Monthly Archives: March 2016

DEATH ON THE HIGH SEAS

Germany Returns to Unrestricted Submarine Warfare Wilson Struggles with Policy of Neutrality Will the U.S. Enter the War? Special to The Great War Project (26-30 March) Tension is growing in the United States over the German decision to return to unrestricted submarine warfare and the American response to it. In the winter of 1916, the…

BRITISH DESPERATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Food Stores at Kut All But Gone; A Bribe for the Bey. In Contested Waters, Return of the U-Boats Special to The Great War Project (21-25 March) On this day a century ago, the British introduce a new weapon into the war at sea — the depth charge. A British ship drops an underwater explosive…

NO LET UP IN FIGHT FOR VERDUN

Armies Are Exhausted; Soldiers are Deserting Captain De Gaulle Attempts Escape, Over and Over Again. (20 March) The fierce battle for the French town of Verdun is ceaseless. Neither the French nor the Germans are willing to abandon the fight, which brings minuscule gains for each. The Germans attack on this date, one hundred years…

TECHNICAL PROBLEMS

Editor’s note: To our friends and loyal readers: I have run into some computer problems, and as a result, I’ve been unable to make additional entries in the blog, Catastrophe: A Blog of World War One.” The problems are being addressed, and I should be back soon with additional new posts. Thank you for your…

OTTOMANS SEEK BRITISH SURRENDER

 Kut Siege in Third Month; Chaos Among Allied Reinforcements. A Crucial British Loss Special to The Great War Project (8-11 March) While the meat grinder that is the Verdun battlefield in Western Europe churns on, the plight of the British contingent under siege in the desert Mesopotamian town of Kut on the Tigris River is…

THE LONGEST BATTLE

Both Sides Stake All at Verdun. A Surprise German Attack Quickly Deadlocked. Special to The Great War Project. (4-7 March) The murderous battle on the Western Front for Verdun is now more than two weeks old, and the fighting is fierce. The Germans appear to have the upper hand. Their goal at Verdun is now…

VERDUN BLOODLETTING CONTINUES.

 British Reinforcement Fails at Siege of Kut. Russians Advance in Caucasus; Covert War in Persia. Special to The Great War Project (29 February-3 March) “Like a vision of hell.” That’s the way one German general describes the wounded German soldiers streaming past his headquarters on the battlefield at Verdun on the Western Front, 100 years…