January 1, 1914
A German U-boat sends a torpedo toward a British battleship, called the HMS Formidable and sends her to the bottom of the English Channel with 546 seamen. It sounds the wake up call that the British Navy may not be counted on to rule the waves indefinitely.
Sunday, January 4, 2015
Christmas Truce
December, 25, 1914
The common soldiers in the trenches of Flanders demonstrate a better understanding of war than their commanders when they send Christmas carols in their respective languages across no-mans-land and cautiously begin to show themselves above the tops of the trenches. Soon a gathering of soldiers occurs and soccer games and spontaneous gift exchanges break out. When the indignant generals get wind of this scandalous behavior, they take steps to ensure that it never happens again.
The common soldiers in the trenches of Flanders demonstrate a better understanding of war than their commanders when they send Christmas carols in their respective languages across no-mans-land and cautiously begin to show themselves above the tops of the trenches. Soon a gathering of soldiers occurs and soccer games and spontaneous gift exchanges break out. When the indignant generals get wind of this scandalous behavior, they take steps to ensure that it never happens again.
Monday, November 24, 2014
Austria's Last Hurrah
Late November 1914
It's attempt frustrated by the German Army, the Russian Army falls back to the town of Lodz. Pushed out from there, the Russians retreat to the east and dig in. Meanwhile, the last independent action led by the Austria commander Conrad von Hotzendorf (one of the main prewar hawks) begins and ends. He takes advantage of confusion in the Russian retreat to attack further south in the Carpathians. The Russians are kept out of the Hungarian capital, Budapest, but the Austrian Army is finally halted and has been utterly devastated. Loyal Austrians have been thrown away in the quest for glory and their places taken by men far less invested in the empire, such as recently conquered Slavs from the east. The Austrian Army will become increasingly an auxiliary of the German.
It's attempt frustrated by the German Army, the Russian Army falls back to the town of Lodz. Pushed out from there, the Russians retreat to the east and dig in. Meanwhile, the last independent action led by the Austria commander Conrad von Hotzendorf (one of the main prewar hawks) begins and ends. He takes advantage of confusion in the Russian retreat to attack further south in the Carpathians. The Russians are kept out of the Hungarian capital, Budapest, but the Austrian Army is finally halted and has been utterly devastated. Loyal Austrians have been thrown away in the quest for glory and their places taken by men far less invested in the empire, such as recently conquered Slavs from the east. The Austrian Army will become increasingly an auxiliary of the German.
Sunday, November 16, 2014
2nd Warsaw and Diggin In
November 1914
The French command looks at the situation and decides the thing to do is to strengthen their positions along the Western front. The British, sensing blood, decide that the correct strategy is to dominate no-mans-land between the hastily dug trenches. Raids on axis trenches become their tactic in the west. At the same time, Canadian and India forces are arriving to reinforce the BEF.
After a long series of local battles, the German Army is consolidating its position around Ypres in Belgium, but is unable to dominate the British and French fighting tenaciously in its defense. At the climactic moment on November 11, a cobbled up force of British cooks and drivers manage to turn back an offensive by the elite German First Guards Regiment and send them scurrying for cover. Audacious!
In Poland, on November 11, the Russian command, flush with success in defending Warsaw, decides to press their advantage and go on the attack. Unfortunately for them, the German Ninth Army had similar ideas, struck hard, and forced a retreat on the Russians. The Russians realize their tenuous position and retreat to Lodz, where they are able to hold off the German advance. Thus, Russian plans for winter in Berlin are frustrated.
The French command looks at the situation and decides the thing to do is to strengthen their positions along the Western front. The British, sensing blood, decide that the correct strategy is to dominate no-mans-land between the hastily dug trenches. Raids on axis trenches become their tactic in the west. At the same time, Canadian and India forces are arriving to reinforce the BEF.
After a long series of local battles, the German Army is consolidating its position around Ypres in Belgium, but is unable to dominate the British and French fighting tenaciously in its defense. At the climactic moment on November 11, a cobbled up force of British cooks and drivers manage to turn back an offensive by the elite German First Guards Regiment and send them scurrying for cover. Audacious!
In Poland, on November 11, the Russian command, flush with success in defending Warsaw, decides to press their advantage and go on the attack. Unfortunately for them, the German Ninth Army had similar ideas, struck hard, and forced a retreat on the Russians. The Russians realize their tenuous position and retreat to Lodz, where they are able to hold off the German advance. Thus, Russian plans for winter in Berlin are frustrated.
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Ypres Continues
October 30, 1914
The small battles for villages along the ridge at Ypres results in many places being taken, lost and retaken many times by both sides. In the end, winter will come and force an end to the carnage. Both sides will declare victory and with some justification. The Allies have successfully stood between the Axis and the channel. The Germans have maintained and improved their grip on most of Belgium. Germany has lost 100,000 men, the Allies a similar number. Winter forces both sides to form makeshift defenses where they can nervously await spring.
The small battles for villages along the ridge at Ypres results in many places being taken, lost and retaken many times by both sides. In the end, winter will come and force an end to the carnage. Both sides will declare victory and with some justification. The Allies have successfully stood between the Axis and the channel. The Germans have maintained and improved their grip on most of Belgium. Germany has lost 100,000 men, the Allies a similar number. Winter forces both sides to form makeshift defenses where they can nervously await spring.
Friday, October 17, 2014
First Warsaw and Ypres
October 17, 1914
To the east the first Battle of Warsaw is being fought. The Russians advance over sodden swampy roads. The Germans and Austrians attempt to break their advance but fail and are obliged to retreat.
Meanwhile, Sir John French is moving the BEF eastward toward Flanders and toward a German Army that they have no idea is in their path. It is the beginning of the first Battle of Ypres. British, French and the remains of the Belgian Army converge on a Germany Army that is tired of retreat. The winter is coming on and cold and damp become a way of life for both armies.
King Albert of Belgium is told in no uncertain terms that he cannot expect to hold his crown after hostilities are concluded, if he loses the last piece of Belgian territory to the Axis. Out of desperation, he opens the sluice gates and floods wide stretches of ground. The advancing Germans have to scramble back and fight for higher ground.around Ypres. All around the battle field, entrenchments become man-made ponds and muddy canals. The terrible conditions favor the defenders and deadlock is the result.
A brigade of reserves composed of German schoolboys advance with linked arms and singing school songs are mowed down by machine gun fire. The horror of modern warfare is becoming clearer to all the participants.
To the east the first Battle of Warsaw is being fought. The Russians advance over sodden swampy roads. The Germans and Austrians attempt to break their advance but fail and are obliged to retreat.
Meanwhile, Sir John French is moving the BEF eastward toward Flanders and toward a German Army that they have no idea is in their path. It is the beginning of the first Battle of Ypres. British, French and the remains of the Belgian Army converge on a Germany Army that is tired of retreat. The winter is coming on and cold and damp become a way of life for both armies.
King Albert of Belgium is told in no uncertain terms that he cannot expect to hold his crown after hostilities are concluded, if he loses the last piece of Belgian territory to the Axis. Out of desperation, he opens the sluice gates and floods wide stretches of ground. The advancing Germans have to scramble back and fight for higher ground.around Ypres. All around the battle field, entrenchments become man-made ponds and muddy canals. The terrible conditions favor the defenders and deadlock is the result.
A brigade of reserves composed of German schoolboys advance with linked arms and singing school songs are mowed down by machine gun fire. The horror of modern warfare is becoming clearer to all the participants.
Friday, October 10, 2014
Moving the BEF
October 8-19, 1914
The battle along the extreme northern end of the front has narrowed to a flat featureless district in Belgium known as Flanders. The British Army, including elements of cavalry and East Indian regiments, is being moved here to protect the channel ports from domination by the Germans. The hard fighting Belgium Army, evacuated from Antwerp, regroups after the surrender of the city and joins them. The forces concentrate around the Belgian city of Ypres. The French call it "eep", to the tommies it is called "wipers".
The French Commander Joffre is a little worried that the proximity of the British forces to the English Channel may facilitate a return to their home island if the war takes a turn for the worse for the Allies. Her urges caution on Sir John French.
On October 10th, forces of the German Army finally occupy Antwerp after a difficult siege. It's another disaster for the Allies.
The battle along the extreme northern end of the front has narrowed to a flat featureless district in Belgium known as Flanders. The British Army, including elements of cavalry and East Indian regiments, is being moved here to protect the channel ports from domination by the Germans. The hard fighting Belgium Army, evacuated from Antwerp, regroups after the surrender of the city and joins them. The forces concentrate around the Belgian city of Ypres. The French call it "eep", to the tommies it is called "wipers".
The French Commander Joffre is a little worried that the proximity of the British forces to the English Channel may facilitate a return to their home island if the war takes a turn for the worse for the Allies. Her urges caution on Sir John French.
On October 10th, forces of the German Army finally occupy Antwerp after a difficult siege. It's another disaster for the Allies.
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