First World War in France

Introduction to World War 1

World War 1 is a military conflict that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918. Also called the Great War, it was most centred in Europe. More than 9 million of combatants were killed, due to new generation of weapons, technological advances. This a chronological line of the war in France.

1914 : World War 1

14 June : The heir of the throne of Austria-Hungary, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria is killed.

28 July : Austria-Hungary declares war to Serbia.

31 July : The French socialist leader, Jean Jaurès who was for peace is murdered.

2 August : General Mobilization Order in France. Germany sends an ultimatum to Belgium in order to use their territory for the invasion of France. Belgium refuses.

4 August : Germany invades Belgium.
The Chancellor declares the treaty of Belgium neutrality is only ''a scrap of paper ''.
United Kingdom enter the war against Germany.

7 August : British soldiers arrives in France.

19 August : In the region of Alsace, French Army tries to attack again Mulhouse.

21 August : France and United Kingdom are defeated at the Battle of Frontiers. The French Generals Dubail, Castelnau, Lanrezac and their armies retreat.
The same day, the 4th Army of General Langle de Cary is unable to resist against the Imperial German Army, it's the Battle of the Ardennes
( During the WWII, another battle was fought in the same place ).
20,000 French soldiers are killed, captured and wounded.

24 August : La Grande Retraite ( the Great Retreat ) is a slow retreat by the Allied to the Marne.

25 August : The British II Corps of Commander General Horace Smith-Dorrien to stand and fight. The next day, German forces nearly destroys the British positions who are saved by the French Cavalry.

4 September : The Germans capture the city of Reims.

6 September : The First Battle of the Marne. British and French armies forced the Germans to abandon the Schlieffen Plan ( invasion of Paris in 6 weeks ).
France lost 200,000 soldiers with 80,000 killed.
British losses are ( approximately ) 1,750
and the German's casualties are 250,000 men ( including 15,000 prisoners ).

10-13 September : General retreat of German forces.

3 October : The First Canadian Battalion is mobilized for France.

5 October : The first aerial fight at Reims. French shoot a German Aviatik with a rifle.

14 December : The beginning of the first Battle of Champagne.

25 December : It is the Christmas Truce in several places of the Western Front.

1915 : World War 1

4 February : The beginning of the Submarine wars.

Other events of February : Allied forces try to prevent the transfer German soldiers to the Russian front. Reims is bombarded the 20th. 60% of the city is destroyed.

16 March : The end of the Battle of Champagne. France and Germany both lost 90,000 men.

5-12 April : Battles in Les Esparges. The most violent since the beginning of the War. The countryside around the village still show signs of the fight.

18 July : The first 6 day-leaves for the French soldiers.

1916 : World War 1

9 January : German troops attack Champagne.

21 February : The Battle of Verdun begins.

11 April : The first Russian soldiers arrives at Marseille on French ships.

27 April : A honorific title called Mort Pour La France ( Dead for France ) is created to remember the sacrifice of thousands of men.

June : German forces move forward in the Battle of Verdun.

1 July : The beginning of the battle of the Somme. British volunteers, Australian, Canadian, African troops and soldiers from New Zealand are fighting with France against the German Army.

24 October : In 4 hours, British and French troops get back all the territory conquered in 8 months by the Germans near Vaux ( Somme ).

18 November : End of the Battle of the Somme. 206,000 and 66,000 British and French soldiers loose their lives when 170,000 Germans died. More 660,000 soldiers where killed, wounded or disappeared.

12 December : After almost 11 months, the Battle of Verdun ended. 163,000 French soldiers died and the German losses are approximately 143,000. The number of wounded are twice the deaths from both sides.

1917 : World War 1

2 April : The United States entered in war on the side of the Allied.

16 April : General Nivelle launch the offensive of Le Chemin des Dames ( literally Ladies' Path ). Nivelle thought the German positions would be taken by the end of the first day. The battle lasted several months.

20 Mai : 68 divisions out of 112 engaged are affected withmutinies. 629 soldiers are judged and 50 of them are executed.

30 June : First American troops in France and arrive at Saint-Nazaire.

16 August : French and British offensive near Yprès ( Flanders ) succeed.

24 October : Pétain lauch an attack near Soissons in order to capture the Fort of Malmaison which allows French to reoccupy the North of Le Chemin des Dames.

1918: World War 1

During the months between March and July, it is La Grande Bataille de France ( The Great Battle of France ), helped by the Allied forces.

30 Mars : Bombardment of Paris by the Pariser Kanonen ( German for Parisian canons ).

14 April : General Foch is named Commander-in-chief of the Allied forces.

18 July : Second Battle of the Marne. French, British, Italian and American troops launch the big offensive which obliged German soldiers to give up the invasion of Flanders. Almost 300,000 men ( all sides ) died.

August and September : Many French cities are released from the German occupation.

26 September : Offensive in Lorraine by Foch.

9 November : German Emperor Wilhelm ( William ) II abdicates.

11 November : Signature of the Armistice at La Clairière de l'Armistice ( The Glade of Armistice ) which is the end of the World War One.

Don't forget that the Army of the French Empire was also composed of soldiers from the colonies, who bravely fought with the French and Allied troops, for the preservation of Peace.