Primary source photographs courtesy of Archives Branch, Marine Corps History Division
Photo album:
In October 1918, the tide of World War I began to shift decidedly in favor of the Allies—comprising France, Britain, the United States, and Italy—as they recognized their impending victory. With foresight towards establishing a lasting peace, they slated a preliminary conference to take place in early 1919 in Paris. The agenda for this conference was to outline the critical issues to be addressed with Germany and its allies. Subsequent discussions were planned with other significant allied…
Read more…Manfred von Richthofen, widely known as the 'Red Baron', was a figure of valor and tactical prowess during the tumultuous skies of the First World War. Born into an aristocratic Prussian family on 2 May 1892 in Breslau, Germany (present-day Wrocław, Poland), he would rise to become a legendary German flying ace, claiming an unparalleled 80 victories against Allied aircraft. Richthofen initially served with the cavalry; however, his destiny took a soaring turn upon transferring to the…
Read more…On the precipice of World War I in 1917, Russia found herself at the heart of an immense historical upheaval that would alter not only her course but the world's as well. Two revolutions unfolded, each rippling across the globe, signaling irreversible change. When Nicholas II ascended the throne in 1894, it was with the expectation of lifelong rule, continuing the lineage of absolute power bequeathed by his father, Alexander III. Yet, barely two decades into his reign, Nicholas would witness…
Read more…In the volatile aftermath of the Great War and the stringent demands placed by the Versailles Treaty, seeds were sown for the rise of one of history's most notorious dictators, Adolf Hitler. In a similar vein, the untimely demise of Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin precipitated Joseph Stalin's grip on power in the Soviet Union. Exploring the landscape of these leaderships reveals a stark reality that their similarities in governance and control mechanisms—encompassing terror, exile, execution,…
Read more…On the campus of Yale University in July 1917, a young (1-2 years old) Boston terrier wandered to the parade grounds where young Army members of the 102nd Infantry were training. The dog immediately became attached to Corporal James Robert Conroy and a (dog's) lifetime of love, friendship and comradeship began. Conroy hid the pup aboard ship departing from Newport News, Virginia, to France to fight in the First World War. Named "Sergeant Stubby" for his bobbed tail, the pup was taught by…
Read more…24 December 1914: Allied and Central Powers Break for a Christmas Truce The Christmas Truce of 1914, an event that took place during World War I, is one of the most poignant and memorable moments of the war. In the midst of the fighting, soldiers on both sides of the Western Front, exhausted and cold from months of conflict, paused for a moment of peace and goodwill. Despite the efforts of the military authorities to prevent such a truce, the men on the front lines, driven by a shared humanity,…
Read more…The Battle of Verdun is one of the most iconic battles of the First World War--and the longest at 301 days. Fought between the German Empire and the French Republic from 21 February to 18 December of 1916, the battle was a spectacle of the war's brutality and devastation. At the center of the Battle of Verdun was the fortified region of Verdun-sur-Meuse, which was a strategically important area because of its excellent defensive position and its good observation for artillery fire. The German…
Read more…Winston Churchill, a man with a burning ambition and a delusion of grandeur, his innate desire to take control and command of the situation, led to the catastrophic failure of the Gallipoli campaign. The ambitious Churchill could visualize great movements and combinations in his mind, which he believed could have turned the tide in favor of Britain during the Great War. Churchill had proposed a bold strategy to break the deadly stalemate in the Western Front. It involved Britain and the…
Read more…Missouri seeking funds to repair military monument in France Kurt EricksonJEFFERSON CITY — A century-old statue honoring Missouri soldiers who died in a fierce battle against German soldiers in World War I could be getting a facelift.According to the Missouri National Guard, the federal organization that oversees battle monuments around the world wants $30,000 to rehabilitate the World War I Missouri Memorial located in Cheppy, France.“Cheppy Monument is a historic and important symbol of the…
Read more…The Armistice of 11 November 1918 marked a historic moment in world history, as it brought an end to the First World War, or World War I, that had ravaged large parts of Europe and beyond. The signing of the armistice was a significant moment for the Entente, which had been engaged in a bitter struggle against the Central Powers, led by Germany. The truce was signed at Le Francport near Compiègne, following negotiations initiated by the German government with the American President Woodrow…
Read more…Primary source photographs courtesy of Archives Branch, Marine Corps History Division
Photo album:
Primary source photographs courtesy of Archives Branch, Marine Corps History Division
Photo album:
1914
Battle of Le Cateau
Battle of St. Quentin, also called the Battle of Guise
First Battle of the Marne
First Battle of the Aisne
Siege of Antwerp
First Battle of Albert
First Battle of Arras
Battle of the Yser
First Battle of Ypres
First Battle of Champagne
1915
Battle of Neuve Chapelle
Second Battle of Ypres
Second Battle of Artois
Battle of Loos
Second Battle of Champagne
1916
Battle of Verdun
Battle of Hulluch
Battle of the Somme
Battle of Fromelles
Battle of Pozières
Battle of Ginchy
1917
Nivelle Offensive
Battle of Arras (1917)
Battle of Vimy Ridge
Second Battle of the Aisne, also called the Third Battle of Champagne
Battle of Messines
Third Battle of Ypres, also called the Battle of Passchendaele
Battle of La Malmaison
Battle of Cambrai (1917)
1918
German spring offensive
Second Battle of the Somme (1918)
Third Battle of the Aisne
Battle of Cantigny
Battle of Belleau Wood
Second Battle of the Marne
Battle of Soissons (1918)
Battle of Château-Thierry (1918)
Hundred Days Offensive
Battle of Amiens
Second Battle of the Somme (1918), also known as the Third Battle of the Somme
Battle of Saint-Mihiel
Battle of Epéhy
Battle of the Hindenburg Line
Meuse-Argonne Offensive, also called the Battle of the Argonne Forest
Battle of Cambrai (1918)
Battle of the Sambre (1918), also known as the Second Battle of the Sambre
1914
Battle of Stallupönen
Battle of Gumbinnen
Battle of Tannenberg
Battle of Galicia
First Battle of the Masurian Lakes
Battle of the Vistula River
Battle of Łódź (1914)
Battle of Limanowa
1915
Siege of Przemysl
Battle of Bolimov
Second Battle of the Masurian Lakes
Great Retreat (Russian)
Sventiany Offensive
1916
Lake Naroch Offensive
Brusilov Offensive
Battle of Lutsk
Battle of Kostiuchnówka
Battle of Kowel
1917
Kerensky Offensive
Russian Revolution
1918
Operation Faustschlag
Battle of the Nek
Battle of Chunuk Bair
Battle of Gully Ravine
Battle of Hill 60 (Gallipoli)
Battle of Krithia Vineyard
Battle of Lone Pine
Battle of Sari Bair
Battle of Scimitar Hill
Landing at Anzac Cove
Landing at Cape Helles
First Battle of Krithia
Second Battle of Krithia
Third Battle of Krithia