At 6.00am Germany signs an armistice with the Allies at Compiègne in northern France. Fighting on the Western Front ceases at 11.00am.
Battle of the Sambre
Part of the Hundred Days Offensive: The Allied victory at the Battle of the Sambre is the final operation of the Hundred Days Offensive.
Battle of the Selle
Part of the Hundred Days Offensive: The Allies are victorious at the Battle of the Selle.
Battle of Courtai
Part of the Hundred Days Offensive: The Allies are victorious at the Battle of Courtrai.
Battle of St Quentin Canal
Part of the Hundred Days Offensive: Australian and British troops secure victory at the Battle of the St Quentin Canal.
Battle of the Canal du Nord
Part of the Hundred Days Offensive: British, Canadian and New Zealand troops enjoy success at the Battle of the Canal du Nord.
Meuse-Argonne Offensive
Part of the Hundred Days Offensive: The Allies launch the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, the final phase of the Hundred Days Offensive.
Battle of Épehy
Part of the Hundred Days Offensive: The Allies secure victory at the Battle of Épehy.
Battle of Havrincourt
Part of the Hundred Days Offensive: British and New Zealand troops secure victory at the Battle of Havrincourt.
Battle of Mont Saint Quentin
Part of the Hundred Days Offensive: Australian troops secure victory at the Battle of Mont Saint Quentin.
Battle of the Scarpe
Part of the Hundred Days Offensive: Canadian forces enjoy success in the Battle of the Scarpe.
Second Battle of the Somme
Part of the Hundred Days Offensive: British Empire and American troops are victorious during the Second Battle of the Somme.
Battle of Amiens
Part of the Hundred Days Offensive: The Germans are defeated at the Battle of Amiens, the first stage of the Hundred Days Offensive.
Hundred Days Offensive begins
The Allies launch a decisive counter-attack on the Western Front.
Second Battle of the Marne
The final phase of the Spring Offensive (also known as the Second Battle of the Marne) fails when the Germans are counter-attacked by the French.
Battle of Matz
During the fourth phase of the Spring Offensive (also known as Operation Gneiseau), the German attack is defeated by the Allies.
Battle of Belleau Wood
Part of the Spring Offensive: The Allies halt another German attack at the Battle of Belleau Wood.
Battle of Cantigny
The first major American attack of war takes place at the Battle of Cantigny.
Third Battle of the Aisne
During the third phase of the Spring Offensive (also known as Operation Blücher-Yorck or the Third Battle of the Aisne), the German advance is halted after early gains.
Second Battle of Kemmel
Part of the Spring Offensive: The British and French resist another German attack at the Second Battle of Kemmel.
World’s first tank battle
The world’s first tank battle occurs at Villers-Bretonneux on the Western Front when British Mark IVs engage German A7 tanks.
Battle of Bethune
Part of the Spring Offensive: German attacks are repulsed by the Allies at the Battle of Bethune.
First Battle of Kemmel
Part of the Spring Offensive: German attacks are repulsed by the Allies at the First Battle of Kemmel.
Battle of Bailleul
Part of the Spring Offensive: Despite stiffening resistance, the Germans make further gains following the Battle of Bailleul.
Haig’s ‘Backs to the Wall’ special order
Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig issues his ‘Special Order of the Day’, often known as his ‘Backs to the Wall’ communiqué, calling on Allied troops to stand firm against the German Spring Offensive.
Battle of Estaires
Part of the Spring Offensive: The Germans enjoy success against British and Portuguese forces at the Battle of Estaires.
German offensive in Flanders
The second phase of the Spring Offensive (also known as Operation Georgette or the Battle of the Lys) sees German advances in Belgium.
Battle of the Ancre
Part of the Spring Offensive: A final German thrust towards Amiens is checked during the Battle of the Ancre.
Battle of the Avre
Part of the Spring Offensive: Despite nearly reaching Amiens, the Germans are held at the Battle of the Avre.
First Battle of Arras
Part of the Spring Offensive: The First Battle of Arras sees German attacks slowed down by the Allies.
Battle of Rosières
Part of the Spring Offensive: The Germans enjoy further gains following the Battle of Rosières.
First Battle of Bapaume
Part of the Spring Offensive: German forces enjoy further success at the First Battle of Bapaume.
Paris shelled
The Germans bombard Paris with long-range guns.
Battle of Saint Quentin
Part of the Spring Offensive: German forces enjoy success at the Battle of Saint Quentin.
Germans launch Spring Offensive
During the first phase of the Spring Offensive (also known as Operation Michael) on the Western Front, the Germans make sweeping early gains towards Amiens.
Battle of Cambrai
After initial success, the British attack on German positions at Cambrai results in stalemate.
Third Battle of Ypres ends
The Third Battle of Ypres (also known as Passchendaele) ends in stalemate.
Second Battle of Passchendaele
Part of the Third Battle of Ypres: The Second Battle of Passchendaele, the final phase of the Ypres operations, ends in deadlock.
Battle of Malmaison
A French success at the Battle of Malmaison captures much of the strategically important Chemin des Dames ridge.
First Battle of Passchendaele
Part of the Third Battle of Ypres: A British Empire and French attack at the First Battle of Passchendaele ends in a German defensive success.
Battle of Poelcappelle
Part of the Third Battle of Ypres: British, French and Australian assaults are repulsed by the Germans during the Battle of Poelcappelle.
Battle of Broodseinde
Part of the Third Battle of Ypres: British, Australian and New Zealand forces enjoy success at the Battle of Broodseinde.
Battle of Polygon Wood
Part of the Third Battle of Ypres: British and Australian troops secure limited gains during the Battle of Polygon Wood.
Battle of the Menin Road Ridge
Part of the Third Battle of Ypres: British forces enjoy success at the Battle of the Menin Road Ridge.
First use of mustard gas on the Western Front
The Germans use mustard gas against British troops for the first time during the Third Battle of Ypres.
Battle of Langemarck
Part of the Third Battle of Ypres: The British and French are repulsed during the Battle of Langemarck.
Battle of Hill 70
The Battle of Hill 70 near Lens sees limited Canadian success against the Germans.
Battle of Pilckem Ridge
Part of the Third Battle of Ypres: A British attack is repulsed during the Battle of Pilckem Ridge.
Third Battle of Ypres begins
Allied forces launch an offensive in Belgium, but in appalling weather conditions the Third Battle of Ypres (also known as Passchendaele) soon becomes an attritional slogging match.
First blood bank established on Western Front
US Army doctor, Captain Oswald Robertson, sets up the first blood bank on the Western Front.
First American troops land in France
British capture Messines Ridge
British, Australian, Canadian and New Zealand forces capture the Messines Ridge from the Germans.
Third Battle of the Scarpe
Part of the Battle of Arras: British attacks on German positions are repulsed at the Third Battle of the Scarpe.
Second Battle of Bullecourt
Part of the Battle of Arras: A British and Australian assault is repelled during the Second Battle of Bullecourt.
Battle of Arleux
Part of the Battle of Arras: The British and Canadians secure limited gains during the Battle of Arleux.
Second Battle of the Scarpe
Part of the Battle of Arras: British and Newfoundland troops launch an unsuccessful attack in the Second Battle of the Scarpe.
Second Battle of the Aisne
The Second Battle of the Aisne (or the Nivelle Offensive) ends in disaster for the French Army and its commander General Robert Nivelle.
Battle of Lagnicourt
Part of the Battle of Arras: The Germans mount a counter-offensive against Australian forces at the Battle of Lagnicourt.
First Battle of Bullecourt
Part of the Battle of Arras: A British and Australian attack is beaten off by the Germans at the First Battle of Bullecourt.
Battle of Vimy Ridge
Part of the Battle of Arras: The Canadians obtain a significant victory over the Germans in the Battle of Vimy Ridge. This engagement sees the first successful use by British Empire forces of flash-spotting and sound-ranging techniques to detect and suppress enemy batteries.
First Battle of the Scarpe
Part of the Battle of Arras: Despite heavy casualties at the hands of the Germans, British forces secure limited gains.
Battle of Arras
The Arras offensive sees British, Australian, Canadian, Newfoundland and New Zealand troops attack heavily fortified German lines without obtaining any strategic breakthrough.
Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps arrives on the Western Front
The first detachment of the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) arrives on the Western Front, under the command of Assistant Controller Helen Gwynne Vaughan.
Germans retreat to Hindenburg Line
German forces on the Western Front withdraw to strongly defended positions along the Hindenburg Line.
Battle of Verdun ends
Fighting at Verdun, the longest battle of the First World War, comes to an end.
Battle of the Somme ends
The Battle of the Somme ends after months of attritional fighting.
Battle of the Ancre
Part of the Battle of the Somme: The Battle of the Ancre, the last British attack on the Somme, ends in limited gains.
French recapture Fort Douaumont
The French recapture Fort Douaumont from the Germans at Verdun.
Battle of Le Transloy
Part of the Battle of the Somme: The Battle of Le Transloy ends in stalemate.
Battle of Thiepval Ridge
Part of the Battle of the Somme: The Battle of Thiepval Ridge sees British gains.
Battle of Morval
Part of the Battle of the Somme: The Battle of Morval sees British-French gains.
Battle of Flers-Courcelette
Part of the Battle of the Somme: The Battle of Flers-Courcelette sees the British use tanks for the first time in history.
Battle of Ginchy
Part of the Battle of the Somme: The British enjoy limited success at the Battle of Ginchy.
Battle of Guillemont
Part of the Battle of the Somme: The Battle of Guillemont sees limited British success.
First creeping barrage
The British use the creeping artillery barrage for the first time during the Battle of the Somme.
Battle of Pozières
Part of the Battle of the Somme: The Battle of Pozières sees limited Australian and British gains.
Battle of Fromelles
Part of the Battle of the Somme: The Battle of Fromelles ends in a German victory.
Battle of Bazentin Ridge
Part of the Battle of the Somme: The Battle of Bazentin Ridge ends in tactical gains for the British.
Battles for Longueval and Delville Wood
Part of the Battle of the Somme: The Battle of Delville Wood sees limited South African and British gains.
Battle of Albert
Part of the Battle of the Somme: The initial phase of the Somme offensive sees French success in the south but heavy British casualties for little gain in the north.
Battle of the Somme begins
The Battle of the Somme, a Franco-British attack aimed at relieving the pressure at Verdun, is part of a combined Allied offensive against the Central Powers.
Battle of Mont Sorrel
A German attack at Mont Sorrel in the Ypres Salient is repelled by British and Canadian forces.
Early blood transfusion on Western Front
Major Lawrence Robertson of the Canadian Army performs one of the earliest blood transfusions on the Western Front.
Battle of Verdun begins
The Battle of Verdun begins, an attritional German offensive intended to ‘bleed France white’.
First use of phosgene gas
The Germans use phosgene gas for the first time against the British at Wieltje, near Ypres.
Battle of Loos
The Battle of Loos on the Western Front sees the British offensive fail at German hands. The 50-watt Trench Set (or BF Set), the British Army’s first reliable radio, was first used during this engagement.
First aircraft destroyed by synchronised machine-gun
A German Fokker, the first aircraft to be fitted with a device enabling the pilot to fire his machine gun through the arc of the propeller, shoots down a French aircraft.
First use of flamethrowers
The first large-scale use of flamethrowers takes place at Hooge in Belgium, during a German attack on the British lines.
Battle of Festubert
The Battle of Festubert on the Western Front secures limited British gains at German expense.
Battle of Aubers Ridge
A British offensive at Aubers Ridge on the Western Front ends in a German victory.
Second Battle of Ypres
The first large-scale use of poison gas by the Germans fails to end the stalemate on the Western Front.
Battle of Neuve Chapelle
After initial success, a British-Indian offensive is halted by the Germans at Neuve Chapelle.
Christmas truce
An unofficial Christmas truce takes place along some sections of the Western Front.
First Battle of Ypres
The First Battle of Ypres ends the ‘Race to the Sea’. The Germans are prevented from reaching the Channel ports, but the original British Expeditionary Force (BEF) is almost destroyed.
Battle of the Yser
French and Belgian forces secure the Belgian coast with British naval support.
Battle of Armentières
Part of the ‘Race to the Sea’: The Battle of Armentières, fought between British and German forces, is inconclusive.
First Battle of Messines
Part of the ‘Race to the Sea’: The First Battle of Messines, fought between British and German forces, is inconclusive.
Battle of La Bassée
Part of the ‘Race to the Sea’: The Battle of La Bassée, fought between British and German forces, is inconclusive.
Germany besieges Antwerp
The Germans besiege and capture the city of Antwerp in Belgium.
First Battle of the Aisne
Allied attacks on the Germans during the First Battle of the Aisne end in stalemate. Both sides dig in. This leads to attempts at outflanking each other northwards in a so-called ‘Race to the Sea’.
First Battle of the Marne
The German advance on Paris is stopped at the First Battle of the Marne. This Allied victory marks the failure of the Schlieffen Plan and condemns Germany to a war on two fronts.
Battle of Nery
Part of the Battle of the Frontiers: The British are victorious at the Battle of Nery during the Retreat from Mons.
Battle of Saint Quentin
Part of the Battle of the Frontiers: French success at the Battle of Saint Quentin (or the Battle of Guise) slows the German advance.
Battle of Le Cateau
Part of the Battle of the Frontiers: The British and French fight a successful holding action at Le Cateau during the Retreat from Mons.
Battle of Mons
Part of the Battle of the Frontiers: The first major engagement of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) leads to a retreat from Mons in Belgium.
Germany occupies Brussels
The Germans capture Brussels, the capital city of Belgium.
First large-scale overseas deployment of Royal Flying Corps
Four squadrons from the Royal Flying Corps join the British Expeditionary Force in France.
Battle of the Frontiers
The Germans’ Schlieffen Plan meets with initial success in a series of engagements fought against the Allies in southern Belgium and eastern France.
British Expeditionary Force arrives in France
Field Marshal Sir John French’s British Expeditionary Force (BEF) arrives in France.
Germany captures Liège
The Germans besiege and then capture the fortresses of Liège in Belgium.
Germany invades Belgium
As part of its plan to attack France, Germany invades Belgium aiming to outflank and encircle much of the French Army.