Читать книгу George Guynemer, Knight of the Air (WWI Centenary Series) - Henry Bordeaux - Страница 8

Оглавление

1917

1^st February	Germany’s unrestricted submarine warfare campaign starts.
3^rd February	US sever diplomatic relations with Germany as U-boats threaten US shipping. Intercepted messages reveal that Germany is provoking the Mexicans into war with the US.
21^st February	The great German withdrawal begins. Serre, Miraumont, Petit Miraumont, Pys and Warlencourt are evacuated, falling back 25 miles to establish stronger positions on the Hindenburg Line.
15^th March	Tsar Nicholas II abdicates as Moscow falls to Russian Revolutionaries. Demise of the Russian army frees German troops for the Western front.
6^th April	USA declares war on Germany – troops mobilise immediately.
9^th April	Battle of Arras. British successfully employ new tactics of creeping barrages, the ‘graze fuse’ and counter battery fire.
16^th April	France launches an unsuccessful offensive on the Western Front. – Second Battle of Aisne begins as part of the ‘Nivelle Offensive’. Losses are horrendous, triggering mutinies in the French Army.
7^th June	The Battle of Messines Ridge. British succeed with few casualties, detonating 19 mines under German front lines – the explosions are reportedly heard from England.
13^th June	Germans launch first major heavy bomber raid of London – kills and injures 594.
25^th June	First US troops arrive in France.
31^st July	Start of the Third Battle at Ypres – a 15 mile front in Flanders. Initial attacks are successful as the German forward trenches are lightly manned.
15^th August	The Battle of Lens (Hill 70). – Canadians at the forefront, won a high vantage point, though loss of 9,200 men.
20^th August	Third Battle of Verdun begins. French progress is marked by gaining lost territory in the earlier battles.
9^th October	The third phase of the Ypres Offensive begins with British and French troops taking Poelcapelle. 25mm of rain falls in 48 hours and the battlefield turns into a quagmire.
12^th October	British launch assault at Ypres Against the Passchendale Ridge. New Zealand and Australians take terrible casualties. Bogged down in mud and forced back to start lines.
24^th October	Battle of Caporetto – Italian Army heavily defeated.
26^th October	Second Battle of Passchendaele begins, 12,000 men lost and 300 yards gained (ends 10^th November – 500,000 casualties, 140,000 deaths and 5 miles gained).
6^th November	Britain launches major offensive on the Western Front.
20^th November	Victory for British tanks at Cambrai - The Royal flying Corps drop bombs at the same time on German anti-tank guns and strong points. Early example of the ‘Blitzkrieg’ tactics later used by Germany in World War Two.
5^th December	Armistice between Germany and Russia signed.

George Guynemer, Knight of the Air (WWI Centenary Series)

Подняться наверх