/Users/andrea/_magisterarbeit/korpus/clean/trainkorpus/30/file5.html NN ----------------------------------------- : Home NP Department NP History NN The DT First NP World NP War NP Canada NP and CC the DT First NP World NP War NP The DT Conflict NN Begins VVZ What's NP New NP Press NP Room NP The NP Minister NP Minister's NP Commendation NN Department NP Information NP Proactive JJ Disclosure NN Veterans NP Review NP and CC Appeal VV Board NP Past NP Features VVZ Ste NN . SENT Anne's NP Hospital NP Calendar NN of IN Events NNS Links NP Sitemap NP Search NP the DT Site NN . SENT Canada NP and CC the DT First NP World NP War NP The DT Conflict NN Begins VVZ An DT assassination NN in IN Sarajevo NP in IN June NP 1914 CD went VVD almost RB unnoticed JJ in IN Canada NP . SENT Few JJ Canadians NNS expected VVN that IN it PP would MD lead VV to TO war NN . SENT fewer JJR still RB anticipated VVN the DT sacrifices VVZ Canada NP would MD be VB called VVN to TO make VV . SENT Yet RB the DT war NN was VBD to TO change VV dramatically RB the DT world NN they PP lived VVD in IN , , and CC in IN a DT very RB real JJ sense NN the DT Canadian JJ nation NN was VBD born VVN on IN the DT battlefields NNS of IN Europe NP . SENT International JJ relations NNS in IN Europe NP in IN the DT summer NN of IN 1914 CD were VBD , , apparently RB , , quiet JJ . SENT but CC great JJ tensions NNS existed VVN under IN the DT surface NN . SENT The DT Great NP European NP Powers NP were VBD ranged VVN against IN each DT other JJ in IN two CD alliances NNS The DT Triple JJ Alliance NP Germany NP , , Austria NP Hungary NP and CC Italy NP and CC the DT Triple JJ Entente NN France NP , , Russia NP and CC Great NP Britain NP . SENT The DT situation NN was VBD heightened VVN by IN economic JJ and CC imperial JJ rivalries NNS , , national JJ pride NN , , the DT nationalism NN of IN new JJ countries NNS , , ambitious JJ statesmen NNS , , the DT instability NN of IN eastern JJ Europe NP particularly RB the DT Balkans NP where WRB the DT Ottoman NP Empire NP was VBD collapsing VVG and CC the DT constant JJ talk NN of IN wars NNS somewhere RB . SENT All PDT the DT ingredients NNS were VBD there RB for IN a DT small JJ international JJ fire NN to TO become VV a DT raging VVG inferno NN . SENT Once RB started VVN by IN those DT fatal JJ shots NNS , , efforts NNS to TO stop VV the DT blaze NN proved VVD futile JJ . SENT On IN Sunday NP , , June NP 28 CD , , 1914 CD , , Archduke NN Franz NP Ferdinand NP , , heir NN to TO the DT Austro NN Hungarian JJ throne NN , , was VBD shot VVN and CC killed VVN by IN a DT Serbian JJ nationalist NN during IN a DT visit NN to TO Sarajevo NP in IN Bosnia NP . SENT Convinced VVN that IN the DT Serbian JJ government NN was VBD involved VVN in IN the DT plot NN , , Austria NP Hungary NP , , supported VVN by IN Germany NP , , sent VVD a DT harsh JJ ultimatum NN to TO Serbia NN . SENT Although IN Serbia NP met VVD nearly RB every DT demand NN , , Austria NP Hungary NP , , bent NN on IN conquest NN , , declared VVD war NN . SENT The DT fire NN spread NN . SENT Russia NP , , the DT self NN proclaimed VVD protector NN of IN the DT Slav JJ nations NNS , , mobilized VVN . SENT Germany NP demanded VVD promises NNS of IN peace NN from IN Russia NP and CC France NP and CC , , when WRB there EX was VBD no DT answer NN , , declared VVD war NN on IN Russia NP on IN August NP 1 CD , , and CC on IN France NP two CD days NNS later RBR . SENT France NP looked VVD to TO Britain NP for IN support NN . SENT Although IN Britain NP was VBD not RB bound VVN by IN a DT formal JJ treaty NN to TO join VV France NP in IN a DT war NN , , Sir NP Edward NP Gray NP , , the DT Foreign NP Secretary NP , , had VHD made VVN an DT informal JJ agreement NN with IN the DT French JJ . SENT Then RB , , on IN August NP 4 CD , , the DT German JJ army NN on IN its PP$ way NN to TO France NP invaded VVD neutral JJ Belgium NP . SENT Britain NP sent VVD an DT ultimatum NN demanding VVG withdrawal NN of IN German JJ troops NNS and CC reminding VVG Germany NP of IN the DT treaty NN of IN 1839 CD guaranteeing VVG Belgium's NP neutrality NN , , to TO which WDT Prussia NP effectively RB the DT predecessor NN of IN Germany NP was VBD also RB a DT signatory NN . SENT Unanswered JJ , , the DT ultimatum NN expired VVD at IN midnight NN on IN August NP 4 CD . SENT Britain NP was VBD at IN war NN . SENT And CC when WRB Britain NP was VBD at IN war NN , , Canada NP was VBD at IN war NN . SENT But CC that DT was VBD her PP$ sole JJ obligation NN . SENT How WRB Canada NP reacted VVD to TO the DT war NN and CC what WP measures VVZ she PP took VVD in IN support NN of IN Britain NP was VBD up RP to TO her PP$ own JJ government NN . SENT It PP was VBD with IN a DT spirit NN of IN light JJ hearted VVN optimism NN and CC exuberant JJ enthusiasm NN that IN Britain NP and CC her PP$ Empire NN went VVD to TO war NN . SENT It PP would MD be VB exciting JJ . SENT it PP would MD be VB good JJ for IN business NN . SENT and CC the DT boys NNS would MD be VB home NN by IN Christmas NP . SENT They PP did VVD not RB know VV that IN four CD years NNS of IN death NN and CC destruction NN lay VVD ahead RB in IN a DT war NN revolutionized VVD by IN high JJ explosive JJ shells NNS , , rapid JJ firing NN machine NN guns NNS , , poison NN gas NN , , mighty JJ dreadnoughts NNS , , stealthy JJ submarines NNS , , and CC airplanes NNS . SENT Nor CC did VVD they PP know VVP that IN it PP would MD destroy VV thousands NNS of IN young JJ men NNS and CC transform VV society NN Germany NP , , France NP and CC Russia NP already RB had VHD elaborate JJ war NN plans NNS and CC proceeded VVD to TO put VV them PP into IN effect NN all RB failed VVD . SENT The DT object NN of IN the DT German JJ Schlieffen NP Plan NP was VBD to TO strike VV quickly RB against IN France NP , , destroy VV her PP$ armies NNS , , and CC then RB turn VV against IN the DT more RBR slowly RB mobilizing VVG Russians NPS , , on IN the DT eastern JJ flank NN . SENT The DT plan NN almost RB succeeded VVN . SENT Massive JJ German JJ armies NNS struck VVN through IN Belgium NP , , battered VVD the DT fortified VVN cities NNS of IN Li NP ge NP and CC Namur NP , , and CC wheeled VVN southward JJ into IN France NP . SENT At IN Mons NP a DT small JJ British JJ Expeditionary JJ Force NP made VVD a DT determined VVN stand NN , , but CC the DT task NN was VBD impossible JJ , , and CC the DT Old NP Contemptibles NP were VBD forced VVN to TO retreat VV . SENT Then RB , , the DT German JJ advance NN weakened VVD , , and CC the DT French JJ and CC British JJ counter NN attacked VVD . SENT In IN the DT First NP Battle NP of IN the DT Marne NP the DT invasion NN was VBD checked VVN , , and CC the DT Germans NPS were VBD driven VVN back RB to TO a DT line NN along IN the DT Aisne NP River NP . SENT The DT Schlieffen NP Plan NP had VHD failed VVN . SENT The DT French JJ Plan NP XVII NP also RB failed VVD as IN French JJ drives NNS against IN Germany NP in IN Alsace NP and CC Lorraine NP were VBD bloodily RB repulsed VVN . SENT On IN the DT eastern JJ front NN the DT outcome NN was VBD similar JJ . SENT At IN first RB the DT Russians NPS , , moving VVG with IN unexpected JJ speed NN , , threw VVD back RB the DT Austro NN Hungarians NNS and CC advanced VVD into IN Eastern NP Prussia NP . SENT But CC Allied NP hopes NNS were VBD dashed VVN as IN the DT Germans NPS under IN von NP Hindenburg NP inflicted VVD a DT crushing VVG defeat NN on IN the DT Russian JJ armies NNS at IN Tannenberg NP and CC the DT Masurian JJ Lakes NP . SENT By IN late JJ autumn NN a DT military JJ deadlock NN had VHD been VBN reached VVN on IN both CC the DT eastern JJ and CC the DT western JJ fronts NNS . SENT In IN the DT west NN , , after IN the DT Miracle NP of IN the DT Marne NP , , there RB followed VVD a DT race NN to TO the DT sea NN as IN German NP and CC Allied NP armies NNS tried VVD to TO outflank VV each DT other JJ in IN a DT desperate JJ bid NN to TO gain VV the DT Channel NP ports NNS . SENT While IN the DT heavy JJ fighting NN moved VVD north RB , , the DT battlefields NNS to TO the DT south NN became VVD quiet JJ . SENT The DT soldiers NNS there RB dug VVD themselves PP into IN the DT ground NN to TO provide VV shelter NN and CC security NN from IN bullets NNS and CC shells NNS . SENT The DT Germans NPS were VBD able JJ to TO select VV the DT best JJS positions NNS for IN a DT defensive JJ position NN already RB they PP were VBD expecting VVG to TO defend VV a DT line NN rather RB than IN to TO attack VV on IN the DT Western NP Front NP . SENT The DT positions NNS they PP selected VVD were VBD not RB only RB , , generally RB , , excellent JJ from IN the DT point NN of IN view NN of IN defence NN , , they PP also RB ensured VVD that DT vital JJ strategic JJ railways NNS to TO maintain VV their PP$ armies NNS were VBD secure JJ and CC away RB from IN enemy NN artillery NN , , well RB behind IN the DT lines NNS . SENT They PP also RB took VVD full JJ advantage NN of IN the DT heavily RB industrialised VVN areas NNS of IN France NP and CC Belgium NP now RB under IN their PP$ control NN . SENT These DT early JJ and CC primitive JJ fortifications NNS were VBD a DT start NN to TO a DT complex JJ system NN of IN trench NN lines NNS , , machine NN gun NN and CC artillery NN positions NNS that WDT were VBD to TO reach VV their PP$ height NN with IN the DT construction NN of IN the DT Hindenburg NP Line NP in IN the DT winter NN of IN 1916 CD 1917 CD . SENT But CC at IN this DT stage NN they PP were VBD simple JJ trenches NNS defended VVD at IN best JJS with IN a DT few JJ strands NNS of IN barbed JJ wire NN . SENT By IN December NP 1918 CD the DT line NN stretched VVN for IN 750 CD kilometres NNS from IN the DT Belgian JJ coast NN to TO the DT Swiss JJ frontier NN . SENT and CC it PP was VBD on IN this DT Western NP Front NP that IN Canada NP was VBD to TO be VB chiefly RB engaged VVN . SENT On IN October NP 29 CD the DT German JJ army NN made VVD one CD final JJ effort NN to TO reach VV the DT Channel NP ports NNS . SENT In IN the DT First NP Battle NP of IN Ypres NP , , in IN a DT little JJ corner NN of IN Belgium NP known VVN as IN Flanders NP , , the DT British JJ Expeditionary JJ Force NP and CC their PP$ French JJ allies NNS held VVN against IN overwhelming JJ odds NNS and CC the DT ports NNS were VBD saved VVN . SENT Unfortunately RB in IN these DT early JJ campaigns NNS Britain NP lost VVD the DT greater JJR part NN of IN her PP$ precious JJ regular JJ army NN . SENT while IN the DT efforts NNS to TO protect VV the DT Ypres NP Salient NN were VBD to TO be VB even RB more RBR costly JJ in IN the DT future NN . SENT The DT Conflict NN Widens VVZ Updated VVN . SENT 2004 CD 7 CD 29 CD Top NP of IN Page NP Important JJ Notices NNS