World War 1 Timeline 1914-1919 - Worldwar-1.net

World War 1 on Film - Behind the Lines

World War 1
on Film

Royal Field Artillery Guns in action at Vimy Ridge during the Battle of Arras during April 1917.

Welcome to www.worldwar-1.net!

World War 1, also known as the First World War or the the Great War, the War of the Nations and the War to End All Wars, was a world conflict lasting from 1914 to 1919, with the fighting lasting until 1918. The war was fought by the Allies on one side, and the Central Powers on the other. No previous conflict had mobilized so many soldiers or involved so many in the field of battle. By its end, the war had become the second bloodiest conflict in recorded history.
World War 1 became infamous for trench warfare, where troops were confined to trenches because of tight defenses. This was especially true of the Western Front. More than 9 million died on the battlefield, and nearly that many more on the home fronts because of food shortages, genocide, and ground combat. Among other notable events, the first large-scale bombing from the air was undertaken and some of the century's first large-scale civilian massacres took place, as one of the aspects of modern efficient, non-chivalrous warfare.

I hope you will enjoy viewing worldwar-1.net and find its information both helpful and interesting. The website includes an exhaustive day by day timeline, covering every event that occured during World War 1, in chronological order from 1914 through to 1919, which gives a fascinating insight into what was arguably the first industrial war in our history.



More detail to the websites timelines has recently been added, particularly those for 1918 and 1919 which have received a lot if new data. Work also continues on other projects, one of which is a timeline of events immediatley after World War 1. I shall update this and other projects in due course. Webmaster		2nd February 1915 Germany declares a submarine blockade of Great Britain. Any ship approaching England is considered a legitimate target. 7th February 1915 Second Battle of Masurian Lakes begins. 19th February 1915 British naval units bombard Turkish forts in the Dardenelles. 21st February 1915 Russians lose the Second Battle of Masurian Lakes, suffering heavy loses in the process. 3rd February 1916 President Wilson delivers his final speech of Preparedness in Saint Louis. 10th February 1916 British conscription law goes into effect. 21st February 1916 The Battle of Verdun begins as the Germans launch a massive attack against Verdun in what will become the longest battle of the war. 24th February 1916 Acting Secretary of War Hugh L. Scott asks United States War College Division if any plans exist in the event "of a complete rupture" with Germany. 1st February 1917 Germany resumes unrestricted U-boat warfare. 3rd February 1917 US severs diplomatic ties with Germany. 5th February 1917 The British General Staff estimates that no more than 250,000 American soldiers could be in Europe even after a year. 13th February 1917 The Chief of British Imperial General Staff Sir William Roberston expresses grave doubts about American fighting capabilities. 23rd February 1917 German forces begin withdrawal to strong positions on the Hindenburg Line. 24th February 1917 The Sinking of the Laconia. The Zimmermann Telegram is passed to the US by Britain, detailing alleged German proposal of an alliance with Mexico against the US. 26th February 1917 US President Woodrow Wilson requests permission from Congress to arm US merchantmen. 11th February 1918 The U.S. President Woodrow Wilson makes "Four Principles" speech to Congress.

German Fokker DR.I

The Fokker DR.I triplane was built after the Sopwith Triplane. While not as fast as contemporary biplanes, the Dreidecker could easily outclimb any opponent. Small, lightweight and highly maneuverable, it offered good upward visibility and lacked the traditional bracing wires that could be shot away during combat. This combination of features made it an outstanding plane in a dogfight. When the DR.I first entered service, antagonists scoffed until pilots like Werner Voss Flying a prototype, shot down 10 British aircraft in 6 days of aerial combat during September 1917. Unfortunately, the DR.I was not without problems. By the end of October 1917, it was temporarily withdrawn from service when several pilots, including Heinrich Gontermann, were killed as a result of wing failures. Despite structural improvements, the Fokker triplane's reputation among German airmen never recovered.