-
Period: to
Battle of Tannenburg
The battle was fought between Germany and Russia near Allenstein, East Prussia (now Stębark, Poland). The Germans won a major victory, capturing 92,000 Russian soldiers and killing or wounding another 30,000. The battle was a turning point in the war, and had a significant impact on both Russia and Germany's political and commemorative culture in the interwar period. -
Period: to
First Battle of the Marne
The Germans invaded France with a plan to win the war quickly by taking Paris and destroying the Allied armies. The French and British armies counterattacked the Germans on a 300-kilometer front, stopping the German advance and thwarting their plans for a quick victory. The battle marked the beginning of trench warfare, as both sides dug in after the fighting. The trenches that resulted from the battle became a characteristic of the rest of World War -
Period: to
Battle of Verdun
The Battle of Verdun was one of the deadliest battles of World War I. The Germans launched a heavy bombardment on the French, and for the first few days, they advanced without much opposition. However, French reinforcements came and France counterattacked. The Germans kept the battle going for months, hoping to disorganize the Allies' attack on the Somme. In July, the Germans realized that their plan had failed. -
Period: to
The Second Battle of Ypres
The battle was fought in the Ypres Salient, a section of the front line in western Flanders, Belgium that surrounded the town of Ypres. This battle was the first major engagement for Canadian troops in the war, and the first time Germany used poison gas as a weapon on the Western Front. -
Period: to
Battle of Gallipoli
The Gallipoli Campaign was part of a larger strategy to defeat the Ottoman Empire and allow Allied ships to pass through the Dardanelles. Allied troops, including the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC), landed on the Gallipoli peninsula in Ottoman Turkey. The campaign was marked by a series of battles, including the Landing at Anzac Cove, the Battle of Sari Bair, and the Battle of Lone Pine. -
Period: to
Battle of Jutland
The Battle of Jutland was the largest naval battle of World War I, involving 250 ships and around 100,000 men. The battle took place in the North Sea, off the coast of Denmark's Jutland Peninsula -
Period: to
Battle of the Somme
Both sides used modern weapons, including artillery shells, machine guns, chemical weapons, and flamethrowers. The British also deployed tanks for the first time.
Casualties
The battle resulted in devastating losses on both sides, showing that any territory on the Western Front would be hard-won.
Outcome
The Allied forces advanced only six miles, and the offensive stalled -
Period: to
Brusilov Offensive
The Brusilov Offensive was the largest Russian assault during World War I and one of the deadliest in history. It was led by General Aleksey Brusilov, who insisted that an offensive could succeed with surprise and adequate preparation. -
Period: to
Hundred Days Offensive
The Hundred Days Offensive actually spanned 95 days beginning with the Battle of Amiens on 8 August 1918 and ending with the Armistice on 11 November 1918. By the summer of 1918 the Allies had control of the skies. British, French and American aircraft at times outnumbered their German counterparts five to one. -
Period: to
Second Battle of the Marne
The battle was a turning point in the war, with the Allies seizing the initiative and never relinquishing it. The battle also helped shape some of the defining American figures of the coming century, including George C. Marshall, George Patton, and Douglas MacArthur -
Period: to
Battle of Belleau Wood
The Battle of Belleau Wood was a major World War I battle that took place in a 200-acre forest near Chateau-Thierry, France. The battle was fought between the U.S. Marines, U.S. Army, French, and British forces against German units. The battle was a landmark event in Marine Corps history, exemplifying the Marine Corps' core values of honor, courage, and commitment -
Period: to
Battle of Passchendaele
The Battle of Passchendaele was a major World War I battle that took place on the Ypres salient in Belgium. The battle was infamous for its heavy casualties, mud, and senseless slaughter. The Allies advanced about 5 miles during the battle, but lost over 250,000 soldiers. The battle became a symbol of the futility of war and the madness of the Western Front -
Period: to
Battle of Caporetto
The Battle of Caporetto was a military disaster for the Italians, who retreated before an Austro-German offensive. The battle took place near the town of Kobarid, which is now in Slovenia. The battle was also known as the Twelfth Battle of the Isonzo or the Battle of Karfreit -
Period: to
Battle of Cambrai
The battle took place in Cambrai, France. The battle involved the United Kingdom and Germany. The first American units also saw action in the battle -
Period: to
Spring Offensive
The German Spring Offensive was the last German attempt to win World War I. The offensive was marked by fast-moving operations, which contrasted with the previous three years of trench warfare. The Germans made gains along sections of the Western Front, including capturing 3,100 square kilometers and taking 90,000 prisoners