Major WWI Battles: Key Events, Strategies, and Outcomes

Battle of Mons

23 August 1914, the first confrontation on European soil since the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, where the British Expeditionary Force met the German 1st Army.

Battle of Tannenberg

6-31 August 1914, aimed to push back the Russian advance, resulting in 78,000 Russian deaths and 92,000 captured.

Battle of Marne

5-10 September 1914, marked the end of the German sweep into France and the beginning of trench warfare.

First Battle of Ypres

31 October 1914, where entrenched allies fought off a German assault, resulting in more than 56,000 British casualties.

Second Battle of Ypres

22 April - 25 May 1915, the first successful use of gas by Germans against Allied troops, affecting more than 10,000 and killing half.

Battle of Verdun

21 February 1916 to November/December 1916, had symbolic importance for the French despite no great strategic significance.

Battle of The Somme

24 June 1916, one of the largest battles of WWI, characterized by massive casualties. Mostly inexperienced soldiers.

Battle of Passchendaele

31 July 1917, known for its horrific conditions and significant loss of life.

German 1st Army

The German military force that opposed the British Expeditionary Force at the Battle of Mons.

British Expeditionary Force (BEF)

The British Army sent to the Western Front during WWI.

Treaty of Brest Litovsk

The treaty that pulled Russia out of WWI in 1918 after a series of setbacks.

Chlorine gas

A lethal chemical weapon used by German forces during the Second Battle of Ypres.

Aisne

The location where the British Army dug in after halting the German Army at the Marne.

Flanders

The region where the British Army moved to stem the German advance towards the Channel Ports.

Race to the Sea

The German Army's push towards the Channel Ports, leading to significant battles in Flanders.

Symbolic importance of Verdun

Despite its lack of strategic value, Verdun held significant symbolic meaning for the French due to past battles.

Industrial north east of France

The area captured by Germans during the First Battle of the Marne, representing a serious blow to the Allies.

German assault

The offensive launched by German forces against the entrenched allies during the First Battle of Ypres.

Russian morale

The psychological state of Russian troops, which was severely impacted after the defeat at Tannenberg.

Allied troops

The forces fighting against the Central Powers, including British, French, and other nations.

First confrontation on European soil

Refers to the Battle of Mons, marking the initial clash between British and German forces in WWI.

German victory at Mons

The outcome of the Battle of Mons, which forced the British Expeditionary Force into retreat. However it stopped the Shleifan Plan in its tracks.

General Haig's Aims

Believed to push for a breakthrough at the Battle of the Somme, but evidence suggests his aim was to relieve the French at Verdun by drawing Germans away.

Australian Light Horse Regiments

Notable for the mounted charge at the Battle of Beersheba on 31 October 1917, resulting in limited casualties of 31 killed and 36 wounded.

Battle of Beersheba

A dramatic charge by the Australian Light Horse Regiments that defeated Turkish troops, capturing over 1,000 Turkish prisoners and saving water supplies.

Attrition Warfare

A military strategy aimed at wearing down the enemy to the point of collapse through continuous losses in personnel and material.

Casualties at the Somme

By the end of November 1916, allied casualties numbered over one million, with German casualties exceeding 400,000.

Artillery Bombardment

The initial phase of the Battle of Passchendaele involved a huge bombardment before infantry attacks, complicating movement due to heavy rainfall. Also present at the Somme (0ver 1.5 million shells fired), though did barely any damage to enemy barbed wire like intended because of the inexperienced gun men.

Mutinies in French Army

Occured in 1917 as a result of the horror and poor conditions faced by French soldiers during the Battle of Verdun.

German Objective at Verdun

To 'bleed the French army white' and exhaust it due to the symbolic importance of Verdun.

Length of the Somme Battle

The Battle of the Somme lasted from July to November 1916.

Outcome of Passchendaele

Despite heavy casualties, the battle ended in stalemate with no significant gains, although Haig (Brits) claimed victory.

Turkish Troops at Beersheba

Defeated by the Australian Light Horse Regiments during the charge at the Battle of Beersheba.

Flemish Town of Passchendaele

Location of the Third Battle of Ypres against Germans, which began on 31 July 1917.

Water Supplies at Beersheba

Saved during the Australian charge, which was crucial for the campaign in Palestine.

Causalities in Beersheba

The attacking infantry suffered 1,200 casualties during the Battle of Beersheba.

First Step Against Ottoman Rule

The capture of Beersheba was a crucial step in ending Ottoman rule in Palestine.#