A hold-to-light postcard of the German and Austro-Hungarian victory (shortlived) over the Russians in the Uzroker Pass in the Carpathians on January 28, 1915. Franz Conrad von Hötzendorf, Chief of the Austro-Hungarian General Staff, launched an offensive with three armies on January 23, including the new Austro-Hungarian Seventh Army under General Karl von Pflanzer-Baltin.

Karpathen

Siegreiche Kämpfe am Uzroker-Paß

28. Januar 1915



The Carpathians

Victorious fighting at the Uzroker Pass

January 28, 1915



Reverse:

Message dated and field postmarked September 7, 1916, 29th Infantry Division.

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The Zimmermann Telegram to sent on January 19, 1917 from German Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alfred Zimmermann to Germany's Mexican Minister, von Eckhardt.

When war began in 1914, Great Britain had cut Germany's transatlantic cables. Germany's communications with its diplomats around the world, including those in America, traveled over British cables. The Germans were confident in their encryption, but the British, who monitored cable traffic, had German code books. On January 19, the German Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alfred Zimmerman sent what would become known as the Zimmermann Telegram to Germany's ambassador in Mexico. Intercepted by both the British and Americans, the telegram announced the new submarine war, hoped America would remain neutral, but offered Mexico an alliance in the case of war. Should war occur, Mexico was to 'reconquer the lost territory in New Mexico, Texas and Arizona.' Mexico was further to act as an intermediary between Germany and Japan. On February 28, the note was made public.

The 1915 sinking of Lusitania with the loss of 128 Americans had led to the restriction of German submarine campaign, but not its end. Americans lives, in smaller numbers, continued to be lost; America continued to protest. At the Pless Conference, held January 9 and 10, 1917, Germany decided in favor of unrestricted submarine warfare to begin on February 1. The participants hoped to starve Great Britain by sinking critical food and other supplies. German Chancellor Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg spoke against the policy, arguing it would bring the United States into the war against Germany and lead to the empire's defeat. The Chancellor lost his argument and capitulated to the decision, but did not resign.By April, Germany would sink its goal of 1,000,000 tons of shipping per month, and would realize the Chancellor’s fear of bringing the United States in the war.

Date: 1917-01-19