the great war

Events of 1916

  

 A historical overview of the Russian combat actions during 1916

This section will focus on a the events of the events of 1916.  All dates given below are according to the Gregorian Calendar that was used by most of the world during this period.  Additionally, the dates below are color coded depending on where the selected event took place.  All dates in Black took place in Europe, while naval actions will be highlighted in Dark Blue, actions that took place in the Caucasus and Asia will be highlighted in Brown.  Any actions involving chemical gas attacks are highlighted in Green.

 

1916

 

 

 

 

January General Alexeyev announces that Russian army has a front line strength of 2 million men.
 

1 January

 Russians continue offensive on the Strypa and Styr rivers in Galicia.
2 January Heavy fighting occurs northeast of Czernowitz.
3 January Russian offensive makes progress in Poland, east Galicia, and in Poland.
7 January Russian troops storm Chartorysk.
8 January Heavy fighting continues in Galicia.

In misty weather the battleship 'Imperatritsia Maria' and 'Imperatritsa Ekaterina II' attack Turkish shipping and engages the 'Goeben' which manages to escape.

9 January Russian forces make advances in Bukovina.
10 January Russian offensive begins in Armenia.
12 January Offensive in Galicia continues.
13 January Turkish troops reported at Kermanshah in Persia.
14 January The Black Sea town of Arkhava is occupied by Russian troops.
15 January Russian troops advance along the river Styr south of Pinsk.

Kangavar is occupied by Russian troops.

16 January Russians are forced to evacuate Kangavar.
Large scale Russian offensive begins in Transcaucasia.
17 January Russian offensive begins to lose momentum.

Turkish troops retreat towards Erzerum.

163 sailing ships sunk in the Black Sea by Russian torpedo boats.

18 January Austrians claim complete victory in Galicia and Bukovina.

Hasan-Kala in Armenia is taken by Russian forces.

19 January Fighting continues northeast of Czernowitz.
20 January Russian troops take Sultanabad in Persia and make progress in Armenia.
22 January 40 sailing ships are sunk by Russian torpedo boats in the Black Sea.
24 January Russian troops advance on forts of Erzerum.
29 January Austrians claim success in renewed fighting on the river Strypa and in the Bukovina.

Russians bombard ridge protecting Erzerum.

1 February Heavy artillery fire southeast of Riga.

Russians drive Turks back in Kermanshah district and Armenian offensive continues to make gains.

3 February In the Bukovina region the Russians resume their attacks.
7 February Heavy artillery duel around Riga.
8 February Russian troops reach the west bank of the Dniester river.

Turkish positions on the coast of Anatolia are bombarded by the Russian Black Sea fleet.

9 February Heavy fighting occurs in Volhynia and Galicia.
11 February Russian attack south of Dvinsk is repulsed.
13 February Garbonovka is taken by Russians.
Heavy fighting occurs in Galicia.

Russian forces take a fort at Erzerum.
In Armenia the town of Khanys is occupied by Russians.
Daultabad in Persia is taken by Russian troops.

14 February Russians continue to make gains around Dvinsk.

Another fort at Erzerum falls to the Russians.

15 February Germans launch attack in the Dvinsk district are repulsed by Russians.
16 February Erzerum falls to Russians.
13,000 prisoners and 323 guns are captured.  Arabs desert the Turkish army in large numbers.  By taking the city the Russians relieve pressure on the Egyptian front.
18 February Mush and Aklat in Armenia are taken by Russian troops.
19 February General Kuropatkin is appointed to command the Northern front.
20 February Russians make further gains on the Dniester river in Bukovina.
22 February Russian troops approach Trebezond.
25 February Russians in Persia occupy Sakhne and Bideswikh passes, Kashan and Ispir are also taken.
26 February Ashkala in Armenia is occupied by Russians.
27 February Kermanshah in Persia is occupied by Russians.
1 March Russian forces advance west of Kermanshah.
2 March Bitlis falls to Russian troops in Armenia.
4 March Russians land east of Trebizond at Atina.
7 March Germans launch artillery bombardment southwest of Dahlen island.

Russians capture Cola in Persia and Rizeh east of Trebizond.

8 March Sennah in Persia is occupied by Russians.
9 March German attacks along the Dvina and at Cebrow in Galicia are repulsed.

Turkish forces are driven beyond the river Kalopotamos.
Germans are reported to be leaving Ispahan in Persia.

Russians torpedo boat in the Black Sea is sunk.

10 March German attacks east of Kosloff are repulsed.
11 March Kerins in Persia is occupied by Russian troops.
13 March Russians defeat Turkish forces near river Kalopotamos.
14 March Very heavy artillery bombardments occur on the Riga front.
17 March Russians continue their advance west of Erzerum.
18 March First Battle of Lake Naroch begins.
The battle will last until April 14.
19 March Russians report success along the river Dniester northwest of Uscieczko.
21 March River Dvina is crossed in force by Russian army near Jacobstadt.
Continued Russian success along river Dniester.
22 March Russians capture 1,000 prisoners during fighting at Lake Naroch.
23 March Germans troop concentrations at Dvinsk are broken up.
26 March Russians make progress in Armenia along the upper Chorok river.
27 March River Baltachi Darassi in Armenia is crossed by Russian troops.
28 March Russian army makes gains north of Bojan in Galicia.

10 ships and an ammunition depot are destroyed by Russian torpedo boats operating on the Black Sea.

29 March Spring thaw suspends operations on Russian front.
30 March Russians drive Germans back over river Oldenevitz.

French hospital ship 'Portugal' is sunk by German submarine on the Black Sea.

31 March Turkish forces in Armenia are defeated by Russians at Kara Malachkan.
2 April German attacks in Liakhovichi region are repulsed by Russians.

Russian troops in Armenia cross the upper Chorok and take fortified mountain positions.

3 April German attacks at Uxkull bridgehead are repulsed.
4 April General Brusilov replaces General Ivanov as commander of the Southern Front.
5 April German warship 'Breslau' assists Turkish forces near Trebizond.
6 April Russian troops in Armenia drive Turks across Kara Dere.
7 April Fighting begins again at Lake Naroch.

Russians repulse three Turkish attacks on Kara Dere.

12 April Germans attacks repulsed near Dvinsk.
13 April After six days of fighting Russian troops repulse Turkish forces west of Erzerum.
14 April Since the beginning of the Lake Naroch operation the Russian army has taken 120,000 casualties.
15 April Russians take two lines of trenches near Lake Naroch.

Near Bitlis Russian forces make gains.

16 April After 9 days of fighting Russians take position along the left bank of Kara Dere.
17 April Russian troops in Armenia occupy Surmeneh and reach Assene Kalessi.
18 April Trebeizond falls to Russians.
Russian troops also make progress west of Erzerum.
20 April Russians take positions in the Bitlis region.
27 April Russian battleship 'Slava' becomes first capital ship ever to be struck by aircraft bombs.
28 April Germans manage to retake all ground lost at Lake Naroch.
5 May Turkish forces defeated by Russians at Sermil in Persia.
6 May Serin el Kerind in Persia is occupied by Russian troops.
8 May Turkish forces claim victory over Russians at Pirnakapan in Armenia.
9 May Turkish forces defeat Russian troops in Armenia near Bashkeui.
10 May Russians occupy Kasr-i-Shirin on the road to Baghdad.
13 May Turkish forces defeated at Ashkale in Armenia.
15 May Russian forces capture Rowanduz east of Mosul.
16 May Russians advance on Mosul.

Three German ships are sunk off Sweden by Russian submarines.

20 May Cossacks from Mahidasht join British on Tigris at Ali Gherbi.

A successful Austro-Hungarian offensive against Italy causes Italian King to ask Tsar for assistance.  STAVKA moves up timing of Brusilov offensive even though Western allies are not ready to launch complementary assault in the West.

21 May Russians repulse Turkish attacks south of Trebizond.
Serdasht in Persia is occupied by Russians.
24 May Russian in Armenia capture Mamakhatun.
27 May A joint Turkish-Kurdish force is repulsed by Russians near Serdasht.
1 June Russians repel attack east of Krevo.

Turks launch offensive in Armenia.

2 June Turkish troops are repulsed by Russians between Erzerum and Erzingan.  Turks then retreat some 25 miles.

After three days fighting Turks retire west of Rowanduz. 

3 June Russians begin heavy artillery bombardment in Riga, Galicia, and Volhynia.

Turks defeated by Russians at Khanikin in Persia.  Russians also repulse Turkish attacks in Asia Minor at Diarbekr.

4 June Brusilov Offensive begins.
Russian 7th, 8th, 9th, and 11th Armies launch offensive over wide front and claim some 13,000 prisoners in its first day.
5 June Russians repulse German attacks near Krevo.
A further 12,000 prisoners are taken by Russians as Brusilov offensive continues.

Russians evacuate Khanikin.

6 June Lutsk is taken by Russian forces who also cross the Ikva and Styr rivers in that region.

Russian forces south of Dniester take 15,000 prisoners as they advance.

Russian advance is stopped at Diarbekr.

7 June Advancing Russian armies report taking 11,000 prisoners as Brusilov offensive continues.
8 June A further 13,000 prisoners are taken by advancing Russian army.  They also repulse attacks in the Vilna district.

Austrians bring in reinforcements from the Italian front.

9 June Rojishche bridgehead is captured by Russians who then cross the Strypa river and take 500 prisoners.
10 June Heavy fighting along the whole Eastern front.
Dubno is taken by the Russians.
Central Powers forces pull back from the river Strypa.
Russians report taking 3,500 prisoners.
11 June Russian troops reach outskirts of Czernowitz.
Attacks on Russians near Dvinsk and Vilna are repelled.
Russian advance near Lutsk is halted and they lose ground on the river Strypa.
7,000 prisoners are reported captured by Russian army.

Turkish attacks at Platina are repelled by Russians west of Trebizond.

12 June Austrians retreat south of Lutsk.
Zaleszczycki is captured by Russian troops.

Turkish camp near Diarbekr is captured by Russians.
Russians also repel Turkish attack at Rowanduz.

13 June Russian attack at Barnovichi is repelled.
Elsewhere on the front Russians take Torchin and reach the river Stokhod.  They also gain ground near Czernowitz.
Russian army reports taking 6,000 prisoners.
14 June Fighting continues at Lokachi and Kolki.
Russian army reports taking 31,000 prisoners.

Near Chorok the Russian army regains lost ground.

German convoy in the Baltic is attacked by Russians who manage to sink an auxiliary cruiser, two torpedo boats, and several steamers.

15 June Russians advance near Czernowitz.

Heavy fighting takes place at Saripul in Persia.

16 June Russian army crosses river Styr and Stokhod northwest of Lutsk.
Austrians retreat across the river Strypa.
German army launches counter-offensive in Ukraine.
17 June Russians occupy Czernowitz and gain ground west of Kolki.
They also repel attacks near Buczacz.

Germans retake Svidniki.

19 June Russians cross the river Pruth west of Czernowitz.
Heavy fighting occurs near Lutsk.
Germans reinforce Austrians.

Turks attack Russians at Saripul in Persia and are repelled.

20 June Russian lines are penetrated by Germans at Smorgon, but Russians manage to drive them out.

Russian army crosses river Sereth.

21 June Radautz is occupied by Russian troops.
German forces are repelled in Dvinsk, Vilna, and Lutsk.
Trenches on the river Strypa are taken by Russian army.
22 June Russians repel attacks west of Minsk and make advances in Bukovina.
23 June Kimpolung is taken by Russians.
Heavy fighting reported near Pinsk.
Russian army reports that since the start of the Brusilov offensive 144,000 prisoners and 219 guns were taken.

Russian army repels several attacks south of Trebizond.

24 June Russian advance halted in Lutsk salient.

Austrians driven out of Bukovina.

25 June Russian army advances from Bukovina.
Heavy fighting occurs on the river Dniester.
26 June In northern Persia Russian army advances west.
Turks prepare to evacuate Mosul.
Turkish forces also driven from Lake Urmia in Persia.
27 June Russian force repel German attacks near Riga and Dvinsk.
Russian army advances from Kolomea.
28 June Heavy fighting occurs along Lutsk salient.
Austrians defeated along a 25 mile front east of Kolomea.  Russians report taking 10,000 prisoners.

German attacks repelled near Riga.

29 June German attacks northeast of Vilna are repelled.

Russian ships sink Turkish steamers in the Black Sea.

1 July On the river Pruth the Russian army advances.

Austro-German forces make progress northwest of Tarnopol.

Turkish troops in Persia defeat Russian force and pursue it to Kermanshah.

2 July Russian army renews offensive at Smorgon and Baranovichi and break through German lines.

Germans continue their advance on Lutsk salient.
South of Dniester they recapture Tlumacz.

Turkish troops take Kermanshah and driver Russians east on road to Hamadan.

3 July Battle of Baranovichi continues south of Vilna.

Russians resume offensive in Armenia west of Erzerum.

Baltic Fleet conducts naval action on German lines near Riga.

4 July Russians under Gen. Lesch begin offensive and cross river Styr at Kolki and Rafalovka.  They drive the Austrians towards river Stokhod.  Further south they cut the Carpathian railway at Mikolichin. 

German warships 'Goeben' and 'Breslau' bombard Russian ports on the Black Sea.

5 July Fighting continues along Riga and Baranovichi front.

Russian army continues attack south of Dniester.

6 July Germans fall back in poor order from Chartorysk salient between the river Styr and Stokhod.
7 July Russians reach Manevichi station along the Kovel-Sarni railway in Lutsk salient.
8 July Russian army breaks through north of Lutsk and cross the upper Stokhod at Ugli and Arsenovich.

South of Dniester the Russian army captures Delatyn and threaten the right flank of Bothmer's army.

9 July Russian hospital ship 'Yperyod' is torpedoed in the Black Sea.
10 July German army rallies and give strong resistance on western bank of river Stokhod.

Austrians begin concentrating troops for offensive on the southern end of Lutsk salient.

Russians claim 300,000 prisoners taken since the start of the Brusilov offensive. 

11 July Germans receive reinforcements and use heavy artillery to defend the passage of the river Stokhod.

Russians begin new offensive in Armenia.

12 July Heavy fighting continues on river Stokhod.

Russian troops under Gen. Yudenich advance west of Erzerum and recapture Mamakhatun.

13 July Heavy fighting northwest of Buczacz and along river Stokhod.
15 July Germans make small gains west of Kemmern.

Russians under Yudenich occupy Baiburt.  Other Russian force drives Turks southwest of Mush.

16 July Gen. Sakharov drives Austrian forces back to the Lipa and captures Mikhailovka.  Russians take 13,000 prisoners.
17 July Russian army makes gains in the Carpathians.
18 July German seaplanes bomb Reval.

Gen. Sakharov drives Austrians south of the river Lipa.

Russians continue their advance in Armenia and capture Kighi.

19 July Russian forces in Persia are defeated and driven north of Kermanshah by Turkish forces.
20 July Austrians are defeated by Russians southwest of Lutsk salient.  Berestechko is captured by Russians.

Heavy fighting resumes on Riga front.

Russians capture Gumishkhanek in Armenia.

21 July Austro-German forces are pushed back across river Styr.  Russians take 14,000 prisoners.
22 July Gen. Sakharov continues his advance as Austrians fall back.
Austrians begin to evacuate Brody.
23 July Gen. Kuropatkin's army drives German forces back from Riga.  Russians advance 12 miles near Kemmern.

Russian army advances on Erzingan in Armenia as Turks retreat.

24 July Germans attack from Uxkull to Riga but are repulsed by Russian forces.
25 July Gen. Sakharov attacks Austrians and advances towards Brody.  His army defeats Austrian force on river Slonuvka.

Erzingan is captured by Russian army in Armenia.

27 July Russians under Sakharov closes to within 5 miles of Brody.

Turkish attack near Mosul is repulsed.
Russian army advances towards Sivas.

28 July Brody falls to Russians.
Gen. Sakharov reports that 40,000 men and 49 guns have been captured during last 12 days.

Russians attack along the upper Stokhod and cross the river at several points.

30 July Russian forces pursue retreating Austrian army towards Stanislau and in the direction of Kovel.
31 July Heavy fighting as Russians advance towards Kovel along the river Stokhod.
Russian troops north of Dniester cross the Koropyets river.

Russians in Armenia continue to pursue retreating Turkish forces amid stubborn resistance.

2 August German poison gas attack near Smorgon is repelled by Russians.

Turkish counter-attack retakes Mush and Bitlis in Armenia.

3 August Russian forces close on Kovel amid desperate fighting near Lyubashevo and Guldeichi.

Turkish trenches at Ognut in Armenia fall to Russian troops.

4 August Heavy fighting continues on river Graberko and river Sereth.  Russians take 1,300 prisoners.

Germans retake Rudkah-Mirynska by conducting an envelopment.

5 August Turkish attacks in the Mush-Bitlis region are repelled.

Russian offensive make progress 30 miles north of Erzingan.

6 August Russian troops gain heights and take several villages on the right bank of the Sereth and Graberko rivers.  Germans counter-attack, but are repelled.

Strong Turkish attacks in Armenia are repelled by Russians.
Russians are driven back by the Turks east of Kermanshah in Persia.

7 August Russians advance in Graberko-Sereth region.  In heavy fighting they take 2,000 prisoners.

Tlumacz falls to the Russians who take 2,000 prisoners.

8 August Russians take Tysmienica and capture 7,400 men.

Turks occupy Mush and Bitlis.

9 August Russians regain Chryplin junction near Stanislau.
10 August Stanislau falls to the Russians.
8,500 men captured by Russian army.

Russians cross the Sereth and repel many enemy counter-attacks.  They also cross the Zlota-Lipa and advance on Halicz.

12 August Russians occupy Mariampol.
Germans retreat across the Strypa.
13 August Germans launch attack along the Stokhod river, but it fails.
14 August Russians continue to push back retreating Austrians and close on Halicz.

Turkish offensive continues west of Hamadan in Persia.

15 August Another Russian force reaches the Zlota-Lipa south of Brzezany.
16 August Russians launch heavy attacks west of the river Sereth.

Russian government publishes total amount of men and material that they have captured since the start of the Brusilov offensive.  It amounts to 350,845 men, 450 cannon, and 1326 machine guns.

17 August Strong attacks on the Zlota-Lipa front are repelled by Russians.
22 August Russians gain the heights south of Jablonica pass in the Carpathians.  They also repel a poison gas attack southeast of Vilna.

In Armenia the Russian army goes on the offensive west of Lake Van.

23 August Turks defeated at Rayat and lose 2,300 men as prisoners.

Russians retake Bitlis.

26 August Russians make small gains towards Halicz.
27 August Romania mobilizes and declares war on Austria-Hungary.
28 August Germany declares war on Romania.

Romanians and Austrians clash in the Transylvanian Alps.
Austrian ships bombard Romanian towns on the Danube river.

Russians encounter Turkish forces occur south of Erzerum.

29 August Mount Pantyr in the Carpathians is captured by Russian troops.

Austrians retreat before Romanian advance in the Alps.
Kronstadt, Petrozseny, and Kezdi-Vasarhely are fall to the Romanians.

30 August Turks declare war on Romania.
31 August Fighting continues at Halicz and east of Lemberg.
Russians take many prisoners in Lutsk area.
September General Alexeyev sends two infantry divisions and one cavalry division to assist Romania.
1 September Bulgaria declares war on Romania.

Romanians capture Hermannstadt.

Russians mank new advance in Volhynia.

Chormuk is captured by Russian forces.

2 September Russian army crosses the Danube into Dobruja.
3 September Austrians near Orsova withdraw to the west bank of the river Cherna.

German and Bulgarian troops enter Dobruja.

Russian army captures positions near Brzezany and takes many prisoners.  The Russians also report many successes near Dorna Vatra in the Carpathians.

4 September Gen. Brusilov's troops continue their advance in the Zolta-Lipa region and have captured 19,000 prisoners in the past four days.

Germans launch unsuccessful poison gas attacks near Baronovichi.

Russian offensive west of Trebizond continues.  Over 500 prisoners are taken.

5 September Russians claim success in battle 7 miles southeast of Halicz.

Central Powers grant autonomy to Poland.

7 September Halicz falls to Russian army.

Orsova is taken by the Romanian army.

9 September On the Danube river the city of Silistria falls.
10 September Russian and Romanian forces make contact.

Austrians withdraw westward.

11 September Mt. Capel Kapul in the Carpathians is captured by Russian troops.
12 September Field Marshal von Mackensen is made supreme commander of all German and Bulgarian forces in Dobruja.

Romanians advance on Kronstadt.  They also join Russian forces near Dorna Vatra.

16 September Russians capture a position on the right bank of Zlota-Lipa and take many prisoners.
Along the river Narajowka Germans and Turks are captured.

In Dobruja the new commander of the Romanian army, Gen. Averesco, arrives at the front.  Romanians occupy Baraoltu and dominate Brasso-Foldvar railway so 30 miles from Romanian border.

Gen. Shcherbachev's army in Galicia begins offensive and advances 44 miles in three days.  Russians report 25,000 prisoners taken since August 31.

17 September Romanians in western Transylvania advance to between Petrozseny and Hatszeg.
18 September In Transylvanian there is heavy fighting at Merisor.
Romanians advance towards Hatseg.

Russo-Romanian forces in Dobruja fall back to the Rasova-Tuzla line.

19 September Heavy fighting continues on the Narajowka river.  Germans claim success in the fighting there and along the Stokhod river.

Romanians are victorious in two day battle at Merisor.

20 September Romanians fall back from Vulkan pass to south of Petrozseny.

German, Bulgarian, and Turkish forces retreat after being repelled in Dobruja.

Heavy fighting takes place on the river Stokhod and near the Kovel-Rovno railway.  Russians manage to repel attacks everywhere else.

21 September Romanians near Vulkan pass are unable to advance.

Fighting continues in Kaeleman and Gorgeny mountains, resulting in Romanians taking many prisoners.

22 September Russian forces are reported some 50 miles from Lemberg.
25 September Bulgarian forces in Dobruja retreats.
26 September Vulkan pass is recaptured by Romanian forces.
27 September Romanians repel attack on Vulkan pass.
One third of Transylvania is under Romanian control at this point.
30 September After major attack on Roter Turm pass the Romanian 1st army retreats over Fogaras mountans.

Large battle begins near Zlota-Lipa and Brzezany in Galicia.

Russians advance in Brody region amid heavy fighting.

2 October Romanians rally south of Roter Turm pass.
Danube is crossed by Romanians at Rjahovo threatening German rear areas.

Romanian forces in Dobruja attack and repel Mackensen's army.

Heavy fighting on Zlota-Lipa continues.  Russians take 1000 prisoners but the front remains unchanged.

Central Powers forces on the Brody-Zloczow road claim to have recaptured all positions lost on August 30.

3 October Romanian 2nd army goes on the offensive near Fogaras and near Roter Turm pass.
Romanian 4th army advances 12 miles southeast of Maros Vasarhely.

Russian forces take some enemy postions west of Lutsk.

4 October Romanian 2nd army begins to retreat and evacuate Fogaras, and troops who crossed the Danube at Rjahovo are pulled back.

Romanians make progress in Dobruja.

5 October Romanian northern army has success in the Parajd region and force the Austrians to withdraw westward.

Romanian offensive in Dobruja continues.

Battle near Lutsk continues.

6 October Falkenhayn continues his offensive towards Kronstadt as Romanians retreat before him.

Russians move forces from Volhynia to northern Galicia.

Fighting begins again at Brzezany.

7 October Kronstadt and Szekely fall to Central Powers.

Romanians forces begin general retreat back to their own border on a line from Predeal to Orsova.

8 October German troops occupy an island in the Danube near Ruschuk.
9 October Torzburg falls to Central Powers.

Germans begin offensive east of Brzezany.
Fighting occurs along the whole Volhynia front.

10 October Austro-German army continues its advance in Transylvania.

Gen. Averescu assumes command of Romanian 2nd Army.
Romanians defend Predeal pass.

11 October Heavy fighting in Transylvanian passes.
Romanian 4th (northern) army pulls back.
13 October Romanians hold enemy back at Predeal and Buzeu passes.
4th Romanian army continues its retreat.
14 October Central Powers continue through Torzburg pass and reach Rucar.  They also take a strategic ridge at Predeal.

Romanians have now withdrawn from all but northeast corner of Transylvania.

Turkish armed transport 'Rodosto' is captured by Russian submarine in the Black sea.

15 October Heavy artillery exchanges along the Danube.
Fighting at Rucar intensifies.
16 October Heavy fighting continues at Rucar.

Romanians give up ground in Buzeu pass.

Austro-German offensives at Drona Vatra and Jablonitsa is repelled.

17 October Romanians hold Rucar, but retreat in the Gyimes pass in Moldavia.

Austro-German forces advance 8 miles into Romania and reach Agas.

North of Korytnitsa there is heavy fighting where Germans claim 1,900 prisoners.

18 October Successful Romanian offensive against Austrians in Aluta region.
19 October Austrians held back in Transylvanian mountain passes.

Heavy artillery bombardment by Central Powers troops in Dobruja.

20 October Field Marshal Mackensen launches attack on the entire line in Dobruja.  He gains ground and takes Tuzla.

Russian battleship 'Imperatritsa Maria' is sunk by an internal explosion.

21 October Romanians are driven back 12 miles across their border in Torzburg pass.

Austrians move to within 7 miles of Romanian border in the Buzeu pass.

Romanians hold their ground in other Transylvanian passes, but in Dobruja begin to retreat.  Germans take Toprosari and Kobadinu in Dobruja as a result.

22 October Evacuation of Constanza begins.

Heavy fighting for river heights north of Halicz.

23 October Constanza falls to the Central Powers.
Austrians advance on Cerna Voda.
Romanians lose ground in Predeal pass and have many men taken prisoner.

Fighting near Halicz dies down.
Germans claim to have repelled Russians from west bank of river Narajowka.

24 October Central Powers advance in Torzburg region.
Fighting occurs near Campulung.

Field Marshal Mackensen advances north and northwest of Constanza and reaches Mejidia.  Some 6,700 prisoners are taken.

25 October Austrians storm Velkan pass.
Romanians defend northern Transylvanian passes.  They also destroy bridges in Dobruja and abandon Cerna Voda and retreat northwards.

Russian army wins a victory at Dorna Vatra in Moldavia.

26 October Romanians hold Austrian advance in the northern passes, but lose ground in the southern passes.

Austrians advance 20 miles through Vulkan pass.

British and French aircraft arrive in Bucharest.

27 October Romanian 1st army goes on the offensive in Jiu Valley.  Other Romanian forces hold Transylvanian passes.

In the center line Russian army is forced to pull back to east bank of Shchara river.

28 October Romanians advance in Jiu valley and take 2,000 prisoners.  They also manage to hold the northern passes.

In Persia the Russian army captures two villages near Hamadan.

29 October Romanians continue to retreat in Dobruja.
30 October Austrian retreat in Jiu valley and Vulkan pass continues.
Central Powers troops capture heights southeast of Roter Turm pass.

A joint German-Turkish forces pushes back Russian army near river Narajowka.

31 October Austrians halted at Torzburg, but has successes in Predeal pass.

Russian troops repel Germans in Narajowka valley, but fall back at Mieczysczow.

1 November General Sakharov takes command of Russian forces in Dobruja.

Austrians advance in Torzburg, Predeal, and Roter Turm passes.

2 November Austro-Hungarians attack Predeal pass.

Romanians pursue fleeing Austrian troops in Vulkan pass.

Russian Black Sea fleet bombards Constanza.

4 November Russian Black Sea fleet again bombards Constanza.
5 November Central Powers claim successes southwest of Predeal pass and southeast of Roter Turm pass.
6 November Heavy fighting southeast of Roter Turm pass.
7 November Russian army has victory south of Dorna Vatra.

Germans launch attack in Prahova valley and resume offensive in Vulkan pass.  They are repelled in the Tolgyes region of Modlavia.

8 November Germans advance south of Roter Turm pass and capture Sardoui.
9 November Russian army are defeated at Skrobovka and have 3,400 men taken prisoner.

A joint Russo-Romanian force occupies Hirshova and Dunarea.  They also fight for Cerna Voda bridge.

10 November German destroyer attack (11 ships) on a Russian Baltic port is driven off by Russians.  German force loses 7 destroyers.
11 November Topalu is taken by Russian-Romanian force that then moves south.
12 November Romanians retreat in Aluta and Jiu valleys.

Heavy fighting near Orsova.
Russo-Romanian forces fail to capture Cerna Voda and retreat to Dunarea.

13 November Germans advance south of Torzburg and capture Candeshti and Bumbeshti.  They also continue to advance through Roter Turm and Vulkan passes.
14 November Romanians retreat south of Vulkan and Torzburg passes.

Heavy fighting in Prahova valley south of Preseal pass.

15 November Romanian retreat continues.

German army brings up heavy guns through Torzburg pass.  They also capture Targu Jiu in the Jiu valley.

16 November Heavy fighting southeast of Tolgyes, near Campulung, and in Aluta and Jiu valleys.
17 November Battle of Targu Jiu.
German army breaks through Romanian front.
19 November Romanians continue to retreat in Jiu valley as Germans reach Filiasa junction and Aluta valley.
21 November Germans occupy Craiova - the capital of west Wallachia.
22 November Fighting occurs on the Cherna river near Orsovea.
23 November Germans begin advance on Bucharest.  Field Marshal Mackensen crosses the Danube at Islatz and Simnitza.  They also take Orsova and Turnu-Severin.

German forces are repelled at Slatina in the Aluta valley, but cross the Aluta near Caracula.

24 November Field Marshal Mackensen's troops cross the Danube at Sistova and other locations.

Back in Russia Trepos replaces Stuermer as the Russian Premier.

25 November Germans continue their advance on Bucharest.  They also occupy Rymnik.  On southern end of their advance the move towards Rosiori and Alexandria.
26 November Mackensen's army makes contact with Falkenhayn's army at Alexandria.
27 November Germans capture Curtea de Arges and Giurgevo.
Romanians abandon Aluta line.

Russians drive back Turkish forces in Persia and capture a large amount of war material.

28 November Russian army gains ground in the Carpathians.  They gain the heights east of Jablonitsa pass and east of Kirlibaba.
29 November Germans capture Campulung and Piteschti.  Mackensen's army takes Calugarino 17 miles south of Bucharest.

Russians continue their advance in the Carpathians.

30 November German troops force passage of the river Neajlovu.

Russians repel Germans on the Zlota-Lipa.

Heavy fighting in Bukovina.

Russians push 30 miles into Persia.

1 December Russians pushed back from Rukida and Kirlibaba heights in the Carpathians.

Romanians retreat from Campulung.  Heavy fighting south of Pitesti.  Romanian government moves to Jassy.

2 December Russians resume offensive in the Carpathians.

Heavy fighting at Cerna Voda in Dobruja.

3 December Heavy fighting is reported in Carpathian and Moldavian valleys.

Russian army pushes up the river Trotus.

Mackensen crushes Romanians on lover Arges river.  Romanians begin to retreat towards the southeast.

Bulgarian forces repel Russian assaults in Dobruja.

4 December Fighting reported in Stanislau and Tarnopol.

Russian troops capture important peak covering Jablonitsa pass.

5 December Central Powers counterattack in the Carpathians.

Field Marshal Mackensen demands that Bucharest surrender.  His troops advance through Ploesti oil fields.

Romanian troops abandon Predeal pass, but leaves a rearguard at Orsova.

6 December Bucharest falls to Germans.
Ploesti and Sinaia also fall.  The rearguard at Orsova surrenders.  Germans take its 8,000 men prisoner.

Fighting is reported in Volhynia, Tarnopol, and Stanislau in Galicia.  Fighting also occurs near Dorna Vatra in Bukovina.

7 December Russians attack in southeast Galicia.  Heavy fighting in Oitoz and Trotus valleys.

Romanians retreat on all fronts.  Wallachia is completely in the hands of the Central Powers.

Austro-German forces stopped at Moldavian frontier.

8 December Heavy fighting in Galicia, southern Bukovina, and along Moldavian frontier.

Romanian forces retreating towards Bucharest from Sinaia are captured by Germans at Ploesti.

9 December Heavy fighting along southern Eastern front.

Germans claim to have captured 70,000 prisoners and 184 guns since December first.

10 December Stubborn fighting in the Carpathians, the Trotus valley, and north of Polesti.
11 December Germans cross the Jalomitsa river northeast of Bucharest.
12 December Heavy fighting near Tarnopol and Stanislau in Galicia.

Russians help Romanians rally on the Jalomitsa river and southwest of Buzeu.

13 December Romanians are again froced back from the Jalomitsa river.  They also fall back from the Ploesti-Buzeu road.

Germans advance towards Braila and Galatz.

14 December Russians make gains along Moldavian frontier and in the Carpathians.

Falkenhayn's forces enter Buzeu.

All of Wallachia cleared of Russo-Romanian forces south of Bucharest-Cerna Voda line.

15 December Germans make gains on Tarnopol railway west of Lutsk.

Romanian and Russian forces holding ground north of Buzeu, but falling back from Jalomitsa.  Russians mount a strong defense on the Moldavian frontier.

16 December Russian positions between Kovel and Lutsk are captured.

Austro-German forces continue to advance on Romanian front.

In Dobruja the Russian army begins to fall back to the north.

17 December Fighting continues in the Tarnopol region.
18 December Russians retake positions between Kovel and Lutsk.

In the south the Romanian and Russian forces retreat towards the Sereth line.

19 December German advance is halted 30 miles west of Braila.  Russian forces in Dobruja fall back towards Braila.
20 December Heavy fighting west of Brody in Galicia.

German army resumes its advance on Braila.

21 December Fighting south of Dvinsk.

Russians drive Bulgarian forces into Lake Ibolota.

22 December Central Powers forces concentrating at Ramnicu Sarat.

Russian retreat to the Danube is completed.

23 December Heavy fighting for Moldavian frontier positions occurs, Russians hold the line.

Russian troops retreating from Dobruja head towards Bessarabia after leaving troops at Macin.

24 December Heavy fighting near Ramnicu Sarat.
25 December Heavy fighting west of the lower Sereth river.

Macin bridgehead is attacked.

Turkish force attacks Russians around Van in Armenia.

26 December Heavy fighting along entire Romanian front.

Germans begin intense shelling of Russian positions in Galicia.

27 December Falkenhayn's army takes Ramnicu Sarat.

Bulgarian troops seize positions east of Macin.

28 December Falkenhayn's army pushes northward from Ramnicu Sarat.  They also advance to the southeast.

Russians drive off Turkish forces south of Van.

29 December Heavy fighting continues on Moldavian frontier.

Germans make some progress in Oitoz valley.

30 December Heavy fighting on whole Romanian front.  Central Powers make some gains in the mountains and southeast of Ramnicu Sarat, but are stopped before the reach Focsani.

Bulgarian and Turkish forces slowly advance towards Macin.

31 December Central Powers continue their advance in Moldavian mountains west and south of Focsani.

Bulgarian forces fail to take Braila bridgehead, but take additional positions east of Macin.

   

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