Primary Documents - 1917
This page of the Primary
Documents section of the website collects together archive source documents
originating in 1917, the tumultuous third year of the war which heralded two
revolutions in Russia, French military disaster along the Aisne, severe
British difficulties at Passchendaele - and perhaps most notable of all,
America's decisive entry into the war.
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Included among the following documents is the transcript of the decoded Zimmermann Telegram which helped bring about America's entry into the war; President Wilson's speech to the U.S. Congress declaring war against Germany; and Tsar Nicholas II's abdication proclamation.
The list presented below - with each entry accompanied by a brief summary of its significance - is sorted by date, with earlier documents listed first.
| Document | Description |
|---|---|
 German Propaganda Order |
January - Instructions for use on the Italian Front |
| King Constantine's Letter to Neutrals |
January - The King's protest against Allied interference |
| Zimmermann Telegram |
January - Secret German telegram to Mexico |
| Peace Without Victory |
January - President Wilson's proposal to European powers |
| German Reintroduction of U-Boat Warfare |
January - Germany's decision to re-start U-boat warfare |
| Bethmann-Hollweg on U-Boat Warfare |
January - German Chancellor's speech to Reichstag |
| Woodrow Wilson on U-Boat Warfare |
February - U.S. President's breaking off of relations |
| Spain's Position on U-Boat Warfare |
February - Neutral Spain's dismay at new German policy |
| Brazil's Position on U-Boat Warfare |
February - Neutral Brazil's stance against German policy |
| Chile's Position on U-Boat Warfare |
February - Neutral Chile's statement against German policy |
| Tsar Nicholas II's Abdication Proclamation |
March - Russian Tsar's belated abdication announcement |
| First Russian Provisional Government |
March - Public announcement of new government |
| Grand Duke Mikhail's Manifesto |
March - New Russian Tsar's position |
| von Mackensen on Romanian Campaign |
March - German Field Marshal's triumphant announcement |
| German Report on Romanian Campaign |
March - Semi-official German narrative of early campaign |
| President Wilson's Inauguration Address |
March - Address given by Wilson at start of second term |
| Manchester Guardian on Fall of Baghdad |
March - British newspaper journalist's account |
| Sir Frederick Maude on Fall of Baghdad |
March - British Commander-in-Chief's official despatch |
| Austro-German Report on Fall of Baghdad |
March - Report by Gaston Bodart into Britain's success |
| Arthur Zimmermann on his Telegram |
March - Speech confirming telegram's authenticity |
| Japan's Reaction to Zimmermann Telegram |
March - Prime Minister's rebuttal of connivance |
| Ulema's Support for Arab Independence |
March - Ulema's crucial support for King Hussein |
| French Report on Hindenburg Line Retreat |
March - Investigation into reports of German atrocities |
| Frederic Penfield on the German Retreat |
March - U.S. Ambassador's first-hand report of aftermath |
| Philip Gibbs on the Battle of Vimy Ridge |
April - British war reporter's newspaper account |
| Canadian War Office on Vimy Ridge |
April - Official Canadian reaction to success at Vimy Ridge |
| William Sharp on the German Retreat |
April - U.S. Ambassador's eye-witness account |
| Bethmann-Hollweg on War with America |
April - German Chancellor's regret at war likelihood |
| British Reply to Bethmann-Hollweg's Note |
April - Britain's dismissal of German Chancellor's arguments |
| U.S. Declaration of War |
April - President Wilson's address to Congress |
| Formal U.S. Declaration of War |
April - Formal U.S. declaration of war with Germany |
| Alexandre Ribot on U.S. Decision for War |
April - French Prime Minister's applause for U.S. stance |
| Cuba's Declaration of War |
April - Formal Cuban declaration of war with Germany |
| Mario Menocal on Cuba's Decision for War |
April - Cuban President's rationale for war |
| President Valdez on Panama's Decision for War |
April - President's statement of reasons for war |
| David Lloyd George on U.S. War Declaration |
April - British Prime Minister's support for U.S. decision |
| President Wilson: "Do Your Bit For America" |
April - President Wilson's call to American people |
| Wilhelm on Success at Aisne/Champagne |
April - Kaiser's congratulations to Crown Prince Wilhelm |
| Ludendorff on Success at the Aisne |
April - Erich Ludendorff's triumphant announcement |
| Lenin's April Theses |
April - Lenin's prescription for revolution in Russia |
| Alexander Guchkov on Unrest in Russia |
May - War Minister's warning of imminent "abyss" |
| Alexander Kerenski on Unrest in Russia |
May - Justice Minister's warning against military unrest |
| Manifesto of Council of Workmen & Soldiers |
May - Statement supporting Russia's military effort |
| President Wilson's Conscription Proclamation |
May - U.S. President's formal call for conscription |
| Samuel Gompers on U.S. Conscription |
May - U.S. trade union leader's position on conscription |
| Douglas Haig's Hindenburg Line Despatch |
May - British Commander-in-Chief's report of operations |
| Thomas Nelson Page on 10th/11th Isonzo |
May - U.S. Ambassador to Italy's summary |
| Brazil's Steps Towards War |
June - Brazilian government's legal steps to authorise war |
| Allied Ultimatum to King Constantine I |
June - Demand for Constantine's abdication |
| William H. Taft on the Reasons for War |
June - Former U.S. President's rationale for war |
| King Constantine's Abdication Proclamation |
June - Exiled King's farewell speech |
| King Alexander's Inaugural Proclamation |
June - New Greek King's promise to follow his father's lead |
| Allied Proclamation on King Constantine |
June - Allies' proclamation applauding King's abdication |
| U.S. Espionage Act |
June - U.S. law defining acts of espionage during wartime |
| Russia's Note of Thanks to the U.S. |
June - Russian government's letter of appreciation |
| David Lloyd-George on Origins of War |
June - Blame for Germany's actions in 1914 |
| U.S. Press Bureau on Role of Destroyers |
June - Controversial government bureau's press release |
| Brusilov on the Kerenski Offensive |
July - Call to Russian arms in launching offensive |
| Brusilov's Dispatches Re Kerenski Offensive |
July - Commander-in-Chief's increasing despair at events |
| Painleve on French Failure at the Aisne |
July - French War Minister's public statement |
| Reichstag's Peace Resolution |
July - German parliament's call for peace |
| Corfu Declaration |
July - Established basis of post-war Greater Serbia |
| Manifesto of Council of Workmen & Soldiers |
July - Statement urging support for Provisional Government |
| Manifesto of Council of Workmen & Soldiers |
July - Striking a note of desperate urgency |
| Anton Denikin on Mutiny in Russian Army |
July - Army Chief of Staff's official report |
| Erich Ludendorff on Third Ypres |
July - Account of German losses at Passchendaele |
| Sir David Watson on Third Ypres |
July - Canadian General's summary of Canadian role |
| Pope Benedict XV's Peace Note |
August - Seven-point peace initiative |
| King Alexander's Address to Parliament |
August - Incoming Greek King's coronation address |
| G.M. Trevelyan on 11th Battle of the Isonzo |
August - Account by head of British Red Cross in Italy |
| U.S. Report into Atrocities in Belgium |
September - U.S. Ambassador to Belgium's critical report |
| U.S. Report into Atrocities in Poland |
September - U.S. Commission member's report |
| Polish Speech on Atrocities in Poland |
September - By Polish member of Prussian parliament |
| Lenin's Appeal for Civil Unrest (1) |
October - Appeal for further civil unrest in Russia |
| Lenin's Appeal for Civil Unrest (2) |
October - Further appeal for civil disobedience |
| Lenin's Statement of Bolshevik Demands |
October - Bolshevik's catalogue of revolutionary demands |
| Lenin's Call to Power |
October - Lenin's urgent call to overthrow government |
| Bolshevik Proclamation of Victory |
October - Proclamation declaring Kerenski's overthrow |
| Lenin's Three Proclamations |
October - Three post-revolution Bolshevik proclamations |
| Lenin's Decree on Peace |
October - Defining the nature of Soviet foreign policy |
| Bolshevik Peace Resolutions |
October - Resolutions of Workmen's and Soldiers' Congress |
| Luigi Cadorna on Defeat at Caporetto |
October - Italian Army's Chief of Staff admits defeat |
| Von Cramon on the Battle of Caporetto |
October - German liaison officer's countdown to action |
| Romanian Ambassador on the War |
October - Statement outlining Romania's experiences |
| Brazil's Justification to the Vatican for War |
October - Open letter explaining the need for war |
| Balfour Declaration |
November - Britain's recommendation for a Jewish homeland |
| Hindenburg on the Battle of Cambrai |
November - German Army Chief of Staff's account |
| Conan Doyle on the Battle of Cambrai |
November - Arthur Conan Doyle's Summary |
| Leon Trotsky on Bolshevik Foreign Policy |
November - Bolshevik desire for a prompt armistice |
| Vinichenko on Ukrainian Independence |
November - Ukrainian President's aims for autonomy |
| von Kühlmann on the October Revolution |
November - German Foreign Secretary's Reichstag speech |
| Fall of Jerusalem |
December - Decree of surrender to British rule |
| Leon Trotsky on Armistice Negotiations |
December - Trotsky's report on progress of talks |
| German Report on Armistice Negotiations |
December - Official German report on progress of talks |
| Edmund Allenby on the Fall of Jerusalem |
December - British Commander-in-Chief's account |
| Declaration of Marshal Law in Jerusalem |
December - Allenby's official declaration |
| Austro-German Report on Fall of Jerusalem |
December - Gaston Bodart's summary of events |
| E W G Masterman on the Fall of Jerusalem |
December - Summary by British Palestine Society |
| Russo-German Armistice |
December - Preliminary armistice agreement |
| Lenin's Ultimatum to the Ukraine |
December - Ultimatum threatening war |
| Soviet Recognition of Finnish Independence |
December - Soviet government's acceptance |
| Douglas Haig's Report of 1917 Campaign |
December - British Commander-in-Chief's report |
| French Statement on Blockade of Germany |
December - Statement arguing need to block commerce |
| League of Neutral Countries on Serbia |
December - Statement protesting Bulgarian occupation |
| D F Houston on U.S. War Readiness |
December - Secretary of Agriculture's account |
| Daniel Willard on Role of U.S. Railroads |
December - View of President of U.S. Railroads' War Board |
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"Drum Fire" was an artillery barrage fired not in salvo but by each gun in succession.
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