Primary Documents - 1916
This page of the Primary
Documents section of the website collects together archive source documents
originating in 1916, the year of titanic Allied struggles at both Verdun and
along the Somme.
Included among the following documents is the text of the proclamation by Irish nationalists of an Irish Republic during Easter 1916. Both of British Western Front Commander-in-Chief Sir Douglas Haig's 1916 military despatches are also available.
The list presented below - with each entry accompanied by a brief summary of its significance - is sorted by date, with earlier documents listed first.
Document | Description |
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January - Montenegro Prime Minister's account |
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January - British siege commander's January statement |
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February - Russian commander's report |
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February - British military observer's official report |
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February - Germany Army Chief of Staff's justification |
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February - Ludendorff's dismissive view |
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February - Crown Prince's defensive summary |
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February - Colonel House's plan for drawing U.S. into war |
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March - Newspaper baron's despatch from the field |
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January - British siege commander's March statement |
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March - Pershing's report on expedition to crush Villa |
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April - Funston's report on expedition to crush Villa |
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April - President Wilson's written warning to Germany |
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April - President Wilson's address to Congress |
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April - Britain guaranteed Belgian neutrality |
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April - British General's official military report |
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April - General Graevenitz's official proclamation |
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April - U.S. Ambassador's concerns |
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April - French Prime Minister's official statement |
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May - British siege commander's final statement |
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May - Official Austrian investigation |
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May - Defence Minister's written assurance to Wilson |
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May - Britain and France agree Middle East strategy |
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May - British Commander-in-Chief's wartime despatches |
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May - British Commander-in-Chief's report |
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May - Mexican President's formal protest to U.S. |
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June - Official Italian summary of the failed offensive |
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June - Official German military observer's summary |
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June - Summary from Ambassador's memoirs |
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June - Initial reaction by German government on 1 June |
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June - First response by British government on 2 June |
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June - Secretary of War's calling up of National Guard |
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June - U.S. Secretary of State's reply to Pres. Carranza |
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June - Sir John Jellicoe's official report |
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June - Sharif Hussein bin Ali's proclamation |
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June - German naval minister's full report |
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June - Casement's speech following conviction for treason |
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June - Official British government reaction |
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June - Russian commander's official statement |
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June - Official German military observer's summary |
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July - Official British journalist's account |
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July - Local German commander's report |
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July - General von Steinacker's official account |
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July - Captain Koenig's statement upon arrival in U.S. |
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July - Allies' argument that submarines were warships |
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July - Statement issued following Fryatt's execution |
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August - Former British Prime Minister's summary |
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August - British government's official statement |
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August - French Army C-in-C's upbeat summary |
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August - Reply to British government's statement |
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August - Prime Minister Ion Bratianu's Official Statement |
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August - The King's reasons for war against Austria |
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August - The King's instructions for victory |
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August - Former Prime Minister's support for war |
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August - German Chancellor's accusations of betrayal |
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August - Robert Lansing's statement supporting Germany |
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September - Crown Prince's account of the battle's end |
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September - Army Chief of Staff's summary |
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October - German General's view of key Verdun forts |
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October - General's condemnation of German approach |
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November - Cardinal Mercier's protest to neutral nations |
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November - Protest of Belgian women's societies |
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November - German military Governor's policy defence |
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November - Cardinal Mercier's reply to Bissing's defence |
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November - Labour unions' protest at German policy |
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November - U.S. Ambassador to Belgium's report |
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November - Ludendorff's official statement |
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December - British Commander-in-Chief's report |
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December - Italian Commander-in-Chief's report |
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December - Stanislaus de Lazovert's account |
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December - Semi-official German historian's summary |
Bulgaria mobilised a quarter of its male population during WW1, 650,000 troops in total.
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