Promotion to Oberleutnant
Jodl is promoted to Oberleutnant while serving in the First World War.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1916 in Germany
Explore 109 historical events and records for Germany in 1916.
Historical records for Germany in 1916
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 109 unique records.
109Unique records
1 of 3Page
27Named events on this page
14Named people on this page
12Places on this page
January
Schwarzschild Solution
Finds the exact spherical solution to Einstein's field equations, foundational for black hole theory.
February
Battle of Verdun
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
Invention of Flamethrowers
Flamethrowers are used for the 1st time at the Battle of Verdun
Battle of Verdun
Begins successfully when the Germans take Fort Douamont, Verduns strongest position
March
Independent Social Democratic Party of Germany (USPD)
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
Budget
Haase and 18 other SPD delegates vote against the Government's emergency budget
Commander of Danube Army
Appointed Commander of the Army of the Danube
Commander of Danube Army
Appointed Commander of the Army of the Danube
Resignation of Hugo Haase
Forced to resign as party chairman of the SPD
Sozialdemokratische Arbeitsgemeinschaft
Founded and led the Sozialdemokratische Arbeitsgemeinschaft
May
Death of Karl Schwarzschild
Death of Karl Schwarzschild
Battle of Jutland
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
Battle of Jutland
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
June
Battle of Jutland
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
Brusilov Offensive
Transfers 15 Divisions from the Western to the Eastern front after the Brusilov Offensive
Eastern Front
Transfers 15 Divisions from the Western to the Eastern front after the Brusilov Offensive
Battle of Verdun
Cancels supplies to the battle when the French are saved from by Allied bombardment
July
Battle of the Somme, 1st
Commands German Second Army at the opening of the Allied Somme attack.
Battle of the Somme, 1st
Takes command of German Second Army after German forces on the Somme are reorganised.
Battle of the Somme, 1st
Takes command of the reorganised German Second Army south of the Somme.
Somme Front Service
Manstein worked with German army staff formations on the Somme during the major Allied offensive of 1916. His duties involved supporting the coordination and supply of formations under intense battlefield pressure.
August
Chief of Staff
Appointed Chief of Staff
Chief of Staff
Appointed Chief of Staff
Dismissal
Paul von Hindenburg replaces Erich von Falkenhayn as Chief of Staff of the German Army
Dismissal
Paul von Hindenburg replaces Erich von Falkenhayn as Chief of Staff of the German Army
September
Capture of Silistra
Captures Silistra
Capture of Turtukai
Captures Turtukai
Battle of Flers-Courcelette
Commands German First Army forces resisting the British and Dominion attacks on the Somme front.
Brusilov Offensive
The Russians had taken 450,000 prisoners but lost 1,000,000. The offensive is called off
Battle of Hermannstadt
The German Ninth Army pushes back the Romanian forces during the Romanian Campaign
Ninth Army
The German Ninth Army pushes back the Romanian forces during the Romanian Campaign
October
Battle of the Somme, 1st
Wounded in the thigh by a shell splinter near Bapaume and evacuated to hospital in Germany.
Health of Adolf Hitler
Injured by a grenade splinter & returns to Germany for the 1st time in 2 yrs
Capture of Constanta
Captures the key Black Sea port of Constanta from Romania
Health of Adolf Hitler
Convalesces in Beelitz
November
Constitution of Germany
Proclaims the Polish Congress of State for military & economic resources for Germany
Rule of Poland
Proclaims the Polish Congress of State for military & economic resources for Germany
Battle of Argesul
German & Austrian victory which leads to the capture of Bucharest. Attacks the Romanians at the River Argesul who launch an operation to defend Bucharest
Battle of Argesul
German & Austrian victory which leads to the capture of Bucharest. Attacks the Romanians at the River Argesul who launch an operation to defend Bucharest
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.