Battles

• The battle of Mons (August 1914)

  • Location = Mons, Belgium
  • Context = Britain tried to advance against the Germans.
  • Outcome = Britain fought well but had high casualties and was forced to retreat.
• The battle of Marne (September 1914)


  Location = Paris, France

  Context =

  • The German commander had to pull 100,000 troops out of the army advancing on Paris because Russians had mobilised quicker than expected.
  • Germany decided to advance straight towards Paris on foot.
  • However the French sent troops by rail and taxi.

  Outcome =

  • Britain and France were able to stop German advance then counter attacked but could not drive them all the way out of France.
  • Signalled the first signs of a stalemate.
• The first battle of Ypres (October 1914)


  Location = Belgium

  Context =

  • The aim was to go around and outflank the enemy, Britain had more experience but ran out of artillery so the triple alliance had more control.

  Outcome =

  • Ended war of movement resulting in a stalemate and the beginning of trench warfare.
• The battle of Verdun (February 1916)


  Context =

  • Germany wanted to capture French forts surrounding Verdun.
  • Germany came up with the strategy of attrition meaning to wear down the enemy until resistance was no longer possible.

  Outcome =

  • Both sides failed and suffered roughly equal losses.
  • Germany had greater resources and the French army was near breaking point.
• The battle of Jutland (31st May 1916)


  Context =

  • Germanys fleet had the initial advantage with powerful guns.
  • The British cruiser was under great pressure until the other part of the grand fleet appeared.
  • By the morning, Germany had gone to the safety of the ports and did not leave for the remainder of the war.
  • Britain lost 14 ships and 6,000 sailors.
  • Germany lost 13 ships and 2,500 sailors.

  Outcome =

  • Germany had done better in the sense that Britain lost more resources, yet Germany did not exit the ports again.
• The battle of the Somme (November 1916)


  Context =

  • Britain's aim was to relieve pressure for the French.
  • On the first day there were 57,000 British casualties.
  • The general public were horrified by the losses but were told by Douglas Haig the country must be taught to 'bear its losses'.
  • The use of artillery began and an artillery bombardment lasted a week.

  Outcome =

  • 1.25 million casualties.
• The battle of Passchendaele (July 1917)


  Context =

  • Also know as the third battle of the Ypres.
  • Showed how technology could become hopelessly outmanoeuvred by the weather.
  • The British killed 10,000 Germans by detonating mines.
  • However advances were limited because weather conditions ruined equipment.
  • 350 tanks made good progress but were unable to hold ground.

  Outcome =

  • Despite little progress, the consequences were that there were more casualties on Germanys side.