Six Major Events Leading Up To World War I

WWI was the first major world war where many countries participated for their freedoms. For being the first major world war, it definitely made a strong impact on human history. It lasted four long years, from 1914 to 1918. This tragic event left over 17 million soldiers and civilians killed and 20 million seriously wounded. We humans should and probably will never forget this very important affair in history that changed so many lives. Some for the better, and some for the very worst.
Events Leading Up to World War I One of the six major events that I will discuss pertaining to the causes of World War 1 is the Accession of Wilhelm II to the German Throne in 1888. Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor Albert was the newly crowned German Emperor, which
This marks the first time that large weapons filled with gases are used in battle, which eventually resulted in a near-collapse of the French lines. Though the Germans had an advantage here, they were unable to take it.
• May 7, 1915- One of the world’s largest passenger boats named Lusitania sinks. It was torpedoed by a German U boat (U-20) causing 1,198 people to sink along with it.
• September 18, 1915-The first tanks ever to be put into battle were set into action on this day by the British at Delville Wood. Also, as an effect of the sinking of the Lusitania, unrestricted submarine warfare is suspended. This was an attempt to keep the U.S. neutral during this war. But, it does harshly affect Germany’s efforts to try to prevent supplies from getting to France and Britain from the United States.
• February 1, 1917- On this day, Germany resumed the unrestricted submarine warfare in European waterways. By doing this, they drew the United States into war which they eventually lost to Germany.
• April 2, 1917- U.S. President Wilson outlines his plan for war to Congress.
• April 6, 1917- Congress officially authorizes a declaration of war against the Germans. The U.S. enters the war and becomes allies with France and
Even though it wasn’t a very large, massive war, America still fought their hardest because after this war they would have to be prepared to battle against German positions.
• June 3, 1918- America and Germany finally attack each other in a battle titled Chateau-Thierry. This battle would later on morph into a larger one called the Battle of Belleau Wood.
• June 6, 1918- The Battle of Belleau starts off as the U.S. Marine Corps attack Germany on an open wheat field, suffering tremendous casualties.
• June 26, 1918- The Battle of Belleau ends with the last expulsion of the Germans from the wood, which marks the furthest advance from the Germans on Paris. Six times during the grueling 3 week battle was the area changed around. This caused over 10,000 American casualties.
• September 12, 1918- The Battle of St. Mihiel was the first independent action of the new U.S. Army during WWI. It began with 300,000 American troops flinging themselves into the German lines under the direct orders of General