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Battle of Tannenberg
Cause: The German Army encircled and destroyed the Russian Second Army as a reaction to the Russian Army invading East Prussia. Casualties: Russia: ~170,000 (killed, wounded, or captured). Germany: ~20,000. Winner: Germany Consequences: Forced the Russians to retreat from East Prussia and was a major defeat for Russia. -
First Battle of the Marne
Cause: Germany’s Schlieffen Plan aimed to get France out of the war as fast as possible by invading through Belgium. The French and British forces went on the defense and halted the German advance just outside Paris. Casualties: France: ~250,000. Germany: ~200,000. Winner: Allied forces (France Britain). Consequences: It prevented the Germans from capturing Paris and it led to a stalemate, this resulted in trench warfare along the Western Front. Prolonging the war. -
Second Battle of Ypres
Cause: The German army introduced poison gas for the first time on the Western Front, attacking French and Canadian positions near Ypres in Belgium. Casualties: Allied forces: ~100,000. Germany: ~35,000. Winner: Indecisive, but tactical advantage to Germany. Consequences: This was the first large-scale use of chemical weapons in warfare, introducing a new and horrifying aspect of modern combat. The battle showcased the horrors of trench warfare and chemical warfare. -
Battle of Gallipoli
Cause: The Allies tried to open a new front by attacking the Ottoman Empire at Gallipoli with the intention to secure the Dardanelles Strait to allow supplies to reach Russia. Casualties: Allied forces: ~250,000. Ottoman Empire: ~250,000. Winner: Ottoman Empire (with German assistance). Consequences: The failure of the Gallipoli campaign resulted in huge losses for the Allies and strengthened the Ottoman control over the region. -
Battle of Verdun
Cause: The German army launched an offensive with the aim of bleeding France dry and forcing them to commit all their resources to defend Verdun. Casualties: France: ~350,000. Germany: ~350,000. Winner: France. Consequences: Verdun became a symbol of French determination and sacrifice. The battle took a toll on both sides, with little territory to gain for either. It's remembered to be one of the longest and bloodiest engagements in the war. -
Battle of Jutland
Cause: The British Royal Navy and the German High Seas Fleet clashed in the North Sea in an attempt to gain control of the seas. Casualties: Britain: ~6,000. Germany: ~2,500. Winner: Indecisive (tactical German victory, strategic British victory). Consequences: The battle was the largest naval engagement of the war, with the British maintaining control of the North Sea. It did not do any significant change to the German Naval Blockade but still proves its power. -
Brusilov Offensive
Cause: A Russian attack on the Austro-Hungarian forces along the Eastern Front, aiming to relieve pressure on France and gain ground in the east. Casualties: Russia: ~500,000. Austria-Hungary: ~1,000,000. Winner: Russia. Consequences: The offensive was one of the most successful Russian campaigns of the war, but it drained Russian resources and led to massive casualties. It also weakened Austria-Hungary. -
Battle of the Somme
Cause: The British and French launched an offensive along the Somme River to relieve the pressure on the French at Verdun and break the stalemate of trench warfare. Casualties: British: ~420,000. French: ~200,000. German: ~500,000. Winner: Inconclusive, but tactically Germany held its ground. Consequences: The battle is remembered for the massive loss of life and the failure to break through the German defenses. -
Spring Offensive
Cause: Following the Russian Revolution, Germany launched a series of offensives on the Western Front to break the stalemate before American forces could arrive in large numbers. Casualties: Germany: ~300,000. Allies: ~250,000. Winner: Germany (initial successes, but ultimately unsuccessful). Consequences: Though Germany initially made significant gains, the offensives eventually stalled. The Allies, bolstered by fresh American troops, regained the initiative. -
Battle of Passchendaele
Cause: The Allies launched an offensive in Belgium, aiming to capture Passchendaele Ridge and break the stalemate of trench warfare. Casualties: Allied: ~300,000. Germany: ~200,000. Winner: Allies (with limited success). Consequences: The battle resulted in minimal territorial gain for the Allies, but the use of chemical warfare and horrific conditions made it considered as one of the most brutal of the war. -
Battle of Caporetto
Cause: The Austro-Hungarian and German forces launched a successful offensive against the Italian front, breaking through Italian lines. Casualties: Italy: ~300,000. Austria-Hungary/Germany: ~70,000. Winner: Austria-Hungary and Germany. Consequences: Caporetto was a major Italian defeat and led to the retreat of Italian forces. It highlighted weaknesses in the Italian military and led to a reshuffling of command. -
Battle of Cambrai
Cause: The British launched an attack with the new tactic of using massed tanks, aiming to break the German defensive lines in France. Casualties: British: ~45,000. Germany: ~50,000.
Winner: Indecisive (tactically British, strategically inconclusive). Consequences: While the tanks made a breakthrough, the British were unable to exploit it fully. It marked the first large-scale use of tanks in warfare, leading to new developments in armored combat. -
Battle of Belleau Wood
Cause: U.S. Marines fought to stop the German advance toward Paris during the Spring Offensive. Casualties: U.S.: ~9,000. Germany: ~10,000.
Winner: United States. Consequences: The victory at Belleau Wood marked the first major U.S. military success and demonstrated the effectiveness of American forces. It boosted morale and contributed to the eventual Allied victory. -
Second Battle of the Marne
Cause: A German offensive aimed at breaking the French lines and capturing Paris. The Allies, supported by American forces, launched a counteroffensive. Casualties: France: ~95,000. Germany: ~168,000.
Winner: Allies. Consequences: The successful counteroffensive marked the beginning of the end for Germany on the Western Front. The battle decisively turned the tide of the war in favor of the Allies. -
Hundred Days Offensive
Cause: Following the success of the Second Battle of the Marne, the Allies launched a series of offensives aimed at pushing German forces back and forcing a final surrender. Casualties: Allied: ~300,000. Germany: ~500,000. Winner: Allies. Consequences: The series of offensives forced Germany into retreat and led directly to the armistice signed on November 11, 1918, ending World War I.