world war 1

First Battle of the Marne

Sep 5, 1914

halted German invasion in France and ended on september 10.

First battle of Ypres

Oct 19, 1914

With the German failure at the Battle of the Marne in September 1914 and the subsequent Allied counter attacks, the "Race to the Sea" began.

War becomes "Total War"

Jan 18, 1915

German Zeppelin air raid on England

Battle of Gallipoli

Apr 25, 1915

Allies begin nine-month battle for the Turkish peninsula of Gallipoli.

withdrawal from Gallipoli.

Dec 28, 1915

Allies begin withdrawal of troop from Gallipoli.

Battle of Verdun

Feb 21, 1916

Lasted through december 18. Was the longest battle of the Yaer and was fought to a draw with approximetly 1 million causualties. It was to make General Philippe Pétain a hero in France.

Battle of Somme

Jul 1, 1916

Lasted until november. results in an estimated one million casualties and no breakthrough for the Allies. British introduce the tank, an effective weapon but far to few to make much of a difference.

Third battle of Ypres

Jul 31, 1917

Lasted until november 10. known as Passchendaele, results in minor gains, but still no breakthrough in the Western front at the cost of 700,000 casualties for both sides.

first of five major offensives

Mar 21, 1918

Germans launch the first of five major offensives to win the war before American troops appear in the trenches. German advance is finally stopped in late June

War ends

Nov 11, 1918

At eleven o'clock on the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918, the war ends as Germany and Allies sign an Armistice.