired without the Parliaments apporval while Canada is at a state of war. It also allowed the government to change or add provinicial laws, censor the media, force manufacturers to make certain products and label or imprison people without trial. -
The Battle of Tannenberg
August 26th, 1914 to August 30th, 1914
This battle was considered Germany's greatest victory on the Eastern front. German forces surrounded and defeated the Russian army led by Alexander Samsonov. Due to poor planning by the generals, almost a qaurter of a million Russian soldiers lost their lives. Even though this battle allowed France to regroup on the Western Front, it was a the cost of many Russian lives. -
The Battle of the Marne
September 5th, 1914 to September 12th, 1914
30 miles northeast of Paris, France's 6th army attacked the right flank of Germany's 1st army. This attack allowed France's 5th army to advance into a gap created by the intial attck. France's 5th army attacked Germany's 2nd army. Fighting continued over the several days and France stuck it's ground, eventually pushing back German forces all together. -
Russia loses the first battle of Masurian Lakes
September 9th, 1914 to September 14th, 1914
This was considered Germany's second victory over Russia. The plan was to attack a weaker Russia unit that had been separated after the Battle of Tannenburg. The Germans were successful in their attack and all Russian troops were out of East Prussia at the end of the battle. Russia suffered a loss of about 125, 000 while Germany only had a loss of 40, 000. -
First Battle of Ypres
October 19th, 1914 to November 22nd, 1914
First of three battles for control of the Belgium city of Ypres and stategic positions on the northern coast. Became known as the "race to the sea" as allied anf German forces raced to Ypres which provided control of the English Channel and access to the North Sea. On October 19th, battles began between the allies (France, Britian Belgium) and Germany. Lasting several days but ended due to the arrival of winter. Both sides suffered huge loses, -
Aboriginals able to enlist
*no specficid date only year available
Aboriginals were discriminated against and were all turned away from recrutiing stations. This changed later in 1915 when recruitment was allowed for aboriginals.
It is important because it allowed others to enlist like african americans later. It is also the first step to accepting all difference ethnicites. -
Sam Hughes forced to resign
*no specific date just year
Sam Hughes was the miltia and defence minister in Canada. He and few other of his associates, were profiting from the war, becuase Sam Hughes was associated wtih the shell commitee. Word got out of the profiteering occuring, becuase the government gave the shell commitee $170 millon dollars to make shells and only $5.5 million dollar worth of shells were made and deleivered, late. This ended his political career and he was forced to resign. -
Second Battle of Ypres
This battle ended on May 25, 1915. Canadian troops were sent near Ypres, Belgium as reinforcements for the British and the French. In this battle the Germans had unleashed a new weapon of war. They unleashed Chlorine gas, which suffocated victims of this gas to death. The French soliders had been hit by the gas, and Canadians reinforced the line. This was a signifcant event in the war, becuase after this battle, poisonus gases were used in battle and new equpiment like gas masks were made. -
Battle of St.Julien
battle St.Julien This battle was part of the second ypres battle. Canadians were defending St. Juliens. Battling huge number of Germans for the land. Canadians were able to hold it, but after awhile they were defeated. Four canadians won victorian crosses, although there were about 6 thousand casualties. -
Treaty of London
treaty To get Italy on their side, (in the Triple Entente) France and Britain offered large areas of land from the Austria-Hungary area. Italy could not refuse this deal and accepted.This is important because with Italy on the triple entente side, another front opened, so Germany would have to fight on three fronts instead of two. -
A U-boat torpeadoed Luistania
On this date, a U-boat (German submarines) shot down the Luistania. This ship was a Biritsh passenger boat that carried American passengers and some war supplies to Britain. 128 Americans went down with the ship.
This is important becuase it is often one of th events that has influenced Americans to join the Triple Entente alliance in the war. -
The Battle of Festubert
battleCanadians were poorly prepared for this attack. Although there were som gains, there was a large number of casulaties. -
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Canadians launched their 1st trench raid at Riviere Douve
trench raiding
Trench raiding at night was an idea that had sparked this idea of invading the Germans once at night in their trenches. On this night the 7th battalion of the Canadian Corps entered the German trenches, inflicted damage, killed soldiers, and took German prisoners. They didn’t have many casualties, and this was important because it was very successful raid with not alot of deaths from our side. -
Enlistment of Black peoples
No specific date, only year
Black Canadian enlistment were most rejected by white officers that ran the recruiting stations. In 1916, since the decline of troop numbers and voluntary recruitment the federal government had black recruited, join segregated, non-combat construction battalion: to dig trenches, load ammunition, cut down trees lay railway tracks etc. -
Consciption-Part 1
On this day, the federal government had decided to conscript single men ages 18-40 for overseas military service. Since, voluntary recruitment was failing to maintain troop numbers, and Prime Minister Robert Borden believed in the military value, and potential post-war influence, of a strong Canadian contribution to the war. -
Battle of Verdun
This battle was located on the Western Front between the German and French armies, it was also known for it's long single battle in World War I.The casualties and the impact the battle had on the French Army was a primary reason for the British starting the Battle of the Somme on July 1, 1916 in an effort to take German pressure off of the French at Verdun. -
Conscription - Part 2
On this day, Consciption was then, extended to married men. -
Battle of St. Eloi Craters
This was the first major engagement for the 2nd Canadian Division, recently arrived from England.Through two weeks of hard fighting, Canadian commanders were unclear as to the location of their troops. Thus their commanders had little information on the progress of the battle. Overall, the battle had ended in a disaster. -
Battle of Somme
On the first day of the battle, there were 60,000 casualties from the Allied Force though, General Douglas Haig had ordered the attack on German trenches to continue on for 4 months on Somme River. He wanted to destroy German trenches and barbed wire protecting the German lines but the tactic had failed. To this day, some still question whether if this was worth risking thousands of lives for 545 km squared of territory. -
U.S. joins WWI
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/world-war-one/inside-first-world-war/part-nine/10801898/why-america-joined-first-world-war.html
Several U.S. ships traveling to Britain were damaged or sunk by German mines, and, in February 1915, Germany announced unrestricted warfare against all ships, neutral or otherwise, that entered the war zone around Britain. -
The Battle of Vimy Ridge
http://www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/exhibitions/vimy/index_e.shtml
This battle was fought on Vimy Ridge, situated in northern France, the heavily-fortified seven-kilometre ridge held a commanding view over the Allied lines. The military strategy was to use artillery, mortars, powder fields and trenches for defense. Canadian soldiers were deployed for the first time under a single unit -- approximately 20 000 canadian soldiers.This battle resulted in approximately over 100 000 casualties. -
Military Service Act invoked
http://www.1914-1918.net/msa1916.html
The Military Service Act was a 1917 act passed by the Canadian parliament in an effort to recruit more soldiers. The First World War was going badly, casualties were enormous, and Canada's contribution in manpower compared unfavourably with that of other countries. -
Battle of Passchendaele (Third battle of Ypres)
The Canadian Corps, a 100,000 strong fighting formation, was ordered to the Passchendaele front, east of Ypres. The British lost an estimated 275,000 casualties at Passchendaele to the German’s 220,000, making it one of the war’s most costly battles of attrition. The more populous Allies could better afford the losses, especially with the recent entry of the United States on their side, but the battle had delivered a blow to the collective morale of the British Expeditionary Force. Passchendaele -
The Russian Revolution
At the start of the war, Russia was a vast empire with a large army – but was politically and industrially backward.Its leader, Tsar Nicholas II, adhered to principles of autocracy but was not competent to govern autocratically. Russia’s disastrous 1914 campaigns saw Nicholas take personal command of the army, a politically dangerous step.The tsar and his wife were also discredited by their involvement with the meddling faith healer Grigori Rasputin. -
The Battle of Cambrai
The Battle of Cambrai, a British offensive and German counter-offensive battle, launched in November 1917, heralded the first time tanks and were used in significant force. Despite British success on the first day, mechanical unreliability, German artillery and infantry defences exposed the frailties of the Mark IV tank. On the second day, only about half of the original number of tanks were available. Subsequent British progress was limited. -
Women have the right to vote
http://www.canadahistoryproject.ca/1914/1914-08-women-vote.html
Women's suffrage groups had existed since the 1870s, but during the war it was hard to ignore their arguments. Women were serving in the war, taking over from the men in factories and offices, holding families together while the men were overseas, and working in voluntary organizations that supported the war effort. They couldn't be kept out of political life any longer. -
The Halifax Explosion
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/halifax-explosion/
Approximately six minutes after 9:00 am, a dreadful mis-communication between two ships in the harbour resulted in an Explosion of cataclysmic proportions. 2,000 people were killed and 9,000 more were injured. The city was reduced to ruins and debris. -
Consciption Crisis-Quebec Riot
English Canadians didn't believe that French Canada was providing a fair share to the war effort. Sam Hughes informed the House of Commons that of the 432,000 Canadian volunteers fewer than 5% came from French Canada, which made up 28% of Canadian population. Reasons were proposed for lack of volunteers from Quebec. Many historians thought Ontario government's move to disallow French language was the reason. Quebec had public rallies and demand creation of French-speaking units to fight. -
Women able to vote in provincial & federal elections
Canadian wome were able vote in municipal elections and weren’t allowed in provincial/federal elections. Women has been fighting to change it for years, especially Nellie McClung and Emily Murphy. In 1916, Manitoba goverment gave some women rights to vote in provincial elections and by 1917, women in Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta and BC allowed vote in provincial election. Then, on May 24, 1918 women were able to vote in provincial and federal elections. -
Battle of Amiens
A powerful Allied force, led by Canadian and Australian troops, nearly broke through the enemy lines, pushing the Germans back several kilometres. After failed German offensives, Allies regrouped and counterattacked along the Western Front. Prepared in secret, with a counter operation to deceive the Germans as to the real location of Canadian and Australian ‘shock troops,’ the attack at Amiens was the most successful of the war. -
Armistice ends WWI
World War I had ended and countries involved in the war has seized military act. On this day known as the Remembrance Day, itès a memorial day for Canadians to honour all the soldiers who have fallen in the first wold war. Every year on this specific day, Canadians wear red poppies to symbolize the memory of those who died and white poppies campaigns for non-military interventions in conflict situations -
Treaty of Versailles(End of World War I)
World War I officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919. Negotiated among the Allied powers with little participation from Germany.
