1. Major Battles of WWI

2. Battle of Tannenburg (August 1914)  Belgian resistance gives Russians time to mobilize  Russian army moves into Austria-Hungary & Germany  Germans pull troops from west to stop Russians  Germans stop and drove back Russians  OUTCOME:  Allies are shocked that the Russian army (which was much larger than German one) is defeated  Battle represents the furthest advance that the Russian army will make into German territory

3. Battle of the Marne (September 1914)  German army had pushed within 30 miles of Paris, France (fear of German victory)  6,000 French reserve troops were ferried to the front line by taxicabs to help stop the advance  Germans were stopped at the Marne River and pushed back to the Aisne River  OUTCOME  Ended German hopes of a quick victory in France

4. Battle of Ypres (October 1914)  After Marne, the “Race to the Sea” began  German and French armies tried to outflank each other by moving north and east  Ended up at the Belgian coastal city of Ypres at the North Sea unable to move any further north  OUTCOME  Foreshadowed much of the WWI action: High casualties but no one could win, poison gas, western front becomes stalemate

5. Battle of Verdun (February 1916)  German planned siege of northeastern French fort  Due to weather delay, French were able to send for help and hold off the Germans  French launch counter offensive to drive German army back  OUTCOME  Became symbol of French resistance (last to be taken in the Franco-Prussian War so it had special meaning to the French)  Considered longest battle in history (Feb-Dec. 1916)

6. Battle of Lake Naroch (March 1916)  Russians try to help French by launching offensive in the east to lure Germans away from Verdun  Russians were not prepared & muddy conditions of spring thaw kept them bogged down and easy targets for German artillery  OUTCOME  Complete failure for Russia  Germans push Russians back without taking any of their forces from Verdun

7. Battle of Somme (July 1916)  British launch offensive near Somme, France to help French at Verdun  British command thought they’d prevail if they just kept charging the German line  OUTCOME  Became a symbol of British resolve & showed uselessness of the tactics being used in this war (they need new weapons & strategies!!)  Bloodiest battle in British history (57, 470 casualties in one day)