World War I Chapters

Even though Queen Victoria's descendants were on the thrones of Europe, those relatives were unable to prevent their countries from plunging into the chaos of war. This collection highlights what happened during the "forgotten war" and provides background for the WWI-based movie "1917."

James W. Gerard, the U.S. ambassador to Germany, writes of difficulties when talking about the Lusitania sinking with the German army.

Jacob Abrams and fellow Russian socialists suffer arrest and trial for speaking and writing against US-government actions.

Oliver Wendell Holmes writes a Supreme Court decision which allows people to say what they think but not necessarily avoid punishment.

Soldiers arriving back in the U.S. spread the Spanish flu through the entire country. Hardest hit are large-crowd events, such as Philadelphia's Liber...

At the start of World War I, few countries can match Germany'sair ships- often calledZeppelins.

When World War One also impacted Africa, Albert and Helen Schweitzer were sent to a French prison camp.

Albert Gitchell, an Army cook at Camp Funston, complains of flu-like symptoms. The air-borne disease spreads to Europe when U.S. soldiers go to Europe...

In 1914 Britain enters the war because Germany invades Belgium. Many leaders of all involved countries are relatives.

The U.S. enters the war in April 1917 using the sinking of the Lusitania as the main reason.

Young Americans want to fly combat missions for France during WWI; they form the Escadrille Americaine (American Squadron).

Studies show the Lusitania exploded because the torpedo struck coal bins, not illegal arms, causing coal dust to catch fire.

To avoid torpedo strikes by German U-boats, the Lusitania changes course, but is still in danger.

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