Eighth Army
Made Commander of the German Eighth Army, and was tasked with defending East Prussia from an expected Russian attack
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1914 in Germany — Page 4
Explore 279 historical events and records for Germany in 1914.
Historical records for Germany in 1914
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 279 unique records.
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August
Eighth Army
Made Commander of the German Eighth Army, and was tasked with defending East Prussia from an expected Russian attack
Eighth Army
Defeat at the scrappy Battle of Gumbinnen led a panicked Prittwitz to order the withdrawal of Eighth Army to the River Vistula, fearing encirclement by the Russian First and Second Armies
First General Staff Officer
Appointed First General Staff Officer to the Eighth Army in East Prussia
First General Staff Officer
Appointed First General Staff Officer to the Eighth Army in East Prussia
German Forces Screen Antwerp Fortress
German reserve formations maintain a screen around Antwerp after the Belgian army retreats into the fortified area. Their mission is to contain the garrison while Germany’s main armies push toward France.
Gold Redemption Suspended
Germany suspends gold redemption at the outbreak of the First World War, ending the convertibility that had supported the imperial gold mark.
Invasion of Germany
Dispatched to East Prussia to defend against a likely Russian invasion as documented in Russias war strategy, Plan 19
Invasion of Germany
The order to withdraw effectively abandoned East Prussia to the Russians; before the order was executed he was recalled to Berlin by Helmuth von Moltke, the German Army Chief of Staff. Defeat at the scrappy Battle of Gumbinnen led a panicked Prittwitz to order the withdrawal of Eighth Army to the River Vistula, fearing encirclement by the Russian First and Second Armies
Mobilisation for First World War
At the outbreak of the First World War, Manstein left his military studies for field service as an adjutant. He served with the German forces campaigning in Belgium and France.
Placed in charge of overseas propaganda
Placed in charge of overseas propaganda
September
Invasion of France
Kluck reaches Crepy-en-Valois, 30 miles from Paris
Invasion of France
Kluck crosses the Oise
Invasion of France
Kluck reaches Villers-Cotterets, 30 miles from Paris
Invasion of France
Kluck crosses the Marne
First Army
Advances the First Army to within 50 km east of Paris
Invasion of France
Advances the First Army to within 50 km east of Paris
Dendermonde Bridges Demolished
Following the German seizure of Dendermonde, bridges north of the town are destroyed. The demolition complicates movements along the western approaches to Antwerp.
German Attack Opens toward Dendermonde
German forces attack toward Dendermonde along the Scheldt approaches, seeking to constrain Belgian movement west of Antwerp. The operation threatens crossings essential to Belgian communication routes.
Battle of Marne, 1st
Begins when the French 6th Army & German IV Reserve Corps clash in the Meaux hills
Invasion of France
Follows orders to withdraw his troops & join up with the Second Army
Sixth Army
Begins when the French 6th Army & German IV Reserve Corps clash in the Meaux hills
Battle of Marne, 1st
The French 6th Army attacks German First Armys flank. A decisive German breakthrough results in a general retreat
Sixth Army
The French 6th Army attacks German First Armys flank
Siege of Nancy
Calls off Prince Ruprechts siege of Nancy
Battle of Marne, 1st
The French 5th & the BEF move between Bulow & von Kluck forcing Bulows retreat. Kluck & Bulow retreat when the British begin to cross the Marne. Forced back by Joffre, leads to the collapse of the Schlieffen Plan
Battle of Marne, 1st
Kluck & Bulow retreat when the British begin to cross the Marne
Battle of Marne, 1st
Orders a retreat of 65 km to the River Aisne. Establishes a new line of defence & ends hope of a short war
Battle of Masurian Lakes
Leads the XVIII Corps
British Expeditionary Force (BEF)
The French 5th & the BEF move between Bulow & von Kluck forcing Bulows retreat
Battle of Marne, 1st
The British & the French fail to pursue the Germans
German Reserves Redirected against Belgian Sortie
Belgian advances from Antwerp prompt German commanders to recall reserve units and bring additional troops into the threatened sector. These deployments help check the Belgian offensive.
German Counteroffensive Checks Antwerp Sortie
German forces oppose Belgian advances near Aarschot and the roads toward Leuven. The counteroffensive denies the Belgian army a sustained breakthrough beyond Antwerp’s defensive perimeter.
Battle of Marne, 1st
Trench warfare begins. The front is established alog the Aisne, Vesle, Argonne, Meuse hills, Moselle & Vosges
Battle of Marne, 1st
Trench warfare begins. The front is established alog the Aisne, Vesle, Argonne, Meuse hills, Moselle & Vosges
Battle of Marne, 1st
Marwitzs cavalry protects the flank of First Army during its retreat in the wake of the First Battle of the Marne
First Army
Marwitzs cavalry protects the flank of First Army during its retreat in the wake of the First Battle of the Marne
Battle of Albert, 1st
1st day of the Battle of Albert between the Germans & French for the "race to the sea"
Health of Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel
Put in hospital with a leg injury for 3 months
German Siege Bombardment Begins at Antwerp
German artillery opens a sustained bombardment against Antwerp’s outer ring of forts. The attack marks the beginning of the decisive siege and focuses on breaking the southeastern defences.
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.