12 November 1916
 

Western Front
Battle of the Somme: German attack near Berny (north-east of Ablaincourt) repulsed.

Eastern Front
Transylvania: Second Battle of Tirgu Jiu: Rumanian First Army retreats in Jiu and Aluta Valleys.
In the past few days, German attacks against Russian lines N. of Baranovichi leads to the capture of 4000 Russian prisons & 27 machine guns.
Failure of Russo-Romanians on Cerna Voda and retreat to Dunarea.

Southern Front
Macedonia: French and Serbs capture Iven (15 miles east of Monastir).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Shiraz (South Persia) occupied by British forces; Sykes organises 3,700 South Persian Rifles and 6 guns by December 1.

Naval and Overseas Operations
East Africa: Portuguese troops occupy Lulindi.
British defeat Germans at Malangali.

Political, etc.
France: Evening dress is banned at Parisian operas that are subsidized by the French government.
United States: (Perhaps yesterday) Percival Lowell, American businessmen & astronomer who started the search for Planet X (Pluto), passed away: http://imgur.com/Y5fJEuL
Mexico: Count Bernstorff to German Mexico City Minister ‘The Imperial Government would see with the greatest of pleasure the Mexican Government’s consent to … a [U-boat] base in its territory’.
Netherlands: Dutch railways considers curtailing their services due to difficulty in obtaining coal from Britain, Germany, and Belgium.

Western Front
Battle of the Somme: Battle of the Ancre begins (until November 18): with 10 divisions, 5 tanks and 282 heavy guns in wet fog at 0545 hours Fifth Army (Gough) storms Beaumont Hamel (1,200 PoWs) also St Pierre Divion and Beaucourt in mile-deep advance.
30,000lb ammonal mine detonated at Hawthorn Crater; c.360 men of 3rd Battalion German 62nd Regiment buried alive. The crater after capture: http://imgur.com/ijgZT6c* © IWM (Q 2006)
Operation until November 14 directed by Lieutenant-Colonel Freyberg, RND (thrice wounded and wins VC). Australian-born writer and RND Coy Company Commander F S Kelly killed at Beaucourt.
British soldier bringing in a captured wounded German during the Battle of Ancre at the Somme: http://imgur.com/cqp0pkZ* © IWM (Q 4502)
French official cameraman filming a wounded British soldier at the Somme: http://imgur.com/b1dPgJy* © IWM (Q 4504)
Frederick Septimus Kelly, Australian/British musician & rower who won gold in the 1908 Olympics, is KIA at the Somme: http://imgur.com/g1AOwFo

Eastern Front
Transylvania: Second Battle of Tirgu Jiu: Falkenhayn takes Kimpulung south of Toerzburg and retakes railhead south of Vulcan Pass.

Southern Front
Serbia: After fog lifts Serb troops reach ridges east of Crna and Monastir taking 600 German PoWs, [another source claims 16 artillery guns and 1000 prisoners,] forcing General Winckler to evacuate Kenali valley position (held since early October) during night November 14-15.

Asiatic and Egyptian
Egypt: Cairo bombed; little damage done.
One flight of No.14 Squadron, together with a Company of the Bedfordshire Regiment to act as aerodrome guard, are sent to the Red Sea port of Rabigh to assist Arab forces under the control of the Sherif of Mecca and Colonel T.E. Lawrence ('Lawrence of Arabia').

Political, etc.
Germany: German casualties since the start of the war now numbers 3,755,693 men killed, wounded, captured, and missing. Note: I am unsure of the source of this. It might be based on the fantastical claims of British Intelligence, which, throughout the war, and even to this day, grossly exaggerated the German casualty rate.]
United States: “Behind the Screen,” a short film directed by and starring Charlie Chaplin, is released: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipe...%281916%29.webm
Belgium: Désiré-Joseph Mercier, a Belgian cardinal, publishes a protest against German deportations and forced labor of Belgian civilians.

14 November 1916
 

Western Front
Battle of the Somme: British 190th Brigade (63rd Royal Navy Division) with 2 Tank Mk I capture Beaucourt (Ancre) with 400 PoWs (5000 overall in this phase of the battle), driving major salient into German Ancre defences. Author Lieutenant-Sergeant H H Munro (‘Saki’) killed, aged 46, by sniper at Beaumont-Hamel. His last words: “Put that bloody cigarette out!” http://imgur.com/IMLaY1R
RFC ranges 157 German batteries; No 15 Squadron observers direct gunfire that annihilates c.1350 German infantry.
German attack at Ablaincourt and Pressoir largely repulsed.

Eastern Front
Romanians retreat south of Vulkan Pass; and below Torzburg Pass; severe fighting in Prahova Valley (south of Predeal Pass).
Transylvania: Second Battle of Tirgu Jiu: German and Austro-Hungarian troops pierce Romania lines at Jiul Valley and advance 14 miles beyond the Romanian border.

Southern Front
Macedonia: Allies advance on Monastir.
Bulgars retreat on River Bistritza.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Aegean: U-73 mine (12 laid on October 28) in Zea Channel sinks 12,009t French armed liner Burdigala. This ship was formerly the German-owned Kaiser Friedrich.

Political, etc.
United Kingdom: Publication of White Paper re: U.S.A. "Black List" Protest of July 28.
Pensions Bill introduced.
Russia: Duma attacks on Prime Minister and by implication Tsarina, ‘Is this folly, or is this treason?’ (Miliukov).
Polish members of the Russian Duma denounce the German creation of the Kingdom of Poland.
United States: U.S government protests the German deportation and forced labor of Belgian civilians.
Special, 1910: Aviator Eugene Burton Ely performed the first takeoff from a ship, flying from a makeshift deck on the USS*Birmingham in Hampton Roads, Virginia, US.

15 November 1916
 

Western Front
Lieutenant-General E W von Hoeppner appointed C-in-C Air Force; Kommandierender General der Luftstreitkräfte (Kogenluft). Chief of Staff is Colonel Thomsen, previously Feldflugchef.
French gunners dragging a 155 mm artillery up a steep slope in Seine-et-Oise: http://imgur.com/p4V6Can* © IWM (Q 78089)
British seaplanes bombard Zeebrugge and Ostend.
Battle of the Somme: German counter-attack north of Chaulnes.

Eastern Front
Russia: Brusilov says ‘Rumania is a difficult ally’. His Southwest Front has only 412 heavy guns (over 122mm).
Transylvania: Second Battle of Tirgu Jiu: Romanian retreat continued; Falkenhayn brings heavy guns through Toerzburg Pass and captures Tirgu Jiu. He is now 20-25 miles inside Rumania.

Southern Front
Serbia: Advance on Monastir: French and Serbs capture monastery of Jaratok; French and Russians at River Viro (four miles south of Monastir).

Asiatic and Egyptian
Egypt: British advance into Sinai begins.
Persia: Tunnel through Taurus range on Baghdad railway pierced.
Third Affair of Hafiz Kor (North-West Frontier of India).

Political, etc.
Germany: 1918 conscript class, all under 19 year, begins to join for training; malnutrition a problem.
United Kingdom: Appointment of Food Controller and control of bread foreshadowed.
France: CHANTILLY CONFERENCE: (Joffre presiding) Allies discuss (a) 1917 offensives on Western, Eastern and Southern fronts to be timed from first fortnight of February 1917 to cause maximum dispersal of German forces; (b) the relations between Governments and Staffs; (c) Greece; (d) Poland. (Conference continued on 16th.)
Russia: Grand Duke Nicholas warns Tsar of Tsarina and Rasputin’s harmful influence. http://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp...oyal-family.jpg
Poland: Henryk Sienkiewicz, Polish writer who received the Nobel Prize in Literature, passed away: http://imgur.com/GEH0kXX
United States: Standard Oil Company of California institutes an 8-hour workday for its workers for “humanitarian” reasons.

16 November 1916
 

Western Front
Haig asks for an extra 20 fighter squadrons by the spring of 1917. RFC capture first Albatros D-1 fighter, forced down by a B.E. 2. http://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp...Albatros-DI.jpg
Each BEF army forms anti-aircraft group under one commander with 36-64 guns each (until November 27).
Battle of the Somme: RFC helps knock out at least 10 German artillery guns (65 batteries engaged), destroys 3 German aircraft; 6 Martinsydes bomb Hirson station (Belgium). German night raid destroys 21 French aircraft at Cachy, 90 miles away.
British advance east of Beaucourt but lose some ground east of Butte de Warlencourt.
French regain ground east of Pressoir.

Eastern Front
Transylvania: Second Battle of Tirgu Jiu: Romanian retreat continuing; severe fighting south-east of Tolgyes, near Campulung, and in valleys of Aluta and Jiu.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Arrabia: Six No 14 Squadron RFC aircraft land at Rabegh to support Arabs; airfield built.

Naval and Overseas Operations
A war aeroplane is used for the first time in India, as they are used by the British to beat back a raid from the Afghan frontier. Ultimately, this results in the defeat of Pathans near Shabkadar (Peshawar valley).

Political, etc.
Germany: First of 11 German armored car MG platoons formed, mainly for Eastern Front.
German blockade-runner submarine Deutschland leaves New London, Connecticut after conducting trade with the U.S.
Russia: Russia declares the creation of the Kingdom of Poland by Germany and Austria-Hungary as illegal and void.
Poland: German governors in Poland issue an edict recognizing Judaism as a religion in the civil law.
United States: Luis Muñoz Rivera, Puerto Rican writer and journalist who advocated for Puerto Rico’s autonomy, passed away: http://imgur.com/cOFAKsk
Some New York hotels & restaurants announce that they will postpone New Year’s Eve celebration to Jan 1st, as Dec 31 falls on Sunday when alcohol is restricted.
60 border troops on the US-Mexican border desert their posts due to cold weather. They are all found and arrested.
Greece: Allies demand dismissal of Central Powers Ministers and surrender of war material.

17 November 1916
 

Western Front
French bomber pilot Captain Beauchamp in Sopwith 1/2 Strutter ‘Ariel’ flies epic 812-mile first ever ‘shuttle’ raid from Luxeuil (Vosges) –Munich (rail station bombed)- San Donadi Piave (near Venice). Beauchamp killed in action over Verdun in December.
RFC ranges 141 targets, 16 aircraft in air combat (3 lost, 3 damaged), destroy 3 German planes in day and night bombing.
Sidney Cowan, Irish flying ace with 7 credited aerial victories, is killed in action in France after colliding with another British pilot.
Another raid of British naval aeroplanes and seaplanes on Ostend and Zeebrugge.
Battle of the Somme: First snow falls, night November 17-18.
British troops gain along the north bank of the Ancre River, but lose ground north of the Somme to the Germans.

Eastern Front
Transylvania: Second Battle of Tirgu Jiu: Germans break Romanian front. German offensive into Romania continues to advance and captures 2,100 Romanian prisoners.

Southern Front
Macedonia: British capture Kavakli on left bank of Struma. Allied forces in Macedonia capture 12 villages and are now only 4 miles away from the city of Monastir (Bitola).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Suez bombed: Waterpipe reaches Romani.

Political, etc.
United Kingdom: Food regulations issued.
France: Jean Cruppi, former Foreign Minister of France, urges the French government to save Romania, which is defending against a German offensive.
Russia: Prime Minister Stuermer furious at pretended Russo-German peace talks.
United States: Washington DC will ban alcohol from midnight March 3 to March 5 for the inauguration of President Wilson’s 2nd term.
Belgium: Germans arrest Brussels Council. German deportation of Belgian civilians continues, as 40,000 Belgian men have been deported as forced labor so far.
Greece: Note of French Admiral to Greek Government demanding delivery of War material.
China: Chinese government borrows $5 million, based on assurances by the U.S. government, from the Continental & Commercial Bank of Chicago.

18 November 1916
 

Western Front
Battle of the Somme: Battle of the Ancre ends with 8 Tank Mk I participating. Existing tank companies expanded into battalions.
BATTLES OF THE SOMME END: In final attack, reluctantly allowed by Haig, 4th Canadian Division and part of 18th Division gain 1,000-yard deep bulge on front of 3 miles, but Grandcourt not reached by 32nd Division (commanding General relieved with two brigade commanders). German losses claimed to be 45,000 men since November 1 (BEF Nov total 46,238).
At the Somme, Britain suffered around 420,000 casualties, France 200,000 casualties, and Germany supposedly 424,000-500,000 casualties.
Battle of Verdun: Joffre agrees to one more Nivelle attack; preparations including 16 miles of roads and 6 miles of light railway.
French gunners near Martigny with a 90 mm artillery gun: http://imgur.com/R1H2HtL* © IWM (Q 80280)

Eastern Front
Romania: Romanian defenses in the Carpathian passes manage to halt the German offensive, but they are already 25 miles into Romanian territory.
Transylvania: Second Battle of Tirgu Jiu:

Southern Front
Serbia: Despite deep snow Serb Danube Division captures Hill 1378, Italians storm Ostretz Hill and two other features (until November 19), French ford river Viro and Russians capture three villages south of Monastir. Germans and Bulgarian troops burn and evacuate it during night November 18-19 and retreat 4 miles.
Macedonia: 5,144 trained Greek troops now available with 5,184 animals.

Naval and Overseas Operations
East Africa: Defeat of Germans at Lupembe by British.

Political, etc.
United Kingdom: Lloyd George tells Hankey that Somme offensive was ‘a bloody and disastrous failure’; not willing to stay in office if in 1917 repeated.
British news film “Topical Budget,” showing captured German soldiers at Macedonia, among other news: http://film.iwmcollections.org.uk/record/index/5404
France: Protest of Allies re: Poland.
United States: U.S.A. explanation re: U-53. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SM_U-53

19 November 1916
 

Western Front
British troops announce they captured 6,982 German troops at the Somme in the last six days of battle.

Eastern Front
Transylvania: Second Battle of Tirgu Jiu: Falkenhayn‘s Group Kuehnereaches Filiasi road net 40 miles southeast of Tirgu Jiu; Captain Picht’s motorized battalion diverted west from Filiasi to open Iron Gates and railway from behind.
German and Austro-Hungarian troops force their way through the Jiul and Ait valley passes and enter the Wallachian plains of Romania.

Southern Front
Serbia: Monastir (Serbia) captured by Allied forces (see October 5th, 1916 and December 2nd, 1915). Serb and French cavalry ride in 4 years to the day since Serbs captured town from Turks in First Balkan War, 1912. Sarrail thanks all nations and claims first French victory since the Marne. Fighting to north of Monastir on November 22. Russian troops entering the city of Monastir (Bitola), Macedonia: http://imgur.com/y5b5Eft* © IWM (Q 32857)

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Egypt: British raid and take Farafra Oasis (180 miles west of Assiut).

Naval and Overseas Operations
Baltic: Russian armored cruiser Rurik mined badly in bows, but operational again early 1917.

Political, etc.
Germany: German war minister says that fathers of several children, when possible, would not be sent to the frontlines.
United Kingdom: Crowded canteen for workers at the National Shell filling Factory at Chilwell, Nottinghamshire: http://imgur.com/QIzRJCB
United States: Wilson peace note to combatants.
President Wilson promises delegates of the American Federation of Labor that he will “close rifts” between the classes.
Ruth Law breaks the cross-America flight record by flying 590 miles non-stop between Chicago & New York state: http://imgur.com/HDopoat
Greece: Entente Governments demand dismissal of Ministers of Central Powers at Athens and surrender of Greek military material (see December 1st).

20 November 1916
 

Western Front
At the Somme, German troops use hand grenades to dislodge British soldiers from the western part of Grandcourt.

Eastern Front
Romania: German troops approach the Romanian city of Craiova, threatening the entrapment of Romanian troops in Western Wallachia.
Macedonia: With the capture of Monastir, Allied forces in Macedonia advance four miles north towards Prilep, the largest city in Macedonia.

Political, etc.
Germany: Herr von Jagow, German Foreign Minister, resigns (appointed January 1913) (see 21st).
United Kingdom: British government fixes the price of milk to 6 pence per quart, which will go into effect on Nov 27th.
Russia: Tsar summons Gourko from Special Army to act as Chief of Staff (Alexeiev ill until March 1917), he arrives at STAVKA on November 23.
Japan: Count Terauchi relinquishes temporary appointment as Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs (see 21st, aud October 9th).
Netherlands: The Dutch government sends a message to Germany that the deportations of Belgian civilians has produced a “painful impression” of Germany.

21 November 1916
 

Eastern Front
Romania: Falkenhayn‘s Cavalry Corps (Schmettow) occupies Craiova (capital of Western Wallachia), road to Bucharest open. General Janin at STAVKA finally gets Alexeiev to send 2 Russian divisions to aid Rumanians.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Aegean – Largest ship victim of war: British hospital ship (but without wounded aboard) 48,158t White Star liner Britannic (78 casualties and 1035 survivors ), sister ship of the Titantic, sunk in Zea Channel by U-73 mine http://imgur.com/gUxEFdS; hospital ship Braemar Castle mined on November 22.

Political, etc.
Austria-Hungary: EMPEROR JOSEPH OF AUSTRIA peacefully died, aged 86, having told Prime Minister ‘if that is the case [domestic discontent] we must make peace without taking any ally into consideration at all’. Great nephew Archduke Charles succeeds, aged 29 (born 17 August 1887).
Germany: Artur Zimmermann becomes Foreign Minister and replacing Jagow.
United Kingdom: Rows of shells at the National Shell Filling Factory at Chilwell, Nottinghamshire: http://imgur.com/ozt3fj4
Robert P Houston, Member of Parliament, offers £2000 for any merchant ship that sinks a German submarine.
Italy: Pope Benedict XV celebrates his 62nd birthday and receives messages of congratulation from all around the world.
Japan: Viscount Motono becomes Foreign Minister.
Greece: Statement in British press by Venizelos re: Greek National Defence Movement.

22 November 1916
 

Western Front
RFC destroy 2 German aircraft.

Eastern Front
Romania: Austro-Germans retake Orsova (Hungary) on Danube. Captain Picht seizes and just holds Turnu Severin against Rumanian 1st Division until relieved by Austrian cyclist brigade on November 24.

Southern Front
Macedonia: Fierce fighting north of Monastir.

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: The only sailing raider of the World Wars; German square-rigged SMS Seeadler leaves Germany [approximate date] for South Seas disguised as Norwegian timber ship (had been British-built 1878 and US-owned until U-36 captured her July 24, 1915). Crew hides among cargo as ship passes through British Northern Patrol. http://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp...MS-Seeadler.jpg

Political, etc.
France: French Cabinet decides that consumption of meat by Parisians should be prohibited two days a week in order to maintain food supplies.
Belgium: Further protest of Belgium to Neutral Powers re: deportations and forced labor.

23 November 1916
 

Western Front
In what probably came closest to the stereotyped WW 1 “dogfight”, Major Lanoe G. Hawker VC ( http://imgur.com/KIh6Gea )is killed in a dogfight with Baron Manfred von Richthofen (the 'Red Baron'). Following a prolonged period of maneuvering, during which neither pilot was able to gain the advantage, fuel shortage forced Major Hawker to attempt to break off and run for the British lines. He then lost his life when his de Havilland DH2 pusher scout was shot down. Major Hawker was von Richthofen's eleventh victim.
RFC ranges 163 targets. No 25 Squadron F. E. 2bs including Captain Tedder (future Marshal of RAF) repulse 20 German fighters (2 crashed), 4 other German aircraft shot down and 3 damaged.
French gunners loading a 164 mm gun near Virginy: http://imgur.com/iTpyCgn* © IWM (Q 78887)

Eastern Front
Romania: German advance on Bucharest.
Mackensen's army effects passage of the Danube at 0400 hours in thick mist on 32-mile front between Islatz and Zimnitza with 40 battalions and 188 guns against 18 battalions with 48 guns. Austro-Hungarians build pontoon bridge by 1800 hours on November 25.
Prezan replaces lliescu as Rumanian CoS and effective C-in-C.
Field Marshal von Mackensen & General von Tappin watching troops cross the Danube near Sitovo: http://imgur.com/6Fq5hiw* © IWM (Q 52237)
German and Bulgarian troops, along with their livestock, crossing the Danube River: http://imgur.com/NNolzWv* © IWM (Q 61019)
west Germans take Orsova and Turnu-Severin; repulsed at Slatina (Aluta Valley) but cross Aluta near Caracula.

Southern Front
Macedonia: French and Serbs progress north of Monastir, taking three villages.

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: German destroyers raid in Channel, north end of Downs; little damage.

Political, etc.
Austria-Hungary: New Emperor Charles’ proclamation to Peoples, announces imminent coronation as King of Hungary. The new Austro-Hungarian Emperor Charles I pledges to continue the war until victory is achieved.
United States: With the Hughes’s concession, $3 million in winnings are paid to New Yorkers who bet on Wilson getting reelected.
New Zealand: First conscription ballot.
Greece: Greek Provisional Government (M. Venizelos) at Salonika declare war on Germany and Bulgaria (see September 29th, 1916 and June 27th, 1917).
Greek government refuses Entente demands that it surrenders its weapons and ammunition.

24 November 1916
 

Western Front
Nine RNAS bombers raid Dillingen air works and shoot down a German fighter near Trier (and on December 27).
British soldiers at an advanced dressing station near Beaumont-Hamel, France: http://imgur.com/om8Vb11* © IWM (Q 5798)

Eastern Front
Romania: The city of Orșova, Romania on the Danube River is captured by German and Bulgarian troops. Most of Western Wallachia has fallen.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Egypt: First bombing of Hejaz Railway: 2 RFC Martinsydes from Sinai cause only slight damage to targets north of Maan.

Political, etc.
Russia: Prime Minster and Foreign Minister Boris Stuermer resigns, due to his connections with Rasputin. http://imgur.com/fbm0cs8 Aleksandr Trepov succeeds. http://imgur.com/KiXj9TF
France: French Minister of War introduces a bill that would reexamine all men exempted from service in order to see if they can still be conscripted.
United Kingdom: Death of Sir Hiram Maxim, 1889 inventor of modern machine gun, aged 76, London. https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...machine-gun.jpg
Greece: Admiral Fournet demands 10 mountain batteries by December 1, sees King on November 26. (Other sources list this demand issued yesterday).
Mexico: Mexican rebels under Pancho Villa attack the city of Chihuahua and engage government troops in street-to-street fighting.

25 November 1916
 

Western Front
Artillery bombardment continues at the Somme, but many shells fail to explode due to heavy rain and mud.
French 164 mm naval gun at Belleville-sur-Meuse: http://imgur.com/MBP4IFp* © IWM (Q 78096)

Eastern Front
Romania: Falkenhayn‘s Group Kraftt occupies Rimnik south of Rotenturm Pass (Falkenhayn’s German troops foiled at Slatina November 25-26). Mackensen turns Aluta position by advancing towards Alexandria and Rosiori. Rumanian authorities begin leaving Bucharest for Jassy as general retreat ordered.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Eastern Atlantic: Unescorted French old battleship Suffren (making only 9 kts) sunk with all hands by U-52 off Lisbon.

Political, etc.
Germany: German Patriotic Auxiliary Service Bill presented to Reichstag.
Australia: Despite the embargo on Germany, report shows Australia imported £4000 worth of automobile parts of German origin in the first half of 1916.
United States: Inez Milholland, suffragist & lawyer, died. Her last words:“Mr President, how long must women wait for liberty?” http://imgur.com/PFu1Uov

Interesting note on Inez Milholland.