Watch World War I In 60 Seconds - Brilliant Maps (2024)

Last Updated: August 22, 2024 Leave a Comment

The video above was created by one of my favourite Youtubers mapsinanutshell and shows the The First World War from start to finish using Google Earth.

Brief Timeline of World War 1

Here is a timeline of World War I focusing on the major European fronts (you can watch just the Western Front here):

1914: The War Begins

• June 28: Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary in Sarajevo.
• July 28: Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia, sparking the conflict.
• August 1: Germany declares war on Russia (Eastern Front).
• August 3: Germany declares war on France (Western Front).
• August 4: Germany invades Belgium (Western Front); Britain declares war on Germany.
• August 23: The Battle of Mons (Western Front) marks the first major clash between British and German forces.
• September 6-12: First Battle of the Marne (Western Front); the Allies halt the German advance near Paris.

1915: Stalemate and New Fronts

• February 19: The Gallipoli Campaign begins (Balkan Front); Allied forces attempt to secure the Dardanelles and knock the Ottoman Empire out of the war.
• April 22-May 25: Second Battle of Ypres (Western Front); Germans use poison gas for the first time.
• May 7: The RMS Lusitania is sunk by a German U-boat, influencing public opinion in neutral countries like the USA.
• May 23: Italy declares war on Austria-Hungary, opening the Italian Front.
• September-October: German and Austro-Hungarian forces launch the Serbian Campaign, eventually occupying Serbia (Balkan Front).

1916: The Year of Attrition

• February 21-December 18: Battle of Verdun (Western Front); one of the longest and bloodiest battles of the war.
• May 31-June 1: Battle of Jutland (Naval); the largest naval battle between the British Royal Navy and the German High Seas Fleet.
• June 4-September 20: Brusilov Offensive (Eastern Front); a major Russian push against Austria-Hungary.
• July 1-November 18: Battle of the Somme (Western Front); another massive and deadly battle, notable for the first use of tanks by the British.

1917: Turning Points

• April 6: The United States declares war on Germany.
• April 16-May 9: The Nivelle Offensive and the ensuing French mutinies (Western Front); widespread dissatisfaction among French troops leads to a temporary halt in French offensives.
• July 31-November 10: Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele) (Western Front); significant British and Commonwealth efforts in muddy and horrific conditions.
• October 24-November 12: Battle of Caporetto (Italian Front); Austro-German forces achieve a decisive victory over Italy.
• November 7: Bolshevik Revolution in Russia; leads to Russia’s eventual withdrawal from the war.

1918: The Final Year

• March 21-July 18: German Spring Offensive (Western Front); Germany’s last major attempt to win the war before American forces fully arrive.
• July 18-August 6: Second Battle of the Marne (Western Front); a decisive Allied victory, marking the beginning of the German retreat.
• September 26-November 11: Meuse-Argonne Offensive (Western Front); a major American-led Allied offensive.
• October 24-November 3: Battle of Vittorio Veneto (Italian Front); the final battle that results in Austria-Hungary’s defeat.
• November 11: Armistice signed; fighting ends at 11 a.m.

Aftermath

• 1919: The Treaty of Versailles is signed, officially ending the war and redrawing the map of Europe.

Eastern Front

The Eastern Front during World War I was primarily fought between the Central Powers—mainly Germany, Austria-Hungary, and later the Ottoman Empire—and the Russian Empire.

Unlike the Western Front, which became a stalemated trench warfare battle, the Eastern Front was much more fluid with rapid advances and retreats due to its vast geography.

Here is a detailed overview of the key battles on the Eastern Front during World War I:

1914: Early Campaigns and Battles

1. Battle of Tannenberg (August 26-30, 1914):
   • Key Players: Germany vs. Russia
   • Details: One of the most decisive battles of the war, where German forces under Generals Paul von Hindenburg and Erich Ludendorff encircled and destroyed the Russian Second Army led by General Alexander Samsonov. Over 90,000 Russian soldiers were captured, and the victory boosted German morale.
   • Outcome: A massive German victory that halted the Russian advance into East Prussia.
2. First Battle of the Masurian Lakes (September 9-14, 1914):
   • Key Players: Germany vs. Russia
   • Details: Following the victory at Tannenberg, German forces attacked the Russian First Army. The Russians were forced to retreat, suffering heavy losses.
   • Outcome: A German victory, pushing Russian forces back and stabilizing the Eastern Front temporarily.
3. Battle of Galicia (August 23-September 11, 1914):
   • Key Players: Austria-Hungary vs. Russia
   • Details: In this large-scale battle, Austrian forces attempted to defend Galicia (present-day Poland and Ukraine) but were decisively defeated by the Russians. This marked a significant setback for Austria-Hungary early in the war.
   • Outcome: A major Russian victory, resulting in the capture of large territories and tens of thousands of Austrian prisoners.

1915: The Central Powers Take the Initiative

4. Gorlice-Tarnów Offensive (May 2-September 18, 1915):
   • Key Players: Germany and Austria-Hungary vs. Russia
   • Details: This was a major offensive launched by the Central Powers to break through Russian lines in Galicia. The attack was spearheaded by German General August von Mackensen and successfully pushed the Russians back over 300 kilometers.
   • Outcome: A decisive victory for the Central Powers, leading to the recapture of Galicia and Poland. It marked the beginning of a strategic retreat for Russia.
5. Second Battle of the Masurian Lakes (February 7-22, 1915):
   • Key Players: Germany vs. Russia
   • Details: In winter conditions, German forces launched another offensive against Russian positions. While initially successful, the Germans were unable to achieve a decisive breakthrough due to difficult terrain and Russian resistance.
   • Outcome: A partial German victory, but it failed to knock Russia out of the war.

1916: The Brusilov Offensive

6. Brusilov Offensive (June 4-September 20, 1916):
   • Key Players: Russia vs. Austria-Hungary (with German support)
   • Details: Led by General Aleksei Brusilov, this offensive was the most successful Russian campaign of the war. It targeted the Austro-Hungarian forces along a broad front in modern-day Ukraine. Brusilov employed innovative tactics, including surprise attacks and concentrated artillery bombardments.
   • Outcome: A significant Russian victory, inflicting heavy casualties on Austria-Hungary. It nearly knocked Austria out of the war and forced the Central Powers to divert German resources to this front. However, the offensive eventually stalled due to logistical issues and mounting Russian casualties.

1917: The Front Collapses

7. Kerensky Offensive (July 1-19, 1917):
   • Key Players: Russia vs. Austria-Hungary and Germany
   • Details: Named after the Russian provisional government’s leader, Alexander Kerensky, this was an attempt to revive the Russian war effort after the February Revolution. Despite initial gains, the offensive quickly collapsed due to low morale, widespread desertions, and lack of coordination.
   • Outcome: A disastrous Russian failure, leading to a major counterattack by the Central Powers and further weakening the Russian military, contributing to the October Revolution later that year.

1918: The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk and the End of the Eastern Front

8. Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (March 3, 1918):
   • Key Players: Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia (Bolshevik Government)
   • Details: After the Bolsheviks took power in Russia, they sought peace with the Central Powers. The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk officially ended Russia’s involvement in the war. Russia ceded vast territories to Germany, including Ukraine, Belarus, and the Baltic states.
   • Outcome: The Eastern Front was effectively closed, allowing Germany to shift forces to the Western Front for their final offensives.

Strategic and Human Impact of the Eastern Front:

• High Mobility: Unlike the trench warfare of the Western Front, the Eastern Front saw fluid movement with sweeping offensives and retreats over vast distances.
• Heavy Casualties: The Eastern Front witnessed some of the highest casualties in the war, especially for Russian and Austro-Hungarian forces. Millions of soldiers and civilians perished.
• Political Consequences: The Russian defeats and the hardships of war were major factors leading to the Russian Revolution in 1917 and the eventual fall of the Romanov dynasty.

This detailed overview captures the key battles and campaigns on the Eastern Front during World War I, highlighting the scale, complexity, and impact of the fighting in this often-overlooked theater.