1916 in History

Beatty receives acting admiral rank as he assumes command of the Grand Fleet.

As the Battle of the Somme comes to a bitterly cold end, a meeting is held between the Allied generals at Chantilly just outside Paris, a decision is reached by Generals Haig and Joffre that on the Western Front things would recommence in February

Nivelle proposes that the system of attack he had used at Verdun could be scaled upwards and used on a weaker part of the German line, the enemy lines could be ruptured within 48 hours

Romania joins the Allies

Romania joins the Entente Powers against Germany & Austria

Romania signs a military alliance with the Allies

Explains the Government approach to Allied economic cooperation during and after the war.

Haig continues pressure on the heights north of the Somme as autumn weather worsens.

Addresses the provision of anti-aircraft guns for defence against enemy raids.

The First Battle of Passchendaele, on 12 October 1917 began with a further Allied attempt by 5 British and 3 ANZAC divisions (the New Zealand Division and the Australian 3rd and 4th Divisions) to gain ground around Poelcappelle

Chauvel takes command of the newly formed ANZAC Mounted Division in Egypt.

Accepts the premiership after Asquith resigns and begins forming a new coalition government.

Is sent to the Hejaz to assess the Arab Revolt against Ottoman rule.

Reports that the volunteer system has created forces far larger than Britain possessed before the war.

Returns to Ireland with a brigade of German POWs in a German submarine

Resigns as Prime Minister after the coalition crisis over the proposed reorganisation of central war direction.

Assassination of Grigor Rasputin

Assassination of Karl von Sturgkh

Gives Parliament a statement on the war and the Government’s conduct of national affairs.

Beatty's surviving ships return after the largest fleet action of the war.

Beatty leads the Battle Cruiser Fleet from the Forth toward its planned North Sea rendezvous.

Beatty turns eastward as he approaches Jellicoe, helping clear the deployment area for the battlefleet.

Haig supports the night assembly and dawn attack that gains ground on Bazentin Ridge.

Beatty succeeds Jellicoe as Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Fleet after Jellicoe becomes First Sea Lord.

Beatty sends position information as Jellicoe prepares the Grand Fleet for deployment.

Beatty reverses course to lead Hipper and Scheer toward Jellicoe's approaching Grand Fleet.

Beatty alters course to bring his battlecruisers into action against Hipper's First Scouting Group.

Haig reorganises formations and command arrangements after the heavy losses of the Somme.

Haig directs further artillery and ammunition preparation for the next year's major operations.

Berat (Albania) occupied by Austrian forces

Addresses the resignation of Augustine Birrell following the Easter Rising in Ireland.

Opening of the Kienthal Conference of anti-war socialists

The Second International dissolves during World War I, in 1916, following the 1915 Zimmerwald Conference of anti-war socialists

Austria-Hungary severs diplomatic relations with Portugal. Austria-Hungary declares war on Portugal

The Russians attack Lake Naroch under French pressure to divert forces from Verdun

Russia has 130 Divisions for an offensive coinciding with Anglo-French attacks on the Somme

Forwarded after an appeal from the Italian King after the invasion of Italy by Austria

The Offensive is halted, the Russians had taken 450,000 prisoners but lost 1,000,000

Transfers 15 Divisions from the Western to the Eastern front after the Brusilov Offensive

The Russians had taken 450,000 prisoners but lost 1,000,000. The offensive is called off

Haase and 18 other SPD delegates vote against the Government's emergency budget

Austrian forces driven out of The Bukovinah

Creates a permanent secretariat to record War Cabinet conclusions and circulate papers systematically.

Hunter-Weston's rear guards leave their positions as the final evacuation of Cape Helles begins.

Antivari (Montenegro) occupied by Austrian forces

Austria captures Berane

The Germans capture Bucharest after the Battle of Argesul

Bucharest is captured by the Germans

The Germans capture Bucharest after the Battle of Argesul

Austria captures Cetinje

Captures the key Black Sea port of Constanta from Romania

Leads Russian victory over the Turkish. Captures 13,000 prisoners & inflicts casualties of 60,000 killed or wounded

Bulgaria captures Fort Rupel & enters Macedonia, a threat to the Allies

Bulgaria captures the port of Kavalla

Podgoritza (Montenegro) occupied by Austrian forces

San Giovanni di Medua (Albania) captured by Austrian forces

Scutari (Albania) occupied by Austrian forces

Battle of Sibiu ends, the city is retaken by Austrian forces

Captures Silistra

The Romanian army captures Transylvania

Captures Turtukai

An Edward Carson motion concerning Nigerian property creates a government crisis.

Promises more concentrated control of manpower, shipping, food and strategy under the new administration.

Appointed Chairman of the Council of Minister's

Appointed Chairman of the Council of Minister's

Appointed Chief of Staff

Appointed Chief of Staff

Addresses restoration of normal civil law in Ireland after the period of rebellion and martial law.

Addresses parliamentary appeals for clemency toward prisoners detained after the Easter Rising.

Explains the constitution and working arrangements of the wartime coalition government.

Appointed Commander in Mesopotamia

Appointed Commander in Mesopotamia

Appointed Commander of the 3rd Army

Appointed Commander of the 6th Royal Scots Fusiliers, battalion of the 9th Division

Appointed Commander of the 6th Royal Scots Fusiliers, battalion of the 9th Division

Appointed Commander with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel

Appointed Commander of the 6th Royal Scots Fusiliers

Appointed Commander of the 6th Royal Scots Fusiliers

Appointed Commander of the Army Unit South

Appointed Commander of the Army of the Danube

Appointed Commander of the Army of the Danube

Appointed Commander of the Second Army

Appointed Commander of the Second Army

The Cromer Commission is announced to investigate the Dardanelles Campaign

Learns Asquith witheld documents in the Dardanelles enquiry which would clear him

The formation of a Commission is announced to investigate the Dardanelles Campaign

Writes to Earl Cromer asking to present his own case without Counsel

Cromer informs Churchill the Commission will meet secretly & Churchill cannot examine

Says there was full authority & at the time there was a reasonable prospect of success. Appears at the enquiry to defend the Dardanelles Campaign

The findings are published but Churchills evidence is not. Churchill has his account of the Antwerp expedition published in the Sunday Pictoral

Announces the Government decision to broaden compulsory military service beyond the January settlement.

The government decides upon compulsory conscription, except for Ireland.

Haig was ordered to co-operate with Nivelles planned attack, but secured Nivelles agreement that in the event the French offensive failed, the British would attack in the area of Flanders. At a conference in Chantilly in November 1916, and a series of subsequent meetings, the Entente agreed on an offensive strategy where they would overwhelm the Central Powers by means of attacks on the Western, Eastern and Italian Fronts

At a conference in Chantilly in November 1916, and a series of subsequent meetings, the Entente agreed on an offensive strategy where they would overwhelm the Central Powers by means of attacks on the Western, Eastern and Italian Fronts

Lloyd George sought to find ways of avoiding a repeat of the British casualties involved in the Battle of the Somme, and proposed an alternative strategy at a conference in Rome, which would involve the offensive being focused on the Italian front.

The new French Commander in Chief, Robert Nivelle, believed that a concentrated attack by French forces on the Western Front in Spring 1917 could break the German front and lead to a quick victory.

Opening of the Kienthal Conference of anti-war socialists

The Second International dissolves during World War I, in 1916, following the 1915 Zimmerwald Conference of anti-war socialists

Crisis breaks out when the press announces Asquith will not introduce concscription

Conscription is introduced

Conscription is introduced during Asquith's wartime premiership.

A political crisis follows reports that Asquith will not introduce conscription.

Proclaims the Polish Congress of State for military & economic resources for Germany

The Central Powers establish Poland as a semi-autonomous client state

Appointed Member of Polish Council of State

Haig's armies increasingly use creeping barrages to improve infantry support during Somme attacks.

Criticises the conduct of the Somme offensive while out of ministerial office.

The Cromer Commission is announced to investigate the Dardanelles Campaign

Announces the Cromer Commission to investigate the Dardanelles campaign.

Monro reports completion of the final Helles evacuation, ending the Allied Dardanelles expedition.

Refuses release of documents connected with the Dardanelles inquiry.

Declaration of Provisional Government of the Irish Republic from the rebel held GPO

Romania declares war on the Central Powers

Austria-Hungary declares war on Portugal

Romanian Government order mobilisation and declare war on Austria-Hungary

Enters the war on the side of the Allies by declaring war on Austria

Ferdinand approves Romania's declaration of war against Austria-Hungary.

Helps coordinate British and Arab support as Ottoman forces threaten Yanbu.

Haig maintains pressure around Delville Wood during the second phase of the Somme battle.

Reviews the results and outstanding issues arising from Lord Derby’s voluntary recruiting scheme.

Moved to an advisery post after the failure of the Somme offensive

Paul von Hindenburg replaces Erich von Falkenhayn as Chief of Staff of the German Army

Paul von Hindenburg replaces Erich von Falkenhayn as Chief of Staff of the German Army

Durazzo captured by Austrian forces

Fights alongside Patrick Pearse and others in the General Post Office. Collins railed against what he perceived as its ham-fisted amateurism, notably the seizure of indefensible and very vulnerable positions such as St Stephens Green that were impossible to escape from and difficult to supply. Collins, like many of the risings participants, is arrested, almost sent to the gallows and winds up at Frongoch internment camp

24-29 April, during the Easter Rebellion seeks immediate independence for Ireland

Declaration of Provisional Government of the Irish Republic from the rebel held GPO. 24-29 April, the rebellion seeks independence for Ireland

The Easter Rebellion breaks out in Dublin.

Supports an inquiry into the causes of and responsibility for the Easter Rising.

Transfers 15 Divisions from the Western to the Eastern front after the Brusilov Offensive

With the halting of all offensive operations on the Italian front in the face of the Brusilov Offensive, the Tyrol effort was prematurely brought to an end and Rohr was switched to take charge of the 11th army

Leaves Scapa Flow aboard HMS Hampshire for the wartime mission to Russia.

Romania enters the war on the Allied side.

Bratianu's government enters the war alongside the Entente.

Escapes from Austro-Hungarian captivity and returns to Russia.

Hanged for high treason in Pentonville prison

Is expelled from France after sustained anti-war journalism and political activity during the First World War.

The Act creates regional banks providing long-term mortgage credit to farmers.

McCay's 5th Australian Division attacks at Fromelles and suffers severe losses.

Haig approves the final major British attack of the Somme campaign along the Ancre.

Hunter-Weston's forces maintain the Helles perimeter while men, guns and stores are progressively embarked.

Birdwood's I ANZAC Corps deploys from Egypt to the Western Front.

Birdwood takes command of I ANZAC Corps after the post-Gallipoli reorganisation.

Addresses the Commons on the new government's policy and the scale of the national war effort.

Cox's brigade advances across open ground during the Magdhaba operation.

Cox's 1st Light Horse Brigade joins the ANZAC Mounted Division in Egypt.

Cox's brigade helps hold the defensive line during the Ottoman attack at Romani.

When Asquith resigned, he returns to office as First Lord of the Admiralty

Haig reviews catastrophic first-day casualties but decides the offensive must continue.

Creates a small War Cabinet intended to accelerate strategic and administrative decisions.

Haig renews plans for a future offensive in Flanders against German positions near Ypres.

Haig renews planning for a major offensive in Flanders after the Somme campaign ends.

Establishes central food control to manage imports, prices and supplies during wartime shortages.

Appointed Foreign Minister, 2nd term

Leads the fourth army in the main part of the offensive North of the River Somme

The Irish Free State, southern Ireland, is established

Haking orders the joint British-Australian attack intended to pin German reserves at Fromelles.

The final day of troop withdrawal from Gallipolli

Monro completes the withdrawal of the remaining Allied forces, ending the Gallipoli campaign.

Builds a small advisory staff around Downing Street to collect statistics and bypass departmental delay.

Appointed Commander of the new 10th army following the dissolution of his army-group in anticipation of the Tyrol Offensive

Appointed Commander of the new 10th army following the dissolution of his army-group in anticipation of the Tyrol Offensive

Having overseen the successful defense of the Corinthian frontier, Rohr was promoted to the rank of Generaloberst

Having overseen the successful defense of the Corinthian frontier, Rohr was promoted to the rank of Generaloberst

Beatty fulfils the battlecruiser scouting role by bringing Scheer's fleet toward Jellicoe's battleships.

Beatty receives orders to sail after Admiralty intelligence indicates major German naval movement.

Haig orders pressure maintained after British troops capture Ginchy during the Somme offensive.

Commands Third Army during the diversionary attack at Gommecourt.

Requested by the King to form a new Government. Asquith refuses to serve under Law him so he is unable to form a new Government

Addresses possible political arrangements for Ireland following the Easter Rising.

Gives Parliament a detailed statement on the Government’s Irish policy after failed settlement talks.

Commands the Grand Fleet in the Battle of Jutland

Beatty's battlecruisers operate ahead of the deploying Grand Fleet as Jellicoe forms his battle line.

Beatty begins revising fleet doctrine to apply tactical lessons drawn from Jutland.

Predicts gravitational waves as propagating disturbances in spacetime within general relativity.

Haig continues attacks around Guillemont to improve the British position before renewed larger operations.

Addresses publication and parliamentary consideration of Sir Ian Hamilton’s report on the Gallipoli campaign.

Addresses parliamentary questions arising from the loss of HMS Hampshire and Lord Kitchener.

Uses Maurice Hankey's organisation to provide the War Cabinet with continuous records and coordinated information.

Injured by a grenade splinter & returns to Germany for the 1st time in 2 yrs

Convalesces in Beelitz

Has a heart attack & is forced into temporary reirement

Beatty identifies Scheer's approaching battlefleet and realises his force has been drawn toward superior numbers.

Haig seeks rapid exploitation toward High Wood after the Bazentin Ridge success.

Beatty's surviving battlecruisers renew action as Hipper's ships encounter the Grand Fleet.

A seaplane from HMS Engadine scouts ahead of Beatty's force and reports German ships during the approach to battle.

A sighting report from Galatea helps draw Beatty toward Hipper's battlecruisers.

Indefatigable explodes under German battlecruiser fire during the Run to the South.

Emergency flooding prevents flash from reaching Lion's magazines after the Q-turret hit.

A German shell penetrates Lion's Q turret and creates a serious risk of a magazine explosion.

Princess Royal suffers German hits while remaining in action with Beatty's battlecruiser force.

Queen Mary is destroyed by catastrophic magazine explosions during the battlecruiser action.

Tiger remains with Beatty's force through the main phases of the Jutland battle.

Addresses parliamentary questions concerning home defence during the continuing war.

The Irish Free State, southern Ireland, is established

The Central Powers establish Poland as a semi-autonomous client state

Several SPD members in the Reichstag vote against the authorization of further credits to finance World War I, pacifists led by Hugo Haase are expelled from the SPD

The Second International dissolves during World War I, in 1916, following the 1915 Zimmerwald Conference of anti-war socialists

The 62nd and 53rd Infantry Division entered Montenegro on 5 January 1916 from the North-East and advanced along the river towards Pljevlja and Bijelo Polje, where they were stopped by the Montenegrins in the Battle of Mojkovac

By 25 January the entire army of Montenegro had laid down its weapons

The Montenegrin Campaign in 1916 was a part of the Serbian Campaign in World War I, in which Austria Hungary defeated and occupied the Kingdom of Montenegro, an ally of Serbia

Mount Lovcen was the key defensive position of the Montenegrin army, who defended it as a citadel with roughly 2/3 of its forces. The Austrian-Hungarians, under Croatian general Stjepan Sarkotic, gathered large quantities of heavy artillery in Kotor, supported by ships artillery from the Austro-Hungarian Navy

Flamethrowers are used for the 1st time at the Battle of Verdun

24 June-13 November, tanks are used for the 1st time at the 1st Battle of the Somme

Restates the Government position after efforts to reach an Irish political settlement break down.

Answers questions concerning the treatment and release of prisoners detained after the rebellion.

Answers questions about the trials of participants in the Easter Rising.

Addresses the Government response to the Easter Rising and the treatment of rebels.

Addresses negotiations intended to find a political settlement in Ireland during wartime.

Leaves Elephant Island in the James Caird with five companions to seek rescue from South Georgia

Navigates the James Caird across the Southern Ocean to South Georgia during the Endurance rescue effort

Gives Parliament a statement on current military and governmental questions at the start of 1916.

The Royal Navy examines dangerous ammunition-handling practices exposed by battlecruiser magazine losses.

Beatty's command reviews rangefinding, fire control and gunnery performance after the battle.

Beatty reviews the destruction of Indefatigable and Queen Mary and the heavy damage suffered by other ships.

The fleet studies signalling failures that complicated control of Beatty's forces during Jutland.

Beatty spreads light cruisers ahead of his capital ships to search for Hipper's scouting force.

Beatty's force continues searching as the German fleet escapes toward its bases during the night.

Haig sustains attacks toward Le Transloy despite mud, rain and increasingly difficult supply conditions.

Appointed Lieutenant Colonel

Chauvel directs the mounted assault that captures the Ottoman position at Magdhaba.

Informed he will command the 6th Royal Scots Fusiliers

Takes command the 6th Royal Scots Fusiliers

Addresses the growing manpower problem and the balance between military service and essential industry.

Supports extending compulsory military service to married men as manpower demands continue.

Reviews the continuing operation of martial law in Ireland after the rebellion.

Meets Emir Faisal and identifies him as an effective Arab Revolt commander.

Addresses parliamentary criticism of the conduct and administration of the Mesopotamia campaign.

Supports formal investigation into failures connected with the Mesopotamia campaign.

Reviews the manpower position of the armed forces as conscription begins to operate.

Answers questions about implementation of the new Military Service Act.

Supports compulsory service for eligible unmarried men after voluntary recruiting proves insufficient.

Introduces legislation imposing compulsory service on eligible unmarried men after the Derby Scheme.

Implements the extension of compulsory military service to married men through further legislation.

Appointed Minister of Munitions

Appointed Minister of War

Appointed Minister of War

Appointed Minister of War

Creates a dedicated shipping ministry to control scarce merchant tonnage during the submarine crisis.

By 25 January the entire army of Montenegro had laid down its weapons

The Montenegrin Campaign in 1916 was a part of the Serbian Campaign in World War I, in which Austria Hungary defeated and occupied the Kingdom of Montenegro, an ally of Serbia

Mount Lovcen was the key defensive position of the Montenegrin army, who defended it as a citadel with roughly 2/3 of its forces. The Austrian-Hungarians, under Croatian general Stjepan Sarkotic, gathered large quantities of heavy artillery in Kotor, supported by ships artillery from the Austro-Hungarian Navy

Holmes directs repeated 4th Division attacks toward Mouquet Farm during the Somme fighting.

Venizelos establishes a provisional government supporting the Allied war effort.

Urges greater national economy as wartime expenditure and demands on resources increase.

Creates machinery for directing civilian labour toward military and essential industrial needs.

Chaytor's mounted riflemen counterattack Ottoman forces during the Battle of Romani.

Russell assumes command when the New Zealand Division is formally created in Egypt.

Russell's division leaves the Somme after weeks of costly offensive operations.

Chaytor's brigade becomes the New Zealand component of the ANZAC Mounted Division.

Chaytor's brigade attacks Ottoman redoubts during the capture of Magdhaba.

Fading light reduces Beatty's opportunity to maintain effective heavy-gun contact with the German fleet.

The German Ninth Army pushes back the Romanian forces during the Romanian Campaign

Is awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature as a leading representative of a new era in Swedish literature.

Central Powers occupy Bucharest.

Awarded the Order of the Garter on his 21st birthday

Addresses British participation in Allied discussions about wartime and postwar economic cooperation.

Reports on Allied economic coordination discussed at the Paris Economic Conference.

Issues a Peace Note for negotiations, hopes to control Belgium & North East France

Offers the good offices of the US in the interests of peace

Addresses questions about possible peace negotiations and the conditions required for a settlement.

Gives Parliament a statement on conditions in Ireland after the Easter Rising.

Birdwood coordinates successive Australian divisions fighting around Pozieres and Mouquet Farm.

Haig supports Australian and British attacks intended to seize the important Pozieres ridge.

Walker directs the 1st Australian Division's assault that captures most of Pozieres.

Resigns as Prime Minister in December 1916.

Appointed President of Argentina, 1st term

Appointed President of Ecuador

Appointed President of Panama

Begins a one-year term as President of the Swiss Confederation.

Appointed Prime Minister of Great Britain, 1st term

Jodl is promoted to Oberleutnant while serving in the First World War.

Kerensky develops his views through provisional government after 1917.

Declaration of Provisional Government of the Irish Republic from the rebel held GPO

The Easter Rebellion breaks out in Dublin

Crushes the last remnants of the Easter Rebellion in Dublin

Takes the surrender of the last of the rebels, over 1,000 prisoners have been taken. Crushes the last remnants of the Easter Rebellion in Dublin

Decides upon compulsory conscription, except for Ireland

Publishes his popular introduction to special and general relativity.

Rescues the remaining Endurance crew from Elephant Island without loss of life

Resigns from Asquiths Coalition Government

Resigns from Asquiths Coalition Government

Resigns from Asquiths Coalition Government

Resigns as Prime Minister of Great Britain

Forced to resign as party chairman of the SPD

The 6th Royal Scots merges with the 15th Division. Churchill does not seek another command & returns to Parliament

Gives his Officers a farewell lunch at Armentieres

Holds a farewell luncheon for the officers of his batallion

Returns to England, the end of his military career

Is celebrated after escaping captivity and resumes military service.

Chauvel directs the ANZAC Mounted Division during the successful defence of Romani.

Romanian Government order mobilisation and declare war on Austria-Hungary

Joins the Royal Flying Corps in January 1916 and is accepted for pilot training

Proclaims the Polish Congress of State for military & economic resources for Germany

The Central Powers establish Poland as a semi-autonomous client state

Beatty leads the German forces north toward the main body of the Grand Fleet.

Beatty pursues Hipper southward as both battlecruiser forces exchange heavy gunfire.

Accepts a mission to Russia intended to discuss military cooperation and assess the Eastern Front.

Finds the exact spherical solution to Einstein's field equations, foundational for black hole theory.

Godley takes command of II ANZAC Corps during the reorganisation of Australian and New Zealand forces.

Godley organises II ANZAC Corps for operations on the Western Front.

Appointed Commander of the Second Army

Legge's 2nd Australian Division relieves exhausted troops in the Pozieres sector.

Ryrie's 2nd Light Horse Brigade joins the ANZAC Mounted Division during its formation.

Ryrie's brigade joins the pursuit after the Ottoman withdrawal from Romani.

Introduces a Bill extending military service obligations to a wider group of eligible men.

Explains arrangements for a secret parliamentary session on military manpower and recruiting.

Appointed Secretary for War

Greek royalist troops attack an Allied landing party

24-29 April, leads 125 men & captures the Boland mill during the Easter Rebelion

Surrnders to the Turks after a siege of 147 days

Killed on his visit to Nicholas II when the Hampshire hits a mine

HMS Hampshire struck a mine west of Orkney and sank rapidly while carrying Kitchener to Russia; only twelve men survived.

Supported by Fochs 6th Army but 20,000 British perish on the first day of the battle

Haig oversees the concentration of guns, ammunition and divisions for the coming offensive.

Haig orders continued pressure to support France and wear down the German army.

Haig ends major Somme operations after months of attritional fighting and limited territorial gains.

Haig expands preparations for the planned Anglo-French offensive while Verdun increases pressure on France.

Haig's armies begin the prolonged bombardment intended to destroy German wire and forward defences.

Performs brigade staff duties during the Somme campaign and observes the heavy cost of offensive operations.

Haig reviews artillery, infantry, tank and communications lessons from the completed Somme campaign.

Haig reviews deteriorating battlefield conditions as rain and mud sharply reduce operational mobility.

Serves again on the Southwestern Front after returning to duty.

Founded and led the Sozialdemokratische Arbeitsgemeinschaft

Advances legislation creating special commissions to investigate the Dardanelles and Mesopotamia campaigns.

Urges the First Lord of the Admiralty to recall Lord Fisher as First Sea Lord

Accedes to the throne on the death of Franz Josef

Russell's division captures its objectives around the Switch Trench during the Flers-Courcelette attack.

Haig approves the first battlefield use of tanks during the attack at Flers-Courcelette.

Appointed Commander of the new 10th army following the dissolution of his army-group in anticipation of the Tyrol Offensive

Haig's forces attack Thiepval Ridge and secure important positions overlooking the Ancre valley.

Leads the 3rd Army south of the River Somme

Jodl leaves the Western Front for service connected with an Austro-Hungarian artillery formation.

Hanged for high treason in Pentonville prison. Death of Roger Casement, executed for treason

Austrian offensive in the Trentino begins

End of the main Austrian offensive in the Trentino

Kerensky addresses the Duma on conditions in Turkestan and the Steppe region, criticising official abuses and the government's handling of unrest.

A motion by Edward Carson on ownership of property in Nigeria creates a crisis

A motion forwarded by Carson on ownership of property in Nigeria creates a crisis

Introduces frequent War Cabinet meetings as the central mechanism for directing the war.

Confirms Curzon, Bonar Law, Milner and Henderson as colleagues in the new War Cabinet.

Supports detailed provisions governing the special wartime commissions of inquiry.

Addresses the wartime leadership of the War Office after Lloyd George becomes Secretary of State for War.

Stands alone in criticizing the Government during the War Office vote

As the Battle of the Somme comes to a bitterly cold end, a meeting is held between the Allied generals at Chantilly just outside Paris, a decision is reached by Generals Haig and Joffre that on the Western Front things would recommence in February

The new French Commander in Chief, Robert Nivelle, believed that a concentrated attack by French forces on the Western Front in Spring 1917 could break the German front and lead to a quick victory

The new French Commander in Chief, Robert Nivelle, believed that a concentrated attack by French forces on the Western Front in Spring 1917 could break the German front and lead to a quick victory

Haig orders winter strengthening of trenches, communications and reserve systems across the British front.

Birth of Edward Richard George Heath, son of a carpenter & maid. Birth of Edward Richard George Heath

Born in Broadstairs, Kent, into a modest family before his later Conservative political career.

Birth of Gavin Buchanan Ewart

Birth of Harold Wilson

Birth of Margaret Lockwood

Pieter Willem Botha is born near Paul Roux.

Birth of Walter Leland Cronkite

The future prime minister and state president is born.

Death of Franz Josef I, at Schonnbrunn Palace

Death of Grigor Rasputin

Death of Horatio Herbert Kitchener

Death of Karl Schwarzschild

Death of Karl von Sturgkh, assassinated

Death of Roger Casement, executed for treason

Death of Shih-Kai Yuan, China plunges into chaos

Haig directs the opening Somme phase as British armies attack across the Albert sector.

German & Austrian victory which leads to the capture of Bucharest. Attacks the Romanians at the River Argesul who launch an operation to defend Bucharest

German & Austrian victory which leads to the capture of Bucharest. Attacks the Romanians at the River Argesul who launch an operation to defend Bucharest

Haig reinforces Byngs command with the entire Tank Corps

In Britain news of the initial spectacular breakthrough served to greatly enhance Byngs reputation; and it resulted in the ringing of church bells in Britain for the first time during the war. During the battle casualties were high, the Germans suffered losses of approximately 50,000 and the British 45,000

Leads 380 tanks in the 1st large scale mobilization of the tank

Gains ground before being stopped by a the Austrian artillery & bad weather

Resumes his attack & gains some ground but is stopped by bad winter weather

Involved in the successful bomardment of the outer-Dardanelles

Forced to hand over his command to John de Robeck, due to ill health

Leads a failed attack across the River Danube

Commands the Army Unit South against the combined Bulgarian & Turkish forces across the Danube at Flamanda, he is defeated

Raymond Asquith, son of Prime Minister H. H. Asquith, is killed during the attack near Ginchy.

Commands German First Army forces resisting the British and Dominion attacks on the Somme front.

Commands Canadian Corps as Canadian troops enter the Somme battle and attack toward Courcelette.

British tanks are used in battle for the first time during the Somme offensive.

Orders the Somme offensive to continue as tanks are used in battle for the first time.

Commands British Fourth Army during the attack against Flers, Martinpuich and Courcelette.

Leads New Zealand Division in its first major Western Front action during the Somme offensive.

The German Ninth Army pushes back the Romanian forces during the Romanian Campaign

Beatty sails from Rosyth with six battlecruisers and the four fast battleships of the Fifth Battle Squadron.

British and German scouting forces make contact, drawing Beatty's and Hipper's battlecruisers toward battle.

Leads 5 cruisers along the Jutland Peninsula to break the British North Sea blockade. Hipper & Beattys destroyers see each other & the Germans entice the British fleet. Germans have 16 Dreadnoughts, 6 pre-Dreadnoughts, 11 light cruisers & 72 destroyers

Commands the 2nd Cruiser Squadron at the Battle of Jutland

Commands the Colossus during the Battle of Jutland

Commands the Grand Fleet in the Battle of Jutland

Scheer is outgunned by Jellicoes fleet & turns away under cover of smokescreens. Learns of the movement of the German Fleet along the Jutland Peninsula & mobilizes. Britain claims victory because the German Fleet stays in its harbour during the war

Sails from Scapa Flow with 28 Dreadnoughts & 3 Battle cruisers

Intends to entice British battle-cruisers offf the Norwegian coast & destroy them. Follows von Hipper with the German Fleet of 99 ships along the Jutland Peninsula

The Germans claim a victory because they have sunk more ships than they have lost. The German Fleet retrurns to port & does not break out again during the war. Scheer is outgunned by Jellicoes fleet & turns away under cover of smokescreens. Both sides lose 6 ships but the British lose greater tonnage

The Commander of the 4th Battle Squadron at the Battle of Jutland

The Montenegrin Army was weakened by the harsh weather and lack of supplies. On 5 January 1916, they received a command to protect the retreat of the Serbian army to Corfu via Albania

On 7 January, the Austro-Hungarians launched a second attack on Montenegrin positions. The attack again failed, with heavy losses on both sides. Despite having a much stronger, larger, and better-equipped army, Austro-Hungarian forces abandoned their positions in Mojkovac on the 7th and retreated

In the winter of 1915, the Army of Montenegro had been fighting Austro-Hungary for three months in Serbia. In January 1916 they had to resist the invasion of their own territory.

The 62nd and 53rd Infantry Division entered Montenegro on 5 January 1916 from the north-east and advanced along the river towards Pljevlja and Bijelo Polje, where they were stopped by the Montenegrins in the Battle of Mojkovacc.

The Austro-Hungarian forces left the battlefield, leaving more than 2,000 of their soldiers dead. By the end of the day, Montenegrin forces were able to push back multiple attacks made by Austro-Hungarian forces, taking back control of Mojkovacc and its surroundings.

The Battle of Mojkovacc was a World War I battle fought between 6 January and 7 January 1916 near Mojkovacc, Montenegro, between the armies of Austria-Hungary and Montenegro. It ended with a Montenegrin victory.

British Fourth Army attacks Morval, Gueudecourt and Lesboeufs while French forces move toward Combles and Rancourt.

The First Battle of Passchendaele, on 12 October 1917 began with a further Allied attempt by 5 British and 3 ANZAC divisions (the New Zealand Division and the Australian 3rd and 4th Divisions) to gain ground around Poelcappelle. The Allied troops were fought-out, and morale was suffering, against the well-prepared German defences, the gains were minimal and there were 13,000 Allied casualties

At a conference in Chantilly in November 1916, and a series of subsequent meetings, the Entente agreed on an offensive strategy where they would overwhelm the Central Powers by means of attacks on the Western, Eastern and Italian Fronts

In December 1916, at the conclusion of the Battle of the Somme, Haig identified Flanders as the most promising theatre for a British offensive of 1917 and by January 1917 the idea of a Flanders offensive had met with the approval of the British Cabinet

Takes the battalion of 6th Royal Scots Fusiliers across the Belgian border

Battle of Sibiu ends, the city is retaken by Austrian forces

Commands British Third Army during the diversionary attack at Gommecourt.

Commands German Second Army at the opening of the Allied Somme attack.

Commands French Sixth Army on the southern part of the Somme offensive.

Coordinates French northern army operations supporting the Allied Somme offensive.

Takes command of German Second Army after German forces on the Somme are reorganised.

Takes command of the reorganised German Second Army south of the Somme.

Commands Reserve Army forces as fighting expands around Pozieres and the Albert-Bapaume road.

Commands Fifth Army during the Battle of the Ancre, the final major phase of the Somme offensive.

Royal Flying Corps aircraft support preparatory operations by attacking German observation balloons.

Commands the British Expeditionary Force as the Somme attack opens after a week of bombardment.

The British attack opens on the Somme, causing 57,470 British casualties on the first day.

Wounded in the thigh by a shell splinter near Bapaume and evacuated to hospital in Germany.

Posted to No. 7 Squadron and flies bombing, reconnaissance and photographic missions over the Somme front.

Leads the 36th Ulster Division in its costly attack toward the Schwaben Redoubt.

Commands British Fourth Army in the main British attack north of the River Somme.

Commands British Fourth Army in the main attack north of the River Somme.

Romania suffers a severe defeat in Dobruja.

Flamethrowers are used for the 1st time at the Battle of Verdun. Decides "to bleed France white" by concentrating on a historically sensitive area. 1st day to "bleed the French white", 1200 German artillery guns open fire

Begins successfully when the Germans take Fort Douamont, Verduns strongest position

Cancels supplies to the battle when the French are saved from by Allied bombardment

Each loses about 350,000. After 10 months the Germans are forced back to their original positions

Wounded in battle & captured by the Germans. "posthumously" awarded the Legion of Honour. It is officially thought de Gaulle died in battle

Commander of Second Army during the Battle of Champagne

The four divisions of the Canadian Corps were transferred to the Ypres Salient and to make additional advances on Passchendaele

Four Queen Elizabeth-class battleships under Evan-Thomas reinforce Beatty's six battlecruisers for the operation.

Evan-Thomas's fast battleships bring their powerful guns into action against Hipper's ships.

Evan-Thomas's battleships trail Beatty's faster battlecruisers during the opening pursuit.

Signalling difficulties delay Evan-Thomas's turn, exposing the fast battleships to concentrated German fire.

Holmes's 4th Australian Division enters the Pozieres sector after earlier Australian formations are exhausted.

Russell's New Zealand Division enters the Somme offensive near Flers.