Timeline - 1916
The First World War spanned four years and involved many nation states.
This section lists the events of the year 1916, the third year of the war. During this year the Germans attempted to "bleed France white" at Verdun, and the British strove to breakthrough along the Somme river. Both were doomed to failure; both were titanic struggles with correspondingly heavy losses.
Elsewhere possibly the greatest naval battle in history occurred at Jutland (which resulted in a tactical victory for Germany but a strategic victory for the British), and the Russians surprised everyone with impressive initial success in the Brusilov Offensive.
For a day by day account click any given month using the sidebar to the right.
Date | Event |
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German attack on Verdun in the longest battle of the war, ultimately defended by the French at great cost to both sides |
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5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th Battles of Isonzo between Italy and Austria-Hungary |
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British forces in Mesopotamia begin advance on Baghdad |
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Pancho Villa's raid on Columbus, New Mexico |
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French passenger ship, Sussex, torpedoed |
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Easter rebellion starts in Ireland |
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Germany renounces submarine policy |
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Britain and France conclude Sykes-Picot agreement |
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Battle of Jutland, the biggest naval battle in history, ultimately without a clear victor |
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Turkish forces, led by Enver Pasha, are defeated by the Russians in the Caucasus |
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Russian Brusilov offensive in Carpathia nearly knocks Austria-Hungary out of the war |
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With British support (led by T.E. Lawrence), Hussein, grand sherif of Mecca, lead an Arab revolt against the Turks in the Hejaz |
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Start of the Battle of the Somme, with the greatest number of casualties in British military history, 60,000 |
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US marines land in Haiti |
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Romania enters the war with the Allies, but is quickly overrun by German forces |
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Italy declares war on Germany |
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Germany suspends submarine assaults |
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Tanks introduced for the first time on the Somme battlefield by the British |
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Germany resumes U-boat attacks |
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US President Woodrow Wilson secures re-election |
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End of the Battle of the Somme |
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First German airplane (as opposed to zeppelin) air-raid on Britain |
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US occupation of Santa Domingo proclaimed |
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David Lloyd George replaces Asquith as British Prime Minister |
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Germany issues peace note suggesting compromise peace |
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US President Woodrow Wilson requests statements of war objectives from warring nations in peace note |
"Eggs-a-cook" were boiled eggs sold by Arab street vendors. It was later used by Anzac soldiers when going over the top.
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