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Battle of Tannenberg
(Aug 26, 1914 - Aug 30, 1914)
Barely a month into the conflict of World War I. The Battle of Tannenberg occurred where the Germans were victorious over the Russians in Tannenberg, East Prussia, despite Russia having twice the number of soldiers at their disposal. This battle became emblematic of how the Russian Empire would experience the War. -
The Gallipoli Campaign
(Feb 19, 1915 - Jan 9, 1916)
The allies were in search of a faster route of transporting supplies and soldiers to and from Russia. They had decided to capture the Dardanelles, which was currently occupied by the Ottoman Empire who had recently allied with Germany. The allies deployed ANZAC troops to take the Dardanelle coast but it was a bloodbath as the Ottoman troops were prepared and the ANZAC troops were unable to secure a single fort on the coast. This caused a disturbance for the allies. -
The Battle of Verdun
(Feb 21, 1916 - Dec 18, 1916)
This battle is the longest in world history. It was fought by French and German troops in the north-eastern hills of France. the German goal of this battle was to inflict as many casualties as possible on the French, they succeeded but lost around the same number of troops as the French. The Battle of the Somme was commenced by the British to relieve the pressure off the French. -
The Battle of the Somme
(July 1, 1916 - Nov 18, 1916)
This battle is one of the most iconic battles that occurred during WWI but also one of the bloodiest. It is remembered as an example of the senseless slaughters of the war.
It was led by General Haig, his army claimed victory but paid a heavy price of over 600,000 casualties including 100 tanks and 782 aircraft. Haig's plans of a war of attrition are what led to so many casualties but the Germans suffered around the same amount as the allies, crippling both sides. -
The Zimmermann Telegram
The British had intercepted a message in which the Germans requested Mexico to become their allies and to attack the USA to regain the "lost provinces" of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. This act and the sinking of American merchant ships prompted the United States of America to join the War. -
Unrestricted Submarine Warfare
The Germans used unrestricted submarine warfare to try and force Britain out of the war by preventing merchant ships from the United States from supplying Britain as they relied on supplies in order to not starve. The attacks were halted after receiving warning from the United States but were commenced once again when the German General Staff persuaded Chancellor Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg to resume the attacks. This led to the United States declaring war on Germany. -
Russian Revolution
(March 8, 1917 - June 16, 1923)
The Russian Revolution saw Russia's exit from the war as they were struggling on the Eastern front and were also having internal issues revolving around the leadership of the country (Tsar Nicholas II). This gave rise to the Bolsheviks Party, led by Vladimir Lenin and his ideology of a communist state. Shortly after the Tsar's forced abdication. Russia signed an armistice with Germany in order to exit the war. This was seen as a short-term victory for Germany. -
The Battle of Passchendaele
(July 31, 1917 - Nov 10, 1917)
This battle, like the Battle of the Somme, also proved a victory for the British under the command of General Haig but also saw the unnecessary loss of countless soldiers. As the land they were supposed to advance into was extremely flooded and muddy, most soldiers had mud up to their wastes. Not to mention that the Germans had established a good defence in the trenches. The allies experienced over 320 000 casualties all for 800 meters of mud. -
Flu Pandemic
(Jan 1918 - Dec 1920)
More commonly known as the Spanish Flu, was a surprisingly deadly influenza pandemic lasting for almost 3 years. This affected the Germans highly as food production fell as well and there were rebellions against the German Empirical system. The pandemic was bad enough that it infected over 500 million people (about a quarter of the world's population at the time). -
The Ludendorff Offensive
(March 21, 1918 - July 18, 1918)
This offensive was thought to be a very well thought out plan to secure the weakened French and British trench lines on the Western front. They were successful at first, but the supply caravans were unable to maintain with the speed at which the German infantry was advancing which resulted in much looting. Allied soldiers would also destroy the railway tracks to prevent supply trains from coming. As well the United States troops were soon to arrive. -
Hundred Days Offensive
(Aug 8, 1918 - Nov 11, 1918)
This was a series of massive Allied offensives which led to the end of the Great War. The allies were persistent in pushing back the Central Powers beginning with the Battle of Amiens, undoing what Germany managed during the Ludendorff Offensive. -
The German Revolution
(Oct 29, 1918 - Aug 11, 1919)
This was a civil conflict within the German empire that led to the casting out of the imperial government and replacing it with a republic. The top generals of Germany forced Kaiser Wilhelm II into establishing a constitutional monarchy, as the allies wanted to discuss with representatives of the German people and not with the Kaiser. Wilhelm was abdicated and went into exile in the Netherlands. -
The Armistice
German Allies began to surrender in the upcoming months, this led to the Central Powers being weakened. First Bulgaria made peace with the Allies in September followed by the capitulated Ottoman Empire in October 1918 and Austria-Hungary on November 4th, 1918. Finally the surrender of Germany on November 11th, 1918, "On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month."
