World War I Day by Day Read online

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  ISBN 978-1-84406-0221

  eISBN 9781844061907

  Printed in China.

  1 2 3 4 5 08 07 06 05 04

  Defining moments: The Somme. From top to bottom: The waiting line is ready to scramble over the top. Two men are immediately shot even before they go to dash into No Man’s Land. The first obstacle is the wire which has to be cut — all the while enemy machine-gun and rifle fire find their targets.More men lie dying.

  Verdun. Midnight mass in an improvised chapel attended by the French defenders of Fort de Douamont.

  General Erich Ludendorff was a specialist in mobilisation logistics.

  Queen Mary placing a floral tribute to the dead on the Roll of Honour in Balcorne Street, South Hackney, London.

  Contents

  1914

  1915

  1916

  1917

  1918

  1919

  1920

  1970-1979

  1914

  JUNE

  Archduke Franz Ferdinand assassinated

  June 1914

  Tension is already high before the outbreak of war. European countries are enmeshed in a complex series of alliances guaranteeing armed support and involvement should an ally be threatened. In the Balkans hostilities are most tense with Germany and Austria-Hungary contesting power and influence in the region against Russia through their smaller allies Serbia and Bosnia.

  June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, the Duchess of Hohenberg, leave the town hall at Sarajevo. In a short time they will be dead and the inexorable slide to war will start.

  28

  Politics: The heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, is assassinated in Sarajevo, Bosnia by a Serbian Nationalist, Gavrilo Princip. His wife, Sophia the duchess of Hohenberg, also dies. This event triggers the war when a complicated set of alliances rapidly bring most of Europe to mobilization and, subsequently, armed conflict.

  29

  Politics: Austria-Hungary accuses Serbia of being instrumental in the assassination. Great civil and political unrest in Bosnia and Serbia.

  JULY

  Europe rushes to war

  July 1914

  Across the Balkans in particular, but in Europe generally, tensions run high as imminent war is anticipated. Britain starts reinforcing its positions on the Suez Canal in anticipation of an attack by Turkey.

  4

  Politics: Archduke’s funeral; the Kaiser does not attend.

  6

  Politics: Germany promises to support its ally Austria-Hungary in any action it undertakes against Serbia.

  German field gun.

  German light cruisers and destroyers manoeuvre in the Baltic.

  17

  Politics: Serbia is reported to be preparing for war and calling up 70,000 reserve soldiers.

  20

  Politics: The Austro-Hungarian army is reported to be mustering along its side of the Serbian border.

  23

  Politics: Austria-Hungary sends an ultimatum to Serbia, including a demand to arrest and hand over the leaders of the Black Hand within 48 hours. Germany fully supports the demands.

  24

  Politics: Serbia appeals to its historic ally Russia for help. Russian cabinet proposes international mediation.

  25

  Politics: Serbia refuses to hand over leaders of the Black Hand group; Crown Prince signs the order for mobilization of troops.

  Russia still wants peace but calls up reserves (13 corps) to prepare to mobilize at the Russian-Austrian border.

  26

  Politics: Germany threatens to mobilize its troops if Russia continues war preparations. Austria mobilizes troops at border with Russia.

  Russia is still attempting to broker a peace but makes it clear that it will not stand idly by if Serbia is invaded. Announces Russia will mobilize immediately if Austrian troops cross into Serbia.

  The ensuing conflict would be the most destructive of all wars.

  28

  Politics: Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia and refuses all offers of mediation. Accuses Serbia of provoking the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, but promises that it has no quarrel with Russia.

  29

  Politics: Russia, as Serbia’s ally, orders the mobilization of the southern corps on the Austrian border, but avows no quarrel with Germany.

  Germany warns Russia that even partial mobilization will start a war between them.

  Eastern Front: The opening salvos of the war occur when the Austro-Hungarian fortress of Zemun bombards Belgrade. Austria-Hungary repeatedly attempts to invade Serbia by crossing the River Danube between Gradishte and Belgrade but is repulsed 18 times.

  Western Front: The first German patrols cross the French frontier.

  30

  Politics: Russia offers to stop mobilizing if Austro-Hungarian threats to Serbian sovereignty are withdrawn.

  Germany attempts to get Great Britain, France, and Russia to agree to neutrality.

  Western Front: German troops muster close to the French border.

  31

  Politics: Russia announces general mobilization.

  Austria announces general mobilization.

  Turkey starts to mobilize troops and agrees a secret pact with Germany.

  Germany announces that it is on the brink of war but will stop if Russia ceases all aggression. Germany also insists on a quick answer (within 18 hours) regarding France’s position – will she remain neutral?.

  The British government refuses to commit to supporting France should it be invaded. The Stock Exchange in London is closed as the situation causes a financial crisis.

  As France declares that it will act in its own best interests, the French Socialist leader, M. Jaurès, is assassinated in Paris.

  Map of East Prussia showing the terrain over which the Russians advanced in August 1814, and the Masurian Lakes area where they were defeated.

  Map of Serbia showing area of fighting. Note Sarajevo, where the Archduke was assassinated, at left.

  Map showing the German advance line from August 3 to 24, 1914.

  AUGUST

  Battle of Frontiers in west; Tannenberg in east

  August 1914

  The political tension has erupted into open conflict as more and more countries are drawn into open warfare by honoring their treaties. Battle fronts open in the East and the West.

  1

  Eastern Front: Germany declares war on Russia at 7.10pm blaming Russia (falsely) for crossing the frontier that afternoon and starting the war. Germany orders a general mobilization and demands the neutrality of Russia’s ally France and detains British ships in Hamburg.

  Politics: France orders general mobilization at 3.40pm.

  Belgium declares her neutrality.

  Italy announces her neutrality.

  2

  Eastern Front: Germany invades Poland and occupies Chenstokhov, Bendzin, and Kalish. Russian troops enter Germany near Schwidden.

  Belgian troops
man a trench.

  Politics: Britain pledges to protect French shipping in the English Channel from German aggression.

  Western Front: Germany invades Luxembourg and German troops cross the French border at four locations. The first French soldiers are killed near Belfort. Germany demands free passage through Belgium – wants an answer within 12 hours – so that she can attack France.

  3

  Politics: Germany declares war on France.

  Belgium rejects Germany’s demand for neutrality and free passage: appeals for British help.

  Great Britain orders a general mobilization.

  4

  United States: President Woodrow Wilson makes a Proclamation of Neutrality affirming the already stated U.S. position.

  War at sea: German cruisers Goeben and Breslau bombard Bona and Philippeville in Algeria.

  Western Front: Following General Moltke’s Schlieffen Plan to knock-out France, German troops under General Von Kluck cross the Belgian border at Gemmerich. Halted at Liége. Germany declares war on Belgium.

  Great Britain declares she will be at war with Germany at 11pm. Lord Kitchener becomes Secretary of War. Sir John Jellicoe takes command of the British Fleet.

  5

  Politics: Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia.

  United States: President Wilson offers his mediation services in the interests of peace.

  War at sea: German minelayer Königen Luise sunk by cruiser HMS Amphion and destroyers off Harwich. HMS Lance is thought to have fired the first shots of the war at sea.

  Western Front: In Belgium the Battle of Liege sees the fall of Fort Fléron.

  Belgian troops in battle.

  The area around Liege showing its forts.

  6

  War at sea: HMS Amphion is sunk by Königen Luise’s mines in the North Sea.

  Western Front: Around Liege more forts fall to the Germans: Big Bertha (gun) is used against the Liege forts.

  7

  Eastern Front: The First Russian Army under Rennenkampf crosses into East Prussia.

  Politics: Montenegro declares war with Austria.

  Western Front: First members of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) land in France at Ostend, Calais and Dunkirk to help defend against the German invasion.

  Lord Kitchener calls for 100,000 men to join British Army

  General Joffre as supreme commander of the French army orders the invasion of Alsace.

  Start of the Battle of Mulhouse as the French Army cross the border into Alsace.

  8

  Balkans: Austrian fleet bombards Antivari in Montenegro.

  Serbia at war with Germany.

  Politics: Switzerland mobilizes and declares a state of siege.

  Western Front: Belgian army retreats as the Germans advance.

  The Russian Tsar accompanied by Grand-Duke Nicholas salutes as he inspects his troops.

  9

  War at sea: First German submarine loss of the war: U-15 sunk by HMS Birmingham off Fair Isle.

  10

  Africa: From South-West Africa German soldiers raid into Cape Colony.

  Eastern Front: Austrian First Army invades Russian Poland and advances towards Lyublin and Kyeltsi.

  Politics: France declares war on Austria-Hungary.

  War at sea: Turkey allows the German Mittelmeer division under Admiral Souchon into her terrritorial waters with the battlecruiser Goeben and the light cruiser Breslau.

  Western Front: Liege is captured by the Germans.

  French invade Lorraine under the leadership of General de Castelnau.

  11

  Politics: Great Britain declares war on Austria-Hungary.

  War at sea: German ships Goeben and Breslau enter the Dardanelles and are soon reported to have been bought by the Turks.

  Western Front: Fierce fighting continues in Belgium.

  12

  Balkans: Austro-Hungarian troops invade Serbia.

  Politics: Montenegro declares war against Germany.

  Western Front: Battle of Haelen in Belgium on the Belgian Army’s first line of defense.

  B type London bus carrying British wounded from Antwerp to Ghent.

  Belgian troops at a field kitchen.

  13

  Africa: In Tanganiyka (German East Africa) British forces raid and bombard the port of Dar-es-Salaam.

  Western Front: Under the command of Brig-Gen David Henderson, Nos. 2, 3, 4, and 5 Squadrons of the Royal Flying Corps (RFC), deploy to France in support of the BEF between 13 and 15 August.

  14

  Balkans: Austria occupies Loznitsa in Serbia.

  Western Front: Battle of the Frontiers begins as French General Joffre launches an invasion of Germany through Lorraine.

  15

  Eastern Front: The Russian invasion of East Prussia begins.

  Far East: Japanese send an ultimatum to Germany demanding the evacuation of Tsingtao in China.

  General: The Panama Canal opens to traffic for the first time.

  16

  Western Front: The first contingent of the BEF is now in France.

  17

  Balkans: The Battle of the Jadar starts; it ends on the 19th with the Austrians routed by the Serbs who press the Austrians into flight across the border.

  Eastern Front: Start of the Battle of Stallupönen in East Prussia that ends on 19th with defeat the Germans by the Russians.

  Western Front: Belgian capital removed from Brussels to Antwerp.

  German Army marching through Belgium 1914.

  18

  Eastern Front: Russian troops under Brusilov and Russki start the invasion of eastern Galicia: they make fast progress.

  19

  Politics: The United States of America declares its neutrality.

  The Canadian Parliament authorises the raising of an expeditionary force to send overseas. Valcartier Camp is constructed to give basic training to new recruits.

  Western Front: Maubeuge, Belgium: first RFC reconnaissance flight made in a Blériot of No 3 Sqn and a BE2 of No 4 Sqn.

  20

  Eastern Front: Battle of Gumbinnen in East Prussia is won by Russia.

  General: In Rome Pope Pius X dies.

  Western Front: German soldiers occupy Brussels.

  The French are driven back from Lorraine during the Battle of the Frontiers.

  21

  Africa: South Africa is invaded by German troops.

  Western Front: Battle of the Ardennes as the invading armies of Germany and France clash in the forests of the lower Ardennes. One of the most important of the series of battles known as ‘The Battles of the Frontiers.’ Start of the Battle of Charleroi (between Mons and the Meuse) between French and German troops. The British move towards Mons to support their allies.

  As the Siege of Namur continues the Belgians are forced to abandon their trenches.

  Battle of Charleroi on evening of August 23, 1914.

  Germans captured by the French.

  German Uhlans using a cart drawn by dogs.

  22

  Western Front: Belgians start the evacuation of Namur. French are suffering defeats as the Germans advance.

  RFC reconnaissance detects a German attempt to envelope allied troops.

  German troops massacre 400 Belgian civilians at Tamines.

  23

  Eastern Front: Hindenburg and Ludendorff given command of the German Eastern Front. In East Prussia the Germans are driven back at the Battle of Frankenau. Austria-Hungary invades Galicia (Russian Poland).

  Far East: Japan declares war on Germany. Begin attack on Tsingtao with a bombardment and blockade.

  Western Front: The start of the Battle of Mons. The BEF is massively outnumbered by the attacking Germans but manages to slow their advance.

  Fall of Namur.

  24

  Western Front: British and French retreat in a line from the Sambre to the Meuse.

  The BEF starts to withdraw from Mons. Germans enter France near Lille. French civilia
ns are massacred at Dinant.

  Improvised German band in Poland.

  25

  Africa: Tepe in the Cameroons is occupied by the Allies.

  Balkans: In Serbia the first Austrian invasion ends with the Austrians sustaining heavy losses.

  Eastern Front: In Poland the Russians are defeated at Krasnik by the Austrian First Army.

  Politics: Austria-Hungary declares war with Japan.

  Western Front: The BEF in full retreat from Mons.

  Start of the siege of Maubeuge; Sédan is captured; the line of Le Cateau-Esnes is overrun by the Germans.

  The RFC’s first enemy aircraft is brought down after three BE2 aircraft of 2 Sqn force it to crash land. Aircraft are not yet armed but the crews were issued with guns or revolvers.

  26

  Eastern Front: Battle of Tannenberg in East Prussia begins. German troops destroy the invading Russians and halt their advance into East Prussia. This is Germany’s greatest success of the war on Eastern Front.

  Politics: Viviani becomes premier of France.

  War at sea: German cruiser Magdeburg runs aground in the Baltic and the Russians seize a copy of the German naval codebook.

  Western Front: Battle of Le Cateau: BEF is forced to retreat.

  27

  Politics: Austria declares war on Belgium.