1917

By Sarah and Mike

Main Events Timeline

Januray 9th- German leaders decide to launch unrestricted U-boat warfare, making U-boats deadlier than before

February 3rd- the United States stops communicating with Germany as a result of the war

March 12- United states begin to arm their merchantmen, despite not gaining approval.

15- Czar of Russia forced to step down 20- US cabinet unanimously vote to engage in

war against Germany

Timeline cont.

March 29- U.S. makes detailed preparations for the war.

April 6- U.S. officially declares war on Germany 13- Canadians capture Vimy Ridge May 20- French mutinies end. June The battle of Messines 26- U.S. first arrives in France July 16- Third battles of Ypres (Passchendaele)

Vimy Ridge

April 9th to 12th 1917 Major Canadian victory, some say it defined

Canada as a nation Used a brilliant strategy called “creeping barrage” Had a significant effect on the war 3600 Canadians died 4000 Germans captured Footage of Vimy Ridge

Passchendaele

July to November 1917

Terrain nearly impossible to maneuver across

Trench life brutal

Some soldiers drowned in puddles of mud

Nearly 1 million casualties for both sides over a very little amount of land

Timeline cont.

November 7- Bolsheviks overthrow the prime minister, Aleksander Fyodorovich Kerensky, and begin a communist reign under Lenin.

10- Battle of Passchendaele ends

December 7- U.S. Declares war on Austria.

The October Revolution

The Bolshevik’s seize of power in Saint Petersburg leads the way to Soviet Russia

This was the first and only armed uprising in the Russian Revolution

The Winter Palace was captured and was only lightly defended by women and cadets.

The Impact of the 1917 October Revolution

The French Mutiny of 1917

Soldiers in the French Army realized that they were being treated poorly, and many thought that they were being led to their own death

30,000 men decided to leave their trenches and walk home, after being away for 3 years

This was especially frustrating because officers were able to go home on a regular basis, and lower ranked soldiers weren’t given these privileges

French Mutiny of 1917 (cont.)

54 divisions (50% of the French army) refused to obey orders Discipline in the army collapsed A new general, General Petain, took charge of the situation 24,000 were found guilty of mutiny, however only 400 were

sentenced to death, and in that 400 only 50 were actually shot. The rest were sent to Devil’s Island in French Guiana.

It was decided that after this, the French army would fight to protect its country, but not be involved in any offensives.

War Weariness

The war had been going on for quite a while with little room for leaves or other distractions

Soldiers had low morale and lost the will to fight.

General Petain

Devil’s Island

Bibliography

http://www.worldwar-1.net/world-war-1-timelines/world-war-1-1917/world-war-1-1917-index.htm

http://www.saskschools.ca/curr_content/history20/unit1/sec5/sec5_05.html

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/291225/international-relations/32831/The-crises-of-1917

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/513907/Russian-Revolution-of-1917