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17 May 1918
Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Much artillery and aerial activity along front. Metz station bombed by British airmen: Metz-Sablon main station, goods sheds and train hit by 12 DH4s of 55 Squadron (c.90 casualties). Later, 1 Handley Page and 10 F.E.2s (2 lost) attack Thionville (much damage, 35 killed) and Metz-Sablon (night May 17-18). An F.E.2b prepares for a night mission: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...ssion.jpg?ssl=1 Southern Front Albania: Franco-Italian troops drive back Austro-Huingarians west of Koritsa and advance 12 miles. Naval and Overseas Operations Western Mediterranean: French convoy escort Ailly sinks UC-35 (destroyed 42 ships worth 65,569t) with gunfire off Sardinia, Germans believe Q-ship the killer. Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters Palestine: Arab troops raid Turkish post at Wadi Jerdun (Palestine) on Hejaz railway. Mesopotamia: British mounted troops occupy Fatha on Tigris, 45 miles north of Tekrit; Turks retire north. Political, etc United Kingdom: All men born 1898 or 1899 called up. Compulsory meatless day abolished. President of Board of Trade estimates half industry on war work, output below pre-war. "Denaturalisation of Dangerous Aliens" Bill issued. Ireland: Sinn Fein leaders arrested in Ireland and interned (see 25th): Sudden arrest of about 150 Sinn Fein leaders in Ireland for “plotting with Germany”. only Michael Collins and Cathal Brugha escape, but no prosecutions. United States: New York City policemen riding a motorcycle with a machine gun: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...802490325757952 |
18 May 1918
Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Successful raid by Australians west of Morlancourt; in the night they capture Ville-sur-Ancre, take 360 prisoners, 20 machine guns. First British “retaliatory” air raid on German towns. Cologne bombed by day; 33 bombs dropped, from 6 No 55 Squadron DH4s; kill 110 people at Cologne (some panic on streets), which returning repulse 2 German formations, shoot down 2 fighters. Considerable building damage (est. RM 340,000). All British machines return safely. Eastern Front Alexandropol (Georgia) occupied by Turkish forces. Southern Front Air fights in Upper Adriatic, west of Pola, between Italian and Austrian seaplanes. Naval and Overseas Operations Western Mediterranean: Heavily damaged (by carrier Empress seaplane escorting convoy off Gibraltar) U-39 forced into Cartagena (Spain) where interned for duration of war (UC-56 likewise at Santander on May 24). French destroyer Catapulte sinks in collision with British SS Warrimoo off Bone, Algeria. Seaplane carrier HMS Empress: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...press.jpg?ssl=1 Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters Mesopotamia: CIGS agrees to postpone Tigris operations till mid-September, railway to be extended to Tikrit. Armenia: Turkish 12th Division attacks south of river Aras against Gen Silikov’s 6,000-7,000 Armenians with 28 guns (until May 19), occupying Igdir while 5th Division captures two passes on Tiflis road (May 19). Political, etc France: Metal workers strikes ‘until peace’ (until May 28) in Loire Department; 3 infantry battalions, 9 cavalry squadrons, 560 gendarmes tied down. Mainly peaceful until police officers wounded on May 23. Clemenceau’s deputy PPS Barnier arrives on May 24; 43 union leaders arrested night May 25-26 and 73 workers drafted. Ireland: Proclamation by Lord John French (Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland) re: pro-German conspiracy. |
19 May 1918
Western Front
Last German night airplane raid on London in which casualties were inflicted; 49 killed and 177 wounded [There were altogether nineteen airplane raids on London during which bombs were dropped, and one air reconnaissance during which no bombs were dropped.] (see May 7th, July 7th and October 19th, 1917 and August 5th, 1918). This is the largest, last and costliest raid on London by bomber aircraft: 28 of 38 Gothas sent (6 lost, 1 crashes), 3 Giants with 600 (14.3t) bombs. British claims are anti-aircraft fire destroys 2 Gothas, and 88 defence sorties shoot down 3 Gothas in 11 interceptions. The night of 19-20 May 1918 saw the last of the major night raids on England, when 28 G-type and 3 t-type bombers converged on London. Night-flying Sopwith Camels and S.E.5As, together with AA guns, brought down six of he intruders: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...i1918.jpg?ssl=1 Kaiserschlacht: British trench raid south-west of Meteren. French attack near Locre (Kemmel) bags 400 PoWs on May 20. Heavy air fighting and many bombing raids behind German front. France: Heavy German raids on railways and munition dumps (12,500t ammo destroyed until May 22) by Bogohl 6 (and on May 20-21); 935 further British soldiers wounded and nurses killed or injured in 15-plane Gotha raid (1 shot down) on Etaples military camp and hospital complex (key rail bridge, the real target was completely missed) (night May 19-20), repeated (night May 30-31, 47 casualties) when one span of bridge hit, but alternative soon in use (short breaks on June 30 and July 24). Fayolle diary ‘… still discord between Petain and Foch. They … ought to be … one single man’. Southern Front At Capo Sile (north-east corner of Venetian Lagoons) Italian storming party captures and holds Austrian advanced positions. Naval and Overseas Operations Irish Sea: US destroyers Patterson and Allen depth charge and sink new coastal submarine UB-119 west of Cardigan Bay. Mozambique: In East Africa General Edwards occupies Nanungu without opposition; Germans retire south-west towards Mahua. Political, etc China: Agreement signed between China and Japan for naval co-operation (see 16th). |
20 May 1918
Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: French carry out successful operation east and north-east of Locre, 400 prisoners; also big raid near Bermericourt, penetrating the German third line. Local fighting north of Albert; successful operations north-west of Merville by a Surrey battalion. Koblenz bombed. French and British troops wearing gas masks patrolling the damaged streets of Bethune: © IWM (Q 11173): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...145071387201536 Streets in Bethune destroyed by German shelling: © IWM (Q 11163): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...176532525912066 British soldiers bathing in the river near Arras, France: © IWM (Q 8805): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...206728582856704 Eastern Front Trotsky orders Czechs’ disarming by arrest or shooting. Southern Front British airmen bomb Cattaro, return undamaged. Italian seaplanes bomb Durazzo and Lagosta (off Dalmatia). An Italian seaplane is returning to its base: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...rueck.jpg?ssl=1 Political, etc Austria-Hungary: 2,000 troops of 6th Infantry Regiment at Pees mutiny against being sent to Front (especially returned Serb PoWs from Russia), seize arsenal and aided by armed miners but suppressed by 3 Honved regiments. Russia: Central Executive Committee of Bolshevik Party “declares war” on Kulaks (rich peasants). United Kingdom: Appeal to shipowners to provide extra emergency rafts. First minimum agricultural wage in force. Finland: Pehr Svinhufvud and General Gustav von der Goltz agree on German-modelled 30,000-strong peacetime army with German troops remaining. |
21 May 1918
Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Hostile “counter-attack” (once again, probably just a raid, not a full counter-attack) north-west of Merville fails. Successful British raids on Lys front and Arras district. Mannheim, etc., heavily bombed by British airmen: 7 Handley Page bombers (1 lost) of No 216 Squadron RAF cause two-day plant closure at Oppau chemical works, Mannheim (direct hit on gas main). Rail workshops and locomotives hit at Karthaus. 13 F.E.2s of No 100 Squadron dislocate rail traffic at Saarbrücken (night May 21-22). A Handley Page O/400 bomber: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...e-400.jpg?ssl=1 Raid on Paris by two Gothas, one downed. Rumpler C-VII (Drechsel and Foell) flies daring 375-mile high-altitude undetected photo-reconnaissance sortie over London, returns safely to Tournai base. Ernst Udet appointed Commander Jasta 4. Eastern Front Increasing unrest at Kiev; acts of terrorism ineffectually repressed by Germans. Southern Front 2 SVA-5s of Italian 87th Squadriglia photograph Zeppelin works at Friedrichshafen (440-mile round trip). Naval and Overseas Operations French sailors manning a gun on a French Navy ship: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...236928708358144 Mozambique: General Edwards' troops come up with German-aligned forces’ rearguard nine miles south-west of Nanungu. Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters Armenia: Turkish 36th and 9th Divisions throw back Nazarbekov’s c.9,000 Armenians from Amamll Station until May 22; Antranik’s 2,000 Armenians make rearguard stand near Jelal-oglu from May 22-23. Political, etc Russia: SOVNARKOM starts peace talks with Hetman Skoropadski (of the Ukraine) on May 23. |
22 May 1918
Western Front
Liege and Metz railways bombed by British airmen; Mannheim again attacked. 11 F.E.2s and 5 Handley Page bombers attack Kreuzwald electric power station. Raid attempted on Paris by about 30 German machines, but only one reaches capital. 72 bombs cause 23 casualties. A downed German Friedrichshafen G-III bomber at Villers-au-Bois being salvaged by British soldiers: © IWM (Q 12047): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...569125801840640 Canadian ace Billy Bishop returns, as Commander of No 85 Squadron (SE5s, with 3 American pilots), scores 27 more victories until June 19. Billy Bishop checks the Lewis machine gun, here still in his old Nieuport fighter: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...uport.jpg?ssl=1 British 13-pounder anti-aircraft guns in action at Villers-au-Bois: © IWM (Q 8810): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...538921431748608 A U.S. Marine barrack camouflaged to hide it from German aerial surveillance: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...599329899274241 Southern Front Italy: Increased artillery fighting along Piave; an attack at Capo Sile bridgehead repulsed. Allied airmen active. Naval and Overseas Operations North Sea: HMS Vega picking up a ditched Sopwith Camel aircraft during anti-Zeppelin operations: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...508724087087105 Air-raids on Zeebrugge; a German torpedo boat sunk in harbor. Mozambique: In East Africa British engage Germans between Nanungu and Mahua; capture guns and ammunition, (60 casualties including 11 Germans, 67 shells and 70,000 bullets), drive Germans westward. Belgian Congo: Katanga Railway (Bukama – Cape Town) completed. Political, etc United States: U.S. Sedition Bill passed, and $300,000,000 voted for ordnance. |
23 May 1918
Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: One source labels infantry fighting “unimportant”: Successful local raids round Arras. French raids on Kemmel front. Artillery active south of the Avre. A British soldier demonstrating to Americans on boxing at Moulle, France: © IWM (Q 9076): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...879915347992577 British soldiers giving instructions to Americans on camouflage at Moulle, France: © IWM (Q 10315): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...895014796316673 British and captured German soldiers carrying a wounded soldier back from the frontlines: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...925218637901826 A hospital in Paris destroyed by a German long-range cannon: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...198368378257409 A British soldier using a hose to extinguish a fire after an ammunition dump exploded at Saigneville: © IWM (Q 11479): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...243732397457408 Destroyed remains of a British ammunition dump at Saigneville, France after it caught fire: © IWM (Q 11478): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...228576573554692 Two French veterans showing off their prosthetic legs at an American Red Cross facility at St. Maurice. In the middle is a French boy who also lost a leg due to a grenade: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...274048742977536 Southern Front Italy: Infantry fighting on Italian mountain front increases; much aerial activity. Naval and Overseas Operations Channel: British armed mercantile cruiser Moldavia, carrying American troops, torpedoed and sunk in Channel; one source says 56 lost, another says 64 lost. Adriatic: Royal Navy submarine H.4 sinks returning coastal submarine UB-52 40 miles south of Cattaro. UB-52 sunk on the way back to Cattaro: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...UB-52.jpg?ssl=1 Belgian Congo: Katanga Railway (Bukama – Cape Town) completed. Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters Arabia: Arabs successfully attack Turks near Abu Naam (80 miles north of Medina). Armenia: Movses Silikov retakes Sardarabad and drives Turkish 11th Division 30 miles north until May 24 while other Armenian units drive Turkish vanguard back to Amamli. Political, etc Russia: Factory delegates in Moscow call for strike against Soviet Government. United Kingdom: War Cabinet decides to send 560-man military mission to Archangel to train Whites and 600 troops to Murmansk; they decide large scale intervention inevitable on May 29. Robert Lockhart sends Foreign Office Savinkov plan ‘to murder all Bolshevik leaders on night of Allied landing and form a Government … in reality a military dictatorship’. United States: U.S. National Conscription (fight or work) after 1 July decided on. U.S. Army in France announces it will issue its troops 0.4 ounces of tobacco and 10 rolls of cigarette papers as part of daily rations. Minor Allies: Costa Rica declares war on Germany (see September 21st, 1917). |
24 May 1918
Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Many raids by both sides. Flanders: British at Nieppe Forest bombed by gas shells. Aisne: 12 tanks from German lines unable to cross French ‘Bardooelles Trench’. A German captured tank Mk IV is rolling to Allied lines: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...-Tank.jpg?ssl=1 Germany: Thyssen blast furnaces and iron/steel works Hagendingen attacked by 8 DH9s of No 99 Squadron (which shoot down 1 fighter). A nursery room at an American Red Cross hospital near Paris damaged by German bombs. There was no loss of life in this attack at the nursery: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...561907194417154 Britain: BEF Tank Corps Lieutenant-Colonel JFC Fuller writes ‘Plan 1919’ for Allied tank (4,992 requested) and all-vehicle breakthrough on broad front. Haig receives revised version July 21. Foch agrees in principle August 6. Further refinements of this plan served as the basis for the Blitzkrieg operations by the Germans in World War II. Southern Front Josef Kiss, the most successful flying ace of the Austro-Hungarian Empire with 19 victories, is killed in action over Italy: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...637419610857472 Naval and Overseas Operations Cruiser USS Olympia joins Royal Navy squadron in Murmansk. Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters Palestine: British Field Marshal Edmund Allenby, commander of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, being greeted by members of the Jewish community in Jerusalem: © IWM (Q 13211): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...592111178739713 Mesopotamia: Kirkuk evacuated by the British forces (see 7th and October 25th). Siberia: General F.C. Poole lands at Murmansk to organise the North Russia Expeditionary Force (see June 4th, 8th and 23rd). General Grigory Semyonov makes steady progress, organising anti-Bolshevist forces in Siberia. Political, etc United Kingdom: Government issues statement exposing Sinn Fein intrigues with Germany and the revolutionary movement in Ireland. Canada: Canada passes an Act granting women the right to vote in federal elections. Asian and aboriginal women are excluded. |
25 May 1918
Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Day and night trench raids by British. Heavy shelling by Germans of Villers-Bretonneux area. British air raid on Bruges docks. The Royal Scots Greys doing drills at Brimeaux, France: © IWM (Q 8948) © IWM (Q 8948): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...955764042223619 British and French troops cheering on top of a captured German A7V tank near Saleux: © IWM (Q 65533): (Isn’t this photo a repeat?) https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...046369372024833 Eastern Front Western Russia: Germans arrest 60 conspirators in Dvinsk. Southern Front Italian Alpini troops advancing on Mount Zigolon and Cima Bresena in the Alps: © IWM (Q 65333): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...985958236942336 Austro-Hungarian prisoners captured by the Italians at Tonale Pass: © IWM (Q 65331): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...016167585579010 Piave: Bersaglieri and Arditi surprise more Austrian Capo Sile positions and repel two counter-attacks (night May 25-26). Trentino: Alpini attack in Tonale-Adamello region (west of Lake Garda) and capture line of five major peaks commanding upper Val Carnonica. Austria-Hungarian position in the Alps 1918: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...-1918.jpg?ssl=1 Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters Arabia: Arabs raid El Hasa and Ferafrai stations (Hejaz railway, north of Maan). Persia: 1,600 British (51 casualties) with 4 guns defeat Saulat’s 4,800 tribesmen (estimated 600-700 casualties) at Deh Shaikh 11 miles west of Shiraz and return there on May 27. Armenia: Heavy fighting continues between Ottoman and Armenian forces, with the Ottomans attacking at Karakilisa and Armenians counterattacking at Bash Abaran. Armenian 2nd Cavalry Regiment charge Turks successfully. Dro’s troops hold Bas-Abaran Defile north of Erevan (May 29) against Turkish 3rd Regiment of 11th Division. Siberia: c.60,000-strong Czech Legion begins revolt against Reds. Political, etc Russia: First Congress of Councils of National Economy in Moscow. Canada: Canadian workers in Toronto constructing a Felixstowe F5 Flying Boat: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...668881579966464 Belgium: King Albert thanks U.S.A. |
26 May 1918
Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: No infantry actions of importance; increased artillery activity at certain points north and south of the Avre. A shop in Amiens, France covered by sandbags to protect it from German bombs and artillery: © IWM (Q 11011): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...329463341764608 Aisne: 2 German PoWs reveal offensive next day, Duchene’s Sixth Army mans overdense first line from 16:15 hours. Members of the Chinese Labour Corps in France entertaining British and American troops at Samer: © IWM (Q 8855): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...359665253969920 American, British, Canadian, and Australian soldiers playing a baseball game in France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...389865698099201 African American soldiers in the US Army performing in a jazz band at Camp Upton in New York state: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...420063806140416 Southern Front Good progress made by Italian troops in mountain passes between Lake Garda and Swiss frontier (Monticello and Adamello region). Naval and Overseas Operations H.M. Transport Leasowe Castle sunk in Mediterranean by enemy submarine, 101 lost. North Sea: US Mine Squadron 1 (Captain Reg Belkap’s 19 minelayers with 5,530 mines) arrives at Invergordon to help lay Northern Barrage with 57,000 US-made mines in next 5 months, about 5% explode prematurely. Often 1 minelayer laid over 43 miles in 3 1/2 hours. Grand Fleet cruises off Heligoland Bight minefields while Harwich Force goes through, but no German response. Destroyer Shakespeare mined but towed home by cruiser Centaur. A mine of the type used in the Allied North Sea barrage built during 1918: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...perre.jpg?ssl=1 Channel: Royal Navy patrol yacht Lorna depth charges and sinks coastal submarine UB-74 in Lyme Bay. Mozambique: In Portuguese East Africa Germans driven south towards Upper Lurio river. Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters Armenia: Battle of Karakilise (until May 28): Nazarbekov, outflanked north and south by Turks, escapes via mountain paths and covers Delljan from west with 5,000 survivors (until May 29). Political, etc Russia: Trans-Caucasian Federal Government (see September 20th, 1917 and April 22nd, 1918), dissolved. Georgia: The Democratic Republic of Georgia declares itself independent. The National Council Meeting in Tbilisi, Georgia declaring independence: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...298004455321600 Armenia: Armenian National Council assume charge of Armenian affairs (see June 8th). Azerbaijan: Tatar National Council proclaim establishment of a "Republic of Azerbaijan." |
27 May 1918
Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Operation Blücher-Yorck begins (see June 6th). Known to the Allies as Battle of the Aisne 1918 or Third Battle of the Aisne on Chemin des Dames. 4000 German artillery pieces fire on Allied lines. German infantrymen then attack on a 25-mile front. Craonne again taken by German forces (see May 4th, 1917 and October 12th, 1918). Four tired French and 4 weak British divisions on river Aisne are attacked between Soissons and Reims, river first reached in under 6 hours. Germans capture Chemins des Dames and Craonne in record advance up to 12 miles destroying 4 divisions. 1 million German rounds phosgene and diphenyl-chlorarsine vs French troops; 4,980 gassed (71 deaths) until June 5. There is also a smaller attack between Locre and Voormezeele. German stormtroopers cross a makeshift bridge during the drive against Chemin des Dames: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...dames.jpg?ssl=1 Wounded British and French troops returning from the frontlines at Muscourt: © IWM (Q 6661): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...752248236990470 German troops reach the Aisne and Vesle Rivers, advancing 15 km against Allied lines. German troops on the advance: © IWM (Q 88094): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...782450623119360 Kaiser Wilhelm Geschuetz (long-range gun; aka Pariskanone) bombard Paris (104 shells until June 11). German troops watching their artillery fire at British lines at Berry-au-Bac: © IWM (Q 55007): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...661649026666501 British troops defending against the new German offensive at the Aisne River at Maizy: © IWM (Q 6659): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...691851056304128 Germany: 12 F.E.2s (1 lost) of No 106 Squadron raid Kreuzwald power station and Metz-Sablon railway. An F.E.2 force-lands in enemy lines, crew escape and rejoin squadron on May 30. 3 Handley Pages attack Mannheim and Kreuzwald (night May 27-28). Western Front: JG1 and 3, 5 Jagdstaffeln, 14 Schlachtstaffeln, 23 Fliegerabteilungen and 2 Bombengeschwader support Ludendorff’s Aisne offensive after lavish air reconnaissance, 19 planes lost until May 30, mainly to anti-aircraft fire; 3,323 fighter sorties until June 18. France: 15 German aircraft (1 lost) raid Paris (4 bombs). An American soldier training to use an anti-aircraft gun by aiming at a model aerocraft: © IWM (Q 108878): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...722051303342080 Southern Front Italians storms Austrian positions at Capo Sile, north-east of Venice. Naval and Overseas Operations British air raid on Durazzo (Albania); Austrian torpedo-boat sunk. Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters Armenia: Battle of Karakilise (until May 28): Battle is ongoing, but no particular developments today. Siberia: Czechs take over Chelyabinsk and refuse to surrender arms at Penza, take town on May 28 (400 Red casualties) but evacuate it on May 31. Political, etc United Kingdom: Parliamentary Paper (Cd. 9059) published on methods used by Germany in the past to influence British trade. Finland: Carl Mannerheim resigns as C-in-C over future army organization (excessive German influence), leaves for Stockholm on June 1. |
28 May 1918
Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Operation Blücher-Yorck. Known to the Allies as Battle of the Aisne 1918 or Third Battle of the Aisne: Germans cross the Aisne on 18-mile front; battle of plateau between Aisne and Vesle, Allies fall back, Germans force passage of Vesle. Allies left and right wings make stand at Vregny plateau and heights of St. Thierry. Germans now have 40-mile wide, 15-mile deep bridgehead across Aisne, also cross the Vesle. Ex-BEF GHQ liaison officer General des Vallieres, French 151st Division Commander, killed by German machine-gun at Juvigny. Allied stand at Vregny plateau and heights of St Thierry as 3 reserve divisions arrive. German officer reports ‘regrettable excesses … serious drunkenness’. Germans capture Magneux airfield on Aisne with all its aircraft. A second French bomber group joins Aisne air battle. German troops on the advance: © IWM (Q 88094): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...782450623119360 German troops advancing on Fismes during the 3rd Battle of the Aisne: © IWM (Q 55017): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...123499329642498 Tired British soldiers sleep in a ditch while a French soldier stands guard: © IWM (Q 6681): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...153695915167744 Line restored south of Ypres. Battle of Cantigny: First AEF offensive operation, by US 28th Infantry Regiment (3,874 men; 823 casualties), 1st Division captures village and beats off 3 counter-attacks by German 82nd Reserve Division (c.1,000 casualties) until May 29. US troops supportted by French Schneider tanks advance during the Battle of Cantigny: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...tigny.jpg?ssl=1 and https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...138599985909761 “Big” British R.A.F. raids into Germany: 10 DH9s of No 99 Squadron attack rail targets at Bensdorf. A British soldier in a ditch with his pet dog at Guyencourt: © IWM (Q 6682): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...078189832265729 British tank captured by the Germans: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...093297375465473 Eastern Front The Cossacks of the Don notify Ukraine Government of their opposition to the Soviets and of independence of the rest of Russia. Southern Front Italy: Two Austro-Hungarian counter-attacks repulsed at Capo Sile. General Armando Diaz informs Ferdinand Foch and CIGS Sir H Wilson that he has postponed his own offensive (towards Valsuguna) to deal with imminent Austrian one. British aeroplanes bomb Cattaro. Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters Palestine: British advance two miles north from Jaffa. Armenia: Battle of Karakilise (until May 28): Severe fighting near Alexandropol (90 miles south of Tiplis). Siberia: Colonel Grigory Semyonov forced by Bolsheviks to retire to right bank of Onon (Mongolia). Political, etc Between warring powers: British Government opens negotiations with Germany for direct exchange of prisoners on lines of Franco-German Convention. Armenia: Armenia declares her independence. The documents of Armenia and Azerbaijan's declaration of independence: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...046691049541636 |
29 May 1918
Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Operation Blücher-Yorck. Known to the Allies as Battle of the Aisne 1918 or Third Battle of the Aisne: Soissons again taken by German forces (see 27th and August 2nd). Further Allied retreat. On left, the Germans sweep over Vregny Plateau, take Soissons; in center gain heights south of the Vesle, make progress towards the Marne, and cross river Ourcq. French forced off ‘Paris Line’. Duchene tells Clemenceau his army ‘simply marching to the rear’. On right, Allied troops covering Reims fall back behind Aisne Canal. French PoWs who were captured at the opening stages of the German offensive: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...rz-KG.jpg?ssl=1 Germans repulsed near Kemmel. Bombs on Metz and Thionville; Half of 12-strong formation of No 99 Squadron return with engine trouble. Four French Spad fighter patrols (1 lost) first encounter new Fokker D-VII and claim to shoot 5 down. French and British troops defending an open field near Courville: © IWM (Q 6656): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...376371954933760 A French refugee family at Reuil fleeing the German offensive: © IWM (Q 6690): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...409076948029440 German troops enjoying fresh milk from a cow they captured in the French countryside near Soissons: © IWM (Q 55335): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...440592197545989 French and British soldiers on the retreat, along with a pig they brought with them, at Romigny: © IWM (Q 6692): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...470811964891138 Southern Front Artillery actions on the Doiran-Vardar front and in Serbian sector. Bad weather hampers activity. Political, etc Austria-Hungary: Peace Treaty signed at Vienna between Austria-Hungary and Finland. Russia: Central Executive Committee decrees partial conscription for Red Army and forms Supreme Revolutionary Tribunal. Martial law in Moscow; Lenin sends Stalin to Tsaritsyn to organize food supplies. United Kingdom: Report of Food Production Department issued, showing that four million acres have been added for tillage; and that four-fifths of country's food for the year will be home-grown. United States: U.S. communique sympathising with Czecho-Slovaks and Yugo-Slavs. Finland: Government forms special 5-man courts to try Reds (67,000 convicted, 265 executed); 11,783 Red PoWs die of disease until August. |
30 May 1918
Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Operation Blücher-Yorck. Known to the Allies as Battle of the Aisne 1918 or Third Battle of the Aisne: French hold Germans up south of Soissons, preventing further advance. Fère-en-Tardenois taken by German forces (see 27th and July 28th): in center Germans capture Fere-en-Tardenois and Vezilly, and increase their pressure towards Ville-en-Tardenois, reach the Marne near Jaulgonne, and gain some forts north-west of Reims. Germans claim capture of 35,000 prisoners and much war material. Germans reach river Marne in strength, capturing Chateau-Thierry and Dormans and advance on Compiegne but 8 Allied divisons arriving including US 3rd Division. French retire from river Ailette. British form Gater’s Force (until June 19) from 21st Division remnants. Foch gives Petain reserve Tenth Army (Maistre) from Picardy. Banks in Sopwith Camel of No 43 Squadron destroys Friedrichshafen night bomber; RAF bomb towns behind German lines in occupied France and Belgium. Germany: 16 D.H.4s attack Thionville; direct hits on officers’ billet (10 casualties), rail station, tracks and rolling stock. France: 6 German bombers raid Paris (and on May 31), 17 bombs cause 6 casualties. North Sea: 5 German seaplanes (from Borkum) destroy Yarmouth-based flying boat (3 PoWs including US NCF Ensign JJ Roe) German troops in the ruined streets of Soissons: © IWM (Q 87661): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...501022228025346 Southern Front Macedonia: Franco-Greek success at Srka di Legen, 1,500 prisoners taken (11 miles west of River Vardar). At 0455 hours Greek Crete and Archipelago divisions (2,659 casualties) storm fortified Bulgarian 49th Regiment salient, rocky outwork of their line 10 miles west of the Vardar, in a morning behind Anglo-French creeping barrage and after diversionary operations since May 28; 1,812 Bulgarian-German PoWs (800 killed), 50 MGs and 60 mortars taken. Brilliant limited military success of great political value in Greece for Venizelos, makes war fashionable. Bulgarian afternoon and night counter-attacks fail. Greek Evzones in May 1918. The five elite Evzone regiments are used as assault troops, but incurred such heavy losses in the two Balkan and World Wars that they were disbanded in 1944, leaving just the Royal Guard: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...zones.jpg?ssl=1 Trentino: 35 Royal Flying Corps Sopwith Camels bomb (1t) and strafe (9,000 rounds) Austro-Hungarian huts north of Val d’Assa. Italian Voisin lands air observer Lieutenant Camillo de Carlo behind Austrian lines for 3 months; he discovers date of Piave offensive. Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters Mesopotamia: British bomb Turks at Fatha (Tigris, above Tekrit) and at junction of Lesser Zab river. Political, etc Japan: Publication of Chino-Japanese Note re: military agreements. |
31 May 1918
Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Operation Blücher-Yorck. Known to the Allies as Battle of the Aisne 1918 or Third Battle of the Aisne: Germans reach Marne river from Chateau Thierry to Dormans and advance on Compiegne. French retire from River Ailette, drive Germans east of Sempigny, and recover Thillois (west of Reims). Battlefield debut of French Renault FT-17 light tank: 30 (3 lost) in Retz Forest helps stem German advance as do 4 more divisions. French light FT-17 with Hotchkiss machine-gun passes Allied soldiers in the summer 1918: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...-17-1.jpg?ssl=1 A British soldier taking cover as German artillery shells burst near him at Achicourt, France: © IWM (Q 11038): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...136371165892608 During May 250,000 US troops sail for France, record of 9 divisors land. British bomb Karlsruhe, (78 casualties) and stop factory production for 1 hour. Air-to-air combat over river Aisne costs 12 German and 17 French aircraft. Lieutenant Duncan Campbell (94th Aero Squadron) becomes first American air arm ace with his 5th victory. Total Allied May losses 362 aircraft and 24 balloons. German non-combat loss 175 aircraft and 201 in action. A crashed RAF Sopwith F.1 Camel aircraft in France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...863415860748289 French refugee woman with her dog at Dormans fleeing the German offensive: © IWM (Q 6689): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...772759028989953 American cavalryman at Rennes, France: © IWM (80360): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...802995447881728 The statue of St. Luke decapitated by the German bombing of the Madeleine church in Paris: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...833205346062336 Southern Front Greek and French troops capture Bulgarian positions at Skra, taking over 2000 prisoners. Bulgarian prisoners of war: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...104953706635264 Naval and Overseas Operations British destroyer HMS Fairy sunk in collision with SM UC-75, which also sinks. The Fairy: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...166578698387457 President Lincoln, U.S. transport, torpedoed by U-90; 26 dead. During May Allied and neutral shipping lost to U-boats: 112 ships (59 British with 407 lives lost) worth 294,019t (192,432 British including ship mined). U-boat figure 139 ships worth 296,558t including most successful 1918 month in Mediterranean, 56 ships worth 122,7175t of which 12 (9,923t) to Austrians. Record of 14 U-boats sunk (3 in Mediterranean). Mozambique: Fighting near Imagu Hills (160 miles north-east of Blantyre). Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters Arabia: British bomb Turkish camps near Amman (Hejaz railway). Political, etc France: Paris munition plants: ‘Morale of the workers is excellent’. United Kingdom: War Savings certificates reach 2 million. In May Labour Ministry creates Appointments Department for officers. May’s 197,274t new merchant shipping a record. Turkey: Great fire at Constantinople for 27 hours, causes 520,000 Turkish Pounds damage. Maximum prices abolished, trade made free. Belgium: Gérard Cooreman succeeds Charles, Baron de Broqueville as Prime Minister. United States: War Secretary can conscript conscientious objectors for unpaid farm work. Frederick Trump, German-American businessman born in Kallstadt, Kingdom of Bavaria, has passed away in Queens, New York: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...878502524772357 Netherlands: Dutch Government refuses to tolerate British examination of convoyed ships. |
1 June 1918
164 Days to Armistice
Western Front Kaiserschlacht: Operation Blücher-Yorck. Known to the Allies as Battle of the Aisne 1918 or Third Battle of the Aisne: Germans advance down River Ourcq, taking Chouy and Neuilly St. Front. Marne: Germans held between the Oise and Marne (US 3rd Division MG battalion in action, with 5 more divisions arriving including US 2nd) but reach edge of Villers-Cotterets Forest 40 miles from Paris. Champagne: French lose and retake Fort de la Pompelle (dominating Reims-Chalons Railway, south-east of Reims); French retreat between Oise and Aisne to line Carlepont Wood (south of Noyon) - Fontenoy (north of Soissons). Map of the latest German advance: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...242081174310913 German bombardment of, and air raid on, Paris. 3 German bombers raid Paris (14 bombs, 28 casualties), single aircraft raids (June 3-7, 15,26) and three more (June 27, 2 lost, 25 casualties). A chart for recognizing German military airplanes: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...483660375945218 US troops march through a French village to the front: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...stadt.jpg?ssl=1 The Royal Air Force Nursing Service is formed. Germans claim 32 Allied aircraft for loss of 12. Captain P L Weiller made Commander of Groupe des Escs de Grande Reconnaissance (Breguet recon, artillery spotter and bomber units). A Handley Page Type O/400 bomber preparing to takeoff at Dunkirk Aerodrome for a mission: © IWM (Q 11547): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...544057187487745 Germany: During June 1,000-2,000 flu cases per German division. An American Red Cross nurse serving water to a badly wounded British soldier at Montmirail, France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...196783743864834 Allied military officials meet in Versailles to coordinate the war. General Herbert Studd, Chief of Staff of the British section of the Supreme War Council, arriving: © IWM (Q 78174): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...513858211262464 Southern Front Salonika: During June 10,000 French and 10,000 British withdrawn for Western Front (12 British battalions transferred from June 16); Greek 2nd (Athens) Division becomes operational (in line by June 26); 28 Bulgarians desert to British in mid month warn of offensive, but cancelled due to mutiny. 80,000t of supplies per week being landed at Salonika (10,109 British casualties in hospital). During June Anglo-French claim to destroy 12 Bulgarian aircraft. Italian Front: Diaz warns his 7 army commanders not to repeat recent Anglo-French Western Front mistakes with their reserves. During June Czechoslovak Division formed. Adriatic: In June Germans send 6 seaplanes for courier and postal work. Naval and Overseas Operations Mozambique: Germans retreat in East Africa, crossing River Lurio (to east of southern end of Lake Nyassa). Fighting near Imagu Hills (160 miles north-east of Blantyre, Nyassaland). Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters Mesopotamia: Withdrawal of British in Kirkuk area (east of Tigris, between Mosul and Baghdad). Political, etc Germany: Krupp’s Essen Works now has 75,000 men and 23,000 women. During June 1920 conscript class called up. France: Food rationing cards compulsory. In June Andre Maurois publishes Les Silences of Colonel Bramble. United Kingdom: IN JUNE FLU PANDEMIC BEGINS IN INDIA AND BRITAIN. Required farm production 108% (February level). Sugar production cut to 25% of 1915 for year. OW Griffith’s Hearts of the World(starring Lillian Gish) opens in London in June. United States: Food Administrator warns v boycotting sauerkraut (‘liberty cabbage’). War Secretary Baker authorizes inquiry into conscientious objectors, 130 Mennonites jailed. At Pittsburgh, expatriate Czech and Slovak leaders sign an agreement to form a united, independent country after the end of the war. |
2 June 1918
Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Operation Blücher-Yorck. Known to the Allies as Battle of the Aisne 1918 or Third Battle of the Aisne: Violent battle on Ourcq; Germans take and lose Longpont, Corcy, Faverolles (again retaken) and Troesnes. German attack on Chateau-Thierry road, south-east of Bouresches (north-west of Chateau-Thierry), repulsed. French troops patrolling the damaged streets of Chateau-Thierry: © IWM (Q 58199): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...589361869918208 French capture Champlat (12 miles south-west of Reims). Fierce fight at Choisy Hill, south of Noyon. End of Third Battle of the Aisne. Battle of Belleau Wood begins as American reserves are rushed to the woods to cover a gap created in the French lines by the German offensive. (Listed for yesterday): Roderic Dallas, the 2nd most successful Australian ace with 39 victories, is killed in action over Liévin, France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...574259707895815 Oberleutnant Göring awarded Pour le Merite. Hermann Göring with the Pour le Merite (Blue Max) around his neck: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...erite.jpg?ssl=1 Germans claim 38 Allied aircraft for loss of 17. A Paris block damaged by an overnight German Gotha bomber raid: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...830950995283969 Pershing to ask for 250,000 men per month in June and July. A British soldier of the 6th Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment with the regiment’s cat mascot in a trench near Cambrin: © IWM (Q 8463): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...891343574847488 A British soldier wearing anti-mosquito clothing issued to soldiers on night duty during the summer: © IWM (HU 82035): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...921544623026177 Eastern Front In the aftermath of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk and Russia's exit from the First World War, the Allied Supreme War Council sanctions joint intervention to secure the existing Allied presence in Russia's northern ports. The excuse is that Allied intervention is undertaken in an effort to inhibit the transfer of German troops between the Eastern and Western Fronts, to deny Russian resources to the Germans and to prevent the German Navy from using the ports as bases from which submarines could threaten transatlantic shipping. Southern Front An Italian Obice da 305/17 modello 16 self-propelled heavy howitzer at Sandrigo: © IWM (Q 78085): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...861145689116672 Naval and Overseas Operations U.S.N. has 150 vessels in European waters. At Allied Supreme War Council Admiral Revel says with pride no major Italian warship has left harbor for 6 months and no losses incurred! Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters Siberia: Defeat of Bolsheviks by Semyonov in east Siberia. Political, etc Sweden: Publication in Politiken (Swedish Socialist paper) of Secret Convention between Germany and Finland. |
I'm not sure I'd ever heard the Allied reasoning for stationing troops in Russia's northern ports. Interesting tidbit. Thanks. So much good stuff in this series. Thanks, GG!
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3 June 1918
Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Choisy Hill retaken by French for 5th time. Germans capture Pernant (west of Soissons). Petain organizes reinforced French cordon round Aisne salient. 27 Allied divisons have arrived since May 28. Legion stiffens French defense northwest of Villers-Cotterets (night June 5-6 until around June 14). French check German attempts to enter Forest of Villers-Cotterets, re-capture Faverolles. French and US soldiers rush ammunition supplies to the front at the Aisne: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...Aisne.jpg?ssl=1 Battle of Belleau Wood: After 30-mile advance Germans reach the Marne: French and Americans force Germans back over Marne at Jaulgonne (north-east of Chateau-Thierry). US 2nd and 3rd Divisions block the advance at Chateau-Thierry, ‘Retreat hell! We just got here’ attributed to Captain Lloyd S Williams USMC, Belleau Wood. Franco-American troops eliminate German Jaulgonne bridgehead (100 PoWs). American soldiers manning a trench near Baccarat, France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...253732707045377 Churchill visits BEF GHQ, Paris and Front until June 13. Le radiogramme de la victoire’: French intercept German Eighteenth Army ammo delivery message, hints at Montdidier offensive (June 9). Funeral for nurses killed in a air raid at a hospital at Etaples, France: © IWM (Q 11035): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...283932824121346 French and American troops inspect a German AEG G.IV bomber shot down near Catillon, France: © IWM (Q 65566): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...315393249890306 Naval and Overseas Operations German submarines off New Jersey (U.S.A.) sink nine vessels. Six of them are by U-151: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...951743100149760 in a single day. SS Pinar del Rio sunk off Maryland on June 8. Mozambique: German retreat in East Africa; Germans dislodged from crossings of Upper Lurio. Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters Palestine: British air-raid on Amman (on Hejaz railway, 25 miles north-east of Jericho). Limited imports allowed through Egypt. Siberia: Retreat of Semyonov on Borsia (120 miles from Karimskaya on Siberian Railway); similarly captures Gurks, 93 miles northeast on June 6, but retreats on June 10. Political, etc Among Allied Powers: British, French, and Italian Governments make declarations supporting national aspirations of Poles, Czecho-Slovaks, and Yugo-Slavs (see February 20th, June 29th, August 13th, September 25th and November 16th). United Kingdom: The Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Force Cross, Distinguished Flying Medal and Air Force Medal are instituted for acts of gallantry in the air. British Government admits recognition of Czecho-Slovak aims. King George V fires all men up the age of 35 in the service of the royal household so that they can serve in the military. Ireland: Proclamation of Lord French re: Irish recruiting. Japan: Government approves Allied intervention in Siberia. United States: U.S. Secretary of War Baker announces military deaths due to suicide, homicide, and military execution will not be disclosed and cause of death will be listed under “accidents and other causes.” |
4 June 1918
Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Germans capture Veuilly-la-Poterie (half-way between Ourcq and Chateau-Thierry). Battle of Belleau Wood: Americans check Germans at Veuilly Wood. Map showing the extent of the German advance at the Third Aisne Battle: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...558244026081280 France: Dover Patrol given 82nd Wing (7 squadrons) for continued bombing of Belgian coast. Germans bomb Dunkirk airfields (nights June 4-5, 5-6); 200 bombs from 24 aircraft disable 52 RAF aircraft on June 6 and 7 and force Couderkerque airfield’s abandonment. North Sea: Large 50-minutes seaplane action off Terschelling Island, 2 of 5 RAF planes lost after action with 10 German seaplanes (1 washed ashore). Western Front: Commander Vuillemin’s 120 French bombers (GB6 and GB9) break up German Ninth Army attack east of Retz Forest. Germans claim 18 Allied aircraft for loss of 1. Eastern Front British Marines land at Pechenga (North Russia) (see May 24th). Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters Palestine: British air raid on Amman. Persia: Lionel Dunsterville at Kazvin, leaves with Anglo-Russian force on June 5; 1,000 motorized troops and 2 guns with 500 vans forming at Hamadan (2 Duncars arrive on June 6). Political, etc Among Central Powers: Ukraine Government recognized by Central Powers. Germany: German article on main Continental idea. Russia: Robert Lockhart to British Foreign Office ‘If you do not intervene within … days or weeks … we shall have lost a golden opportunity’. Lithuania: Lithuania proclaims royal constitution, Duke of Wurttemberg accepts throne (elected August 31). Ukraine: The Don Cossacks declare independence. France: M. Georges Clemenceau praises armies of French and Allies:, addresses French Chamber ‘I shall fight before Paris … in Paris … behind Paris.’, wins vote 337-110. The old ‘Tiger’ Clemenceau (second from left) visits a French aviator unit: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...nceau.jpg?ssl=1 United Kingdom: Men of 18 generally lose military service exemption. Turkey: Government sign peace with Armenians, Azerbaijanis and Georgians. Belgium: M. Gérard Cooreman succeeds Baron Charles de Brogneville as Belgian Prime Minister. United States: Renewal of Anglo-American Arbitration Treaty. |
5 June 1918
Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Near Vingre (north-west of Soissons) German attempt to cross Aisne checked. German attacks at Longpont (north of Forest of Retz) and at Chezy (south of Ourcq) defeated by French. Germans claim 31 Allied aircraft for loss of 7, air fighting diminishes until June 9. British independent Air Force in France constituted under tactical command of Major-General Sir Hugh M. Trenchard. It begins operations from Nancy. Organized as 8th Brigade RAF, initially with 4 squadrons (grew to 9); Nos 216 (Handley Pages), 55 (DH4), 99 (arrived May 3) and 100 (F.E.2). Only the Handley Pages and DH4s have strategic range and high performance, but 74 attacks made in June. A Handley Page bomber is landing. More than 400 were delivered until the end of the war: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...nding.jpg?ssl=1 Sir W. R. Robertson appointed to command of British home forces. Scottish Highlanders at a shrine damaged by German shellfire at Sailly-Labourse: © IWM (Q 11042): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...619902140375040 Surgery for a wounded Australian soldier near the frontlines: © IWM (E(AUS) 2375): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...665211952451585 A factory on fire after it was hit by German incendiary shells at Sailly-Labourse, France: © IWM (Q 11063): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...680302491893760 Naval and Overseas Operations British armed boarding-steamer HMS Snaefell torpedoed and sunk, allegedly by Russian submarine; in reality, the attacker was SM UB-105. Political, etc Austria-Hungary: Speech of Count Tisza in Hungarian Diet re: Dual Alliance extension. United Kingdom: Madsen (US) machine-gun debate in House of Commons. United States: Second Registration adds 750,000 21-year-olds to draft list. |
6 June 1918
Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: A claim that today, as opposed to several days ago: Battle of the Aisne, 1918, ends (see May 27th). Germans capture village and height of Bligny (south-west of Reims); height re-taken by British; counter-attacks by Allies, especially in region nearest to Paris. Map of the battle area: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...377695688503296 Battle of Belleau Wood: US 2nd Division and 4th US Marine Brigade counter-attack west of Chateau-Thierry and capture Vaux, Bouresches and Belleau Wood (1,087 killed; 7,000 wounded). Crown Prince orders consolidation of line won. British recapture Fligny village height southwest of Reims until May 7. Clemenceau sacks Franchet d’Esperey from Northern Army Group, but sends him to Salonika on June 11. Allied Supreme War Council settles Haig-Foch tussle over reserves. Franco-US forces recapture Veuilly-La Poterie and Vinly. US soldiers in battle, summer 1918: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...fecht.jpg?ssl=1 Gotha raid on Paris. The first operational sorties are mounted by the Independent Force of the Royal Air Force. Ten de Havilland DH4s attacked Koblenz and five de Havilland DH9s attack Thionville. RAF 9th Brigade (200 aircraft, squadron sent 3) reinforces 1,000 French aircraft in fierce air fighting over Roye, Montdidier and Noyon. French Schneider tanks lined up before being loaded onto railway trucks at Conty: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...967192373874688 American soldier manning the trenches in Alsace: © IWM (Q 58200): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...997398207795200 A French refugee family at the Gare de Lyon railway station in Paris: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...361042137436162 British Army Service Corps preparing films for the soldiers’ entertainment: © IWM (Q 8885): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...936993334751232 Eastern Front Josef Stalin arrives in Tsaritsyn by train with 2 armored cars and 400 Red Guards. Southern Front General Adolphe Guillaumat, Allied Commander-in-Chief, Salonika, recalled to Paris (see 15th and 18th and December 22nd, 1917). Naval and Overseas Operations Dutch hospital ship Koningen Regentes sunk by torpedo from SM UB-107: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...300637012660224 Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters Siberia: Capture of Gurks (93 miles north-east of Borsia on Kharbin-Karimskaya Railway) by Semyonov. Political, etc Among Allied Powers: Britain, France, and Italy announce that they are committed in creating an independent Poland that has free access to the seas after the war. Russia: Vladimir Lenin accepts German ultimatum for Black Sea Fleet’s return to Sevastopol. United States: Belgian soldiers on parade in New York City: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...027606071533569 American soldiers training to use Ayrton or trench fans to clear poison gas from trenches at Camp Kearny, California: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...330837586923522 |
7 June 1918
Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Battle of Belleau Wood: American and French troops continue their counterattack at Belleau Wood, capturing Torcy and taking 300 German prisoners. French and Americans also capture Veuilly-la-Poterie and Vinly (west of Chateau-Thierry), Bouresches and Hill 204 (west of Chateau-Thierry). British regain Bligny. American soldiers manning a machine gun position at a railway work shop at Chateau-Thierry: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...666797856120833 Germany: 13 DHs attack rail targets at Conz and Thionville; No 55 Squadron unable to reach primary target (Koblenz clouded over), as on June 8 and 13. Eastern Front British force lands at Kern (North Russia) (see May 24th). Lenin orders Murmansk Soviet to oppose Allies. By now Germans have occupied Bataisk south of Rostov. Naval and Overseas Operations Mediterranean: Most of first 36 US submarine chasers arrive with tender Leonidas at Corfu, having crossed Atlantic under own power. First hunt until June 9 of 37 hunts; Commander believes 19 kills achieved, actually none. Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters Siberia: Omsk occupied by Czecho-Slovak forces (see November 18th). Armored train of the Czech Legion in Siberia: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...egion.jpg?ssl=1 Political, etc Russia: First Congress of Red Military Commissars. Greece: Installation of Signor Avezzano as Italian Minister at Athens: friendly speech. |
I know you've been busy, but I gotta admit I've missed my daily dose of WWI information. This is such a terrific series of posts on a conflict that hasn't received as much attention as it probably deserves. Looking forward to seeing you renew the series when you can, GG. Mainly, just take care and hope to see you soon.
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8 June 1918
Western Front
A member of the Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary Corp in her tent at Crecy Forest with her pet dog: © IWM (Q 11067): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...696997843095555 Germany: Ludendorff receives Air Service expansion plan for July 1, 1918 (Until April 1 1919, he approves 300 more planes per month (to 2,300) but actual production average 1,088. No 104 Squadron (arrived May 20) joins RAF strategic bombing campaign with 10-plane attack on Metz-Sablon railways; fighter interceptions (1 shot down) and heavy, accurate anti-aircraft fire over objective. 23 DH sorties flown vs Hagendingen (June 8, 9 and 13); cement works badly damaged. British troops led by a band march past Major-General Arthur Solly-Flood near Famechon, France: © IWM (Q 8903): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...727203496714240 Australian soldiers prepare to start a 440-yard race at a sports meet in France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...029187491680257 A French Renault FT-17 tank near May-en-Multien: © IWM (Q 49092): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...059390024683520 A Royal Engineers diver in a diving suit to repair the foundations of a bridge at Watten, France: © IWM (Q 8898): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...089595552301056 Eastern Front German Expeditionary force to the Caucasus lands at Poti (Georgia). Russian Bolshevik Government order Entente forces in North Russia to leave the country: 3,000 troops ordered north from Petrograd while Moscow and Nolga workers and peasants called up on June 14. Volga: Czechs take Samara, White KOMUCH (‘Committee of Members of the Constituent Assembly’) Government established. Naval and Overseas Operations Britain: US Ambassador’s wife launches 26,000t carrier HMS Eagle (ex-Chilean battleship Almirante Cochrane redesigned by end 1917 as first ‘island type’ carrier) at Newcastle. Aircraft carrier ‘HMS Eagle’ was converted from a World War One battleship hull and consequently retained such features of the period: massive weight and slow speed: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...Eagle.jpg?ssl=1 North Sea: Areas A and C of Northern Barrage begun. Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters Palestine: British advance north of Jaffa; 7th Indian Division (267 casualties) storms two low hills 1 mile from sea, taking 110 PoWs and 7 Mgs. Ottoman prisoners captured by the Black Watch and Indian troops: © IWM (Q 12488): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...998985843728385 Arabia: Arab raid on Hejaz railway near Toweira (105 miles north-west of Medina). Political, etc Georgia: Georgian Government sign peace treaty with Germany. United Kingdom: Arrival in London of Sir R. Borden and Mr. W. Massey (Canadian and New Zealand Premiers). Turkey: Government recognizes independent Armenia and Georgia by ratifying peace treaties; Armenia to let Turkish troops through. Ludendorff refuses to recognize treaties on June 10 and 11. United States: A solar eclipse observed at Baker City, Oregon by scientists and an artist hired by the United States Navy. The total solar eclipse occurs across the Pacific, starting in southern Japan and traveling across most of the U.S.: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...209126832517121 Report shows record production at American shipyards, which produced 71 ships in May. Total tonnage of ships produced surpassed British production by 200,000 tons. Netherlands: Prisoners of War Conference at the Hague opens. |
9 June 1918
Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Battle of the Matz, also known as the First Battle of Lassigny, or the German Operation Gneisenau begins (see 14th). A midnight barrage is pre-empted by the French by 10-minutes thanks to deserter intelligence. Germans fire 750,000 rounds (15,000t) mustard gas, phosgene and diphenylchlorarsine: 3,918 gassed (32 deaths) until June 15. Hutier attacks with 11 divisions from 0300 hours, advances 6 miles, takes 8,000 PoWs, mauls 3 divisions and continues at night. Germans enter Thiescourt Wood (south-west of Noyon) and Ressons-sur-Matz; are checked on line Mortemer-Cuvilly. A German 21-cm (8in) howitzer is readied for action during Operation Gneisenau: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...ereit.jpg?ssl=1 RAF 9th Brigade with c.200 aircraft and French 1st Air Division with 600 aircraft (forerunner of 1939-45 tactical air forces) intervene in Noyon-Montdidier ground battle. Germans claim 38 Allied aircraft for loss of 5. France: Clemenceau sacks Generals Duchene, (Degoutte replaces him in command of Sixth Army on June 10), Maud’huy and Chretien (corps commanders) for Aisne failure. Battle of Belleau Wood: On 9 June, an enormous American and French barrage devastated Belleau Wood, turning the formerly attractive hunting preserve into a jungle of shattered trees. The Germans counter-fired into Lucy and Bouresches and reorganized their defenses inside Belleau Wood. British soldiers fishing in the canals of Watten, France: © IWM (Q 8896): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...453239788109824 Wounded horses of the British Army being led on barges for treatment at a veterinary hospital. Saint-Omer, France: © IWM (Q 8908): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...483439389372419 Southern Front Albania: French Annamites (Vietnamese) and Albanian Tirailleurs take Austrian-held Mt Kamia (7,054 ft) and 2 villages (night June 8-9) southwest of Lake Ochrid in 5-6-mile advance on 20-mile front (June 8-14), taking 400 PoWs and 10 guns for 50 casualties. Salonika: General Guillaumat (recalled on June 6 by Clemenceau without consulting Allies) leaves in haste and secrecy for Paris. Naval and Overseas Operations Mediterranean: Commander Rizzo in the Italian coastal torpedo boat MAS-15 torpedoes Austrian battleship Szent Istvan off Premuda Island, Dalmatia. https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...728797071757312 The battleship sinks the next day, with the loss of 89 crew. It is the only battleship filmed sinking in WWI: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipe... .ogv.480p.webm Political, etc Russia: Anna Dostoevskaya, Russian writer and 2nd wife to Fyodor Dostoyevsky, passed away: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...392832465637378 United States: Speech of President Woodrow Wilson to Mexican Mission. Two passenger trains collide near Nashville, Tennessee, resulting in 101 deaths and 171 injuries. It is the worst rail accident in U.S. history: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...423033719324672 |
10 June 1918
Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Battle of the Matz, also known as the First Battle of Lassigny, or the German Operation Gneisenau: German advance on Compiegne. Humbert withdraws 38th and 15th divisions 6 miles south to north of Laigue Forest (northeast of Compiegne). Foch urges Fayolle to launch Mangin’s counter-stroke without delay. On east French withdraw from Carlepont Wood on Ribecourt. In center Germans take heights of Marqueglise and reach Antheuil. French retreat on River Aronde, recapture Mery. Courcelles (south-east of Montdidier) taken by Germans, retaken by French. Battle of Belleau Wood: In the morning of 10 June, Major Hughes' 1st Battalion, 6th Marines—together with elements of the 6th Machine Gun Battalion—attacked north into the wood. Although this attack initially seemed to be succeeding, it was also stopped by machine gun fire. The commander of the 6th Machine Gun Battalion—Major Cole—was mortally wounded. Captain Harlan Major—senior captain present with the battalion—took command. The Germans used great quantities of mustard gas. Next, Wise's 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines was ordered to attack the woods from the west, while Hughes continued his advance from the south. Australians advance south of Morlancourt (between Ancre and Somme). Bombardment of Paris by long-range gun continues. Occupied Belgium: RAF No 214 Squadron Handley Pages bomb Thourout rail junction, Bruges docks and steelworks, Zeebrugge lock and canal (night June 10-11). Britain: 469 anti-aircraft guns ready for action with 622 searchlights manned by 6,136 gunners out of 13,405 personnel in home air defense. Belgian cemetery near the frontlines. Most crosses don’t have names due to the inability to identify the remains and only state “died for his country”: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...758999701094401 A French soldier near a damaged church in Rue de l’Eglise: © IWM (Q 61322): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...819403009777670 Southern Front French carry Mt. Kamia (south-west of Lake Ochrida) and villages of Streksaj and Proptisti. Italian SAML recon/light bomber planes of the Italian Air Force at Totriana: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...789200501870592 An Italian family look on at their home destroyed by German or Austro-Hungarian bombing: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...849601365200898 Naval and Overseas Operations North Sea: Harwich Force begins nightly sweeps into Heligoland Bight despite British (i.e., their own) mine risk. Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters Palestine: Successful British raid on Turks north of Kefr Malik (between Shechem Road and Jordan Valley). The Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins. The “Ramadan Cannon” being fired in British-occupied Jerusalem to mark when to break the fast: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...879806444138496 Armenia: Turkish 9th Caucasian Division clashes with German-Georgian force at Vorontsovka, south of Tiflis and drives it back Siberia: Retreat of Colonel Semyonov in Siberia. Political, etc United Kingdom: Officially stated that between 15 May and 1 June Germans had bombed hospitals on seven occasions, with resulting loss of 248 killed and 693 wounded. Denmark: International Seamen's Congress at Copenhagen forms International Federation; Mr. Havelock Wilson, President, Mr. Damm (Dane), Secretary. |
11 June 1918
Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Battle of the Matz, also known as the First Battle of Lassigny, or the German Operation Gneisenau: Check to German advance. Successful French counter-attack from Rubescourt to St. Maur; recapture of Belloy. Germans driven out of Antheuil. Battle of Belleau Wood: Americans capture Belleau Wood (west of Chateau-Thierry). Mangin’s 4 divisions and US 2nd and 3rd Division launch flank counter-attack at 1130 hours without prelim shelling but with 163 tanks (73 lost) and air support, retakes 3 villages, 1,000 PoWs and 19 guns before resistance stiffens. Allied close air support for Mangin’s counter-stroke leads to heavy air battles; RAF bombing in error causes 8 French wounded and 75 horses killed. Germans claim 40 Allied aircraft for loss of 19 until June 12. Map showing recent German advances in gray and areas lost to the French counterattack enclosed by dotted lines: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...091205908815872 Somme: Australian 2nd Divison ‘peaceful penetration’ secures 300 PoWs. Monash submits plan for Hamel’s recapture on June 21. Wounded American soldiers resting at a hospital in Auteuil, France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...121407586193409 Indian Army artillerymen playing cards near Pas, France: © IWM (Q 8910): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...152844372791297 A wounded French veteran with a prosthetic arm working in the fields: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...183039582556165 A ruined city block in Amiens near the cathedral: © IWM (Q 11528): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...213243659083776 Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters Palestine: British air raid on Amman. Siberia: Czecho-Slovaks in control of Siberian Railway between Cheliabinsk and Nizhni-Udinsk (west of Irkutsk); Bolsheviks retreat to Slatust. Czechs threaten Samara (on Volga). Political, etc Germany: Soviet delegates arrive in Berlin. Turkey: OHL telegram threatens to withdraw all German troops and officials from Turkey if Turkish advance in Georgia not halted. Enver threatens to resign, but Seeckt patches up quarrel in July. Military and political press censorship abolished to promote Pan-Turanianism and aid attacks on Allies. Finland: Bill for new Constitution of Finland presented to Finland Diet. |
12 June 1918
Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Battle of the Matz, also known as the First Battle of Lassigny, or the German Operation Gneisenau: German Seventh Army attacks with 5 divisions west of Soissons (until June 13) but gains minimal against French troops with 197 tanks. Fighting near Compiegne continues, with Germans troops forcing the Allies to withdraw 5 miles from the Oise river. Small gains are made by the French near Belloy and St. Maur. French advance near Belloy and St. Maur; Germans cross Matz, enter Meliocq (south of Lassigny). A badly-wounded Frrench casualty is evacuated from a front-line trench at the Aisne: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...deter.jpg?ssl=1 Noyoni-Montdidier: German advance on Cutry plateau (Villers-Cotterets). Mangin again attacks, gains up to 3,200 yards at heavy cost, but Germans blunted and Clemanceall’s critics silenced. Battle of Belleau Wood: Americans capture Nancy. 700,000 U.S. soldiers reported in France. First US day bombing mission: Breguet 14s of 96th Aero Squadron bomb Dommary-Baroncourt rail yards. Members of the Chinese Labour Corp near Fontes, France celebrating a festival: © IWM (Q 8920): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...486286671253504 Wounded French soldiers at the American Military Hospital at Neuilly who just arrived and are waiting to be put on beds: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...516491339157504 French Saint-Chamond tanks going to the frontlines near Moyenneville: © IWM (Q 56451): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...546697059749888 Soldiers of the 24th Motor Machine Gun Battalion with their Clyno motorbikes equipped with Vickers machine guns: © IWM (Q 10326): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...561799133679616 American soldier wearing steel body armor at Boucq, France: © IWM (Q 80359): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...576898196033537 Southern Front Macedonia: 4 RAF aircraft claim to shoot down at least 3 of 8 hostile aircraft encountered, 2 more collide. Naval and Overseas Operations Mozambique: Allies enter Malema (Portuguese East Africa). Germans retreat to River Ligonya. Eastern Front/West Asia Border Theater Kurdamir (East Caucasus) and Ujari (northern Persia) occupied by Turkish forces. Georgia: Tiflis occupied by a German force (see 8th, and December 27th). Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters Persia: Anglo-Russian force (1,200 Cossacks; 4 guns; c.100 Hussars; 2 Duncars and 2 RAF planes) disperses 3,000-4,000 German-advised Jangali tribesmen at Manjil Bridge, northwest of Kazvin; Colonel Bicherakov soon reaches Enzeli on Caspian Sea. Political, etc Ukraine: Armistice concluded at Kiev between the whole State of The Ukraine and Russian Bolshevik Republic (see May 4th). France: Czecho-Slovak movement recognised also by France. United Kingdom: Warm speech of Mr Balfour re: Japan. Italy: Czecho-Slovak movement recognised also by Italy. |
13 June 1918
Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Battle of the Matz, also known as the First Battle of Lassigny, or the German Operation Gneisenau: Ludendorff calls off Operation Gneisenau. Germans gain footing on edge of Forest of Villers-Cotterets; otherwise held up. Germany: Air battle over Trier: 2 fighters shot down by DH4s (1 shot down) of No 55 Squadron; direct hit on iron foundry. Battle of Belleau Wood: Overall, the woods were attacked by the Marines a total of six times before they could successfully expel the Germans. They fought off parts of five divisions of Germans, often reduced to using only their bayonets or fists in hand-to-hand combat. A British gas sentry in the ruins of Liévin, France tasked with sounding the alarm during a gas attack: © IWM (Q 6699): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...897748489265152 City of Arras devasted by artillery: © IWM (Q 6731): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...927959834398720 Chinese Labour Corps workers help prepare a barricade near Arras: © IWM (Q 7898): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...958144080228353 Southern Front Italian Front: Preliminary Austro-Hungarian diversionary attack by 2 divisions (‘Avalanche Action’) in Tonale Pass (Trentino, west of Lake Garda) fails by early afternoon. Austro-Hungarian attack against Cady summit and Monticello ridge (north and south of Tonale Pass, western Trentino). Italian trench newspaper ‘La Chirba’: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...hirba.jpg?ssl=1 Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters Siberia: Fighting at Irkutsk between Red and White Guards. Naval and Overseas Operations Bristol Channel: British armed merchant cruiser Patia torpedoed and sunk by German submarine. North Sea: Cruiser Conquest mined off Harwich but towed to Sheerness. Sister ship Centaur mined in Heligoland Bight but steams 250 miles stern first to reach Humber (June 14-15). Political, etc Russia: Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich, the youngest brother of former Tsar Nicholas II, is assassinated by the Bolsheviks: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...832313601347584 |
14 June 1918
Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: The German offensive on the Western Front ends. No large-scale engagements are reported in the Western Front, as Germany prepares for its fifth phase of its offensive. Map showing German gains this year: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...184637460918272 British successful midnight attack north of Bethune along La Bassee Canal. First extensive use of mustard gas by Allies (French) causes 265 casualties. Foch instructs Petain to plan offensive west of Soissons, Mangin makes 8 successful local attacks (until July 5). OHL reaffirms its cherished ‘final’ offensive in Flanders (codename Hagen). But first Allied reserves must be drawn south by Operation Reims ( Marneschutz, ordered on June 18). Bruchmueller’s ‘siege train’ to redeploy quickly from Reims to Flanders (Rupprecht to attack 15 days later). French Intelligence predicts ‘a continuation of the thrust towards Amiens.. (or) a continuation of the attacks in the direction of Paris by … the Oise and Marne … not before July 15’. French PoWs are escorted away from the fighting along the Aisne River: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...Aisne.jpg?ssl=1 Battle of Belleau Wood: No significant developments, but the battle continues. General Guillaumont appointed Military Governor of Paris. Wounded American soldier at a hospital in Neuilly, France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...214835912802305 Wounded horses being led onto an ambulance at St. Omer: © IWM (Q 9005): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...245043516825600 Royal Highlanders resting against a damaged wall at Arras: © IWM (Q 6700): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...276762273894400 British artillerymen using scythes to cut grass for their horses. Near Arras, France: © IWM (Q 6702): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...306893432418304 Southern Front As part of the Don-Kuban Cossack agreement (see below), 10,000 Russians to fight Germans at Taganrog. Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters Palestine: Turkish forces repulse British on Hejaz line (Maan region, south of Dead Sea). Persia: Tabriz again occupied by Turkish forces (see January 30th, 1915). Political, etc Russia: Soviets expel Right Socialist parties. Protocol of agreement between Don and Kuban Cossack Governments. Canada: Canada cuts imports of food from the U.S. in order to restore its trade imbalance. Finland: Inadequate majority in Finnish Diet for bill to establish monarchy. |
15 June 1918
Western Front
Battle of Belleau Wood: No significant developments, but the battle continues. German air-raid on Paris. French regain Coeuvres (Villers-Cotterets). Major General Sir Hugh Trenchard is appointed General Officer Commanding the Independent Force of the Royal Air Force. German Kaiser Wilhelm II, Crown Prince Wilhelm, and Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg at the German GHQ at Spa, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Kaiser’s accession to the throne: © IWM (Q 23739): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...598615735537664 British soldiers going on leave onboard a dazzle-camouflaged transport leaving Boulogne for England: © IWM (Q 10329): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...628819598135296 Southern Front Second Battle of the Piave begins: Great Austro-Hungarian offensive from Lagarina Valley to sea. Asiago sector: Austro-Hungarians (codename Radetsky) pre-empted on by Italian barrage for 4 hours before Austrian guns open at 0300 hours (shell shortage and no phosgene gas given by Germans). Infantry attack at 0700 hours. Austrian Eleventh Army penetrates British (3 frontline battalions surprised) and French lines but stopped by early afternoon, repulsed by counter-attack leaving 1,500 PoWs and 7 guns. In Mt Grappa sector Austrian XXVI Corps captures 5 features and I Corps takes part of Mt Solaroli salient, maximum penetration 3300 yards, but Italian Fourth Army counter-attacks make progress. An agitated Emperor Charles (in imperial train at Merano) rings Field Marshal Boroevic at noon ‘The Army of Tyrol is defeated, the troops have lost all that they had gained and have been driven back to the line of departure’; Piave sector: (Codename Albrecht), Austro-Hungarian Isonzo Army crosses Lower Piave under smokeshell and fog cover on a 20-mile front gaining 3 small bridgeheads and laying one bridge; Sixth Army crosses onto Montello Ridge, securing bridgehead, takes 4,000 PoWs and up to 2 miles but unable to link with Isonzo Army and its bridges and boats hit by RAF planes. More troops cross during night. Austro-Hungarians cross the middle Piave in Nervesa and Fagare-Musile regions. Top Italian ace Francesco Baracca scores his last 2 victories (last a two-seater among 25 escorts). 653 Allied aircraft (including 33 Sopwith Camels who break one pontoon bridge) attack and help remove Austrian Piave bridgeheads (until June 22). Italian troops defending the Piave River: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...553318376353792 Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters Arabia: Hejaz Railway: RAF bomb El Kutrani station, 30 miles east of Dead Sea South end. Political, etc Austria-Hungary: Large riots break out in Vienna, Budapest, Prague, and other Austro-Hungarian cities due to food shortages and growing antiwar sentiments. France: Clemenceau forms Committee for Defense of Paris at Bombon (Foch attends); location of Allied GHQ since June 5. |
16 June 1918
Western Front
Battle of Belleau Wood: No significant developments, but the battle continues. British soldiers racing each other at a sport tournament at St. Andre, France: © IWM (Q 6704): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...659019274768384 An old church converted into a field hospital for American soldiers in France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...932058793103360 Southern Front Second Battle of the Piave: Violent fighting on Piave. Austro-Hungarians capture ground south-east of Montello and Capo Sile (north-east of Venice). British capture Austro-Hungarian advance in the hills. British 48th Division (922 casualties) after 4 counter-attacks has taken 728 PoWs and buried 576 Austrian soldiers. In Mt Grappa sector Italian Fourth Army restores its line except for 2 peaks, releasing 200 Italian PoWs and c.12 guns. Austrian Army Group Conrad losses 35,026 soldiers. Italian Eighth and Third Army counter-attacks recover some ground including 4 villages south of the Piave. Heavy rain, Italian and RAF attacks and lack of bridging equipment (due to shortage of horses) hinder river crossings. Italian infantry in the Piave line, which is virtually flat flood plain where the shallow trenches often became waterlogged: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...front.jpg?ssl=1 At the Battle of the Piave River, Austria-Hungary claims the capture of 16,000 prisoners, while the Allies claim taking 3000 Austro-Hungarians prisoners. Eastern Front/West Asia Border Theater Azerbaijan: Armenians capture Karamarian (120 miles west of Baku) but fail to advance farther south. Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters Arabia: British air raid on El Kutrani on Hejaz railway (30 miles east of southern end of Dead Sea). Persia: Action of Ahmadabad (west of Shiraz): British spoiling attack inflicts 500 casualties on 3,200 tribesmen; Shiraz crisis over by June 21. Naval and Overseas Operations Mozambique: Paul von Lettow’s main body enters Alto Molocque (220 miles west of Mozambique), captures 75,000lb food and valuable maps. Morocco: French Oued-Inouen line repulses repeated tribal attacks. Political, etc Bulgaria: Bulgarian Cabinet (M. Radoslavov) resigns; M. Malinov becomes Premier: beginning of the end foreshadowed. |
17 June 1918
Western Front
Battle of Belleau Wood: No significant developments, but the battle continues. An old church converted into a field hospital for American soldiers in France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...932058793103360 17 June-22 July The Victoria Cross is posthumously awarded to Major Edward 'Mick' Mannock of No.85 Squadron, Royal Air Force, one of the highest scoring British fighter pilots and greatest air leaders of the First World War. "An outstanding example of fearless courage, remarkable skill, devotion to duty, and self-sacrifice, which has never been surpassed." Airplane raid on Kent; no damage. British soldier peeking through a street barricade in Arras: © IWM (Q 7905): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...962257819684871 British tractors pulling artillery near Steenvoorde, France: © IWM (Q 78682A): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...992459232796673 Pilots of the Australian Flying Corps with their Sopwith Camel aircraft at Clairmarais, France: © IWM (E(AUS) 2661): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...007561910595585 The result of a German Gotha bomber raid on Paris: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...022660704587777 Southern Front Second Battle of the Piave: Italians and French capture Razea Pizzo and heights south-east of Sasso (Asiago). In the Grappa region Allies gain ground. On the lower Piave Austro-Hungarian XXIII Corps expands largest bridgehead but still short of Meolo in Italian second line; XXIV Corps makes gains on Montello, but 20 bridges insufficient for supplies, heavy rain makes river rise nearly 3ft (night june 17-18) and breaks nearly all of them. Italian Marines at their dugout during the Battle of the Piave River: © IWM (Q 19087): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...294443911442432 Salonika: General Franchet d’Esperey arrives to be Allied C-in-C (June 18) tells new subordinates ‘I expect from you savage vigor’; Paris directive drawn up (June 22). Naval and Overseas Operations North Sea: Sopwith Camel from carrier HMS Furious forces German seaplane down for destruction after two bombing raids on the ship. Western Mediterranean: Royal Navy convoy escorts sloop Lychnis and trawler Partridge sink Moraht’s U-64 (which had sunk 45 ships or 132,166t sunk since 1916) with gunfire between Sardinia and Sicily. Political, etc Austria-Hungary: Disturbances and partial strike in Vienna, etc., re: reduced bread ration. Troops cause over 24 casualties in Budapest MAV Machine-Factory claiming pay increase (June 20), capital’s workers walk out (until June 27). United Kingdom: Men born 1895-97 called up excluding shipbuilders and shale oil miners. Imperial War Conference told soldier’s grave will cost £10 (Italy grants land June). |
18 June 1918
Western Front
Battle of Belleau Wood: No significant developments, but the battle continues. French repulse a local German attack on Reims front from Sillery (south of La Pompelle Fort) to Trigny (seven miles west of Reims). Bruno von Mudra relieves Fritz von Below in command of First Army, latter takes over new Ninth Army at Soissons (until August 6). German stormtroopers in a shell funnel: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...uppen.jpg?ssl=1 Lieutenant Frank Leaman Baylies, American flying ace who served in the French air force known for shooting down 6 planes in a 3-hour span, is killed in action: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...324646553423874 Supreme Allied Commander General Ferdinand Foch and General John Pershing conversing at Chaumont: © IWM (Q 58390): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...356147412250624 Squadron commander of the Royal Flying Corp with the squadron’s parrot mascot at Serny aerodrome: © IWM (Q 12048): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...386336208883713 A disfigured French veteran with and without his mask: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...658130664939520 Southern Front Second Battle of the Piave: Piave in flood; Austro-Hungarian attempts to cross between S. Andrea and Candelu repulsed; Italians recapture Capo Sile. Slight Austrian Montello gains near Nervesa rail bridge. Italian 1st Division takes 500 PoWs from Lower Piave San Dona bridgehead, but its reinforced occupiers take 6,500 PoWs around Campolunga (until June 19). Naval and Overseas Operations Russian battleship Svobodnaya Rossiya destroyed in Black Sea to avoid surrender to the Germans (see May 4th). Destroyer Kerch torpedoes her at Novorossisk where 7 destroyers and torpedo boats scuttle themselves (Kerch scuttles at Tuapse on June 19). Battleship Volya, 3 destroyers, 2 torpedo boats and AMC return to Sevastopol as Germans request for internment, but c.464 German sailors gradually take them over. Mozambique: Germans in retreat reach Mujebu (80 miles north of Quilimane. Political, etc Germany: OHL demands military service for all men 15-60, War Minister opposes on June 24. Reichstag deputies increased and act for proportional representation. Russia: Publication of Secret Treaty between Bolsheviks and Germans re: Poland. United Kingdom: Vote of Credit for £500 million. Publication of Agreement between Entente and Sweden. Japan: Arrival of Prince Arthur of Connaught in Japan. Netherlands: Dutch Government sends to investigate cause of loss of Koningen Regentes. |
19 June 1918
Western Front
Battle of Belleau Wood: No Significant developments, but the battle continues. William Bishop (Commander 85 Squadron SE5As) scores his last 5 victories east of Ploegsteert, having already scored 3 on June 17. British cavalry officers resting with a wine bottle while a runner delivers a message: © IWM (Q 6714): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...688353871646720 Members of the Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary Corps in trenches for shelter during an aerial attack at Rouen: © IWM (Q 3289): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...718568794607616 French Renault FT-17 tank being transported at Epernay: © IWM (Q 58239): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...734860490526720 Eastern Front Russia: Petrograd workers mobilized by Reds. Baltic States: Germans remove Polish administrator Michalkiewicz from Vilna. Volga: Czechs capture strategic Syzran rail crossing. White demos in Kozlov and Tambov, far southeast of Moscow. Southern Front Second Battle of the Piave: Italian Eighth Army counterstroke at 1530 hours on Montello with 10 divisions against 3 Austrian divisions and extra artillery divisions regains Nervesa only to lose it again on June 20; overall, allowing the Allies to regain the initiative. Furious fighting from Montello to sea; Austrian lines on Montello thrown back; On Asiago Plateau French capture Mts. Bertigo and Pennar; Italians capture Mt. Costalunga. General Vaccari leads his XXII Corps in person. Boroevic sees Emperor Charles at Spilimbergo on the Tagliamento, Arz can offer no reinforcements, munitions or supplies. Austrian-Hungarian troops fought strafing British planes in June 1918 on the Piave: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...ieger.jpg?ssl=1 Italian troops in action near Candelu: © IWM (Q 65250): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...990299077709825 Aerial photograph showing destroyed bridges and trenches alongside the Piave River, as Austro-Hungarian forces clash with Italian soldiers: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...080953795465217 Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters Siberia: Reported overthrow of Bolshevist Government in western Siberia. Anti-Bolshevist Government set up at Nizhni-Udinsk (330 miles north-west of Lake Baikal). Tomsk taken by Anti-Bolsheviks. Naval and Overseas Operations North Sea: Harwich Force north of Heligoland Bight foiled from launching seaplane attack (following 3 other abortive attempts in May). British squadron in north of Heligoland Bight attacked by German seaplanes. One German seaplane claimed destroyed. The Russian battleship Svobodnaya Rossiya, scuttled yesterday: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...765062935400448 Political, etc Austria-Hungary: Nearly 100,000 workers go on strike in the Austro-Hungarian capital of Vienna to demand more food and the end to war. United Kingdom: Report of British Sub-Committee of Re-construction Committee re: increase of home-grown food. Bulgaria: M. Aleksandar Malinov becomes Foreign Minister. United States: Letter sent by Lieutenant Harry S. Truman, currently serving in France, to (his future wife) Bess Wallace: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...050733470191616 Finland: Decision re: Finnish Monarchy postponed till 1920. Switzerland: Swiss Government adopts project of subvention of port at Basle. |
20 June 1918
Western Front
Battle of Belleau Wood: No Significant developments, but the battle continues. Southern Front Second Battle of the Piave: Field Marshal Svetozar Boroevic cables Austrian High Command ‘As the Monarchy … has loyally fulfilled its duties as an ally … and cannot face the risk of remaining perhaps disarmed, I propose to withdraw … behind the Piave’; Emperor gives permission. Boroevic plans to retreat at night only. Italians decide shelling bridges better than mass attacks. Italian advance continued in Montello, Fagare and Zenson (Lower Piave) sectors. Austro-Hungarian line at Cortelazzo (mouth of Piave) broken. Nervesa re-captured. Italians claim to shoot down 14 Austrian aircraft over the Piave, but top Italian ace Baracca killed strafing in Nieuport fighter. American pilots first fly Italian bombers in action. The Italian fighter ace Francesco Baracca is hit in the air by two rifle bullets, of which one kills him in the head: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...racca.jpg?ssl=1 Another view of Francesco Baracca, one of Italy’s top flying aces with 34 aerial victories, killed in action near Mount Montello: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...111150397677570 Italian trench running underneath an old building at Nervesa during the Battle of the Piave River: © IWM (Q 65362): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...384127546654720 Eastern Front/West Asia Border Theater Azerbaijan: Turkish 5th Caucasian Division (6,000 men) arrives at Ganja (Russian Elizavetpol) to be core of Enver’s ‘Army of Islam’ (18,000 under Enver’s 28-year-old half-brother Nuri Pasha). A regiment marches to support Azeri Tartars on June 26. Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters Palestine: Re-establishment of Civil Law Courts in occupied territory of Palestine. Political, etc Austria-Hungary: Food riots in Vienna continue. United Kingdom: Appointment of General Northey as Governor and Commander-in-Chief of East African “Protectorate” and High Commissioner for Zanzibar “Protectorate”. Publication of Lord Grey's "League of Nations"; Report of Shipping Committee; Speech of Lord Curzon re: Ireland; Speech of Mr. Balfour re: peace; Reception of Sir M. De Bunsen's Mission by President of Chile. Turkey: Samsam es Sultaneh reappointed Persian Prime Minister (see May 31st and August 3rd). Netherlands: Refusal of passport to M. Troelstra (Dutch Socialist leader) to visit England. |
21 June 1918
Western Front
Battle of Belleau Wood: No Significant developments, but the battle continues. A home destroyed by a German air raid on Abbeville, France: © IWM (Q 78839): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...414333045067776 British Royal Horse Artillery pulling artillery through a river as part of training exercises: © IWM (Q 6724): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...444535070613504 French troops in the ruins of Clermont-en-Argonne: © IWM (Q 78194): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...459632610344960 A member of the Women’s Forestry Corp of the British Women’s Land Army cutting down a tree. The women of the WLA took over agricultural work so the men could join the military: © IWM (Q 30710): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...474745295876096 Southern Front Second Battle of the Piave: Italians enlarge bridgehead at Cavazuccherina (near mouth of Piave); Austro-Hungarian attempts to regain initiative in Montello and Grappa regions checked; Italians claim 12,000 PoWs to date. Recon with kite balloon on the Italian front: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...front.jpg?ssl=1 Political, etc Austria-Hungary: Dr. Ernst Ritter von Seidler, Austrian Premier, submits his resignation (see June 23rd, 1917); Emperor Charles refuses. Food crisis in Vienna eased. United Kingdom: Empire gathering in London. Von Kuhlmann on the Balkans. Mr. Balfour censures Pacifists. Labour Ministers' Manifesto. Government wins Clapham (South London) by-election. Ireland: Lord Curzon announces abandonment of Home Rule and conscription in Ireland for the present. |
22 June 1918
Western Front
Battle of Belleau Wood: No Significant developments, but the battle continues. German “attack” on Bligny (Reims) “repulsed.” Somme: British Third Army night raid on trenches at Bucquoy including first night action by British tanks (night June 22-23), 5 support c.150 infatrymen of 62nd Division. British pilots of the No. 85 Squadron posing with their dogs and goats at St. Omer: © IWM (Q 12049): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...804403107418112 Eastern Front 22-23 June: A North Russian Expeditionary Force comprising British Army units and supported by a Royal Air Force flight equipped with de Havilland D.H. 4 day bombers lands at Murmansk to join a Royal Marine detachment and French and United States marine units already present in the port. South Russia: Denikin’s White Volunteer Army (9,000 men; 21 guns; 3 armored cars) begins Second Kuban campaign, captures Torgovaya and Shabilevskaya rail stations, isolating Red Kuban Group and cutting Tsaritsyn railway (June 25). Russian Eastern Railway manager Southern Front Second Battle of the Piave: Piave still in flood; Austro-Hungarian retreat across Piave begins. Screens cover an Italian footbridge at the Piave River to hide soldiers crossing from Austro-Hungarian fire: © IWM (Q 19079): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...789300769214466 Italian troops manning their trenches near Candelu: © IWM (Q 65347): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...106384308953089 Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters Arabia: Turkish “attack” at El Haza (northern Hejaz) “repulsed.” Siberia: Appeal of General Horvath (Russian Eastern Railway manager, from HQ Harbin, Manchuria) to Allies for help against German invasion. Generral Horvat (center) later in Harbin with officers from Japan, Romania, Great Britain, Czechoslovakia, France and Russia: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...arbin.jpg?ssl=1 Political, etc United Kingdom: Workers cheering as King George V and Queen Mary visit a boot repair factory: © IWM (Q 27964): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...819499225378816 An article reporting on the spread of the Spanish Flu in Britain, the U.S., Germany, and Spain, stating it is rarely fatal but can cause “considerable inconvenience”: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...834599525093376 Ireland: Britain postpones plans to implement conscription in Ireland due to popular opposition. The arrival of US soldiers also alleviates manpower shortages on the front. Turkey: Turkish war aims published. United States: Near Hammond, Indiana, a train collides into a circus train, killing 86 people, most of them circus performers: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...076194186899457 |
23 June 1918
Western Front
Battle of Belleau Wood: No Significant developments, but the battle continues. British line on Lys front advanced south-west of Meteren. 580 LK II light tanks ordered from Daimler, none ever delivered before armistice. The German light tank LK II with 5.7 cm (2.24in) gun. The characteristics of a captured British Whippet tank were built into a modified chassis, but until the armistice only prototypes were ready: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...LK-II.jpg?ssl=1 Red Cross nurse serving American soldiers donuts and coffee: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...136589111119872 British motorbikes armed with machineguns on the sidecar: © IWM (Q 9003): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...166792659111936 British tanks being washed down in Érin, France: © IWM (Q 6825): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...196987814215680 Battalion of the Royal Scots out on a patrol at Meteren, France: © IWM (Q 6737): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...466260625260544 Eastern Front North Russia: British ‘Syren’ and ‘Elope’ forces (600 men under Major-General Maynard) join North Russian Expedition Force at Murmansk; Maynard and 30 men head down Murmansk Railway (June 27), seize it to Soroka (June 29-30) sending back 3 Red troop trains. Volga: Civilian Kliment Voroshilov put in command of 1,000-strong Red Tsaritsyn Group (probably by Stalin). Southern Front Second Battle of the Piave: Austro-Hungarians in disordered retreat from Montello to the sea; heavy losses. Italian Eighth Army reoccupies Nervesa at 1300 hours and then whole of Montello; Third Army captures 2,000 PoWs in Candelu-Zenson sector (Middle Piave). End of Second Battle of the Piave. First capture of intact Austrian Berg D-I fighter (best indigenous Austrian combat type), forced to land at Treviso by Italian fighters. Up to 50 RAF aircraft help harry Austrian retreat. Austro-Hungarian Aviatik D-I biplane brought down on the Italian Front: © IWM (Q 68863): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...436063859544064 City of Nervesa after it was recaptured by Italian and other Allied troops: © IWM (Q 26120): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...496460666925057 Group of wounded American soldiers receiving cigarettes at a Red Cross hospital in Vittel, France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...526662159683585 Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters Siberia: White Provisional Siberian Government formed at Omsk, general mobilization soon proclaimed. Political, etc Austria-Hungary: Resignation of Dr. Ernst Ritter von Seidler. United Kingdom: Anglo-American Union proposed by Lord Reading. Canadian children laying down flowers on the graves of Canadian soldiers buried at Shorncliffe, Kent: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...556861433516032 |
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