3rd Ypres
Passchendaele
The Third Battle of Ypres (31 July - 10 November 1917) has come to symbolise the horrors associated with the war on the Western Front. It is frequently known by the name of the village in Belgium where it culminated – Passchendaele. Initial attacks failed due to over-ambitious plans and unseasonal rain. The drainage of the low-lying battlefield had been destroyed by the bombardment, creating muddy conditions that made movement difficult.
- Use the link icon to watch a video and learn more
Gallipoli The Gallipoli campaign (25 April 1915 - 9 January 1916) was the land-based element of a strategy intended to allow Allied ships to pass through the Dardanelles, capture Constantinople (now Istanbul) and ultimately knock Ottoman Turkey out of the war. But Allied plans were based on the mistaken belief that the Ottomans could be easily overcome.
First Battle of the Marne
At the start of the First World War, Germany hoped to avoid fighting on two fronts by knocking out France before turning to Russia, France’s ally. The initial German offensive had some early success, but there were not enough reinforcements immediately available to sustain momentum. The French and British launched a counter-offensive at the Marne River (6-10 September 1914) and after several days of bitter fighting the Germans retreated. The Battle of the Marne marked the end of mobile warfare on the Western Front and ensured that Paris, the French capitol, would not be captured.
The Battle of Tannenberg
The Battle of Tannenberg (August 26-30, 1914) saw the German Army launch a counteroffensive against the advancing Russian Army in German Prussia (current Poland) during the opening weeks of the First World War. Russia, however, mobilized its army in two weeks, invading Prussia. Russian commanders split their army into two parts, one advancing northeast, the other southwest, hoping to pin the German Army between them. Yet the two Russian armies were separated by the Masurian Lakes and unable to effectively communicate with each other. On August 26, the German army took the southwestern arm of the Russian army by surprise. After three days of German artillery barrage Russian troops began their retreat, but German forces cut off their path, killing 50,000 troops and capturing 92,000.
The Battle of the Somme
The Battle of the Somme (1 July - 18 November 1916) was a joint operation between British and French forces in France intended to achieve a decisive victory over the Germans on the Western Front. The British did not achieve the quick breakthrough their military leadership had planned for and the Somme became a deadlocked battle of attrition. Over the next 141 days, the British advanced a maximum of seven miles. More than one million men from all sides were killed, wounded or captured. British casualties on the first day – numbering over 57,000, of which 19,240 were killed – make it the bloodiest day in British military history.
- Click on the link icon to watch a video and learn more.
Battle of Verdun
The Battle of Verdun (21 February - 18 December 1916) was the longest battle of the First World War.The Germans had lost over 430,000 men killed or wounded and the French approximately 550,000. The trauma of this loss not only affected French political and military decision-making during and after the war, it had a lasting effect on French national consciousness- Verdun became a sacred place in France. The Allies had planned to defeat Germany through a series of large co-ordinated offensives, but the German attack at Verdun drastically reduced the number of French troops available. Britain and its Empire would have to lead the 'Big Push' on the Western Front.
Battle of Jutland
The Battle of Jutland (31 May - 1 June 1916) was the largest naval battle of the First World War. It was the only time that the British and German fleets of 'dreadnought' battleships actually came to blows. Although it failed to achieve the decisive victory each side hoped for, the battle confirmed British naval dominance and secured its control of North Sea shipping lanes off the cose of Denmark, allowing Britain to implement the blockade that would contribute to German defeat in 1918.
WWI Key Battles
Christopher Kindred
Created on January 22, 2024
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Transcript
3rd Ypres
Passchendaele
The Third Battle of Ypres (31 July - 10 November 1917) has come to symbolise the horrors associated with the war on the Western Front. It is frequently known by the name of the village in Belgium where it culminated – Passchendaele. Initial attacks failed due to over-ambitious plans and unseasonal rain. The drainage of the low-lying battlefield had been destroyed by the bombardment, creating muddy conditions that made movement difficult.
Gallipoli The Gallipoli campaign (25 April 1915 - 9 January 1916) was the land-based element of a strategy intended to allow Allied ships to pass through the Dardanelles, capture Constantinople (now Istanbul) and ultimately knock Ottoman Turkey out of the war. But Allied plans were based on the mistaken belief that the Ottomans could be easily overcome.
First Battle of the Marne
At the start of the First World War, Germany hoped to avoid fighting on two fronts by knocking out France before turning to Russia, France’s ally. The initial German offensive had some early success, but there were not enough reinforcements immediately available to sustain momentum. The French and British launched a counter-offensive at the Marne River (6-10 September 1914) and after several days of bitter fighting the Germans retreated. The Battle of the Marne marked the end of mobile warfare on the Western Front and ensured that Paris, the French capitol, would not be captured.
The Battle of Tannenberg
The Battle of Tannenberg (August 26-30, 1914) saw the German Army launch a counteroffensive against the advancing Russian Army in German Prussia (current Poland) during the opening weeks of the First World War. Russia, however, mobilized its army in two weeks, invading Prussia. Russian commanders split their army into two parts, one advancing northeast, the other southwest, hoping to pin the German Army between them. Yet the two Russian armies were separated by the Masurian Lakes and unable to effectively communicate with each other. On August 26, the German army took the southwestern arm of the Russian army by surprise. After three days of German artillery barrage Russian troops began their retreat, but German forces cut off their path, killing 50,000 troops and capturing 92,000.
The Battle of the Somme
The Battle of the Somme (1 July - 18 November 1916) was a joint operation between British and French forces in France intended to achieve a decisive victory over the Germans on the Western Front. The British did not achieve the quick breakthrough their military leadership had planned for and the Somme became a deadlocked battle of attrition. Over the next 141 days, the British advanced a maximum of seven miles. More than one million men from all sides were killed, wounded or captured. British casualties on the first day – numbering over 57,000, of which 19,240 were killed – make it the bloodiest day in British military history.
Battle of Verdun
The Battle of Verdun (21 February - 18 December 1916) was the longest battle of the First World War.The Germans had lost over 430,000 men killed or wounded and the French approximately 550,000. The trauma of this loss not only affected French political and military decision-making during and after the war, it had a lasting effect on French national consciousness- Verdun became a sacred place in France. The Allies had planned to defeat Germany through a series of large co-ordinated offensives, but the German attack at Verdun drastically reduced the number of French troops available. Britain and its Empire would have to lead the 'Big Push' on the Western Front.
Battle of Jutland
The Battle of Jutland (31 May - 1 June 1916) was the largest naval battle of the First World War. It was the only time that the British and German fleets of 'dreadnought' battleships actually came to blows. Although it failed to achieve the decisive victory each side hoped for, the battle confirmed British naval dominance and secured its control of North Sea shipping lanes off the cose of Denmark, allowing Britain to implement the blockade that would contribute to German defeat in 1918.