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#WW1Poetry #WW1Poems #BlueDotMusic
World War One lasted 4 years and spread to become a World War. By the end of the war, four major imperial powers—the German, Russian, Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empires ceased to exist and 10 Million men had died.
WORLD WAR ONE BATTLE TIMELINE:
1914
Aug 7-23: Battle of the Frontiers
Mainly French-German battles, these five offensives at Mulhouse, Lorraine, the Ardennes, Charleroi and Mons saw heavy casualties on both sides; aggressive German tactics forced a general Allied retreat to the Marne.
Aug 25-26: Battle of Le Cateau
A rearguard action fought by the British following the successful German offensives during the Battle of the Frontiers. Although it served to delay the German army's advance on Paris, the British suffered 7,812 casualties.
Sept 6-12: First Battle of the Marne
This battle halted the German advance, prompting trench warfare. The French incurred 250,000 losses, the Germans suffered similar. The British recorded 12,733 casualties.
Sept 12-28: First Battle of the Aisne
A frontal attack by the Allies against the German First and Second armies' superior defensive positions across the river at the Aisne. Approximately 3,000 British soldiers died during the attack.
Sept 25-Nov 22: Race to the sea
The first Battle of Albert and the Battle of Arras. Allies attempted to outflank the Germans in the "race to the sea". towards Flanders.
Oct 19-Nov 22: First Battle of Ypres
The first Battle of Ypres was the last in the "Race to the Sea" series, which decided the location of the western front. British casualties were reported at 58,155, French around 50,000, German 130,000.
Dec 20-Mar 17, 1915: First Battle of Champagne
French casualties were some 90,000; the German Third army lost an equivalent number.

1915
March 10-13: Battle of Neuve Chapelle
Douglas Haig's First army led the attack on Neuve Chapelle. Allied casualties were 11,200 (7,000 British, 4,200 Indian). German losses were similar, with 1,200 German troops captured.
April 22-May 25: Second Battle of Ypres
Losses were estimated at 69,000 Allied troops (59,000 British, 10,000 French), against 35,000 German.
May 15-27: Battle of Festubert
Casualties of 16,000 advanced the Allies half a mile.
Sept 25-28: Battle of Loos
Despite sustained artillery bombardment and the release of 5,100 chlorine gas cylinders, German machine guns resisted the British attack, inflicting 50,000 casualties. German losses were estimated at half that total.
1916
Feb 21-Dec 18: Battle of Verdun
.An estimated one million were lost (roughly even) by the time the Germans were driven back.
July 1-Nov 18: Battle of the Somme
The main Allied attack on the western front in 1916. British casualties on the first day totalled 58,000, the worst single day loss of the war. Total losses were 420,000 British, 200,000 French and 500,000 German.
1917
April 9-12: Battle of Arras and Vimy Ridge
This attack by the Canadian Corps against German defences employed miles of tunnels and aerial reconnaissance. There were 10,602 Canadian casualties and 20,000 German.
April 16-May 9: Second Battle of the Aisne
Total French losses were 187,000. German losses were estimated at 168,000.
June 7-14: Battle of Messines
Detonation of 19 mines beneath German positions enabled Allied infantry to capture the salient. The battle was the first on the western front to see defensive casualties exceed attacking losses: 25,000 against 17,000.
July 31-Nov 6: Third Battle of Ypres - Passchendaele
Intended to be the major breakthrough in Flanders, Allied progress was slowed by terrible mud. The British Expeditionary Force suffered some 310,000 casualties, the Germans 260,000.
Nov 20: Battle of Cambrai
The first time tanks were used in significant numbers. Notable gains were made on the first day of fighting, but momentum was slowed by a lack of support for Allied success. The Germans lost 50,000, the British 45,000.
1918
May 27-June 6: Third Battle of the Aisne
France lost 98,000, Britain 29,000. German losses were similar.
May 28: Battle of Cantigny
In its first major offensive, the American army captured the village of Cantigny from the German Eighteenth army. US forces suffered 1,067 casualties and captured around 100 German prisoners.
June 3-26: Battles of Chateau Thierry and Belleau Wood
The battles of Chateau Thierry and Belleau Wood saw US troops recapture German-held positions. US forces lost 9,777. Some 1,600 Germans were taken prisoner.
July 15-Aug 5: Second Battle of the Marne
Initially conceived to divert Allied forces away from Flanders, the German attack faltered, allowing a decisive counter-attack. France lost 95,000, Britain 13,000, the US 12,000 and Germany 168,000.

On August 11, the German forces were defeated in the battle of Amiens Front in northern France and retreated. This was the last great battle of the First World War after which the German forces were compelled to more retreats.