United States In WWII And Cold War

United States in WWII

The United State’s first contribution to the war was the Lend Lease Act, which was a contribution to Great Britain, but that contribution was just with money until Japan decided to attack Pearl Harbor in 1941. And then the USA decided to attack Japan and join the the war. After joining the war the US attacked Europe through Normandy, France. This day was known as D-Day. After D-Day the United States caused disequilibrium in the war because the countries weren’t moving in the war.  And after a time the United States made held the Yalta Conference in which they declared peace. Winston Churchill, Franklin Delano and Stalin were present in the conference. Then in the Postdam Conference they looked for a way in which they could make peace, the conference took place in Berlin. Then Japan didn’t surrender after the ultimatum that was sent by USA, which said that if Japan didn’t surrender they would launch the atomic bombs. Japan didn’t surrender, so the USA launched the first Atomic Bomb in August 6 1945 in Hiroshima and because Japan didn’t surrender again they launched another one three days after the first one in August 9 1945. After this, Japan finally surrendered.
Another important thing that happenned was women fighting for equality since they got left with all of the men's jobs while they were away fighting the war in Europe and Asia. They were sucessfull and allowed to work jobs and carreers that were previously available only to men.

Here are some events that marked the participation of USA in the WWII:

December 7, 1941
Japan bombs Pearl Harbor.

December 8, 1941
The United States declares war on Japan, entering World War II. Japanese troops land in the Philippines, French Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia), and British Singapore. By April 1942, the Philippines, Indochina, and Singapore are under Japanese occupation.

December 11-13, 1941
Nazi Germany and its Axis partners declare war on the United States.

June 1942
British and U.S. navies halt the Japanese naval advance in the central Pacific at Midway.

August-November 1942
U.S. troops halt the Japanese island-hopping advance towards Australia at Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands.

November 8, 1942
U.S. and British troops land at several points on the beaches of Algeria and Morocco in French North Africa. The failure of the Vichy French troops to defend against the invasion enables the Allies to move swiftly to the western border of Tunisia, and triggers the German occupation of southern France on November 11.

May 13, 1943
Axis forces in Tunisia surrender to the Allies, ending the North African campaign.

June 4, 1944
Allied troops liberate Rome. Within six weeks, Anglo-American bombers could hit targets in eastern Germany for the first time.

June 6, 1944
British and U.S. troops successfully land on the Normandy beaches of France, opening a “Second Front” against the Germans.

March 7, 1945
U.S. troops cross the Rhine River at Remagen.

May 7, 1945
Germany surrenders to the western Allies.

August 6, 1945
The United States drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima.

August 9, 1945
The United States drops another atomic bomb on Nagasaki.

September 2, 1945
Having agreed in principle to unconditional surrender on August 14, 1945, Japan formally surrenders, ending World War II.

 United States in WW II

The U.S. started out just sending supplies to its allies. They didn't actually start fighting until Pearl Harbor was bombed on December 7, 1944. Then they sent troops to Europe and Africa to fight the Nazis, and sent troops, ships, and planes to the Pacific to fight against. Same as WW1 the war would have been lost without the help of the U.S."

The United States of America entered the war on the 7th of December 1941. Although 2 years and 2 months after the other great powers and the British Empire, it was still played a major, greatly appreciated, role in the war effort.

The US Navy extended a safe zone over almost half the Atlantic ocean that enabled convoys from the US and Canada to be protected by joint Royal Navy and US Navy forces. This enabled the US to be at a state of "indirect" war with the Axis, at least at sea, while still maintaining it's neutral status.

It should be duly noted that at the end of the War, America had undoubtedly benefited the most. It had placed itself in a position, economically and military, to quickly take the place of the British Empire as one of the worlds super powers. (Note: technically and effectively, between the Great War and the Second World War, Britain was the only Super Power, with the Great Powers being the other main combats). Due to this, a lot of the history has been overshadows by, sometimes over glorified, US/Hollywood take of events.

Often forgotten is the involvement and great sacrifices of other allies, more specifically the Russians, British Commonwealth Citizens, Indian and Chinese. The British Empire and the Royal Navy was involved in all theaters of the war, with China and India taking the highest casulty numbers and gaining very significant victories that put demand on axis resources. Other combatants fought with just as much effort in their localized theaters of war. This further enabled other allies/forces to gain decisive victories.

Canada played a major role, especially relative to its size, and Luthiania withstood some of the highest casulties per head of population. Due to being quickly subdued the French Military, and indeed the French as a whole, are sometimes mocked as being weak and inclined to surrender, even today. This is an unfair and very biased opinion. The majority of people don't realize the might of the Nazi land forces at the outbreak of the War. It would not be wrong to suggest that no other army in the world would have been able to resist the Nazi invasion forces - mainly due to the huge numbers of infrantry, heavy armor, the "lighting War" method of invasion, the surprise invasion through the Ardens and last but not least, the immesly capable German strategy Generals and think tanks. One should only have to look at Frances involvement at sacrifices in the Great War to realize they are no "surrender monkeys".

All in all, to answer your question, the US did play a big and significant part in the WW2, especially in the later stages of the war. It could also, however, be argued that they were not the largest players. That would probably have to go to the Germans (on the Axis) and the combined forces of the British Empire (Canada, India, UK, Australia, African Colones etc). It would be arguable though, that without the US, the War would have been lost. But this is true with a number of Great Powers involved. The US dominance since, along with productions from Hollywood and computer games companies, could make you think otherwise and often results in some having a very warped and overly exaggerated view of the real extent of the US's involvement, with some Americans feeling they are owed some sort of debt - Any of the Victors could state this. It is not the US, British or anyone else today who are owed any sort of debt, but those brave men and women that played their part in BUYGONE generation that we owe our respect too. The US is held in high regard by it's allies for it's involvement, and should hold it's head up high and proudly for its sacrifices in the war.(Corporation)

USA Involvement In Cold War

The role of America at the end of World War II was where the origins of policing the world originate. America had been engaged in a very costly war in terms of dollars as well as lives. But, despite the expense the United States came out of World War II better than any other nation that was involved. This war was seen as the fight against Nazi Germany, and therefore resulted in a majority of the battles fought on German and Russian soil. Conversely, none of the fighting was done on American soil, and while the United States suffered in terms of casualties it was nothing compared to the loss Russia had endured. Because the war would not end until the Axis Powers fully surrendered to the Allied Powers, the United States was forced to use the first atomic warfare in history. The atom bomb would later serve as America's greatest possession. Stalin, the Premier of the Soviet Union had always distrusted the American and English intentions. Because of Stalin's aggression and attitude pertaining to Soviet influence on Europe, the postwar stance on Russia had turned into a standoff. This became the origin of the Cold War. The Cold War, seen as a battle between communism and capitalism, was "in reality a more complex struggle over a broad range of ideological, economic, and strategic issues." Over the next several years the United States would spend more money on military and defense than ever before. Several measures were taken to ensure that the same mistakes at the end of World War I would not be repeated. The first in a series of measures was a postwar conference involving President Truman and the Soviet Foreign Minister, V.M. Molokov, where Truman controlled the entire meeting and basically scolded the Soviet's for not honoring agreements on Poland. Truman "told the Russians just where the got off and generally bossed the whole meeting." This symbolized America's strong-arm stance against communism and signified the position we would hold throughout the Cold War. The next step in Truman's agenda was to work with Congress to pass the National Security Act of 1947, which was designed to strengthen defense operations. This act created a single Department of Defense, and created the Central Intelligence Agency, or CIA. These two new agencies acted as the first step in atomic warfare management. Continuing to act as police of the world and leader of capitalism, Truman drafted the Marshall Plan. The Marshall Plan, which complemented the Truman Doctrine, "was a program of large scale economic and military aid to Europe."  Considered by some, this was the most "innovative piece of foreign policy in American History. Where over the next four years the United States contributed over $12 billion to a highly successful recovery effort."  The Soviet Union stilled commanded a blockade on highway, rail, and river traffic to West Berlin. As a result, the United States responded by entering into a peacetime military alliance; this being the first time since the American Revolution. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) a project costing $1.3 billion, enabled the basing of all four United States Army divisions into Western Europe. Twelve nations agreed to sign this pact that stated "an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all." Consequently, a few months later, Stalin "lifted the blockade which had made the city a symbol of resistance to communism." Between the creation of NATO, the National Security Act and CIA, and the Marshall Plan, America was dictating their position with Russia and communism. These measures made it possible for Americans to become more comfortable with the Cold War. While all of these governmental policies were being put into action, Americans were settling back into the ideology of family and free enterprise. The post-war period became one of the most exciting in American history. With the rising economy and feeling of consumerism, Americans were rebounding from their efforts in World War II. Capitalism was on the rise and the "Apple Pie" portrait of middle class suburban families was shaping the country. America was now the wealthiest country in the world and Americans had "accumulated savings of $140 billion" in 1945. "Over the next two decades the gross national product more than tripled," signifying prosperity. Between 1945 and 1960, the gross national product would grow from $213 billion to more than $500 billion, while real income would rise 25 percent. Included in these figures was the percent of American families owning homes, which grew from 43 percent to over 60 percent in this same time period; this created the suburban explosion. This suburban lifestyle was intended to symbolize the superiority of capitalism over communism and imply that the American way of life would win the Cold War.” Americans were again beginning to see the capitalist society they fought for, and the confidence level of the country continued to rise throughout the 1960's. The people cannot create a great nation themselves; great leaders must direct them. Besides the three Presidents who led America throughout the end of World War II and through the Cold War, there were many influential voices that helped to shape the views of the public. Among these influential people was a man named George F. Kennan. He was a member of the United States embassy to the Soviet Union and author of the "long telegram" which was sent to the heads of state in Washington D.C. In his telegram, Kennan described the Soviets as insecure, inferior, and less advanced than Americans. "As Russia came into contact with the economically advanced West, fear of more competent, more powerful, more highly organized societies," was the general message Kennan was trying to get across. Because he saw the country from the inside Kennan also believed the United Sates should " pursue a policy of firm containment…at every point where the Soviets show signs of encroaching upon the interest of a peaceful and stable world."  This opinion and idea of the relationship between the United States and Russia should have been widely accepted by Americans. They backed this idea of aggressive behavior, rather than a passive approach to the Cold War. Conversely, postwar liberal such as Henry Wallace, "a Progressive Party leader, continued to seek cooperation with the Soviet Union and defended the participation of Communists in their organizations."  These ideals were quickly silenced. The American majority, being extremely anti-communist, felt relations with the Soviet Union should be harsh and firm. This period introduced American dominance in foreign policy. The ideals of personal freedom and opportunity were the driving forces behind Western philosophy throughout the Cold War. Not only were these principles showcased, they were set as the benchmark of equality for the human race.(Cornwell)

And now here is a tiemeline with some of the important events that marked the participation of USA in the Cold War.

1940s

·       1945: February 4-11-- Yalta Conference Cold War Begins

·       1945: August 6 -- United States first used atomic bomb in war

1950s

·       1954 -- CIA helps overthrow unfriendly regimes in Iran and Guatemala

·       1959: September -- Khrushchev visits United States; denied access to Disneyland

1960s

·       1960: May -- Soviet Union reveals that U.S. spy plane was shot down over Soviet territory

·       1960: November -- John F. Kennedy elected President

·       1961: July -- Kennedy requests 25% spending increase for military

·       1962: -- U.S. involvement in Vietnam increased

·       President Kennedy assassinated in Dallas, Texas

·       1965: April -- U.S. Marines sent to Dominican Republic to fight Communism

·       1965: July -- Announcement of dispatching of 150,000 U.S. troops to Vietnam

·       1969: July 20 -- Apollo 11 lands on the moon

1970s

·       1970: April -- President Nixon extends Vietnam War to Cambodia

·       1973: January -- Cease fire in Vietnam between North Vietnam and United States

·       1973: September -- United States helps overthrow Chile government

·     1974: August -- President Nixon resigns

1980s

·       1983: October -- U.S. troops overthrow regime in Grenada

1990s

·       1991: August -- End of Soviet Union Cold War Ends (Quest)

Bibliography

Cornwell, James. collegetermpapers.com. 1989. 15 April 2011 <http://www.collegetermpapers.com/TermPapers/American_History/AMERICAN_INVOLVEMENT_IN_THE_COLD_WAR.shtml>.

Corporation, Answers. answers.com. 2011. 14 April 2011 <http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_was_U.S.A_involvement_in_World_War_2>.

Museum, United States Holocaust. ushmm.org. 14 April 2011 <www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007306>.

Quest, Think. thinkquest.org. 14 April 2011 <http://library.thinkquest.org/10826/timeline.htm>.

   
*Anything that doesn't have bibliography is because we obtained the information from our own knowledge.

 

World War II (United States)

USA Totalitarian Regime: The United States was affected by totalitarian regimes because they were going head to head with them through war (Germany and Italy) and they were also allies with one (Russia).

USA WWII: USA entered World War II… because of the Pearl Harbor incident. Japanese aircraft prepared to attack, the radar of USA Naval force didn’t detect the military forces approaching, until one radar detect something strange approaching the borders of USA. They send the message to the general about the detection but he told to don’t worry, mostly because other radars didn’t detect them and everyone thought that they were American planes coming back home. Later a cloud of Japanese airplanes came and began to bombard all the navies and military forces in Pearl Harbor. That’s when USA declared war on Japan and automatically enters World War II.

Timeline:

December 7, 1941
Japan bombs Pearl Harbor.

 

December 8, 1941
The United States declares war on Japan, entering World War II. Japanese troops land in the Philippines, French Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia), and British Singapore. By April 1942, the Philippines, Indochina, and Singapore are under Japanese occupation.

December 11-13, 1941
Nazi Germany and its Axis partners declare war on the United States.

June 1942
British and U.S. navies halt the Japanese naval advance in the central Pacific at Midway.

August-November 1942
U.S. troops halt the Japanese island-hopping advance towards Australia at Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands

November 8, 1942
U.S. and British troops land at several points on the beaches of Algeria and Morocco in French North Africa. The failure of the Vichy French troops to defend against the invasion enables the Allies to move swiftly to the western border of Tunisia, and triggers the German occupation of southern France on November 11.

July 10, 1943
U.S. and British troops land on Sicily. By mid-August, the Allies control Sicily.

June 6, 1944
British and U.S. troops successfully land on the Normandy beaches of France, opening a “Second Front against the Germans.

 

January 22, 1944
Allied troops land successfully near Anzio, just south of Rome.

August 15, 1944
Allied forces land in southern France near Nice and advance rapidly towards the Rhine River to the northeast.

October 20, 1944
U.S. troops land in the Philippines.

May 1945
Allied troops conquer Okinawa, the last island stop before the Japanese islands

August 6, 1945
The United States drops an atomic bomb or Fat Man on Hiroshima.

August 9, 1945
The United States drops an atomic bomb on Nagasaki.

September 2, 1945
Having agreed in principle to unconditional surrender on August 14, 1945, Japan formally surrenders, ending World War II.

Usa during the Great Depression

 You could say that the Great Depression started because of the Businness Boom in the 1920s. The three factors that fueled this economig growth were: the machines, the process of standarized mass production and the factories.

What happened then is that the poeple wanted to have all the new devices that the world was creating and producing so they started to ask moeny to the banks to buy their refrigerators, automobiles, radios, and many other things, but the problem is that they were people that couldn't pay back the money they ask for.

Then, while Herbert Hoover, the 31st president of the United States, was ruling, many ohter things happened as the break down of several companies, increase of unemployement, decrease of international commerce and the decrease of imports and exports too. The Great Depression in USA dropped 68% of the money.

But they though that they could succeed when Franklin Delano Roosevelt won the elections on 1933. He had a very good plans as the continuance of Hoobert's proposal, which was the New Deal, which is a political effect of the Great Depression.

So the changes that occured is that they made a control in the bank to avoid another crack, authorization of the Federal Reserved or to the goberment to give creditos or loans. What they made too is that they cancelled the exportations and importations so then all the money was going to move just in the United States.

And that was the idea that Herbert Hoover had of the New Deal but unfortunately it didn't work until the WWII when the material work got into the gear and ended unemployement.

And that is how United States of America lived the Great Depression, and how they tried to get rid of it through Herbert's Hoover proposal, the New Deal.

Bibliography of the Timeline

http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007306

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington, D.C.

Last Update January 6, 2011

Bibliography of the Great Depression Essay

Just the part that says that United States didn't recover its economy until the WWII when the material work got into the gear and ended unemplkoyement was obtained from:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090209205150AAZTRop

*Everything that Doesn't have Bibliography is because we got the information from our own knowledge our notes from History class.  :D  (:

USA All the Way

Esler, Ellis. World History The Modern Era. Boston, Massachusetts, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, Copyright 2007.

http://www.thenagain.info/webchron/world/uswwi.html

 

Bibliografía

Many Americans supported the Allies because of cultural ties. The United States of America shared a cultural history and language with Great Britain and sympathized with France as another democracy.

A big reason that made the Americans join the war was the Zimmermann telegram, which said that if Mexico would help Germany, Germany was going to recover the lost lands of Mexico in USA which were New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona .But Great Britain intercepted the telegram and revealed the Zimmermann telegram to USA and that caused an anti-German feeling to become stronger in the United States of America. So after that, USA declared war on Germany in April 1917.

The Zimmerman Telegraph

They were about 2 million of Americans that joined the war-weary Allied troops fighting on the Western Front. Just as important to the debt-ridden Allies was American financial aid.(Esler)

One of the causes that made USA think about entering the war was the sinking of Lusitania Ship in May 7, 1815, which killed 120 Americans.  Woodrow Wilson had the idea of peace, looking forward to mediate the European conflict, so he made a document named the 14 points. When USA entered the war, armed forces equilibrium broke. There were more weapons, troops and economic pressure in the Allies, at the same time some countries like Cuba, Panama and Brazil entered by the influence of USA, which made World War 1 end quicker.

 The Sinking of the Lusitania

 “There are many other theories regarding why the US entered into World War I. Some propose that the US was never actually neutral, but had been supporting the British; this thinking gives a different light on the events of submarine warfare with the Germans. The high infiltration of Pro-British propaganda as well as the considerable profits to the hurting economy lead some to believe that it would have been impossible for the US to remain neutral and not engage in the war. Others propose that as German forces crept into the Atlantic and threatened to conquer Britain, the US felt that its defenses and the country's security were threatened, again justifying involvement in the war. In all practicality, it is impossible to pinpoint the entry of the United States to a number of certain events and it was most definitely a combination of many factors.”     David W. Koeller

 

cronological

1914

June

• 28. Assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand, heir to throne of Austria-Hungary, and his wife at Sarajevo, Bosnia.

July

• 28. Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia.
• 29. Russian mobilization ordered.

August

• 1. Germany declares war on Russia.
• 1. France orders mobilization.
• 2. Germany demands free passage through Belgium.
• 3. Germany declares war on France.
• 3. Belgium rejects Germany's demand.
• 4. Germany at war with Belgium. Troops under Gen. Von Kluck cross border. Halted at Liege.
• 4. Great Britain at war with Germany. Kitchener becomes Secretary of War.
• 5. President Wilson tenders good offices of United States interests of peace.
• 6. Austria-Hungary at war with Russia.
• 7. French forces invade Alsace. Gen. Joffre in supreme command of French army.
• 7. Montenegro at war with Austria.
• 7. Great Britain's Expeditionary Force lands at Ostend, Calais and Dunkirk.
• 8. Serbia at war with Germany.
• 12. Great Britain at war with Austria-Hungary.
• 12. Montenegro at war with Germany.
• 17. Belgian capital removed from Brussels to Antwerp.
• 19. Canadian Parliament authorises raising expeditionary force.
• 20. Germans occupy Brussels.
• 23. Japan at war with Germany. Begins attack on Tsingtau.
• 24. Germans enter France near Lille.
• 25. Austria at war with Japan.
• 26. Viviani becomes premier of France.
• 28. Austria declares war on Belgium.
• 30. Amiens occupied by Germans.
• 31. Russian army of invasion in East Prussia defeated at Tannenberg by Germans under Von Hindenburg.

September

• 3. Paris placed in state of siege: Government transferred to Bordeaux.
• 6-10. Battle of Marne. Von Kluck is beaten by Gen. Joffre, and the German army retreats from Paris to the Soissons-Rheims line.
• 14. French reoccupy Amiens and Rheims.
• 29. Antwerp bombardment begins.

October

• 2. British Admiralty announces intention to mine North Sea areas.
• 9. Antwerp surrenders to Germans. Government removed to Ostend.
• 13. British occupy Ypres.
• 14. Canadian Expeditionary Force of 32,000 men lands at Plymouth.
• 15. Germans occupy Ostend. Belgian government removed to Havre, France.

November

• 5. Great Britain and France declare war on Turkey.
• 5. Cyprus annexed by Great Britain.

December

• 8. Off the Falkland Isles, British squadron under command of Rear-Admiral Sturdee, sinks three of the German cruisers which had destroyed the Good Hope and Monmouth on Nov. 1. The Dresden escapes.
• 16. German squadron bombards Hartlepool, Scarborough and Whitby on east coast of England.

1915

February

• 10. Prussians defeated by Germans in Battle of Masurian Lakes.
• 18. German submarine 'blockade' of British Isles begins.
• 25. Allied fleet destroys outer forts of Dardanelles.

March

• 2. Allied troops land at Kum-Kale, on Asiatic side of Dardanelles.
• 10. British take Neuve Chapelle in Flanders battle.
• 22. Austrian fortress of Przmysl surrenders to Russians.

April

• 22. Poison gas first used by Germans in attack on Canadians at Ypres, Belgium.

May

• 1. American steamer Gulflight torpedoed off Scilly Isles by German submarine; 3 lives lost.
• 2. British South Africa troops under General Botha capture Otymbingue, German Southwest Africa.
• 7. Germans capture Libau, Russian Baltic port.
• 7. Lusitania, Cunard liner, sunk by German submarine off Kinsale Head, Irish coast, with loss of 1152 lives; 102 Americans.
• 23. Italy declares war on Austria-Hungary and begins invasion on a 60 mile front.
• 31. German Zeppelins bombard suburbs of London.

June

• 4-6. German aircraft bomb English towns.
• 15. Allied aircraft bombs Karlsruhe, Baden, in retaliation.
• 22. Lemberg recaptured by Austrians.
• 26. Montenegrins enter Scutari, Albania.

July

• 9. German Southwest African surrenders to British South African troops under Gen. Botha.

August

• 5. Warsaw captured by Germans.
• 6. Gallipoli Peninsula campaign enters a second stage with the debarkation of a new force of British troops in Suvla Bay, on the west of the peninsula.
• 8. Russians defeat German fleet of 9 battleships and 12 cruisers at entrance of Gulf of Riga.
• 19. Arabic, White Star liner, sunk by submarine off Fastnet; 44 lives lost; 2 Americans.
• 25. Brest-Litovsk, Russian fortress, captured by Austro-Germans.
• 28. Italians reach Cima Cista, north-east of Trent.
• 30. British submarine attacks Constantinople and damages the Galata Bridge.
• 31. Lutsk, Russian fortress, captured by Austrians.

September

• 6. Czar Nicholas of Russia assumes command of Russian armies. Grand Duke Nicholas is transferred to the Caucasus.
• 25. Allies open offensive on Western front and occupy Lens.

October

• 5. Franco-British force lands at Salonika and Greek ministry resigns.
• 9. Belgrade again occupied by Austro-Germans.
• 12. Edith Cavell, English nurse, shot by Germans for aiding British prisoners to escape from Belgium.
• 13. London bombarded by Zeppelins; 55 persons killed; 114 injured.
• 14. Bulgaria at war with Serbia.
• 15. Great Britain declares war on Bulgaria.
• 17. France at war with Bulgaria.
• 19. Italy and Russia at war with Bulgaria.
• 29. Briand becomes premier of France, succeeding Viviani.

November

• 5. Nish, Serbian war capital, captured by Bulgarians.
• 24. Serbian government transferred to Scutari, Albania.

December

• 4. Henry Ford, with large party of peace advocates, sails for Europe on chartered steamer Oscar II, with the object of ending the war.
• 13. Serbia in hands of enemy, Allied forces abandoning last positions and retiring across Greek frontier.
• 15. Gen. Sir Douglas Haig succeeds Field Marshal Sir John French as Commander-in-Chief of British forces in France.
• 20. Dardanelles expedition ends; British troops begin withdrawal from positions on Suvla Bay and Gallipoli Peninsula.
• 22. Henry Ford leaves his peace party at Christiania and returns to the United States.

1916

January

• 11. Greek island of Corfu occupied by French.
• 13. Cettinje, capital of Montenegro, occupied by Austrians.
• 29-31. German Zeppelins bomb Paris and towns in England.

February

• 10. British conscription law goes into effect.
• 19. Kamerun, German colony in Africa, conquered by British forces.
• 21. Battle of Verdun begins. Germans take Haumont.
• 25. Fort Douaumont falls to Germans in Verdun battle.

March

• 9. Germany declares war on Portugal on the latter's refusal to give up seized ships.
• 15. Austria-Hungary at war with Portugal.
• 24. Sussex, French cross-channel steamer, with many Americans aboard, sunk by submarine off Dieppe. No Americans lost.
• 31. Melancourt taken by Germans in Verdun Battle.

April

• 19. President Wilson publicly warns Germany not to pursue submarine policy.
• 20. Russian troops landed at Marseilles for service on Frenchfront.
• 24. Irish rebellion begins in Dublin. Republic declared. Patrick Pearse announced as first President.
• 29. British force of 9000 men, under Gen. Townshend, besieged in Kut-el-Amara, surrenders to Turks.
• 30. Irish rebellion ends with unconditional surrender of Pearse and other leaders, who are tried by court-martial and executed.

May

• 8. Cymrio, White Star liner, torpedoed off Irish coast.
• 14. Italian positions penetrated by Austrians.
• 15. Vimy Ridge gained by British.
• 26. Bulgarians invade Greece and occupy forts on the Struma.
• 31. Jutland naval battle; British and German fleets engaged;heavy losses on both sides.

June

• 5. Kitchener, British Secretary of War, loses his life when the cruiser Hampshire, on which he was voyaging to Russia, is sunk off the Orkney Islands, Scotland.
• 6. Germans capture Fort Vaux in Verdun attack.
• 21. Allies demand Greek demobilization.
• 27. King Constantine orders demobilization of Greek army.

July

• 1. British and French attack north and south of the Somme.
• 14. British penetrate German second line, using cavalry.
• 15. Longueval captured by British.
• 25. Pozieres occupied by British.
• 30. British and French advance between Delville Wood and the Somme.

August

• 3. French recapture Fleury.
• 27. Roumania declares war on Austria-Hungary.
• 28. Italy at war with Germany.
• 28. Germany at war with Roumania.
• 31. Bulgaria at war with Roumania. Turkey at war with Roumania.

September

• 2. Bulgarian forces invade Roumania along the Dobrudja frontier.
• 13. Italians defeat Austrians on the Carso.
• 15. British capture Flers, Courcelette, and other Germans positions on Western front, using tanks.
• 26. Combles and Thiepval captured by British and French.
• 29. Roumanians begin retreat from Transylvania.

October

• 24. Fort Douaumont recaptured by French.

November

• 2. Fort Vaux evacuated by Germans.
• 7. Woodrow Wilson re-elected President of the United States.
• 13. British advance along the Ancre.
• 21. Britannic, mammoth British hospital ship, sunk by mine in Aegean Sea.
• 22. Emperor Franz Josef of Austria-Hungary, dies. Succeeded by Charles I.
• 23. German warships bombard English coast.
• 28. Roumanian government is transferred to Jassy.

December

• 1. Allied troops enter Athens to insist upon surrender of Greek arms and munitions.
• 6. Bucharest, capital of Roumania, captured by Austro-Germans.
• 7. David Lloyd George succeeds Asquith as Prime Minister.
• 15. French complete recapture of ground taken by Germans in Verdun battle.
• 18. President Wilson makes peace overtures to belligerents.
• 26. Germany replies to President's note and suggests a peace conference.
• 30. French government on behalf of Entente Allies replies to President Wilson's note and refuses to discuss peace till Germany agrees to give restitution, reparation and guarantees.

1917

January

• 1. Turkey declares its independence of suzerainty of European powers.
• 1. Ivernia, Cunard liner, is sunk in Mediterranean.

February

• 3. United States severs diplomatic relations with Germany. Count Von Bernstorff is handed his passports.
• 7. California, Anchor liner, is sunk off Irish coast.
• 13. Afric, White Star liner, sunk by submarine.
• 17. British troops on the Ancre capture German positions.
• 25. Laconia, Cunard liner, sunk off Irish coast.
• 26. Kut-el-Amara recaptured from Turks by new British Mesopotamian expedition under command of Gen. Sir Stanley Maude.
• 28. United States government makes public a communication from Germans to Mexico proposing an alliance, and offering as a reward the return of Mexico's lost territory in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.
• 28. Submarine campaign of Germans results in the sinking of 134 vessels

March

• 3. British advance on Bapaume.
• 3. Mexico denies having received an offer from Germany suggesting an alliance.
• 10. Russian Czar suspends sittings of the Duma.
• 11. Bagdad captured by British forces under Gen. Maude.
• 14. China breaks with Germany.
• 15. Czar Nicholas abdicates. Prince Lvoff heads new cabinet.
• 17. Bapaume falls to British. Roye and Lassigny occupied by French.
• 18. Peronne, Chaulnes, Nesle and Noyon evacuated by Germans, who retire on an 85-mile front.
• 18. City of Memphis, Illinois, and Vigilancia, American ships, torpedoed.
• 19. Alexander Ribot becomes French premier, succeeding Briand.
• 21. Healdton, American ship, bound from Philadelphia to Rotterdam, sunk without warning; 21 men lost.
• 26-31. British advance on Cambrai.

April

• 1. Aztec, American armed ship, sunk in submarine zone.
• 5. Missourian, American steamer, sunk in Mediterranean.
• 6. United States declares war on Germany.
• 7. Cuba and Panama at war with Germany.
• 8. Austria-Hungary breaks with United States.
• 9. Germans retreat before British on long front.
• 9. Bolivia breaks with Germany.
• 13. Vimy, Givenchy, Bailleul and positions about Lens taken by Canadians.
• 20. Turkey breaks with United States.
• 22. President Wilson suggests to the belligerents a peace without victory.
• 31. Germany announces intention of sinking all vessels in war zone around British Isles.

May

• 9. Liberia breaks with Germany.
• 11. Russian Council of Workmen's and Soldiers' Delegates demands peace conference.
• 15. Gen. Petain succeeds Gen. Nivelle as Commander-in-Chief of French armies. Gen. Foch is appointed Chief of Staff.
• 16. Bullecourt captured by British in the Arras battles.
• 17. Honduras breaks with German.
• 18. Conscription bill signed by President Wilson.
• 19. Nicaragua breaks with Germany.
• 22-26. Italians advance on the Carso.

June

• 5. Registration day for new draft army in United States.
• 7. Messines-Wytschaete ridge in English hands.
• 8. Gen. Pershing, Commander-in-Chief of American expeditionary force, arrives in England en route to France.
• 18. Haiti breaks with Germany.

July

• 1. Russians begin offensive in Gallicia, Kerensky, Minister of War, leading in person.
• 3. American expeditionary force arrives in France.
• 6. Canadian House of Commons passes Compulsory Military Service Bill.
• 12. King Constantine of Greece abdicates in favour of his secondson, Alexander.
• 16-23. Retreat of Russians on a front of 155 miles.
• 20. Alexander Kerensky becomes Russian premier, succeeding Lvoff.
• 20. Drawing of draft number for American conscript army begins.
• 22. Siam at war with Germany and Austria.
• 31. Franco-British attack penetrates German lines on a 20-mile front.

August

• 1. Pope Benedict XV makes plea for peace on a basis of no annexation, no indemnity.
• 7. Liberia at war with Germany.
• 8. Canadian Conscription Bill passes its third reading in Senate.
• 14. China at war with Germany and Austria-Hungary.
• 15. Canadian troops capture Hill 70, dominating Lens.
• 19. Italians cross the Isonzo and take Austrian positions.
• 28. Pope Benedict's peace plea rejected by President Wilson.

September

• 3. Riga captured by Germans.
• 14. Paul Painleve becomes French premier, succeeding Ribot.
• 16. Russia proclaimed a republic by Kerensky.
• 20. Costa Rica breaks with Germany.
• 21. Gen. Tasker H. Bliss named Chief of Staff of the United States Army.
• 26. Zonnebeke, Polygon Wood and Tower Hamlets, east of Ypres, taken by British.
• 29. Turkish Mesopotamian army, under Ahmed Bey, captured by British.

October

• 6. Peru and Uruguay break with Germany.
• 9. Poelcapelle and other German positions captured in Franco- British attack.
• 17. Antilles, American transport, westbound from France, sunk by submarine; 67 lost.
• 23. American troops in France fire their first shot in trench warfare.
• 23. French advance northeast of Soissons.
• 24. Austro-Germans begin great offensive on Italian positions.
• 25. Italians retreat across the Isonzo and evacuate the Bainsizza Plateau.
• 26. Brazil at war with Germany.
• 31. Beersheba, in Palestine, occupied by British.

November

• 1. Germans abandon position on Chemin des Dames.
• 3. Americans in trenches suffer 20 casualties in German attacks.
• 6. Passchendaele captured by Canadians.
• 6. British Mesopotamian forces reach Tekrit, 100 miles northwest of Bagdad.
• 7. The Russian Bolsheviki, led by Lenin and Trotzsky, seize Potrograd and depose Kerensky.
• 8. Gen. Diaz succeeds Gen. Cadorna as Commander-in-Chief of Italian armies.
• 10. Lenin becomes Premier of Russia, succeeding Kerensky.
• 15. Georges Clemenceau becomes Premier of France, succeeding Painlove.
• 21. Ribecourt, Flesquieres, Havrincourt, Marcoing and other German positions captured by British.
• 23. Italians repulse Germans on the whole front from the Asiago Plateau to the Brenta River.
• 24. Cambrai menaced by British, who approach within three miles, capturing Bourlon Wood.

December

• 1. German East Africa reported completely conquered.
• 1. Allies' Supreme War Council, representing the United States, France, Great Britain and Italy, holds first meeting at Versailles.
• 3. Russian Bolsheviki arrange armistice with Germans.
• 5. British retire from Bourlon Wood, Graincourt and other positions west of Cambrai.
• 7. Finland declares independence.
• 8. Jerusalem, held by the Turks for 673 years, surrenders to British, under Gen. Allenby.
• 10. Panama at war with Austria-Hungary.
• 11. United States at war with Austria-Hungary.
• 15. Armistice signed between Germany and Russia at Brest-Litovsk.
• 17. Coalition government of Sir Robert Borden is returned andconsidered confirmed in Canada.

1918

March

• 21. Ludendorff launches his series of major offensives, known as the 'Kaiserschlacht' in an effort to gain a decisive victory before the effect of the America entering into the War can be fully realised. Major successes are reported.
• 23. German offensive redirects towards Amiens and Paris.
• 28. German Operation 'Mars' repulsed at Arras.

April

• 4-5. Australians halt German advance at Villers Bretonneux.
• 9. German launch 'Georgette' offensive against British at Lys.
• 23-24. British attempt to blockade Ostend harbour fails.

May

• 27. German offensive 'Blucher' launched.
• 29. German troops advance to the Marne but are stopped by US Divisions.

June

• 15-16. Austrian offensive at Asiago defeated by combined British and French force.

July

• 15. Ludendorff launches final offensive.

August

• 8. Anglo-French counter-attack at Amiens supported by heavy artillery and 400 tanks achieves major successes. Ludendorff describes it as 'the Black Day' for the German army.

September

• 12. American offensive at St Mihiel.
• 23. British 15th Cavalry Brigade attacks Haifa.
• 26. Allied offensive at Meuse-Argonne.

October

• 26. Ludendorff is dismissed.
• 28. Kiel mutiny by German sailors.

November

• 1. Americans breakthrough German defences at Meuse.
• 3. German Sailors Soviet take control of Kiel.
• 3. Americans cut vital Lille-Metz rail link.
• 11. On the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month, the Armistice is signed effectively halting the War. The final Treaty of Versailles, is signed on June 28, 1919.