- As German forces under General Gallwitz grind forward towards the Narew River, they seize the town of Przasnysz today.
- In southern Poland the German Army of the Bug, consisting of the Beskid Corps, XXIV Reserve Corps, and 1st Division, has completed its deployment on the eastern flank of the German 11th Army. Because its position in the line is slightly to the south of its western neighbour, the Army of the Bug will start its attack tomorrow so that it will be level with 11th Army when the latter opens Mackensen's main offensive in southern Poland on the 16th.
- The main Ottoman defensive position east of Nasiriyeh lies on a bend in the Euphrates River the British have christened 'Thornycroft Point,' and with its flanks covered by creeks on either side and fronted by mud and swamps, it is a formidable obstacle to the British advance. Today 12th Indian Division launches its first attack on Thornycroft Point, spearheaded by the 24th Punjabis advancing in the centre. Reaching within two hundred yards of the Ottoman line, the Punjabis then come under heavy and accurate rifle fire, and repeated charges are repulsed.
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Monday, July 13, 2015
July 13th, 1915
- The German offensive on the Eastern Front opens today with simultaneous advances in Courland and central Poland. While the Army of the Niemen pushes northeast in the direction of Riga against a disorganized Russian defence, the main effort is to the south, where an army group under the command of General Max von Gallwitz has been concentrated northwest of the Narew River in Poland. Here the Germans have assembled ten and a half divisions, supported by over one thousand artillery pieces supplied with 400 000 shells, and the plan is to reproduce, on a somewhat smaller scale, the tactics of the Gorlice-Tarnow offensive. After an overwhelming preliminary bombardment designed by Colonel Georg Brüchmuller, a rising star for his effective and innovative use of artillery, Gallwitz's force is to batter its way through the Russian line, and while a breakthrough is desirable, the primary aim is to inflict as much damage as possible on the Russian defenders opposite.
German tactics are not the only similarity with Gorlice-Tarnow, as once again Russian incompetence has a role to play. The German attack falls on the boundary of two Russian armies - 1st and 12th - and the two commanders show a distinct unwillingness to cooperate. Further, two corps - II Siberian and the Guards - had been removed from this front to reinforce the crumbling line in southern Poland, and reserves recently assigned to the sector were too far from the front to be of much use. Further, the trenches themselves had been poorly sited and constructed, and secondary lines barely existed. The seven divisions opposite the Germans had at their disposal only 377 artillery guns, which were limited to forty rounds per day due to ongoing shortages of ammunition.
Thus when the German attack is launched today, it meets with success. The preliminary bombardment is overwhelming and crushes the Russian defenders - one Siberian division that attempts to retreat in the open loses half its strength in thirty minutes. By the end of the day the Germans have punched a two mile gap between the Russian 1st and 12th Armies near Przasnysz, and in the confusion little effort is made by the defenders to coordinate counterattacks or deploy what reserves are available.
German tactics are not the only similarity with Gorlice-Tarnow, as once again Russian incompetence has a role to play. The German attack falls on the boundary of two Russian armies - 1st and 12th - and the two commanders show a distinct unwillingness to cooperate. Further, two corps - II Siberian and the Guards - had been removed from this front to reinforce the crumbling line in southern Poland, and reserves recently assigned to the sector were too far from the front to be of much use. Further, the trenches themselves had been poorly sited and constructed, and secondary lines barely existed. The seven divisions opposite the Germans had at their disposal only 377 artillery guns, which were limited to forty rounds per day due to ongoing shortages of ammunition.
Thus when the German attack is launched today, it meets with success. The preliminary bombardment is overwhelming and crushes the Russian defenders - one Siberian division that attempts to retreat in the open loses half its strength in thirty minutes. By the end of the day the Germans have punched a two mile gap between the Russian 1st and 12th Armies near Przasnysz, and in the confusion little effort is made by the defenders to coordinate counterattacks or deploy what reserves are available.
Sunday, July 12, 2015
July 12th, 1915
- Having received feedback from his subordinates and staff, and with the Chantilly conference at an end, Joffre issues an order today sketching in broad terms the autumn offensive the French army will undertake. In line with Castlenau's views, the primary attack will occur in Champagne by twenty-seven infantry divisions and two cavalry corps, which will attack along a front of forty-kilometres, far greater than prior operations. A secondary attack will be undertaken in Artois by twelve infantry and two cavalry divisions, directed towards Vimy Ridge. The objective is to 'rupture' the German line and squeeze off the Noyon salient by collapsing its flanks and forcing the Germans to retire eastward.
- After the successful assaults on both flanks of the front line on Cape Helles in late June, the British and French have decided to launch an attack in the centre using the same tactics of a concentrated artillery barrage coupled with modest objectives for the infantry. The British 52nd Division, as well as the French on its right, attack this morning and gain the first two Ottoman trench lines, followed by intense counterattacks that see the British and French barely holding on to their gains.
- One of the few locations in southern Persia still under British influence is Bushire, and today German consul Wilhelm Wassmuss with several hundred tribal allies approaches the port city. A British detachment advances to meet them, and in the resulting skirmish two British officers are killed.
- Since the fall the German light cruiser Königsberg has been blockaded in the Rufiji River in German East Africa, though the uncharted channels at the river estuary and the dense foliage has prevented the British from attacking it. After attempts to bombard by air and by the old pre-dreadnought Goliath failed, the shallow-draught monitors Mersey and Severn had been dispatched from Britain. Capable of sailing up the delta of the Rufiji, they are able to get within range of Königsberg today and in an exchange of fire sinks the German warship. It is the last German warship still active outside of European waters, and marks the end of the surface threat to Entente shipping overseas. In practice Königsberg had made little contribution to this campaign, its exploits paling in comparison to the far more successful Emden. However, simply by existing in an inaccessible location it has tied down disproportionate British resources for months, and even after its sinking its contribution to the war effort is not at an end; its crew is able to salvage the main guns from the light cruiser and transform them into artillery pieces for the defence of the colony.
- After the successful assaults on both flanks of the front line on Cape Helles in late June, the British and French have decided to launch an attack in the centre using the same tactics of a concentrated artillery barrage coupled with modest objectives for the infantry. The British 52nd Division, as well as the French on its right, attack this morning and gain the first two Ottoman trench lines, followed by intense counterattacks that see the British and French barely holding on to their gains.
- One of the few locations in southern Persia still under British influence is Bushire, and today German consul Wilhelm Wassmuss with several hundred tribal allies approaches the port city. A British detachment advances to meet them, and in the resulting skirmish two British officers are killed.
- Since the fall the German light cruiser Königsberg has been blockaded in the Rufiji River in German East Africa, though the uncharted channels at the river estuary and the dense foliage has prevented the British from attacking it. After attempts to bombard by air and by the old pre-dreadnought Goliath failed, the shallow-draught monitors Mersey and Severn had been dispatched from Britain. Capable of sailing up the delta of the Rufiji, they are able to get within range of Königsberg today and in an exchange of fire sinks the German warship. It is the last German warship still active outside of European waters, and marks the end of the surface threat to Entente shipping overseas. In practice Königsberg had made little contribution to this campaign, its exploits paling in comparison to the far more successful Emden. However, simply by existing in an inaccessible location it has tied down disproportionate British resources for months, and even after its sinking its contribution to the war effort is not at an end; its crew is able to salvage the main guns from the light cruiser and transform them into artillery pieces for the defence of the colony.
Saturday, July 11, 2015
July 11th, 1915
- In the centre of the Adriatic, equidistant from the Italian and Austro-Hungarian shores, sits the tiny island of Pelagosa, barely more than one kilometre wide and 330 metres wide. For several months, stretching back even prior to the Italian entry into the war, the Italian navy had examined plans to occupy not only Pelagosa but also Lagosta, a larger island further east near the eastern Adriatic coast. The objective of the operation was to establish signal stations on both islands that could alert the Italian mainland of enemy warships at sea if weather conditions prevented radio communications. Within the Italian navy, however, there had also been significant reservations over the operations, as in particular a landing on Lagosta would expose Italian warships to enemy interdiction, especially from submarines. After much debate, the navy decides on a typically indecisive course of action by landing a small garrison on only Pelagosa today, and postponing a decision on Lagosta into the future. Ninety soldiers land on the undefended island, the most significant structure of which is a lighthouse. By only occupyin Pelagosa, the Italians have forgone the benefit of observer posts covering the width of the Adriatic (which would require occupying Lagosta as well), while still taking on the risk of Austro-Hungarian countermeasures against a small garrison that requires the active support of the Italian navy if it is to be held indefinitely.
Friday, July 10, 2015
July 10th, 1915
- The intensity of Russian attacks against the Austro-Hungarian 4th Army in southern Poland declines markedly today, as the infantry of the Russian XXV and VI Siberian Corps are worn out after several days of heavy assaults. They have, nevertheless, accomplished their objectives: the threat to the vital railway linking Ivangorod, Lublin, and Cholm has been been thwarted and substantial casualties have been inflicted on the enemy - several Austro-Hungarian corps have been reduced to the size of Russian regiments - breaking what little offensive power the Austro-Hungarian 4th Army possessed. It is a notable Russian victory, but one which does nothing to counter the vastly-greater threat of the Germans, whose own offensive is mere days away.
Thursday, July 09, 2015
July 9th, 1915
- Even though the Kaiser had given permission on May 5th for Zeppelin raids on London east of the Tower, this has been insufficient for those within the German navy who desire a more thorough and intensive bombing campaign against Britain, one which specifically targets the City of London, the financial heart of the British Empire and home to the Stock Exchange, the Bank of England, and the headquarters of numerous mercantile firms. Desiring to have the restriction lifted, Vice-Admiral Gustav Bachmann uses the recent French bombing of Karlsruhe in approaching Bethmann-Holweg today to argue for free reign for the navy's Zeppelins. The Chancellor agrees to permit bombing raids on the City, provided that they be undertaken only on weekends (to prevent significant civilian casualties) and that historic buildings such as St. Paul's Cathedral and the Tower be spared. While such limits may sound good in theory, they are hopelessly impractical for Zeppelin crews struggling to identify targets in darkness and while under fire. Bachmann is thus not satisfied with Bethmann-Hollweg's concession.
- The Russian 3rd Army attacks all along the front in southern Poland today, and the Austro-Hungarian 4th Army is able to hold its positions only by the slenderest of margins after bitter hand-to-hand fighting and several counterattacks to recover lost ground. Reports from the Austro-Hungarian corps commanders, however, emphasize the exhaustion of the infantry, especially in light of the oppressive heat and lack of water. Fearing that the Russians may be able to break through by tomorrow afternoon, 4th Army commander requests additional reinforcements; in response Conrad reassigns 4th Division, formerly of 1st Army and en route to the Bug River, to 4th Army.
- In March 1915 the Austro-Hungarian navy, realizing that the war would be lengthy, decided to order the construction of four submarines based on the design of the Havmanden-class, three of which had been built for Denmark before the war by the Whiteyard in Fiume. This being Austria-Hungary, of course, internal politics naturally had their role to play: the Hungarian government demanded a significant share of production be allocated to Hungarian firms. To achieve this, the contract signed today provides for the submarines to be partially built in Linz and Pola, after which the parts will be transferred to Pola or Fiume for completion. Such unnecessary duplication of effort has been endemic to the Dual Monarchy both before and during the war, and is one of the key impediments to an adequate mobilization of the economy to support the war effort.
- Prime Minister Botha of South Africa accepts the surrender of the German colony of South West Africa today, the latter becoming the second of Germany's four colonies (the first being Togoland) to submit to the Entente since the outbreak of the war. In the course of this campaign the South Africans suffered a mere 113 dead through enemy action and 153 through disease or accident; a further 263 had been wounded; indeed, the South Africans had suffered greater losses suppressing the Boer Rebellion than in the fight for German South West Africa. Central both to the low casualty total and indeed the campaign itself has been mobility; repeatedly as the main South African column advanced inland from the coast, it used mobility to outflank German positions and force the latter to fall back. More than half of the soldiers under Botha's command were mounted, a ratio not only in complete contrast to the fighting in Europe but largely unseen since the sixteenth century. Coupled with the timeless use of horses and mules, however, was a modern innovation: the internal combustion engine, as the rapid advances were only sustainable because trucks carried water over deserts.
German casualties were also light; only 103 were killed and 195 wounded, while 890 were made prisoner. The preponderance of POWs among the German total reflected the unwillingness of the defenders to fight to the bitter end. Further, the remaining German force in the field upon surrender numbered 4730 men, and included thirty-seven field guns, eight thousand rifles, and two million rounds of ammunition. The Germans had the manpower and material to continue resistance through a guerilla campaign, but lacked the willingness. Of crucial import was that the white officers and soldiers were also colonists. Not only would a guerilla campaign destroy the economy and infrastructure of the colony they had created, but the social dislocation that would have ensued would have undermined the racial hierarchy that was the very basis of the colonial project. For many Germans in the colony, the maintenance of white rule was a greater priority than the maintenance of German rule.
Further, this concern was shared by the South Africans: the terms of the armistice allowed Germans reservists to return to their homes, German schools to function, and the German civilian administration to remain in place. What Botha and the South Africans aspired to was to rule German South West Africa as a colony, and in this endeavour white rule would be as crucial as it was in South Africa itself. Thus, once military resistance had ceased, it was in the interests of South Africa to cooperate with the white German colonial population to maintain minority rule over the majority indigenous population. Though the campaign in German South West Africa had been triggered by the outbreak of war in Europe, how the campaign was fought and the settlement which followed were of a piece with the nature of European imperialism and colonial rule in Africa.
- The Russian 3rd Army attacks all along the front in southern Poland today, and the Austro-Hungarian 4th Army is able to hold its positions only by the slenderest of margins after bitter hand-to-hand fighting and several counterattacks to recover lost ground. Reports from the Austro-Hungarian corps commanders, however, emphasize the exhaustion of the infantry, especially in light of the oppressive heat and lack of water. Fearing that the Russians may be able to break through by tomorrow afternoon, 4th Army commander requests additional reinforcements; in response Conrad reassigns 4th Division, formerly of 1st Army and en route to the Bug River, to 4th Army.
- In March 1915 the Austro-Hungarian navy, realizing that the war would be lengthy, decided to order the construction of four submarines based on the design of the Havmanden-class, three of which had been built for Denmark before the war by the Whiteyard in Fiume. This being Austria-Hungary, of course, internal politics naturally had their role to play: the Hungarian government demanded a significant share of production be allocated to Hungarian firms. To achieve this, the contract signed today provides for the submarines to be partially built in Linz and Pola, after which the parts will be transferred to Pola or Fiume for completion. Such unnecessary duplication of effort has been endemic to the Dual Monarchy both before and during the war, and is one of the key impediments to an adequate mobilization of the economy to support the war effort.
- Prime Minister Botha of South Africa accepts the surrender of the German colony of South West Africa today, the latter becoming the second of Germany's four colonies (the first being Togoland) to submit to the Entente since the outbreak of the war. In the course of this campaign the South Africans suffered a mere 113 dead through enemy action and 153 through disease or accident; a further 263 had been wounded; indeed, the South Africans had suffered greater losses suppressing the Boer Rebellion than in the fight for German South West Africa. Central both to the low casualty total and indeed the campaign itself has been mobility; repeatedly as the main South African column advanced inland from the coast, it used mobility to outflank German positions and force the latter to fall back. More than half of the soldiers under Botha's command were mounted, a ratio not only in complete contrast to the fighting in Europe but largely unseen since the sixteenth century. Coupled with the timeless use of horses and mules, however, was a modern innovation: the internal combustion engine, as the rapid advances were only sustainable because trucks carried water over deserts.
German casualties were also light; only 103 were killed and 195 wounded, while 890 were made prisoner. The preponderance of POWs among the German total reflected the unwillingness of the defenders to fight to the bitter end. Further, the remaining German force in the field upon surrender numbered 4730 men, and included thirty-seven field guns, eight thousand rifles, and two million rounds of ammunition. The Germans had the manpower and material to continue resistance through a guerilla campaign, but lacked the willingness. Of crucial import was that the white officers and soldiers were also colonists. Not only would a guerilla campaign destroy the economy and infrastructure of the colony they had created, but the social dislocation that would have ensued would have undermined the racial hierarchy that was the very basis of the colonial project. For many Germans in the colony, the maintenance of white rule was a greater priority than the maintenance of German rule.
Further, this concern was shared by the South Africans: the terms of the armistice allowed Germans reservists to return to their homes, German schools to function, and the German civilian administration to remain in place. What Botha and the South Africans aspired to was to rule German South West Africa as a colony, and in this endeavour white rule would be as crucial as it was in South Africa itself. Thus, once military resistance had ceased, it was in the interests of South Africa to cooperate with the white German colonial population to maintain minority rule over the majority indigenous population. Though the campaign in German South West Africa had been triggered by the outbreak of war in Europe, how the campaign was fought and the settlement which followed were of a piece with the nature of European imperialism and colonial rule in Africa.
Wednesday, July 08, 2015
July 8th, 1915
- While Joffre was asking for and receiving recommendations regarding future operations from his commanders in the field, his staff at French army headquarters has been preparing its own assessment, and submits its conclusions to the commander-in-chief today. They identify Champage as the preferred region in which to launch the next major offensive, and that it should take place along at least a thirty kilometre stretch of the front, to ensure any push into the German line is sufficiently broad to be sustainable. In selecting Champagne, they argue that its terrain is the most suitable for such an effort and that a successful advance to Mézières would sever German lateral rail connections and greatly impair their ability to counter future attacks. Further, the concentration of German infantry and artillery in north of Arras, a legacy of the 1st Battle of Artois, makes another advance on Vimy Ridge problematic. They do call, however, for preliminary attacks to be undertaken in Artois by the French and to the north by the British to draw German reserves away from Champagne before the major attack is launched.
- In southern Poland the Russian VI Siberian Corps drives south, colliding with the Austro-Hungarian 106th and 8th Divisions of IX Corps. Though the former holds, the Russians break through the latter, aided by a number of Czech soldiers in 21st Infantry Regiment deserting instead of fighting. By mid-day 8th Division, straddling the Bystrzyca River, has fallen back three miles, and in the afternoon a second Russian attack drives back their eastern neighbours as well. The Austro-Hungarian formations suffer heavy losses, and 4th Army has no reserves remaining to reinforce the line. An appeal to the German 11th Army is turned down, however; Mackensen does not wish to dilute his army's strength on the eve of its next major offensive, scheduled for the 13th, and the success of this offensive ought to remedy any setback on his left.
- In southern Poland the Russian VI Siberian Corps drives south, colliding with the Austro-Hungarian 106th and 8th Divisions of IX Corps. Though the former holds, the Russians break through the latter, aided by a number of Czech soldiers in 21st Infantry Regiment deserting instead of fighting. By mid-day 8th Division, straddling the Bystrzyca River, has fallen back three miles, and in the afternoon a second Russian attack drives back their eastern neighbours as well. The Austro-Hungarian formations suffer heavy losses, and 4th Army has no reserves remaining to reinforce the line. An appeal to the German 11th Army is turned down, however; Mackensen does not wish to dilute his army's strength on the eve of its next major offensive, scheduled for the 13th, and the success of this offensive ought to remedy any setback on his left.
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