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Battle of Tannenberg
The battle was a major defeat for Russia, with the Germans capturing 92,000 Russian prisoners and killing or wounding another 30,000. The battle also led to the suicide of the Russian Second Army's commanding general, Alexander Samsonov. -
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First Battle of the Marne
The Germans invaded France with a plan to win the war in 40 days by capturing Paris and destroying the French and British armies. The French and British armies counterattacked the Germans on a 300-kilometer front, stopping the German advance. The French were helped by some British troops. The battle resulted in the establishment of trench warfare, which characterized the rest of World War I. -
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Second Battle of Ypres
The Germans introduced chlorine gas as a weapon, creating a large gap in the Allied lines when French troops fled due to the gas exposure. Although the Germans did not achieve a decisive breakthrough, they gained territory and inflicted heavy casualties on the Allies. -
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Battle of Gallipoli
Allied troops landed on the peninsula, including New Zealanders, Australians, British, French, Indian, and Newfoundland soldiers. The Allies advanced little beyond their initial landing positions, and by November 1915, it was clear the stalemate would not be broken. In late December, the Allies evacuated the peninsula with few casualties, and all Allied troops were withdrawn by January 20, 1916. -
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Battle of Verdun
The French resistance at Verdun proved a turning point, halting the German advance. The battle lasted 300 days, making it the longest battle of World War I. The battle resulted in an estimated 800,000 soldiers dead, wounded, or missing. France emerged victorious, but neither side gained much territory. -
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Battle of Jutland
The German High Seas Fleet desired to challenge British naval dominance in the North Sea, leading them to plan a strategic attack. The German dead amounted to 2,551, but British losses were 6,097. Even though the British won, they lost more men and ships than the Germans did, but did end up keeping control of the North Sea. -
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Brusilov Offensive
Russia had lost a great deal of territory to Germany and Austria in 1915, and they wanted to gain it back. There were between 500,000 and 1 million Russian casualties, and around 1.5 million Central Power casualties. Russia won and the battle relieved German pressure on French forces at Verdun, and helped to relieve the Austro-Hungarian pressure on the Italians. -
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Battle of the Somme
British and French forces launched a frontal attack against an entrenched German army north of the Somme River in France. There were over one million casualties and 300,000 fatalities. -
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Battle of Passchendaele
British Commander-in-Chief, General Douglas Haig had a desire to launch a major offensive in the Ypres Salient, Belgium. There were an estimated 240,000–448,614 casualties. The Canadian and British forces won and the landscape and village of Passchendaele were completely destroyed. -
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Battle of Caporetto
The Battle of Caporetto was caused by a series of unsuccessful Italian offensives along the Isonzo River against the Austro-Hungarian forces. There were 40,000 Italians killed or wounded and about around 50,000 Austro-Germans killed or wounded. The Austro-Germans won and after there was a rally of the Italian nation behind the war effort . -
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Battle of Cambrai
There was a devised plan for an Anglo-French attack supported by tanks, to capture St Quentin. The Battle of Cambrai in World War I resulted in approximately 45,000 casualties for the British and 41,000 for the Germans. The Allies won the Battle of Cambrai. The battle taught the Allies the importance of surprise, the effectiveness of a coordinated attack, and the value of tanks. -
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Spring Offensive
The battle was driven by the German military's desire to decisively defeat the Allies on the Western Front before the full force of American troops arrived. There were an estimated 240,000–348,000 German casualties. The Allies won the German Spring Offensive. It was a failure that left the German army weakened and demoralized. -
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Second Battle of the Marne
The Second Battle of the Marne was preceded by a series of major German offensives launched in the spring of 1918. It resulted in around 168,000 German casualties, with the Allies suffering significantly less, including 95,165 French, 16,552 British, and 12,000 American casualties combined. The Allies won and the consequences were that it halted the last major German offensive and inflicted heavy casualties on their forces, effectively turning the tide of the war in favor of the Allies. -
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Battle of Belleau Wood
The German advance reached close to Paris, prompting the Allies to send reinforcements to defend the French capital. There were 9,777 American casualties, including 1,811 killed, and an estimated 8,000 Germans killed, plus 1,600 captured. The Allies won the Battle of Belleau Wood. The battle was a turning point in World War I, helping to turn the tide in favor of the Allies. -
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Hundred Days Offensive
The Hundred Days Offensive was primarily triggered by a failed German Spring Offensive in early 1918. Allied casualties between August and November 1918 were around 700,000. German casualties were at around 760,000. The Allies won the Hundred Days Offensive and the consequence was the decisive defeat of the German army, leading directly to the Armistice on November 11, 1918, effectively ending the war with an Allied victory.