Battles

Updated - Saturday, 27 May, 2006

This section contains details of the significant battles and action fought during the
First World War.

Given the number of actions involved, each has been categorised by its theatre of
operation: thus the Somme offensive is listed within the 'Western Front', whereas
Tannenberg can be found within 'Eastern Front'.

Categories currently available are:

The Western Front (click here)

Includes struggles at Verdun, Ypres and the Somme
The Eastern Front (click here)
Includes the Russian calamity at Tannenberg
The Gallipoli Front (click here)
Failed Allied campaign for the peninsular
The Italian Front (click here)
The many and varied battles of the Isonzo
The Palestine Front (click here)
The Suez and the Allied march on Jerusalem
The Mesopotamian Front (click here)
Includes the innumerable struggles around Kut
The African Wars (click here)
How Lettow-Vorbeck evaded the Allies for four years
The War at Sea (click here)
Including the biggest naval battle of all, Jutland
All Battles by Date (click here)
Complete listing of all battles and actions

Within each category the battles are listed in date order, and include some of the
landmark offensives of the war, such as the disastrous British attack at the Somme,
and the monumental French defence at Verdun.

Over time additional battle entries will be added, and will include details of all of the
signature offensives; however many lesser known actions will similarly be
documented.

Principal Actions of World War One (click here)

List of primary events, actions and offensives
Who Declared War and When (click here)
Rundown of war declarations by nation
Military Casualties (click here)
Numbers of dead, wounded and missing by country
The Meuse-Argonne Offensive of 1918 (click here)
Overview of U.S. involvement at Meuse-Argonne

Battles - The Western Front

Updated - Saturday, 27 March, 2004
This section contains summaries of the actions, battles and offensives conducted
along the Western Front from 1914-18.

Included are the tremendous offensives at Verdun and the Somme, along with the
three Aisne offensives along the Chemin des Dames. Lesser-known actions at
Lorraine, Charleroi and Antwerp are also detailed, as are the two climactic Battles of
the Marne.

Click here to view a map of pre-war Europe.

Battle of Liege, Opened 5 August 1914

Battle of the Frontiers, Opened 5 August 1914
Battle of Mulhouse, Opened 7 August 1914
Battle of Haelen, Opened 12 August 1914
Invasion of Lorraine, Opened 14 August 1914
Battle of the Ardennes, Opened 21 August 1914
Battle of Charleroi, Opened 21 August 1914
Siege of Namur, Opened 21 August 1914
Battle of Mons, Opened 23 August 1914
Capture of Dinant, Opened 23 August 1914
Siege of Maubeuge, Opened 25 August 1914
Destruction of Louvain, Opened 25 August 1914
Battle of Le Cateau, Opened 26 August 1914
Battle of Guise, Opened 29 August 1914
First Battle of the Marne, Opened 6 September 1914
First Battle of the Aisne, Opened 12 September 1914
First Battle of Albert, Opened 25 September 1914
Siege of of Antwerp, Opened 28 September 1914
First Battle of Arras, Opened 1 October 1914
First Battle of Ypres, Opened 14 October 1914
First Battle of Ypres (Second Account), Opened 14 October 1914
Battle of the Yser, Opened 18 October 1914
Raid on Scarborough and Hartlepool, Opened 16 Dec 1914
Battle of Givenchy, Opened 18 December 1914
First Battle of Champagne, Opened 20 December 1914
Battle of Neuve-Chapelle, Opened 10 March 1915
Second Battle of Ypres, Opened 22 April 1915
Battle of Festubert, Opened 15 May 1915
Battle of Loos, Opened 25 September 1915
Battle of Verdun, Opened 21 February 1916
Battle of the Somme, Opened 1 July 1916
Battle of Bazentin Ridge, Opened 14 July 1916
Battle of Delville Wood, Opened 15 July 1916
Battle of Pozieres Ridge, Opened 23 July 1916
Battle of Guillemont, Opened 3 September 1916
Battle of Flers-Courcelette, Opened 15 September 1916
Battle of Vimy Ridge, Opened 9 April 1917
Second Battle of the Aisne, Opened 16 April 1917
Battle of Messines, Opened 7 June 1917
Third Battle of Ypres, Opened 31 July 1917
Third Battle of Ypres (2), Opened 31 July 1917
Battle of Passchendaele, Opened 31 July 1917
 Battle of Cambrai, Opened 20 November 1917
Third Battle of the Aisne, Opened 27 May 1918
Battle of Cantigny, Opened 28 May 1918
Battle of Chateau-Thierry, Opened 3 June 1918
Battle of Belleau Wood, Opened 6 June 1918
Battle of Le Hamel, Opened 4 July 1918
Second Battle of the Marne, Opened 15 July 1918
Battle of Havrincourt, Opened 12 September 1918
Battle of Epehy, Opened 18 September 1918

Battles - The Eastern Front

Updated - Saturday, 27 March, 2004

This section contains details of the significant battles and actions fought on the
Eastern Front during the First World War. Included is perhaps the war's most
sweepingly successful victory at Tannenberg in August 1914, which ended with the
Russian commander Samsonov committing suicide.

Also included are critical encounters at Stalluponen and at Masurian Lakes.

Additional entries will be added periodically. Click here to view a map of pre-war
Europe.

Battle of Stalluponen, Opened 17 August 1914

Battle of Gumbinnen, Opened 20 August 1914
Battle of Tannenberg, Opened 26 August 1914
First Battle of the Masurian Lakes, Opened 9 Sept. 1914
Battle of Bolimov, Opened 31 January 1915
Second Battle of the Masurian lakes, Opened 7 Feb. 1915
Battle of Lake Naroch, Opened 18 March 1916
Battle of Lutsk, Opened 4 June 1916

Battles - The Gallipoli Front

Updated - Saturday, 3 April, 2004

This section contains details of the battles and actions fought on the Gallipoli Front
during the First World War. Thus the Entente Powers' initial attempts at storming the
Dardanelles solely via naval means alone is documented, as are subsequent attempts
at winning control of the region by land means - ultimately without success.

The scope of operations in Gallipoli encompassed a twelve-month period from

February 1915 through to the Allied evacuation in December 1915 and January 1916.

Click here to view a map of pre-war Europe.

Gallipoli Front - An Overview, Primer to events in Gallipoli

Initial Dardanelles Bombardment, Opened 19 Feb. 1915
Attempt to Force the Narrows, Opened 18 March 1915
Landings at Helles & Anzac Cove, Opened 25 April 1915
First Battle of Krithia, Opened 28 April 1915
Counter-attack at Eski Hissarlik, Opened 1 May 1915
 Second Battle of Krithia, Opened 6 May 1915
Turkish attack at Anzac Cove, Opened 19 May 1915
Third Battle of Krithia, Opened 4 June 1915
Battle of Gully Ravine, Opened 28 June 1915
Attack on Achi Baba, Opened 12 July 1915
Landings at Suvla Bay, Opened 6 August 1915
Battle of Lone Pine, Opened 6 August 1915
Battle of Sari Bair, Opened 6 August 1915
Battle of the Nek, Opened 6 August 1915
Battle of Hill 60, Opened 21 August 1915
Battle of Scimitar Hill, Opened 21 August 1915
Evacuation of Gallipoli, Opened 18 December 1915

Battles - The Italian Front

Updated - Saturday, 27 March, 2004

This section contains details of the major actions fought on the Italian Front during
the First World War and includes one of the most sweepingly successful battles of the
war, the Austro-Hungarian/German success at Caporetto. Also included are the
seemingly battles of the Isonzo and the Austro-Hungarian attack at Asiago.

Additional entries will be added periodically. Click here to view a map of pre-war
Europe.

Battles of the Isonzo, Opened June 1915-October 1915

First Battle of the Isonzo, Opened 23 June 1915
Second Battle of the Isonzo, Opened 18 July 1915
Third Battle of the Isonzo, Opened 18 October 1915
Fourth Battle of the Isonzo, Opened 10 November 1915
Fifth Battle of the Isonzo, Opened 9 March 1916
Battle of Asiago, Opened 15 May 1916
Trentino Offensive, Opened 15 May 1916
Sixth Battle of the Isonzo, Opened 6 August 1916
Battle of Gorizia, Opened 6 August 1916
Seventh Battle of the Isonzo, Opened 14 September 1916
Eighth Battle of the Isonzo, Opened 10 October 1916
Ninth Battle of the Isonzo, Opened 1 November 1916
Tenth Battle of the Isonzo, Opened 12 May 1917
Eleventh Battle of the Isonzo, Opened 19 August 1917
Twelfth Battle of the Isonzo, Opened 24 October 1917
Battle of Caporetto, Opened 24 October 1917
Battle of the Piave River, Opened 15 June 1918
Battle of Vittorio Veneto, Opened 23 October 1918

Battles - The Palestine Front

Updated - Saturday, 27 March, 2004

This section contains details of the major actions fought on the Palestine Front during
the First World War.
Aside from the three Gaza battles the list also includes British General Allenby's
timely implementation of Prime Minister Lloyd George's directive to capture
Jerusalem by Christmas 1917. He did so, with two weeks to spare.

Additional entries will be added periodically. Suggestions for battle summaries can
be sent to the e-mail address at the foot of the page.

Click here to view a map of pre-war Palestine and Mesopotamia.

Defence of the Suez Canal, Opened 3 February 1915

Battle of Romani, Opened 3 August 1916
First Battle of Gaza, Opened 26 March 1917
Second Battle of Gaza, Opened 17 April 1917
Third Battle of Gaza, Opened 31 October 1917
Battle of Beersheba, Opened 31 October 1917
Battle of Mughar Ridge, Opened 13 November 1917
Fall of Jerusalem, Opened 8 December 1917

Battles - The Mesopotamian Front

Updated - Saturday, 3 April, 2004

This section contains details of the major actions fought on the Mesopotamian Front -
present-day Iraq - during the First World War.

These include the many epic struggles fought along the banks of the River Tigris;
from the seemingly unstoppable advance of the British throughout 1915 to the
resurgence of their Turk opposition in 1916 culminating in the British humiliation at
Kut-al-Amara in April 1916.

British fortunes revived however with the appointment of Sir Frederick Stanley
Maude as regional Commander-in-Chief, as success after success finally led to
complete British victory in the region in October 1918.

Click here to view a map of pre-war Palestine and Mesopotamia.

Capture of Basra, Opened 5 November 1914

Battle of Qurna, Opened 3 December 1914
Battle of Shaiba, Opened 11 April 1915
Capture of Amara, Opened 31 May 1915
Battle of Nasiriyeh, Opened 27 June 1915
Capture of Kut-al-Amara, Opened 28 September 1915
Battle of Es Sinn, Opened 28 September 1915
Battle of Ctesiphon, Opened 2 November 1915
Siege of Kut-al-Amara, Opened 7 December 1915
Battle of Sheikh Sa'ad, Opened 6 January 1916
Battle of the Wadi, Opened 13 January 1916
Battle of Hanna, Opened 21 January 1916
Battle of Dujaila, Opened 8 March 1916
First Battle of Kut, Opened 5 April 1916
Battle of Khanaqin, Opened June 1916
Second Battle of Kut, Opened 13 December 1916
 Battle of Khadairi Bend, Opened 9 January 1917
Battle of Nahr-al-Kalek, Opened 26 February 1917
Capture of Baghdad, Opened 11 March 1917
Samarrah Offensive, Opened 13 March 1917
Seizure of Falluja, Opened 19 March 1917
Battle of Jebel Hamlin, Opened 25 March 1917
Battle of Shiala, Opened 11 April 1917
Battle of Istabulat, Opened 21 April 1917
Battle of the Boot, Opened 30 April 1917
Battle of Ramadi, Opened 28 September 1917
Capture of Tikrit, Opened 5 November 1917
Battle of Sharqat, Opened 29 October 1918

Battles - The African Wars

Updated - Saturday, 27 May, 2006

This section of the site at present contains details of a single battle fought on the
African Front, which also happens to be the first in that theatre of the war: Tanga, in
November 1914.

It was at Tanga that the burgeoning reputation of German commander Paul von
Lettow-Vorbeck was first established.

Lettow-Vorbeck went through the entire war with the unusual distinction of never
being on the losing end of a battle.

Additional entries will be added periodically.

Battle of Sandfontein, Opened 26 September 1914

Battle of Tanga, Opened 3 November 1914

Battles - The War at Sea

Updated - Saturday, 27 March, 2004

This section contains details of the major actions fought at sea during the First World
War and includes possibly the greatest naval action of them all, at Jutland in 1916 -
an inconclusive battle that continues to generate debate today (Germany won the
tactical victory but the British claimed the more-important strategical success).

Also included are details of critical encounters at the Falkland Islands and at Dogger
Bank.

Additional entries will be added periodically. Click here to view a map of pre-war
Europe.

<>Battle of Heligoland Bight, Opened 28 August 1914

<>Battle of Coronel, Opened 1 November 1914
<>Battle of the Falkland Islands, Opened 8 December 1914
Raid on Scarborough and Hartlepool, Opened 16 Dec 1914
<>Battle of Dogger Bank, Opened 24 January 1915
 <>Battle of Jutland, Opened 31 May 1916
<>Battle of Otranto Straits, Opened 14 May 1917
<>Raid on Zeebrugge, Opened 23 April 1918

Battles - All by Date

Updated - Saturday, 27 May, 2006

This section contains details of actions, battles and offensives fought during World
War One on all fronts.

These include landmark battles fought at Tannenberg (on the east), Aisne, Verdun
and the Somme (on the west), along the Isonzo (Italy) and at Jutland (at sea).

The sidebar to the right allows you to view actions by theatre; currently you can
choose to sort battles fought on the Eastern, Western, Gallipoli, Italian, Palestine and
Mesopotamian fronts; plus the African Wars and encounters fought at sea.

Additional entries are added periodically.

Battle of Liege, Opened 5 August 1914

Battle of the Frontiers, Opened 5 August 1914
Battle of Mulhouse, Opened 7 August 1914
Battle of Haelen, Opened 12 August 1914
Invasion of Lorraine, Opened 14 August 1914
Battle of Stalluponen, Opened 17 August 1914
Battle of Gumbinnen, Opened 20 August 1914
Battle of the Ardennes, Opened 21 August 1914
Battle of Charleroi, Opened 21 August 1914
Siege of Namur, Opened 21 August 1914
Battle of Mons, Opened 23 August 1914
Capture of Dinant, Opened 23 August 1914
Siege of Maubeuge, Opened 25 August 1914
Destruction of Louvain, Opened 25 August 1914
Battle of Le Cateau, Opened 26 August 1914
Battle of Tannenberg, Opened 26 August 1914
Battle of Heligoland Bight, Opened 28 August 1914
Battle of Guise, Opened 29 August 1914
Siege of Tsingtao, Opened 2 September 1914
First Battle of the Marne, Opened 6 September 1914
First Battle of the Masurian Lakes, Opened 9 Sept. 1914
Battle of Bita Paka, Opened 12 September 1914
First Battle of the Aisne, Opened 12 September 1914
First Battle of Albert, Opened 25 September 1914
Battle of Sandfontein, Opened 25 September 1914
Siege of Antwerp, Opened 28 September 1914
First Battle of Arras, Opened 1 October 1914
First Battle of Ypres, Opened 14 October 1914
First Battle of Ypres (Second Account), Opened 14 October 1914
Battle of the Yser, Opened 18 October 1914
Battle of Coronel, Opened 1 November 1914
Battle of Tanga, Opened 3 November 1914
Capture of Basra, Opened 5 November 1914
Battle of Qurna, Opened 3 December 1914
Battle of the Falkland Islands, Opened 8 December 1914
Raid on Scarborough and Hartlepool, Opened 16 Dec 1914
Battle of Givenchy, Opened 18 December 1914
First Battle of Champagne, Opened 20 December 1914
Battle of Dogger Bank, Opened 24 January 1915
Battle of Bolimov, Opened 31 January 1915
Defence of the Suez Canal, Opened 3 February 1915
Second Battle of the Masurian lakes, Opened 7 Feb. 1915
Initial Dardanelles Bombardment, Opened 19 Feb. 1915
Battle of Neuve-Chapelle, Opened 10 March 1915
Attempt to Force the Narrows, Opened 18 March 1915
Battle of Shaiba, Opened 11 April 1915
Second Battle of Ypres, Opened 22 April 1915
Landings at Helles & Anzac Cove, Opened 25 April 1915
First Battle of Krithia, Opened 28 April 1915
Counter-attack at Eski Hissarlik, Opened 1 May 1915
Second Battle of Krithia, Opened 6 May 1915
Battle of Festubert, Opened 15 May 1915
Turkish attack at Anzac Cove, Opened 19 May 1915
Capture of Amara, Opened 31 May 1915
Third Battle of Krithia, Opened 4 June 1915
Battles of the Isonzo, Opened June 1915-October 1915
First Battle of the Isonzo, Opened 23 June 1915
Battle of Nasiriyeh, Opened 27 June 1915
Battle of Gully Ravine, Opened 28 June 1915
Attack on Achi Baba, Opened 12 July 1915
Second Battle of the Isonzo, Opened 18 July 1915
Landings at Suvla Bay, Opened 6 August 1915
Battle of Lone Pine, Opened 6 August 1915
Battle of Sari Bair, Opened 6 August 1915
Battle of the Nek, Opened 6 August 1915
Battle of Hill 60, Opened 21 August 1915
Battle of Scimitar Hill, Opened 21 August 1915
Battle of Loos, Opened 25 September 1915
Capture of Kut-al-Amara, Opened 28 September 1915
Battle of Es Sinn, Opened 28 September 1915
Third Battle of the Isonzo, Opened 18 October 1915
Fourth Battle of the Isonzo, Opened 10 November 1915
Battle of Ctesiphon, Opened 2 November 1915
Siege of Kut-al-Amara, Opened 7 December 1915
Evacuation of Gallipoli, Opened 18 December 1915
Battle of Sheikh Sa'ad, Opened 6 January 1916
Battle of the Wadi, Opened 13 January 1916
Battle of Hanna, Opened 21 January 1916
Battle of Verdun, Opened 21 February 1916
Battle of Dujaila, Opened 8 March 1916
Fifth Battle of the Isonzo, Opened 9 March 1916
Battle of Lake Naroch, Opened 18 March 1916
First Battle of Kut, Opened 5 April 1916
Battle of Asiago, Opened 15 May 1916
Trentino Offensive, Opened 15 May 1916
Battle of Jutland, Opened 31 May 1916
Battle of Lutsk, Opened 4 June 1916
Battle of Khanaqin, Opened June 1916
Battle of the Somme, Opened 1 July 1916
Battle of Bazentin Ridge, Opened 14 July 1916
Battle of Delville Wood, Opened 15 July 1916
Battle of Pozieres Ridge, Opened 23 July 1916
Battle of Romani, Opened 3 August 1916
Sixth Battle of the Isonzo, Opened 6 August 1916
Battle of Gorizia, Opened 6 August 1916
Battle of Guillemont, Opened 3 September 1916
Seventh Battle of the Isonzo, Opened 14 September 1916
Battle of Flers-Courcelette, Opened 15 September 1916
Eighth Battle of the Isonzo, Opened 10 October 1916
Ninth Battle of the Isonzo, Opened 1 November 1916
Second Battle of Kut, Opened 13 December 1916
Battle of Khadairi Bend, Opened 9 January 1917
Battle of Nahr-al-Kalek, Opened 26 February 1917
Capture of Baghdad, Opened 11 March 1917
Samarrah Offensive, Opened 13 March 1917
Seizure of Falluja, Opened 19 March 1917
First Battle of Gaza, Opened 26 March 1917
Battle of Jebel Hamlin, Opened 25 March 1917
Battle of Vimy Ridge, Opened 9 April 1917
Battle of Shiala, Opened 11 April 1917
Second Battle of the Aisne, Opened 16 April 1917
Second Battle of Gaza, Opened 17 April 1917
Battle of Istabulat, Opened 21 April 1917
Battle of the Boot, Opened 30 April 1917
Tenth Battle of the Isonzo, Opened 12 May 1917
Battle of Otranto Straits, Opened 14 May 1917
Battle of Messines, Opened 7 June 1917
Third Battle of Ypres, Opened 31 July 1917
Third Battle of Ypres (2), Opened 31 July 1917
Battle of Passchendaele, Opened 31 July 1917
Eleventh Battle of the Isonzo, Opened 19 August 1917
Battle of Ramadi, Opened 28 September 1917
Twelfth Battle of the Isonzo, Opened 24 October 1917
Battle of Caporetto, Opened 24 October 1917
Third Battle of Gaza, Opened 31 October 1917
Battle of Beersheba, Opened 31 October 1917
Capture of Tikrit, Opened 5 November 1917
Battle of Mughar Ridge, Opened 13 November 1917
Battle of Cambrai, Opened 20 November 1917
Fall of Jerusalem, Opened 8 December 1917
Raid on Zeebrugge, Opened 23 April 1918
Third Battle of the Aisne, Opened 27 May 1918
Battle of Cantigny, Opened 28 May 1918
Battle of Chateau-Thierry, Opened 3 June 1918
Battle of Belleau Wood, Opened 6 June 1918
Battle of the Piave River, Opened 15 June 1918
Battle of Le Hamel, Opened 4 July 1918
Second Battle of the Marne, Opened 15 July 1918
Battle of Havrincourt, Opened 12 September 1918
Battle of Epehy, Opened 18 September 1918
Battle of Vittorio Veneto, Opened 23 October 1918
Battle of Sharqat, Opened 29 October 1918