Archduke Franz Ferdinand Fight In World War 1

Nick: World War 1 was a war that was fought from 1914 to 1918. European countries were growing increasingly hostile during the 20th century. WW1 started when archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated. He and his wife were shot in their car. The assassins had attempted an assassination earlier by throwing a bomb into his car, but it bounced off.

Nick: The war started when the “fatal shot” of archduke Franz Ferdinand sparked conflict between countries, which started to involve ally countries, which eventually carried out to it being a war that almost the whole world was apart of.

Nick: Britain joined the war in hopes to take down “the bully of Europe,” led by Kaiser Wilhelm, but the Germans were quickly developing battleships and larger armies,

challenging Britain and other countries armies and navy system.

Nick: Women held a key role in WW1. Since most of the men were off fighting on the war, there weren’t any people farming, getting food, making clothes or doing other jobs. Women stepped in and filled all the roles that were abandoned in their economy and produced supplies for the soldiers.They were the fuel to the war.

Nick: The main cause of death in WW1 was Trench Fever, which was when soldiers would succumb to their poor conditions or wounds.

Also a common infection in WW1 was called Trenches Foot. This was when your boots and socks would be soaking wet, making it so your feet would be constantly wet, causing your foot to rot over time.

Nick: One of the main components to WW1 was artillery. In the war, artillery was used to destroy trenches, wipe out troops and to break communications from the front lines to the main headquarters. This was very effective because this could stun opposing troops, creating a window of attack where troops amy be able to attack. It can also be used to win battles by wiping out entire armies. Artillery was a deadly weapon, contributing heavily towards the outcome of WW1.

Nick: Gas was also a major contributing factor in WW1. The Germans started using gas in the Battle of Somme against the Canadians. There was a yellow mist slowly moving towards the Canadians, and they didn't know what it was many Canadians perished due to them not knowing it was gas and not knowing how to handle the gas. Gas became a deadly weapon used by many armies later in the

war.

Nick: Germany invaded France on the Western Front and gained an immense amount of ground. Later, France started a counter-attack, causing the Germans to retreat back to the initial borders. This lead to stalemate on the Western Front. Stalemate is a situation in which neither side in a war or other conflict can win or in which no progress is possible.

Nick: During Christmas, all battles and fights stopped, there were no gunshots heard in the sky. There was almost an unspoken truce between all enemies. Each side met in no mans land, sang carols, exchanged cigarettes and gave gifts and church services were held. The following year, sentries were ordered to shoot whomever attempt a repeat. Neither side wanted to make peace, even for a day.

Nick: Germany challenged Russia along with its small colonies, Serbia and Montenegro. During this battle, German colonies were invaded by Japan.

Nick: One of the Germans many tactics in WW1 was to use taxis to transport soldiers to the front lines.

Nick: There was a significant group in the war called “The Allies,” which was made up of Britain, France and Belgium. They were allied against Germany.

Nick: The Battle of Somme lasted three months. In this battle the Allies attacked Germany. The allies gained 48 sq miles of land, but weren’t able to penetrate German lines.

Nick: Later on in the war, the allies attempted to capture the Gallipoli peninsula three times, and every time, they failed. They later withdrew from their battle on Jan. 1916.

Nick: Verdun was attacked by the Germans on February 21st, and they caught the French by surprise. THe battle lasted a long time, lasting until December 18th, stretching the Germans supplies very thin. The Germans eventually fell back, due to loss of soldiers and low supplies.

Nick: By 1916, Germany had full control of the Eastern Front proving their dominance in the war.

Nick: British and Indian armies attacked Mesopotamia, which was in the middle east. The French and the Indian army took Baghdad in 1917.

Nick: THe U.S joined the war due to frustration with Britain. They were mad because the Germans were sinking U.S ships in an attempt to cut off supplies to Britain. Also Russia withdrew from the war, due to loss of soldiers and supplies turning the odds on winning the war in Germany’s side.

Nick: The allies kept pushing forward into German territory, in hopes to finally end the war by taking out the German army once and for all. The germans kept retreating, while the Allies kept pushing forward, leading to a German defeat. They eventually made a treaty, drawing a German border and making sure that the Germans wouldn't fight again.

Nick: Major Andrew McNaughton said, “They were literally coughing their lungs out!”

Nick: The Canadians were the third group to attempt to capture Vimy Ridge. The French and the British both failed earlier. The Canadians were still confident in taking Vimy.

Nick: Once the Canadians arrived at Vimy, the Germans held up signs saying, “Welcome

Canadians.”

Nick: Sir Arthur Currie and Julian Byng led the Canadian troops in the battle of Vimy Ridge. The men trained under the watch of these two men, the soldiers trained every day, in hopes to be able to later take over Vimy. They would practice with stopwatches, timing their runs, minimizing their time so they can swiftly capture the Ridge.

Nick: A quote from Arthur Currie and Julian Byng, “I am not sacrificing on man unnecessarily.”

Nick: The Canadian army’s strategy was to constantly fire artillery and have troops slowly advance under the cover of the artillery, and then the artillery would fire again in a new spot, with more soldiers, advancing on the new location.
Nick: “ A quote from Julian Byng, “Chaps, you shall go over exactly like a railroad train, on the exact time, or you shall be annihilated.”

Nick: Hill 145 was the toughest part of seizing Vimy. It was a hill covered with German soldiers on machine guns. The men pushed the hill with no artillery or support, they were alone. They pushed the gunners, eventually making them flee. The 4th division had done the impossible, by seizing Hill 145, securing the capture of Vimy Ridge for the Canadians.