World War I

Battle of Tannenberg

Aug 26, 1914

It was a complete German victory in which the 2nd Russian Army was encircled and destroyed. It ended the invasion of Eastern Prussia.

First Battle of the Marne

Sep 6, 1914

This was the battle that ended movement. It ended the German advance and caused trench warfare. Germany was 30 miles from Paris when the French and British counter-attacked.

First Battle of Ypres

Oct 1, 1914

This took place in the Belgian city of Ypres. This city had been the place of many battles since the 16th century. British and French retreated here after the fall of Antwerp. This showed that battles could last and have high casualties.

Second Battle of Ypres

Apr 22, 1915

This was the only major German attacked launched in 1915. This battle was made to divert the allied attention in the Eastern Front and the use of chlorine gas. This failed in May and the Germans leveled the city instead of trying to take it.

Battle of Verdun

Feb 21, 1916

This was the longest battle of the first world war. Crown Prince Wilheim opened the battle with 1,400 guns and the Germans fired over 100,000 shells an hour into Verdun. This battle is commonly known as Bloody Verdun. This pit 1 million Germans against 200,000 defenders. Casualties were set at 550,000 french and 434,000 Germans and there was no tactical or strategic gain after this battle.

Battle of Jutland

May 31, 1916

This was the greatest Naval Battle of the First World War. It could have been a great British victory but ended much less of that result. German high seas commander Reinhard Scheer was made to retreat many times and ultimately lost the battle. The great fleet which Kaiser Wilhelm II obsessed with had ultimately failed.

Battle of the Somme

Jul 1, 1916

The Battle of Somme is most famous for the loss of 58,000 British soldiers in one day which 1/3 of them were killed. The attack was launched upon 30 kilometer front and ran from July 1st to the 18th of November which was when it was called off. By the end of the battle the British suffered 420,000 casualties, the French lost 200,000, and the Germans suffered 500,000 casualites.

Thrid Battle of Ypres

Jul 31, 1917

While the first and second battle's were launched by the Germans, this battle was lauched by the Allied breakthrough in Flanders. Haig had long mulled the ideas of launching a major offensive in Flanders but it was his preffered choice for 1916. Third Ypres was laiunched on July 31 1917 and continued till the fall of Passchendaele on 6 november.

Battle of Cambrai

Nov 20, 1917

This battle was the first time tanks were used with force. The British attacked with 476 tanks and were accompanied by six infantry and two cavalry divisions. Also there were 1,000 guns. The Germans were forced back to Cambrai and the Hindenburg line was pierced for the first time in the war.

Second Battle of the Marne

Jul 15, 1918

This was the last major German offensive but ultimately led to a great allied victory. It took place in the final year of the war with 23 German divisions attacking the French. France suffered 95,000 casualties, Germany 168,000, with Britain having 13,000 losses and the U.S. 12,000.