WWI > Historical Documents: Primary & Secondary Sources
Eyewitness Accounts WWI
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Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand
The Sinking of the Lusitania U-Boat Attack Christmas in the Trenches Poison Gas Attack Primary & Secondary Source Documents
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Spartacus Educational
This British archive has thousands of primary sources from throughout history and has an excellent selection of primary courses from WWI. There are hundreds of different topics with everything from trench warfare to wartime leaders. All sources are provided with a contextual description that links many sources together. The Avalon Project Provided by Yale Law, this resource focuses mostly on political documents. This is one of the best sources for understanding politics and diplomacy throughout many historical periods. It includes documents like the League of Nations Covenant and the Armistice agreement. The World Digital Library This digital library has thousands of picture documents from World War One and serves as a great source for political cartoons and for propaganda posters from that time period. It also has interactive maps and timelines that allow the student to contextualize the different primary sources they may come across. The Culture Institute Project This web source includes more than just dry documents, it also includes exhibits and presentations from museums around the world. Many sources and galleries can be found that are centered around WWI artifacts and documents and there are many exhibits to explore about the topic. World War I Document Archive This archive includes treaties, official papers, and even personal diaries, all focused on WWI. Provided by BYU, it is a very easy site for students to navigate, breaking up sources by topic, type, and even by time period. This allows students to focus on one type of document or a specific year in the war. |
Tsar Nicholas II's Abdication Proclamation, March 1917
The Russian Tsar, Nicholas II, signed his enforced abdication (in favor of Grand Duke Mikhail, who effectively declined power) on 15 March 1917 at 3.05 p.m.
Decree of Abdication
In the days of the great struggle against the foreign enemies, who for nearly three years have tried to enslave our fatherland, the Lord God has been pleased to send down on Russia a new heavy trial.
Internal popular disturbances threaten to have a disastrous effect on the future conduct of this persistent war. The destiny of Russia, the honour of our heroic army, the welfare of the people and the whole future of our dear fatherland demand that the war should be brought to a victorious conclusion whatever the cost.
The cruel enemy is making his last efforts, and already the hour approaches when our glorious army together with our gallant allies will crush him. In these decisive days in the life of Russia, We thought it Our duty of conscience to facilitate for Our people the closest union possible and a consolidation of all national forces for the speedy attainment of victory.
In agreement with the Imperial Duma We have thought it well to renounce the Throne of the Russian Empire and to lay down the supreme power. As We do not wish to part from Our beloved son, We transmit the succession to Our brother, the Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich, and give Him Our blessing to mount the Throne of the Russian Empire.
We direct Our brother to conduct the affairs of state in full and inviolable union with the representatives of the people in the legislative bodies on those principles which will be established by them, and on which He will take an inviolable oath.
In the name of Our dearly beloved homeland, We call on Our faithful sons of the fatherland to fulfil their sacred duty to the fatherland, to obey the Tsar in the heavy moment of national trials, and to help Him, together with the representatives of the people, to guide the Russian Empire on the road to victory, welfare, and glory.
May the Lord God help Russia!
(SIGNED)
NICHOLAS II
(COUNTER-SIGNED)
FREDERICKS, MINISTER OF THE IMPERIAL COURT
Decree of Abdication
In the days of the great struggle against the foreign enemies, who for nearly three years have tried to enslave our fatherland, the Lord God has been pleased to send down on Russia a new heavy trial.
Internal popular disturbances threaten to have a disastrous effect on the future conduct of this persistent war. The destiny of Russia, the honour of our heroic army, the welfare of the people and the whole future of our dear fatherland demand that the war should be brought to a victorious conclusion whatever the cost.
The cruel enemy is making his last efforts, and already the hour approaches when our glorious army together with our gallant allies will crush him. In these decisive days in the life of Russia, We thought it Our duty of conscience to facilitate for Our people the closest union possible and a consolidation of all national forces for the speedy attainment of victory.
In agreement with the Imperial Duma We have thought it well to renounce the Throne of the Russian Empire and to lay down the supreme power. As We do not wish to part from Our beloved son, We transmit the succession to Our brother, the Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich, and give Him Our blessing to mount the Throne of the Russian Empire.
We direct Our brother to conduct the affairs of state in full and inviolable union with the representatives of the people in the legislative bodies on those principles which will be established by them, and on which He will take an inviolable oath.
In the name of Our dearly beloved homeland, We call on Our faithful sons of the fatherland to fulfil their sacred duty to the fatherland, to obey the Tsar in the heavy moment of national trials, and to help Him, together with the representatives of the people, to guide the Russian Empire on the road to victory, welfare, and glory.
May the Lord God help Russia!
(SIGNED)
NICHOLAS II
(COUNTER-SIGNED)
FREDERICKS, MINISTER OF THE IMPERIAL COURT
Zimmerman Note, January 1917
The Zimmermann Telegram was intercepted and decoded by the British cryptographers of Room 40.The telegram's message was:
FROM 2nd from London # 5747."We intend to begin on the first of February unrestricted submarine warfare. We shall endeavor in spite of this to keep the United States of America neutral. In the event of this not succeeding, we make Mexico a proposal of alliance on the following basis: make war together, make peace together, generous financial support and an understanding on our part that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. The settlement in detail is left to you. You will inform the President of the above most secretly as soon as the outbreak of war with the United States of America is certain and add the suggestion that he should, on his own initiative, invite Japan to immediate adherence and at the same time mediate between Japan and ourselves. Please call the President's attention to the fact that the ruthless employment of our submarines now offers the prospect of compelling England in a few months to make peace." Signed, ZIMMERMANN
FROM 2nd from London # 5747."We intend to begin on the first of February unrestricted submarine warfare. We shall endeavor in spite of this to keep the United States of America neutral. In the event of this not succeeding, we make Mexico a proposal of alliance on the following basis: make war together, make peace together, generous financial support and an understanding on our part that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. The settlement in detail is left to you. You will inform the President of the above most secretly as soon as the outbreak of war with the United States of America is certain and add the suggestion that he should, on his own initiative, invite Japan to immediate adherence and at the same time mediate between Japan and ourselves. Please call the President's attention to the fact that the ruthless employment of our submarines now offers the prospect of compelling England in a few months to make peace." Signed, ZIMMERMANN