19 October 1918
 

Western Front
Battle of Courtrai (to 19/20 October): Battle of Courtrai or Battle of Roulers or Second Battle of Belgium ends (see 14th).
Lys: Ludendorff directs Rupprecht to hold Hermann Lys position for at least 8 days as Plumer’s Second Army forces river in 6-mile advance taking Courtrai on October 20.
Zeebrugge and Bruges reoccupied by Belgian forces (see October 12th and 14th, 1914); their left on Dutch frontier; whole coast and west Flanders liberated.
Allied soldiers visit an abandoned German coastal battery position on the Belgian coast: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...ndern.jpg?ssl=1
Battle of the Selle (see 25th/26th): French break Hunding Line between Sissonne and River Serre.
British-American advance continued between the Oise and Le Cateau.
Artois: 4th Canadian Division liberates Denain in record day’s advance of nearly 7 miles; Prince of Wales attends thanksgiving ceremony. British advance east of Douai and Lille and take Marchienne.
France: FOCH’S LAST GENERAL DIRECTIVE to his 14 armies.
Western Front, Air: Canadian Western Front ace Quigley (34 victories) dies of flu.
Fritz Otto Bernert, German ace with 27 victories despite only having one functioning arm, dies to the Spanish flu: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...937724540477440
King Albert letter to Curzon praises RAF support in Allied victory of September 28-30.
British troops entering Lille, accompanied by a French boy: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...877185311236098
American troops at an outdoor church service next to a ruined church in Verdun: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...907584062218247
French tanks passing through Rampont: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...952903470776322
Belgian troops resting near Pervijze with observation balloons in the background: © IWM (Q 11394): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...967938058346497
Allied troops capture Zeebrugge and Bruges. German concrete shelters used to house U-boats at Bruges: © IWM (Q 7745): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...192798600679424
British tanks, shielded by smoke, advance across an open field: © IWM (Q 56295): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...209272295788546
Inhabitants of Ostend, Belgium go out into the streets to welcome the arriving Allied soldiers: © IWM (Q 11380): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...239450300542976
A Canadian soldier enjoying blackberries that he had just gathered: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...269795624370176

Eastern Front
North Russia: Allied troops from Murmansk have cleared Karelia of enemy, and from Archangel have occupied Kadish (100 miles south of Archangel) (announced).

Southern Front
Serbia: Serbs occupy Zayechar (Austrian-Bulgarian-Serb frontier).
Bulgaria: French reach Danube at Vidin, capture convoy of lighters on October 21; Franchet d’Esperey reports first French guns heard on Danube since 1809. Jouinot-Gambetta’s cavalry reach Danube at Vidin (October 21) after 437-mile march in 36 days.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Syria: Two Australian No 1 Squadron Bristol fighters destroy German two-seater 25 miles southwest of Aleppo (bombed October 23), and Babannet airfield to north attacked.
Persia: Despite flu (1,453 sick on October 23) British occupy Ahram, but Zair Khidar and Wassmuss have fled; c.1,000 British leave Shiraz on October 20 to relieve Firuzabad from 2,000 tribesmen (October 25) before flu strikes.
Mesopotamia: Germans withdraw all 1200 advisers, planes, guns and transport (continues until October 21).

Naval and Overseas Operations
GERMAN SUBMARINES ORDERED TO RETURN TO THEIR BASES (announced from Madrid).
Britain: First torpedo plane squadron with 20 Sopwith Cuckoos embarked in British carrier Argus.

Political, etc
United Kingdom: Haig visits CIGS and War Cabinet in London, considers ‘enemy was not ready for unconditional surrender’ but urges terms for 1918 armistice to prevent winter recovery by Germany.

20 October 1918
 

Western Front
Battle of the Selle (see 25th/26th): British cross the Selle river in face of heavy resistance. British two miles from Tournai.
Flanders armies continue advance; British across whole of Lys river on their front.
Entire Belgian coast in hands of Allies.
Lorraine: Ferdinand Foch directs Philippe Petain to prepare to launch offensive as latter requested (October 14).
Meuse and Argonne: US losses now 54,158 men.
Wounded French soldiers at a Red Cross hospital: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...300088959852544
Belgian women sitting on an abandoned German coastal gun in Ostend: © IWM (Q 11380): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...330202347085824
French civilians in Lille looking at a dummy tank made by the Germans to resemble a British Whippet tank: © IWM (Q 9599): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...572806439526401
British soldiers with two Belgian refugee children at Courtrai: © IWM (Q 11391): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...602996788051968
American troops reenacting for the cameras an attack through barbed war at the Argonne, France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...633207869104129

Eastern Front
South Russia: Heavily-mauled Czech 4th Regiment mutinies, 1st Regiment soon follows.

Southern Front
Serbia: Battle of Paracin (until October 23): Serbian First Army attacks strong counter-attacking German rearguards in Upper Morava valley. Serbian Second Army relieves French at Pristina before advance to Western Morava valley via Kossovo.
Corporal of a German infantry regiment in Serbia in October 1918: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...-1918.jpg?ssl=1

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: Coastal submarine UB-86 is the last outward bound boat to cross Northern Barrage for Irish Sea.
Irish Sea: S.S. Dundalk torpedoed in Irish Channel.
English Channel: Royal Navy monitor M.21 strikes 2 mines off Ostend, towed back to Dover but sinks.

Political, etc
Germany: German Government reply to President Wilson's Note accepting proposals contained therein (see 14th and 23rd).
Turkey: General amnesty to exiles and refugees; part of Izzet Pasha Government program read to Assembly (October 19). Press meet and agree to act together (October 21).
United States: Fourth Liberty Loan in U.S.A. exceeds $1.5 billion.
“Shoulder Army,” a comedy film starring Charlie Chaplin, Edna Purviance, and Sydney Chaplin, is released: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...663406916624385
Denmark: Denmark proposes to Germany a plebiscite (as to nationality) for Schleswig-Holstein.

21 October 1918
 

Western Front
Battle of the Selle (see 25th/26th): French advance between Rivers Serre and Oise; stubborn fighting north of Verdun.
Belgians three miles from Ghent, across Derivation Canal to Eede (Dutch frontier).
British push on; stubborn resistance.
Sir Douglas Haig's despatch of 20 July, on March and April withdrawal, published.
Exhibition in Paris display captured German helmets: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...693607692169216
American soldiers and French children at the village of Vaubecourt, France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...904985388470272
German howitzer knocked over by Canadian artillery: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...965392669040642
A funeral for an American soldier at La Rochelle, France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...995594480582656

Southern Front
Italy: Italians fighting on Asiago and Grappa fronts.
Armando Diaz’s final orders for upcoming offensive stress aim ‘to separate the Austrian forces on the Trentino from those on the Piave’.
The new Italian C-in-C General Armando Diaz (right), appointed after the defeat of Caporetto, succeeded in reorganising the Italian Army and improving morale by making various concessions to the soldiers: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...-Diaz.jpg?ssl=1
Serbia: Battle of Paracin (until October 23): French capture convoy of lighters at Lom Palanka (Danube). (Duplicate notice from yesterday?)
Bulgaria: British 26th Division arrives by rail (until October 23) at Mustapha Pasha on Bulgarian-Turkish frontier west of Adrianople where garrison of only 1 battalion with 2 guns.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Irish Sea: Last merchant ship (coaster Saint Bareham, 8 lives lost) sunk by U-boat in British home waters.
German light cruiser SMS Frankfurt accidentally collides with the U-boat SM UB-89, sinking the submarine and killing 7. The SMS Frankfurt: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...010693941379073

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: German Austrians declare independence at Vienna and form National Provincial Assembly (2nd mtg passes fundamental laws October 30).
The Ban of Croatia refuses offer of Military Governor of Agram to suppress the Yugoslav National Council (see 5th and 29th).
Germany: Erich Ludendorff approves Reinhard Scheer’s U-boat plan, including release of skilled workers from front. Kaiser meets Reichstag at Berlin Bellevue Palace, ISP leader says ‘Crowns are rolling about the floor’.
France: The Le Matin newspaper’s ‘Panorama of the Battle of Liberation’ map posted up in Paris.
United Kingdom: King George receives Inter-Parliamentary delegates.
David Beatty insists to War Cabinet meeting on German Fleet’s surrender as well as all U-boats and Heligoland.
Lord Beaverbrook resigns as Information Minister (ill-health). Labour Minister reports that Special Branch and GHQ Home Forces preparing supply of auxiliary labour. Thomson (Special Branch) writes that working-class morale ‘Probably at its highest point’, but warns of union strike plans.
Belgium: German Governor-General of Belgium pardons Belgians and neutrals convicted by Court Martial.
Belgian Bill for German damage already nearly 400 million pounds.

22 October 1918
 

Western Front
Battle of the Selle (see 25th/26th): French and Czechoslovaks push Germans back on the Serre river.
Scheldt: British First Army closes in on Valenciennes, 3rd Canadian Division clears Foret de Raismes in 4-mile advance.
Fierce fighting by the Americans on both banks of Meuse, north of Verdun and in the Woevre.
Hindenburg's order "approving peace-steps" captured.
French President Henri Poincare with General William Birdwood inspecting the British Guard of Honour as they arrive in the newly captured city of Lille: © IWM (Q 9592): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...040889050439680
African American troops disembarking in France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...326603642294272

Southern Front
Lord Cavan's despatch, dated 14 September (covering 10 March to 13 September), issued.
Italy: 142 Italian flying boats and 56 Caproni bombers raid Pola.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Arabia: Affair of Imad (Aden).

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: Magnus von Levetzow delivers verbal operational order (Operations Plan No 19) to Hipper at Wilhelmshaven: ‘High Seas Fleet shall attack and engage in battle with the English Fleet.’ Nothing is to be allowed to delay the operation because the country ‘is rushing toward an armistice at full speed’. Plan envisages coordinated raids to Thames Estuary and down Flanders coast with 22 U-boats of Scotland.
Admiral Reinhard Scheer, the hero of the Jutland naval battle was promoted in August 1918 to Chief of the Admiral Staff and Commander of the Naval War Command. With the command to the High Seas Fleet operation he triggers the mutiny in Kiel, which finally led to the November Revolution in Germany: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...cheer.jpg?ssl=1
Albania: Italian ships shell S. Giovanni di Medua.

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Czech Socialist Vaclav Klofac tells Emperor Czech lands slipping away from Crown.
Germany: Prince Max announced program of some reforms; equal suffrage voted (October 26). Karl Liebknecht released: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...296409392988160
United Kingdom: New 10s note design issued.
United States: Wounded American soldiers learning to make artificial limbs at a hospital in Lakewood, New Jersey: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...071084595732480

23 October 1918
 

Western Front
Battle of the Selle (see 25th/26th): Heavy fighting by French in Serre and Vouziers sectors. Third phase: Byng’s Third Army (including 6 tanks) attacks Forest and Ovillers, captures Grand Champ Ridge, Rawlinson’s 18th Division (with 6 tanks) captures Bousies. BEF drives 6-mile deep, 35-mile wide breach into German line (until October 24).
Scheldt: Big British attack between Le Cateau and Valenciennes carries line forward one to three miles after stiff resistance; Bruay taken and Scheldt reached.
Western Front, Air: More activity than for several weeks, RAF No 20 Squadron’s Bristol fighters claim 5 Fokker fighters for no loss, Hirson rail junction bombed. Prince Albert flies in Handley Page to join IAF HQ near Nancy.
Germany: Handley Page bomber destroys Kaiserslautern Greist munitions factory with 1,650lb bomb (night October 21-22). Similar devastation in Wiesbaden city centre (nights October 23-24, 49 casualties).
One of the newer British Tank Mk V towed another tank with a steel cable: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...eppen.jpg?ssl=1
Two soldiers inspecting their uniforms for the presence of lice: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...356841671602176
British troops crossing a bridge destroyed by the Germans near Douchy: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...387148940558336
A Belgian road being repaired after it was recaptured by the Allies: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...402409802416128
Men of the Gordon Highlanders bury a Frenchwoman killed by a shell near Denain. Her daughters stand by the grave: © IWM (Q 9607): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...628614141042689
German coastal artillery left behind after they retreated from Zeebrugge, Belgium: © IWM (Q 7134): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...658861536296960

Eastern Front
North Russia: Bolsheviks attack Allied position of River Dvina (south of Archangel) and are repulsed.

Southern Front
Albania: Croatian troops seize Fiume, but are suppressed.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: British advance on Mosul begins (see November 4th).

Naval and Overseas Operations
239,000 tons Allied shipping (including 151,000 British) lost in September (announced).
North Sea: Harwich Force last in action. Though weather prevents its seaplanes taking off and 3 of 4 Sopwith Camels broken on lighters, German aircraft driven off.
Admiralty warns Beatty of German Fleet sortie preparation.
Adriatic: Austrian Fleet discipline breaking down with demands to go home.

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Prime Minister Wekerle resigns; Baron Hussarek still Austrian Premier. Emperor Charles and Zita open Debrecen University.
Germany: Dr. Solf and German War Minister on the situation.
United Kingdom: House of Commons votes 274-24 for women Members of Parliament.
Balfour speech at Anzac lunch says Germany’s colonies can never be returned.
Belgium: King and Queen of Belgians fly to Bruges.
United States: President Wilson replies to German Note of the 20th, and agrees, to submit the matter to the Allied and Associated Governments (see 27th, and November 3rd).
Charlie Chaplin secretly marries actress Mildred Harris at Los Angeles (announced November 9).
Myrtle Gonzalez, American actress considered one of the first Latino American actresses in Hollywood, dies at the age of 27 to the Spanish flu: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...417414782414848

24 October 1918
 

Western Front
Battle of the Selle (see 25th/26th): British attack resumed; advance of three miles after heavy fighting. 9,000 prisoners and 150 guns claimed in last two days. German counter-attack on Derivation Canal repulsed by Belgians.
Slight French advance in southern sectors.
French soldiers demonstrate the use of a 37mm trench gun: © IWM (Q 94769): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...689124119142401
Canadian troops practice making an attack with tanks: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...719374391681024
American troops practice firing rifle grenades in France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...780779719507969
A German observation post camouflaged as a destroyed house at La Bassée, France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...052562238525440
A German coastal gun at Zeebrugge destroyed by the Germans during their retreat from the Belgian coast: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...082775060140033

Southern Front
Italy: Third Battle of the Piave (aka Battle of Vittorio Veneto) begins in rain on Caporetto first anniversary at 0500 hours with 1,402-gun shelling on Mt Grappa sector and at 0700 hour Fourth Army infantry assault on 13-mile front gains little ground and 1,800 PoWs vs fierce, skilled defence. 2 British battalions seize northern half of Papadopoli island in river Piave and 6 Italian battalions Caserta island (night October 23-24) and take 350 PoWs, but Austro-Hungarian artillery destroys most bridges. On Asiago Anglo-French diversion takes 1,000 PoWs.
Austro-Hungarian Skoda Model 1914 149-mm-howitzer in action with Italian forces: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...front.jpg?ssl=1
600 Allied aircraft (including 93 Anglo-French) support final offensive; wreak havoc among fleeing Austro-Hungarian columns (especially from October 29-30). RAF drop 20,000lb bombs and fire 51,000 rounds, losing 7 aircraft (until November 4).
A large Italian gun being moved up towards the front: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...022364017287168
Serbia: Serbs force Austro-Hungarians back in disorder along Morava.

Eastern Front/West Asia Border Theater
Armenia-Azerbaijan: By now new Turkish Government withdrawing 4 divisions from Armenia and Azerbaijan (Germany informed) and Enzeli advance abandoned, only 3 divisions left in Caucasus after early October advance north to Derbent. British successfully attack Turks at Fatha.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Syria: Aleppo taken by British forces.
Mesopotamia: British cavalry within four miles of Kirkuk (100 miles south-east of Mosul, Tigris river).

Naval and Overseas Operations
Germany: The German Admiralty gives the order for a final, all-out attack against the Royal Navy to take place on October 30-31, despite ongoing negotiations with the Allies for an armistice and increasing dissent among German sailors.

Political, etc
Germany: Growing desire in Germany for Kaiser to abdicate. German mark drops to 33 to the pound.
Emerging States: King of Montenegro issues manifesto in favor of a confederated Yugoslavia with autonomous States (see 29th, and November 7th and 23rd). National Council in Croatia meets.

25 October 1918
 

Western Front
Battle of the Selle (see 25th/26th): Battle of the Selle ends. Further British advance between Le Quesnoy and Maing. Total captures: 20,000 PoWs and 475 guns. Last effective german line of defence on w front broken.
Oise: Successful French attacks between Rivers Serre and Oise, and between Rethel and Sissonne. French 79th Regiment (XX Corps, First Army) with 4 tanks storms Villers-le-Sec in Hunding Line, taking 150 PoWs, 1 gun, 58 MGs and 1 mortar for 40 casualties despite counter-attack.
Stiff American fighting north of Verdun.
Flanders: British Second Army success at Ooteghem. French and British advance to 10 miles east of Courtrai.
France: Ferdinand Foch, Douglas Haig, Philippe Petain and John Pershing meet at Senlis, formulate stiff proposals including surrender of artillery, railway stock and U-boats, agree to preventing fresh fighting after any armistice.
American troops resting near Fismes, France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...112963219210241
The ruins of La Bassée, France: © IWM (Q 9617): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...143164581953542
At the Battle of the Selle, British troops rout the Germans from the Selle River and capture Le Cateau. British troops resting on a tree near Le Cateau: © IWM (Q 3317): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...399843881988096

Southern Front
Italy: Third Battle of the Piave (aka Battle of Vittorio Veneto): British overrun rest of Papadopoli Island (night October 25-26) but flooding river delays main crossing. Italian Grappa attacks continue at heavy cost capturing and losing Mt Asolone again with 600 PoWs, Pesaro Brigade and Arditi take Mt Pertica; Austrian Edelweiss Alpine Division thrown into battle.
Italians of a scout unit with fighting knives: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...kampf.jpg?ssl=1
Serbia: Austro-German retreat over Sava and Danube (until November 1) by bridges and streamers between Smederovo and Sabac covered by river monitors. Serbs reach Kraguyevats and Chrupriya (60 miles south of Danube).
Salonika: First 5 Indian battalions from Mesopotamia land.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Syria: Colonel Nuri Bey’s 1,500 Arabs enter Aleppo at second attempt but again driven out by Kemal’s troops as 500 British cavalry join armored cars 13 miles southwest.
Mesopotamia: Kirkuk again occupied by British forces (see May 24th).
British columns turn Turkish position at mouth of Lower Zab river.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Mediterranean: Reinhardt Scheer orders all seaworthy Mediterranean U-boats to sail home, 12 do so (October 29-31).
Canadian passenger liner SS Princess Sophia runs aground on a reef during a storm and sinks, resulting in the deaths of all 343 passengers and crew. It is the worst maritime disaster in the history of British Columbia: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...369639314763776

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Count Gyula Andrassy the younger succeeds Baron Burian as Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister (see April 17th and November 1st).

26 October 1918
 

Western Front
British progress south of Valenciennes and repulse German attack on Maing.
Heavy French fighting on Rethel-Oise front.
Slight advance east of Courtrai.
At BEF GHQ Churchill chairs senior gas officer conference (flies home on October 30).
Western Front, Air: The Inter-Allied Independent Air Force (IAF) is created under Supreme Commander Marshal Foch and the Commander in Chief, Major General Sir Hugh Trenchard.
A gravedigger digging new graves for civilians at Denain, France: © IWM (Q 3313):
https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...430036843626497
Wounded Canadian soldiers enjoy tea at a dressing station: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...460262906482688
A girl next to a smashed piano at Denain, France: © IWM (Q 3308): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...490453456457729
The King and Queen of Belgium return to Bruges after it was recaptured from the Germans: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...506816765956099
French troops digging trenches near Saint-Quentin-la-Petit: © IWM (Q 78114): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...748387713269760

Southern Front
Italy: Third Battle of the Piave (aka Battle of Vittorio Veneto): Italian Grappa attacks mainly fail, gaining only Peak 1186 and Col del Cuc (Aosta Alpini Battalion 568 casualties to date). Field Marshal Boroevic thanks defenders, confident ‘that they would convince the enemy that their blood had been shed in vain’, but 3 Hungarian divisions ask to be withdrawn home (until October 27). Italians begin 4 bridges at middle Piave.
Austro-Hungarian soldiers resting between actions at the Piave river front: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...icher.jpg?ssl=1

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Syria: British advanced troops occupy Aleppo after c.1,000 Turks leave; 500 Jodhpur and Mysore Lancers (80 casualties) charge Kemal’s 3,000 Turks and 8 guns north of city at Haritan but beaten off after lancing 50 and taking 20 PoWs.
Arab and Allied forces capture the city of Aleppo from the Ottomans: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...718184387534849
Mesopotamia: Turks on Tigris retreat during night 26/27 to Kalaat Shergat. Cassels’ 1,000 cavalry with 6 guns (11th Cavalry Brigade) ford mile-wide Tigris 13 miles north of Sharqat after 83-mile ride in two days as 17th Indian Division (until October 27) repulsed from Turkish Humur line with 618 casualties.

Political, etc
Germany: General Erich Ludendorff resigns. Kaiser says ‘The operation is done. I have split the Siamese twins’ (Hindenburg and Ludendorff). Kaiser refuses Hindenburg’s tendered resignation. Ludendorff succeeded by Wilhelm Groener whose railway expertise proves invaluable during the retreat.
Turkey: Three Turkish envoys begin armistice talks at Mudros (until October 30).

27 October 1918
 

Western Front
German attack north-west of Le Quesnoy repulsed.
Aisne: French Fifth Army attacks on 7 1/2-mile front northwest of Chateau Porcien (west of Rethel), major bombing of Seraincourt to northwest on October 28. Germans give way on Serre-Oise salient; French pursue.
Meuse and Argonne: US 78th Division (c.5,000 casualties) captures Grandpre after fighting since October 25. Americans take Bois Belleu (east bank of Meuse).
Western Front, Air: The Victoria Cross is awarded to Major W.G. Barker, a Canadian of No.201 Squadron, Royal Air Force, for destroying four enemy aircraft during a dogfight over Foret de Mormal in France in a Sopwith Snipe (E8102). He had, in his Sopwith Snipe of No 201 Squadron single-handedly battled 5 formations totaling c.60 aircraft over Mormal Forest. His victory over these 4 brings his total victories to 50; he received 3 wounds, and crash-landed behind British lines.
American troops near Le Nefour launching phosphorus bombs to create a smokescreen: © IWM (Q 70743): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...778597967982593
The Prince of Wales at Lille, France after the city's recapture from the Germans: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...808807350218753
A British soldier with two refugee children at Tournai: © IWM (Q 9625): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...854119074889729
The ruins of Lens almost a month after it was recaptured from the Germans: © IWM (Q 49082): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...110780159086593

Southern Front
Italy: Third Battle of the Piave (aka Battle of Vittorio Veneto): Austrian counter-attacks recapture Mt Pertica (briefly), Istrice and Valderoa (600 PoWs). After wading across from 0645 hours Italians and British form 3 bridgeheads over Piave up to 2 1/2 miles deep, taking 7,800 PoWs and 74 guns. Austrian guns destroy 3 bridges by 0800 hours but parts of 2 Austrian divisions refuse to counter-attack. Eighth and Twelfth Armies rely on swimmers (82 Caimani di Piave) and air supply as 5 new bridges short-lived, only allowing 17 battalions to cross (night October 27-28).
Lord Cavan commands 10th Italian Army.
Six R.E.8s drop 5,000 rounds by parachute to forward British troops. Nine Sopwith Camel fighters destroy 3 Austrian balloons. Austrians bomb Allied Piave bridges without success.
A lonely British soldier guards a group of Austro-Hungarian prisoners of war on the Piave: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...uK-KG.jpg?ssl=1
Italian anti-air guns mounted on a railcar at the Battle of Vittorio Veneto: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...140984378159104
Serbia: Serbs drive Austro-Hungrians back north of Kraguyevats.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Syria: British cavalry seize Muslimie junction (north of Aleppo, on Baghdad railway).
Mesopotamia: British main body in touch with Turks on Lower Zab. Turks fall back to hills covering Shergat.

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Emperor Charles cables Kaiser ‘My people are neither capable nor willing to continue the war … I have made the unalterable decision to ask for a separate peace and an immediate armistice’. Austro-Hungarian Government submit further Note to President Wilson asking for immediate armistice "without awaiting the result of other negotiations") (see 4th and 18th).
Austrian Government ask Italy for an armistice (see 4th and November 3rd).
Germany: German Government acknowledges President Wilson's Note of October 23rd.
German General Erich Ludendorff, who was forced to resign after an order sponsored by him and von Hindenburg ordering German soldiers to “fight to the finish” was leaked, which caused outrage among the war-weary German populace: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...080578855030784
France: Colonel House arrives in Paris as U.S. special representative.
United Kingdom: British landowner Cecil Chubb donates Stonehenge to the British government: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...823899903049730
United States: Barbers in Cincinnati wearing masks to prevent the spread of the Spanish flu: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...884291975102469

Western Front
Scheldt: British 51st Division captures Mont Houy south of Valenciennes but driven back to southern slopes, 3 German divisions counter-attack (until October 29).
Heavy French fighting at Verly (Oise) and (American) about Grand Pre.
Western Front, Air: Great French bombing raid on Seraincourt (north-west of Rethel).
Three Fokker fighters (2 lost) intercept D.H.9s (1 lost) over Mons and RAF No 205 Squadron bombs Namur (until October 30).
American soldiers in a “elephant shelter” made of corrugated iron near Cunel, France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...519715542220800
Interior of a British military hospital at St. Pol, France: © IWM (Q 3333): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...565015824740353

Southern Front
Italy: Third Battle of the Piave (aka Battle of Vittorio Veneto): Severe fighting in Grappa region. General advance by 10th and 12th Italian Armies. Stiff fighting, Austrians driven back. Italian XVIII Corps reinforces Anglo-Italian Papadopoli bridgehead, taking 3,000 PoWs, 7 guns and 150 MGs with aid of British barrage. Austrian Sixth Army orders retreat at 2030 hours after Italians join up the 3 bridgeheads and are up to 4 miles from river. King watches operations from Montello. Austrian Armistice Commission meets.
Field Marshall Svetozar Boroevic tells Emperor Charles situation ‘untenable’ (night October 28-29).
Gordon Highlanders escorting Austro-Hungarian prisoners across the Piave River at Salettuol, Italy: © IWM (Q 26737): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...201371131830272
Italian troops during the offensive: © IWM (Q 25977): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...231575057252353
Serbia: Serbs reach line Uzice-Arandelovac-Pozarevac.
Albania: Italians enter Allessio.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Syria: Muslimiya Junction, north of Aleppo, occupied by British cavalry.
A Syrian refugee family who fled the fighting between the Ottomans and the Allies: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...504617863921664
Mesopotamia: Battle of Sharqat begins (see 30th): Turks attack British on east bank of Tigris, but are heavily beaten on west bank, and retreat. Gurkhas ferried over to Cassels after 33-mile march in 21 hours and fight 6,000 Turks and 24 guns from Mosul.
Turkish cavalry is arriving from Mosul: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...Mosul.jpg?ssl=1
Ottoman artillery shells burst around a Rolls-Royce armoured car at the Battle of Sharqat: © IWM (Q 24758): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...534818153025538

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: Final U-boat sortie: Flanders Flotilla coastal submarine UB-116 (Emsmann) with volunteer crew undertakes ‘suicide’ mission vs Grand Fleet battleship Queen Elizabeth (erroneously believed lying at Scapa). Raider destroyed in electrically-controlled minefield.
Adriatic: German personnel evacuate Pola, Cattaro ones sail (October 30), scuttle 10 U-boats there and at Fiume (until November 1).

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Professor Heinrich Lammasch succeeds Baron Max Hussarek as Austrian Minister-President.
Fresh Austro-Hungarian note to President Wilson urging immediate Armistice.
Agram military command surrender to Yugoslav Council.
Czech National Council takes over administration in Prague. Czechoslovakia independent, Galicia severed from Empire.
Czechoslovakia proclaims its independence from Austria-Hungary. Austro-Hungarian symbols are painted over in Kolín: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...458061949227008
Germany: Kaiser signs amended constitution, says ‘… (his) office is one of service to German people’, but at Hindenburg’s request returns to Spa by train on October 29 refusing to meet Prince Max.
Russia: Siberian Coalition Ministry formed under Admiral Aleksandr Kolchak (War and Marine); MM. Shekin (Foreign Affairs), Orlov (Commerce) and Ostrugov (Communications).
France: Allied armistice Conference in Paris (until October 30).
United Kingdom: Admiral Prince Higashifushimi Yorihito arrives in London.
Canada: 5th War Loan.
Bulgaria: British 22nd Division lands at Dedeagach (sailed from Stavros) from 17 destroyers (after 2 bad weather post-ponements) for invasion of European Turkey 10 miles away, transport and cavalry arrive on October 30 after gruelling overland march. French Army of the Danube formed under Berthelot (until January 25, 1920).

The war is winding down. About 12 more days. Hard to believe. Gotta tell you, this has really been a fascinating journey following your posts. I, for sure, thank you. :thumbs:

29 October 1918
 

Western Front
Successful French attack on 7.5-mile front north-west of Chateau Porcien (west of Rethel).
Western Front, Air: German fighters (2 lost) turn back No 107 Squadron’s D.H.9s (1 escort lost) from Mariembourg, but bombed on October 30.
Germany: 14 Independent Air Force aircraft bomb 9 different targets (night October 29-30, over 40 casualties).
British General William Birdwood being welcomed in Lille after the city was recaptured from the Germans: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...595216491261954
American 14-inch gun firing near Thierville, France: © IWM (Q 56650): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...851907090804736

Southern Front
Italy: AT 0830 HOURS AUSTRIANS SEEK ARMISTICE: Captain Ruggera takes white flag to Italian lines at Serravak in Adige valley.
Third Battle of the Piave (aka Battle of Vittorio Veneto): Calabria Brigade storms Mt Asolone (Grappa), but loses it to Austrians; Italians suspend operations in sleet and fog after 24,500 casualties. All 21 Italian Eighth Army bridges rebuilt as Austrian guns fall silent (night October 28-29) and British troops cross river Monticana by intact bridge after beating 2-division counter-attack. Italians play for time as Austrian collapse worsens. French troops capture Segusina with 3,000 PoWs and 18 guns. Austrian GHQ announces decision ‘to evacuate the Veneto … to show its goodwill towards peace’. Italian general 5-mile advance captures Conegliano and Susegana.
Seaplane squadron commander Lieutenant Casagrande Eugenio completes last of 15 agent landing and recovery operations behind Austrian Piave lines since July 30.
Wounded Italians receive front-line medical aid during the Battle of Vittorio Veneto: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...ndete.jpg?ssl=1
Albania: San Giovanni di Medua occupied by Italian forces (see January 25th, 1916).
Salonika: Lieutenant-General T M Bridges arrives to be British Military Mission Chief to Franchet d’Esperey.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Syria: EEF has 4,345 motor vehicles and 1,523 motor cycles.
Palestine: Armenian orphans at an orphanage in Palestine: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...836823710949378
Mesopotamia: Battle of Sharqat (see 30th): Pursuit of Turks continues: position cut-off and captured. British 7th Cavalry Brigade (c.3,100 strong) storms Cemetery Hill on foot taking 990 PoWs and 12 MGs as 3,000 men of 17th Division (509 casualties) make slow progress vs 4000 Turks.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Allied Naval Council prepares naval armistice terms (until November 4).
North Sea: High Seas Fleet prepares for*‘death or glory sortie’, but already passive resistance hampering it in all battleships and 3 small cruisers. Red Flags hoisted in battleships Thüringen and Helgoland.

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Archduke Joseph charged by Emperor Karl with scheme for independence of Hungary.
Arz cables Hindenburg that Austrian Army in Italy finished, over half divisions refuse to fight.
France: Indictment of Caillaux in French Senate.
Canada: 5th War Loan.
Emerging States: Yugoslav National Council at Agram repudiate Imperial policy and declare the independence of the Yugoslavs; independence of Croatia and Yugoslav lands agreed to by Croat Congress (see 5th, 21st, 26th and November 7th and 23rd).

30 October 1918
 

Western Front
Allies claim over 30,000 prisoners taken in Flanders during past month.
Region above Valenciennes flooded by Germans.
Western Front, Air: Mannheim bombed by British. Sopwith Dolphin fighters of No 19 Squadron and D.H.9s (No 98 squadron) attacked by many German fighters (10 lost) covering vital rail targets; 10 Dolphins and 4 D.H.9s lost; 2 D.H.9s crash-land, but 12 Bristol fighters (88 Squadron) destroy 9 of c.17 Fokker fighters over Tournai for no loss. 62 RAF aircraft (3 lost) attack Rebaix airfield north of Ath, hit 4 hangars and destroy 9 aircraft in air. c.30 German fighters scatter 2 D.H.9 squadrons (2 bombers and 4 fighter escorts shot down}. Lieutenant Degelow downs D.H.4, wins last of 75 air Pour le Merite awards. [Note: a claim I’m having great trouble verifying] RAF claims record 67 German aircraft for loss of 41.
New Zealand troops firing howitzers at Le Quesnoy, France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...882124836483073
American soldiers operating a device used to locate enemy aircraft by reflecting and focusing its sound: © IWM (Q 73786): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...898467237371904
A destroyed street in Grandpré, France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...928671372587008
Ned Parfett, who achieved fame as the newspaper boy holding the Evening News poster “Titanic Disaster Great Loss of Life” in 1912, is killed in action near Valenciennes: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...958872987013121
A German machine gun post captured on the Quéant line: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...218105175392256
Canadian soldiers admiring loot taken from the Germans: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...248357616369664

Southern Front
Third Battle of the Piave (aka Battle of Vittorio Veneto): Italian Firenze lancers and Bersaglieri cyclists enter Vittorio Veneto (old Austrian Sixth Army headquarter). Third Army storms Lower Piave at four points as Italian cavalry and armored cars begin pursuit; Austrian Sixth Army split in two. Claimed PoWs total 33,000. Austrian Belluno Group begins general retreat (night October 30-31). Austrian Armistice Delegates reach Villa Giusti near Padua at 2000 hours.
Severe fighting at Grappa.
Austrian PoWs at Vittorio Veneto: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...eneto.jpg?ssl=1
Serbia: Serbs reach Danube east of Semendria and occupy and Pozharevats.
Albania: 122,000 Austrian troops (5 ½ infantry and 1 cavalry divisions) with 540 guns in Albania and Serbia vs 144,000 Italians and 373 guns among 730,850 Allies with 1,883 guns.
Croatia: Fiume surrendered to the Croats by the Hungarian authorities (see Political, etc., below).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: Battle of Sharqat (see 30th): Battle of Sharqat ends (see 28th). Turkish army on the Tigris surrenders. 11,321 PoWs; 51 guns; 130 MGs; 2,000 animals for 1,886 British casualties since October 23 including 7th Cavalry Brigade 16-mile north pursuit taking 1,200.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Germany: Room 40 intercepts High Seas Fleet 0800 hours signal ‘All officers on board the Flagship’ as first hint of mutiny. Order to leave port defied five times and crews too denuded by 1,000 arrests to do so (until October 31). Disorder and insubordination grow among German sailors who believe the German Admiralty will sacrifice them in a final battle. German Navy cancels the plan for a final sortie against the British Grand Fleet but mutinous sentiment and activity persists. Hipper disperses Fleet to the Elbe, Kiel and Wilhelmshaven.

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Hungarian Republic proclaimed: Count Janos Hadik Prime Minister.
Emperor Charles gives Fleet to Yugoslav National council, Danube Flotilla to Hungarians; allows officers to serve in new national armies.
Germany: Government note to US says armistice terms awaited.
United Kingdom: Serious influenza epidemic in London; 2,200 deaths last week.
Turkey: Armistice between Turkey and Entente Powers signed at Mudros (see 31st). 25 clauses begin with Dardanelles opening and occupation (published November 2).
Emerging States: "National Council of Fiume" proclaim the independence of the city and announce desire for union with Italy (see November 5th).
Croatian Congress (Sabor) unanimously adhere to Yugoslav declaration of independence (see 29th).

31 October 1918
 

Western Front
British successful attack south-west of Audenarde (Courtrai), carrying all objectives; claim 1,000 prisoners.
British captures in last three months claimed to be: 172,659 prisoners, 2,378 guns, 17,000 machine guns, 2,750 trench mortars, etc.
Overall, just in October, Allies have captured 108,343 PoWs and 2,064 guns.
Foch tells Supreme War Council: ‘… since July 18 we have forced the enemy to retreat. We have attacked him along 400 kilometres and we are continuing to do so … we can continue it if the foe desires it right up to their complete defeat...’
Western Front, Air: In October record of 5,360,000 leaflets dropped by Allied balloons; AEF reports 80% German PoWs with one by October 15, BEF say 12% of theirs. RAF losses 164 aircraft, French 46.
American pilot Eddie Rickenbacker scores his 26th aerial victory, making him the top American ace in the war: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...308783410642945
Germany: 9 bombs from No 55 squadron D.H.s cause 86 casualties at Bonn.
British troops in the damaged town of Douai, France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...338965668306947

Southern Front
Third Battle of the Piave (aka Battle of Vittorio Veneto): Austrians in Trentino and Venetian Alps separated and chased back, losing all positions between the Brenta and Piave.
Italian Fourth and Sixth Armies occupy empty Austrian Grappa and Asiago lines, by 1700 hours 2 Alpini battalions clear Feltre. British and Italians reach river Livenza. British recapture Sacile.
Austrian Commander-in-Chief applies to General Armando Diaz for an Armistice.
Italians and Slovenes take over Trieste.
Italian soldiers occupy an abandoned Austro-Hungarian position: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...llung.jpg?ssl=1
Albania: Scutari retaken by Italian forces (see January 23rd, 1916).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Persia: 600 British troops (35 casualties), 4 guns and 2 MGs take Lardeh village and 30 PoWs (until November 1).
Mesopotamia: Only 3,280 Turks with 44 guns estimated in Mosul or en route. General Lewin occupies Altun Kopri on Little Zab.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Austria: Fleet at Pola completes transfer to Southern Slav National Council in Agram. Non Serbian Slavs free to go home, ships fully illuminated for first time, Admiral Horthy makes farewell signal, relinquishes command at c.1645 hours.
Allied and neutral shipping October losses to U-boats: 52 ships (23 British with 318 lives) worth 112,427t (British total all causes 25 ships worth 59,229t); U-boat figure 73 ships worth 116,237t. Lowest monthly tonnage score since July 1916; 5 U-boats sunk.
Britain: In October over 10,000 ships reported as repaired since June 1917. Shipbuilding up nearly 50% over 1917, little change in jobs or days lost.

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Revolutions in Vienna and Budapest (see November 1st, 12th and 16th).
Count Istvan Tisza assassinated in Vienna (see May 23rd, 1917). István Tisza: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...581721292627970
End of the Dual Monarchy.
Polish troops occupy Cracow.
Death of Egon Schiele, Expressionist painter and soldier, aged 28 from flu at Vienna. 700,000 PoWs have returned from Russia since March 3.
Revolutionary Hungarian soldiers and civilians tired of war and Austrian rule occupy Budapest as part of the Aster or Chrysanthemum Revolution. Revolutionary soldiers in the city: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...550296782721025
Germany: Kaiser leaves Berlin (for last time) by train for OHL at Spa.
Turkey: Hostilities between Entente and Turkey cease at 12 noon (see 30th). Otto von Liman hands over to Mustapha Kemal at Adana, repatriation of 10,000 Germans begins.
Emerging States: Slovenes in Laibach National Assembly proclaim independence.

1 November 1918
 

11 Days until Armistice
Western Front
Foch’s plan for final phase of general offensive (until November 11): major thrusts by BEF in North and AEF in South, both supported by French armies on their flanks. BEF is to force the Scheldt, advance to Maubeuge and press on to seize Meuse crossings from Namur to Dinant. If taken before Germans evacuate Flanders they are to be pressed back against border of neutral Holland and captured. In south, US First and French Fourth Armies to advance by forced marches to seize Mezieres and Sedan, so isolating Germans facing French Centre Army Group and sever the great lateral railway Bruges-Ghent-Maubeuge-Mezieres–Metz, key artery to half of Western Front.
Scheldt: Battle of Valenciennes (until November 3): Haig turns Scheldt defences (Hermann position) and pushes east and north to Maubeuge, Mons and river Dendre. BEF Third and First Armies attack on 6-mile front and reach Valenciennes outskirts (4th Canadian Division captures Mont Houy) despite German 28th Reserve Division counter-attack with 4 (captured BEF) tanks (2 lost), last such effort. BEF Fourth Army’s 32nd Division and 3 tanks attacks Happegarbes Spur southwest of Landrecies. Constant rain (until November 11).
Aisne and Meuse: FRANCO-US offensive begins: US First Army (7 divisions) with 19 tanks and right wing of French Fourth Army; US V Corps in centre, drives a 5-mile deep wedge into German lines astride Bourgogne Wood including first AEF use of mustard gas (41t of gas, 36,000 round), as 4 German divisions overrun. US 5th Division crosses Meuse isolating Dun-sur-Meuse.
Western Front, Air: D.H.9s bomb Brussels rail station and Maubeuge.
Fonck’s 75th and final victory, a German leaflet-dropping two-seater.
Germany, Black Sea and Mediterranean: German Naval Air Service 1,478 aircraft and seaplanes with 16,122 men (2,116 aircrew) at 32 seaplane 17 land air bases strong.
New Zealand soldiers with a captured German machine gun at Sapignies, France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...596832631660544
American wounded getting sandwich rolls and chocolate at a Red Cross Bureau at Toulouse: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...657237374668806

Eastern Front
Ukraine National Council assumes administration of East Galicia. "State of War" begins between The Ukraine and Poland (see 23rd). Fighting breaks out between Ukrainian and Polish forces in Lemberg (Lviv, Lwów), sparking the Polish-Ukrainian War. Lemberg proclaimed to be in state of siege.
Germany: Between 1-11 November 2 German divisions transfer to Western Front.
North Russia: In November A A Samoilo made C-in-C Sixth Detached Red Army (headquarter Vologda). Red Western Front formed and Ukrainian Soviet Army (late November).
Don: Red Army takes offensive vs Denisov’s Great Don Host (50,000 men).
North Russia: In November 2 air squadrons (White and RAF plus 6 Sopwith Camel fighters form late November) go into action above Dvina Force.

Southern Front
Third Battle of the Piave (aka Battle of Vittorio Veneto): Austrians retreat from Venetian Alps and plain towards River Tagliamento.
Comando Supremo receives Allied armistice terms by telephone from Paris by 0615 hours, General Pietro Badoglio tells Austrians’ actual text available only on November 2. Allies progress on Asiago plateau, Italians reoccupy Belluno and Longarone. Last Austrian GHQ communique ‘In the Veneto the evacuation operations proceed’.
In the Battle of Vittorio Veneto, Italian troops push on Austrian positions on Monte Grappa. Italian machine gunners on Monte Grappa: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...627020757229568
Serbia: Belgrade retaken by Serbian forces (see October 9th, 1915, and December 9th, 1918).

Eastern Front/West Asia Border Theater
Armenia-Azerbaijan: Merv retaken by British and White Russian forces [Approximate date.] (see August 18th).

Naval and Overseas Operations
Adratic: Italian raid sinks the Austro-Hungarian battleship SMS Viribus Unitis. However, the Italians didn’t know the ship had been transferred to the newly-established (and neutral) State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs. The sinking kills around 300-400 crew: © Q 80983.
Rhodesia: German force in East Africa enters Rhodesia and attacks Fife (see 9th and September 29th).

Political, etc
Austria: Baron Ludwig von Flotow succeeds Count Guyla Andrassy (provisionally) as Austrian Foreign Minister (see October 24th and October 25th).
Austrian Expressionist painter Egon Schiele dies to the Spanish flu at the age of 28, only three days after his pregnant wife also died to the flu. His self-portrait: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...718880209117187
Hungary: Independent Hungarian Government formed. Count Mihály Károlyi as Prime Minister.
With Budapest controlled by revolutionary soldiers and protestors, Emperor Karl of Austria-Hungary recognizes pro-Entente, anti-war politician Mihály Károlyi as the Prime Minister of Hungary: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...688684395458561
Russia: Early November Communist Youth League Komsomol founded; 100,000 members by end of 1919.
France: Versailles Conference opens. Around this date the Supreme Allied Council for Supply and Relief is formed.
United Kingdom: British War Cabinet decide to recognize Provisional Siberian Government.
RFP up 4% to 133%. Shipbuilding control transferred from Admiralty to Shipping Ministry.
Turkey: Talaat Pasha addresses last Congress of Party of Union and Progress, admits massacre of innocent Armenians by many officials.
Bulgaria: King Boris of Bulgaria abdicates (see October 4th). Peasant Government established at Tirnova under leadership of Mr. Aleksandr Stambuliski.
United States: 306,719 Army flu cases since September 12; 19,429 deaths.
Emerging States: Great Serbian National Council proclaimed at Sarajevo (Bosnia).

2 November 1918
 

Western Front
Battle of Valenciennes ends (see 1st and 3rd): Canadian Corps (c.380 casualties) captures Valenciennes and claiming 1,800 PoWs and 7 guns, and over 800 Germans killed.
Aisne and Meuse: Germans retreat before US I Corps which captures Buzancy and links with French Fourth Army.
Sambre: Mutiny of Eastern Front reinforcements for German Seventeenth Army; they have to be disarmed by a storm battalion.
French capture south bank of Canal des Ardennes between Semuy and Neuville.
Western Front, Air: First attempted ‘cloud’ (blind) bombing (using dead reckoning): lone D.H.9a of No 99 Squadron RAF drops 3 x 112lb bombs in area of Avricourt rail junction and nearby dump.
German prisoners are led down a street while French civilians watch: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...937811737845760
A wounded Canadian soldier being treated among the ruins of the Canal de l'Escaut:
https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...952917653782528
New Zealand soldiers inspecting a British tank that was captured and used by the Germans: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...983121256267776
French civilians at Suresnes watch a procession for fallen Allied soldiers as it enters the cemetery: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...013326045839364

Southern Front
Italian Front: Italian First Army begins advance, occupies Rovereto and Calliano in Adige valley (night November 1-2) and Col Santo. Italian Seventh Army begins advance west of Lake Garda, captures Mt Pari near it. First armistice meeting 2100-0300 hours (night November 2-3), Austrians reluctantly accept 24-hour delay for end of hostilities.
Third Battle of the Piave (aka Battle of Vittorio Veneto): Austrian retreat in Venetian Alps and plain continued.
Italy: Allied Supreme War Council approves plan (until November 4) for up to 40 Italian divisions (including 5 British and French) to invade Bavaria from Innsbruck and Salzburg areas in early 1919 under Foch’s direction.
Allies enter Belluno.
Italian troops advance across the Assiago plateau: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...ebene.jpg?ssl=1
Italian troops continue their offensive in the Battle of Vittorio Veneto, as the Austro-Hungarian Army collapses. Italian and British troops passing by abandoned Austro-Hungarian equipment: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...270021544116224


Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: William Marshall gets full armistice terms; General Cassels sees Ali Ihsan, arranges advance to within 2 miles of Mosul.
Commander-in-Chief of the British forces in Mesopotamia William Marshall reads the proclamation of the armistice with the Ottoman Empire to his troops in Baghdad: © IWM (Q 56808): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...300198475182081

Naval and Overseas Operations
Mediterranean: Last British merchant vessels (S.S. Surada and Murcia) sunk by submarine.
Constantinople: Germans hand over U-boats to Turks.
Rhodesia: von Lettow bombards Fife in Northern Rhodesia but declines to assault (premature shell explodes mortar) while 1/4th King’s African Rifles 23 miles to east. Von Lettow advances into Northern Rhodesia with 400 cattle; at Mwenzo Mission increases quinine supply to over 30lb (enough to last to June 1919).

Political, etc
Austria: 69th Hungarian Infantry Regiment deserts Schoenbrunn Palace (Hungarian troops later officially allowed to go home) but Wiener Neustadt military cadets (military academies close) replace them. Emperor Charles refuses Archduke Joseph’s call to abdicate as King of Hungary.
Germany: Baltic: Mass meeting of 3rd Squadron sailors in Waldweisse meadow, Kiel. Stoker Karl Artelt urges men to persist for their imprisoned shipmates’ release and gain support from shipyard workers; 5 other speakers demand continuing resistance and refusal to obey orders (reactionary officers deserve to be ‘clubbed to death’), and an immediate end to war. Kiel Governor Admiral Souchon (of Goeben fame) attempts to disperse the crowd with 2 naval infantry coys, but both units refuse to open fire.
Paul von Hindenburg appeals for unity. Unions and industrialists demand demobilization office instead of Imperial Economic Office.
Poland: Polish Regency Council orders formation of regular Standing Army.
United Kingdom: Mass meeting of Trade Unionists in London to consider Labour's part in the Peace.
Turkey: Publication of armistice terms with Turkey.
Enver, Talaat and Djemal leave Constantinople in German naval ship for Ukraine.
United States: New York’s worst subway accident, the Malbone Street Wreck occurs in Brooklyn, resulting in around 93 deaths. (Another source says (97 killed, plus 100 injured). It is one of the deadliest train crashes in US history: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...058623925055490
Emerging States: Administration of Carniola taken over from the Austro-Hungarian authorities by Slovene leaders (see August 17th).

3 November 1918
 

Western Front
Flanders: Belgians reach outskirts of Ghent.
Aisne and Argonne: Franco-American offensive ends; Lille-Metz rail line severed. French IX Corps takes Basancourt Farm. Germans retreat in Argonne Forest. Americans capture Buzancy. French capture south bank of Canal des Ardennes between Semuy and Neuville.
British troops outside the destroyed train station at Valenciennes: © IWM (Q 78802): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...360614756777985
Allied flags flown by the residents of Valenciennes to greet the advancing soldiers: © IWM (Q 78804): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...390818623492096
Canadian soldier tries to comfort a wounded Belgian baby whose mother was killed by a shell: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...407172017713152
German prisoners captured and held at Le Quesnoy, France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...633653281009664
The museum in Valenciennes, France that was looted by German troops: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...663851355385857
Canadian soldier in the ruins of Valenciennes: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...694060263817216

Eastern Front
Romania: Mackensen proposes immediate evacuation (US decrypt message, August von Mackensen receives Romanian ultimatum on November 9 and begins pullout November 10).
Poland: Polish Regency Council orders formation of regular Standing Army.

Southern Front
Third Battle of the Piave (aka Battle of Vittorio Veneto): AUSTRIAN ARMISTICE SIGNED AT 1800 HOURS by Generals Weber and Badoglio at Diaz’s Villa Giusti headquarter near Padua. Austrian Army group commanders suspend hostilities from 0330 hours. Italians (from Venice) land at Trieste, occupy Trento. British 48th Division completes haul of 23,000 PoWs with 14 battalions. Italian cavalry cross Tagliamento and regain Udine.
Trieste occupied by Italian forces.
Italian cavalry enters Trento. At the same time, a coy of Alpini troops lands in the port of Trieste: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...rient.jpg?ssl=1
Serbia: Serb Government re-enters Belgrade.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Mutiny in the German fleet at Kiel becomes general (see August 3rd, 1917). 3,000 sailors and workers converge on Waldweisse in Kiel; a USPD representative and shipyard workers proclaim solidarity. The elated crowd then marches towards Feldstrasse naval gaol, but is fired on in Karlstrasse by 48 officer cadets and shipmates (Lieutenant Steinhauser), 8 killed, 39 wounded. Crowd retaliates with stones and a few rifle shots (Steinhauser killed), then disperses.
Adriatic: Italian Navy from Venice, Ancona, Brindisi and Albania begins occupying 32 Dalmatian Islands and Adriatic ports (until December 5) beginning with Trieste and Pelagosa Island (4 small craft) and Lissa island.

Political, etc
Among Allied Powers: Allied Governments agree to Germany's proposal for an armistice and peace on basis of President Wilson's proposals of January 8th (see 5th and October 23rd).
Austria: AUSTRIAN ARMISTICE WITH ALLIES signed at noon (effective November 4, published November 6) after Emperor Charles relinquishes supreme command to Arthur Arz (Hermann Kövess von Kövessháza nominated November 4).
Poland: Republic declared at Warsaw.
Emerging States: Yugoslav Republic declared at Agram.

4 November 1918
 

Western Front
Battle of the Sambre including the Second Battle of Guise (4th/5th): British Fourth (3 divisions with 26 tanks and 6 armored cars; 1,200 casualties), Third (8 divisions with 11 tanks) and First Armies (6 divisions) attack on 30-mile front from east of Valenciennes to Guise; Landrecies falls to 600 men of 25th Division. NZ Division storms Le Quesnoy taking 2,500 PoWs and 100 guns. Lieutenant W Owen (Manchester Regiment), war poet, killed aged 25 by MG fire at Sambre Canal assault. BEF 5-mile advance captures 10,000 PoWs and 200 guns. Haig orders Plumer to be ready to cross river Scheldt c. November 11. German Second Army begins retreat to Antwerp-Meuse position (night November 4-5). 10,000 prisoners and 200 guns captured.
Belgians advance to north-west and southern suburbs of Ghent.
French reach Le Chesne on Ardennes Canal.
Meuse and Argonne: Franco-Americans clear Argonne; AEF take Stenay and Dun-sur-Meuse.
New Zealand soldiers using a captured German machine gun near Beaudignies, France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...754460330196992
Allied soldiers on the frontlines near Le Quesnoy: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...042593110147072
Divisional commanders on horseback riding into the newly captured town of Le Quesnoy, France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...072788458364928
Allied troops win the Battle of Sambre, crossing the Sambre Canal and capturing the town of Le Quesnoy, Painting showing New Zealand troops scaling the walls of the town, by George Edmund Butler (1920): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...102987749126145

Southern Front
Third Battle of the Piave (aka Battle of Vittorio Veneto): Battle of Vittorio Veneto, and all fighting on the Italian Front ends with the armistic3e effective as of noon (see October 24th). Hostilities between Austria-Hungary and the Entente cease (see 3rd and 15th).
Diaz cables Paris that Italy will intervene to enforce Germany’s armistice terms if necessary.
US 332nd Infantry Regiment gets into action a few hours before ceasefire, capturing Austrian MGs on east bank of river Tagliamento. Italian 1st and 4th Cavalry Divisions reach the frontier in Carnia and Caporetto beyond. Italian 54th Division captures 10,000 Austrians at Muzzanella bridge west of coastal frontier after Commander Borghese cuts the road with Bafile Batallion and Arditi (November 3-4) who are forced to surrender at 0800 hours.
Montenegro: Antivari occupied by Italian naval forces (see January 22nd, 1916).
Serb Second Army liberates capital Cetinje.
Following the armistice with Austria-Hungary, Italian troops begin occupying all of Tyrol, including Innsbruck. Austro-Hungarian troops captured at Trento: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...012390992404480

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: Mosul occupied by British forces under General Fanshawe (see October 23rd).

Naval and Overseas Operations
Baltic: Enraged by ‘Karlstrasse Bloodbath’ thousands of sailors, 20,000 garrison troops and workers join Kiel mutiny. Crew of battleship Grosser Kurfürst overpower their officers and march to Karlstrasse to swear an oath of vengeance. At mass meeting in 1st Torpedo Division, Artelt demands immediate establishment of a ‘sailors’ council’. Officers attempting to silence him are savagely disarmed. Council elected with Artelt as chairman drafts programme of ’14 demands’. Troops of 1st Dock Division arrive but refuse to fire, hand over their weapons. Even the staunchly loyal U-boat Division now turns against officer corps. At 1345 hours Kiel city Commander informs Souchon ‘The mutiny … continues to spread … we no longer possess any reliable troops…’. Souchon dismissed and replaced by Socialist Gustav Noske.
Demonstrating German sailors in Wilhelmshaven: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...rosen.jpg?ssl=1
Karl Artelt, one of the leaders of the incipient revolution: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...785904364535809
Adriatic: Italian ships enter Fiume and Zara, occupy Rovigno, isles of Lagosta, Meleda and Curzola, and port of Dulcigno.

Political, etc
Germany: KIEL MUTINY: Revolution spreads to Lübeck and Travemünde (November 5), Hamburg, Bremen, Cuxhaven, Wilhelmshaven (November 6), Landwehr and workers. General Greoner goes to Berlin and learns no armistice if Kaiser does not abdicate; meets Chancellor Ebert on November 6. Stuttgart founds first Workers Council.
Turkey: Liman reaches Constantinople, put in command of evacuation; most Germans have or are sailing to Odessa (until November 19).
United States: U.S. recognize Polish army as autonomous and co-belligerent.

5 November 1918
 

Western Front
Battle of the Sambre including the Second Battle of Guise (4th/5th): Pursuit after Battle of the Sambre begins: BEF Fourth, Third and First Armies engaged; Mormal Forest cleared. Canadian Corps and 3 British divisions with tanks orce river Grand Honnelle (mainly just inside Belgium; until November 7). OHL ORDERS GENERAL RETIREMENT INTO ANTWERP-MEUSE POSITION (issued 0400 hours). Foch given ‘supreme strategical direction of all forces operating against Germany on all fronts’.
Aisne: French take Chateau-Porcien.
Meuse: General retreat of Germans from the Meuse to Conde on the Scheldt begins, French Center Army Group joins in pursuit. Groener in Berlin informs German Cabinet ‘… one thing must not be allowed to happen. The American Army … must be prevented from advancing north of Verdun’. MacArthur in command of 42nd ‘Rainbow’ Division (until November 22) on advancing US I Corps flank after AEF link with Gouraud.
Douglas MacArthur, one of the most important generals of the Second World War, as commander of the Rainbow Division in 1918: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...w-Div.jpg?ssl=1
American troops leaving for the front: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...123122966855681
An American deserter and straggler wearing signs marking their crimes in France: © IWM (Q 70742): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...389879023517697

Naval and Overseas Operations
Baltic: Captain Weniger and 2 other officers of battleship König, shot dead while attempting to prevent hoisting of red flag on their ship (Kiel town cadet also killed by sailors on November 6). Kaiser’s brother Grand Admiral Prince Heinrich flees in a truck flying the red flag.
North Sea: H.M.S. Campania sunk by collision in the Firth of Forth with battleship HMS Revenge, No lives are lost: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...450287495221248

Political, etc
Germany: (Listed for yesterday): German troops are sent to Kiel to disperse the mutinous sailors, but many end up refusing orders or joining the revolutionaries. The city of Kiel falls under the control of the revolutionary sailors and workers, and they issue their “14 Points”: http://germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org...ocument_id=3939
Soviet Ambassador Yoffe expelled from Germany for subversion, but gives Independent Socialists 4 million rubles for propaganda on November 6.
Russia: Resignation of Siberian Government in favour of "All-Russian Government" (i.e., Whites not Bolsheviks).
United Kingdom: Lloyd George announces Armistice conditions in Commons.
British Ministerial changes; Sir A. Geddes becomes President of Local Government Board in place of Mr. W. Hayes-Fisher, resigned.
Rows of munitions in a warehouse at the National Shell Filling Factory at Chitwell, Nottinghamshire: © HU 96430: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...359682169573377
United States: President Wilson sends final Note to the German Government with Allies' acceptance of armistice proposals (see 3rd and 8th). Germany must apply to Foch for terms. Government recognizes Romanian Unity National Council (Britain on November 11, Italy on November 22).
U.S. elections for Congress; Republican majority returned.

6 November 1918
 

Western Front
Rethel taken by French forces.
Meuse: US 1st Division reaches Sedan (see August 29th, 1914): traffic halted on key Mezieres-Montmedy railway; only line to Western Front still available south of Ardennes; 4 German armies are virtually cut off. Army Group Gallwitz ordered to retire to Antwerp-Meuse position. Groener warns Chancellor: ‘… even Monday will be too late [for an armistice], it must be Saturday at the latest’.
Scheldt: Canadians enter Belgium, forcing Rivers Aunelle and Honelle north of Valenciennes-Mons road; they take 1,750 PoWs from 7 German divisions (November 1-8).
Sambre: British Third Army makes very limited advances owing to Seventeenth Army rearguards and repeated shelling of river crossings; added to heavy rain, bad roads and limited room for manoeuvre.
Oise and Aisne: French recapture Vervins and Rethel.
Lorraine: Foch decides to attack as soon as possible and assigns troops from US Second Army.
American soldiers with French FT-17 tanks are advancing: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...-FT17.jpg?ssl=1
American soldier manning a machine gun near Grandpré, France: © IWM (Q 79595): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...768626323054592
American US Signal Corps photographers taking reconnaissance photos of German lines near Varennes-en-Argonne: © IWM (Q 113418): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...798837177524226
An old French couple greeting American soldiers after they retook Brieulles-sur-Bar: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...829028679573504

Naval and Overseas Operations
Baltic: Following Kiel, the German port of Wilhelmshaven also falls to revolutionary sailors and workers. Revolutionary sailors of battleship SMS Prinzregent Luitpold: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...859223130058752
Caspian: 5 Royal Navy ships reach Petrovsk (Northern Caucasus) to fetch Bicherakov.

Political, etc
Austria: Emperor formally demobilize armed forces.
Germany: A dozen sailors persuade all 12,000 workers at Hamburg’s Blohm & Voss shipyard to down tools. Friedrich Ebert, leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany: “If the Kaiser does not abdicate, the social revolution is inevitable. But I do not want it, I even hate it like sin.”
Russia: Lenin tells 6th Soviet Congress ‘Germany has caught fire, and Austria is burning out of control.’
United Kingdom: Lloyd George lunches and dines ministers; they agree to call General Election.
Serbia: King Peter of Serbia re-enters Belgrade (see 1st and January 17th, 1916).
Romania: Marghiloman Government resigns at Jassy, General Coanda succeeds.

7 November 1918
 

Western Front
France: Germans radio Foch with names of armistice envoys, (leave Spa at noon) he stipulates they must come to Forest of Compiegne. Marshall Foch informs German armistice delegates they may advance to French outposts by Chimay-Fourmies-La Capelle-Guise road. Haig orders that on November 8th ‘The Fourth, Third and First Armies should continue their present operations … reaching the line Avesnes-Maubeuge-Mons (Avesnes road): advanced guards and mounted troops should then be pushed forward beyond … to keep touch with the enemy … the Fifth and Second Armies… with the Flanders Group of Armies should on the 11th November … force a passage of the Scheldt and then drive the enemy back over the river Dendre.’
Record of 190,564 US soldiers in 23 hospitals and 21 hospital trains. French Army has 185 hospital trains (8 in 1914).
Sambre: British advance 5 miles through Avesnes and Bavai to Haumont, 3 miles west of Maubeuge and Elouges (9.5 miles south-west of Mons).
Scheldt: German artillery ‘hate shoot’ on Oudenarde, heavy civilian casualties. At 1915 hours Petain cables ‘... Reserve Army Group is to support the British right wing, making its principal effort by the Chimay gap [before Givet on Meuse]; Centre Army Group is to secure Mezieres, Charleville and Sedan and establish bridgehead on the Meuse’.
Meuse and Argonne: US 29th Division and French 10th Colonial Div meet on Borne de Cornoiuller (15,000 US casualties since Septembet 26) above Meuse after fighting since November 3. US Third Army formed. French and Americans threaten Charleville-Mezieres.
Australian troops are advancing on the Western front: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...front.jpg?ssl=1
A “baby dispatch car” designed for use by the US Army: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...167508945190913

Southern Front
Serbia: Franchet d’Esperey and Serb Crown Prince enter Belgrade under triumphal arches and meet Karolyi’s Hungarian delegation which left Budapest on November 5, hand them the armistice terms.
Austria: Austrians inform Italians that elements of II Bavarian Corps approaching Brenner Pass.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Allenby makes Anglo-French declaration of Eastern Peoples’ “liberation” from Turkish oppression.
Syria: Yilderim and Seventh Army HQs closed, Kemal recalled to Constantinople, Nihad Pasha in command of Second Army takes over.

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: Harwich Force sorties (until November 8) but cannot prevent some German steamers interning themselves in Holland by sailing in Dutch territorial waters. First Sea Lord Admiral Sir R Wemyss made British Naval Representative for Armistice talks. Beatty writes ‘The Fleet, my Fleet, is brokenhearted [at being denied battle], but are still wonderful, the most wonderful thing in creation.’

Political, etc
Germany: Bavaria proclaimed a Republic by Prussian Jew Kurt Eisner at Munich as King Ludwig III flees into Austria (formally deposed November 8, ‘abdicates’ November 16), becoming the first monarch in the German Empire to be deposed: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...227918440349697
Majority Socialists demand Kaiser and Prime Minister’s abdication by noon November 8, resign from Reichstag and call General Strike for November 8. Demobilization Office set up. General Linsingen in command of Brandenburg forbids Soviets.
The German revolution spreads to nearly all coastal cities, as well as Munich, Hanover, Brunswick, and Frankfurt. Sailors seize Cologne despite 45,000-strong garrison. Kiel and Hamburg in hands of "Soviets" (i.e., Workers’ and Sailors’ councils).
Alsace: Pro-French demo at Strasbourg.
Russia: Statue of Marx and Engels is unveiled by Lenin in Moscow for the first anniversary of the Russian Revolution: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...107105636618240
United Kingdom: Labour Ministry forms Civil Demobilization and Resettlement Department. Churchill announces munitions ‘carry on at reduced speed’ (not less than halftime on November 9, in force November 11). Health Ministry Bill introduced into Commons.
United States: False armistice celebrated in New York due to erroneous UP dispatch. Similar false news is spread in other Allied countries: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...197716473626625
Emerging States: Yugoslav conference at Geneva decide to form a joint Yugoslav-Serbian Government to control military and foreign affairs (see 23rd, and October 29th).

8 November 1918
 

Western Front
France: German armistice delegates reach Allied General Headquarters (see 11th and October 23rd), led by Matthias Erzberger, they see Foch at 0900 hours, refer terms to Berlin 1300 hours. Marshal Foch refuses request for provisional armistice, terms of armistice to be accepted or refused by 11 am on 11 November.
Maubeuge retaken by British forces (see September 7th, 1914).
French reach outskirts of Hirson and Mezieres; French and Americans clear heights east of Meuse.
Germans retire from Hermann position (Oudenarde-Tournai-Conde). BEF begins advance to Armistice Line (18,000 PoWs taken since November 1). US Second and First Armies and 4 French Armies begin final advance.
Sambre: British 32nd Division (Fourth Army) captures Avesnes.
Scheldt: Germans begin withdrawing opposite BEF Fifth Army at 0200 hours. British patrols soon discover abandoned German bridgehead west of Antoing-Tournai, British quickly reach western bank from Bruyelle to Froyennes and cross river.
German delegation led by Matthias Erzberger crosses the front lines to negotiate the armistice with the Allies: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...258114518298625
A German prisoner crossing the Canal de l'Escaut: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...469493577801729
German guns captured by the Canadians around Cambrai: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...500955723194368

Political, etc
Austria: War Minister and Emperor order that new loyalty oath replaces imperial one.
Germany: German senior commanders unanimously imply to imperial chancellor that army cannot be relied on, if ordered, to suppress uprisings at home.
Prince Max’s proclamation to Germans abroad declaring Germany beaten, and resigns Chancellorship. King of Württemberg and Duke of Brunswick abdicate. Pilsudski released from Magdeburg fortress to Berlin, arrives Warsaw on November 10.
Poland: Leaders tells Austria they has assumed sovereignty over Galicia.
United Kingdom: Blockade Minister warns enemy ships’ transfer will not be recognized.
Final wartime import restrictions issued (first relaxation on November 14).
Romania: M. Marghiloman, Romanian Premier, and M. Arian, Romanian Foreign Minister, resign (see March 21st, and December 1st).
United States: Woodrow Wilson cables congratulations to new governments at Vienna, Budapest and Prague.

The end is in sight.

9 November 1918
 

More than you might realize. Today's post:
Western Front
Scheldt: Germans in general retreat on British Second Army front; British take Tournai.
Sambre: Guards Division battalion (Third Army) occupies Maubeuge. BEF Fourth Army organizes Major-General Bethell’s mobile force (including 5th Cavalry Brigade and 5 armoured cars) to pursue Germans across Belgian frontier east of Avesnes (until November 11).
Aisne: French capture Hirson rail junction.

Southern Front
Austro-Hungarian and German planes damaged at a captured aerodrome in Campoformido, Italy: © Q 108874: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...531166036574210

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Syria: Alexandretta occupied by Entente naval forces.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Eastern Atlantic: Last U-boat sunk: U-34 (sinker of 121 ships of 262,886t since 1915) sunk off Gibraltar by British ex-Q-ship Privet and minelayers.
Atlantic: The pre-dreadnought battleship H.M.S. Britannia sunk by submarine UB-50 off Cape Trafalgar, resulting in 50 deaths (last warship so lost). British battleship HMS Britannia: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...818043092250625
North Sea: Grand Fleet heavily afflicted by flu, 2 captains die. U-boat Commander Michelsen orders last c.20 loyal U-boats and small craft to home ports.
Rhodesia: Kasama taken by Colonel von Lettow-Vorbeck's force (see 1st and 13th).

Political, etc
Between Allied Powers: Joint Declaration by British and French Governments regarding future occupation of Syria and Mesopotamia.
Austria: Emperor Karl to his advisers ‘I will not abdicate and I will not flee the country’.
Hungary: Reported resignation of Marghiloman Cabinet at Jassy; General Coanda to form New Cabinet
Germany: Revolution breaks out in Berlin. German Imperial Chancellor Prince Max announces that the Kaiser has decided to abdicate, as Philipp Scheidemann proclaims German Republic from Reichstag, Prince Max becomes Regent. Herr Friedrich Ebert becomes Imperial Chancellor (see 10th, 28th and October 4th). Prince Max becomes Regent (having announced Kaiser’s abdication) and Ebert becomes Chancellor. General Wilhelm Groener (after 39 division, brigade and regiment commanders give Army’s opinion), tells Kaiser at Spa Army will not follow him (‘Treason, gentlemen, barefaced treason!’). Groener boldly states ‘The Army will march back home under its own generals in good order but not under the leadership of Your Majesty’. Kaiser retorts ‘I require that statement in writing, I want all the commanding generals to state … that the Army no longer stands behind its Supreme Commander. Has it not taken an oath on the colors?’ Groener replies that in this situation oaths lose their meaning. Saxony declared a Republic. Eisner Prime Minister and Foreign Minister in Bavaria.
Majority socialist Philipp Scheidemann proclaims the German Republic from a window of the Reichstag “The old and rotten, the monarchy has collapsed. The new may live. Long live the German Republic!”: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...k-aus.jpg?ssl=1
Kaiser tells Reinhard Scheer (at Spa) ‘I no longer have a Navy’. Franz von Hipper’s flagship hoists red flag and he goes ashore.
Karl Liebknecht Sparticists seize Old Palace and hang red flag. Republic of Hesse declared. Krupp Works at Essen close; Gustav Krupp decides to keep pre-war workers (November 10) and sends 70,000 (including over 30,000 Poles) home with 2 weeks pay and rail tickets (until November 18).
Herr Kurt Eisner assumes Prime Ministry and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bavarian Republic.
Max von Baden: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...848242995458049
Poland: Polish Government formed at Lyublin.
United Kingdom: Lloyd George in Guildhall speech says Germany’s choice immediate surrender or worse fate.
Lloyd George on Kaiser’s abdication ‘Was there ever a more dramatic judgment?’
A surgical ward in Winchester, England: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...591558699950082
Italy: Prime Minister Vittorio Orlando Rome speech claims ‘it is a Roman victory’.
Romania: Romanian ultimatum to Marshal von Mackensen: German troops to leave Romania within 24 hours.
United States: Woodrow Wilson directs Herbert Hoover to Europe (in London November 23) for food relief.
Switzerland: Swiss Federation of Workmen's Unions orders general strike.
Emerging States: Czechoslovakian official addressing crowds in Prague. The country proclaimed its independence from Austria-Hungary on October 28th: © IWM (Q 112683): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...561357706268673

Tomorrow's the day! Hard to believe.

10 November 1918
 

Western Front
Flanders: Ghent reoccupied by Belgian forces (see October 12th, 1914).
Sambre: Canadian 3rd Division enters Mons (264 Canadian casualties) overcoming diehard MG squads; town cleared of German 62nd Regiment (12th Division) by dawn November 11.
Meuse: Gouraud’s right wing (French Fourth Army) reaches Mezieres; Germans abandon gun parks, huge store dumps and rolling stock. US First Army assault crosses Meuse.
Moselle: US Second Army (Bullard), including 92nd Division (“Negros”; 1,000 casualties), attacks towards Briey Basin (blast furnaces and iron ore workings).
Lorraine: Mangin gives Legion RMLE its 9th, final and record citation in Army Orders, unit in sight of Metz on November 11.
Western Front, Air: 11 D.H.4s (1 lost) of No 55 Squadron bomb railways at Ehrang. Low cloud, mist and heavy flak prevent them reaching Cologne; 5 killed, 7 injured in central Metz by Handley Page bomber (night November 10-11).
A destroyed bridge of the River Scheldt at Tournai, Belgium: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...923751515209728
French firemen shaking hands with British Royal Engineers at Tournai: © IWM (Q 9651): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...938854952243202
British troops marching into Maubeuge, France after it was evacuated by retreating German troops: © IWM (Q 3339): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...229510232866816

Eastern Front
Romania: Allied forces cross the Danube at Ruschuk and enter Romania (also at Sistova and Nikopol on November 11),
Hungary: Serb First Army crosses unopposed around Belgrade into Hungary.

Southern Front
Alps: Some German troops cross Austrian frontier into North Tyrol but soon dissolve into desertion and Italians occupy Brenner Pass where Commander of 4th Bavarian Division says he will retire to Germany on November 11.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Syria: British join French at Alexandretta.
Mesopotamia: Turks evacuate Mosul for Nisibis.

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: Paddle minesweeper HMS Ascot (53 crew lost) sunk by coastal submarine UB-67 off Northeast England.
Britain: Naval staff discuss desirability of abolishing the submarine.
Western Mediterranean: Newly arrived Brazilian Squadron fires in error on US submarine chasers during anti-submarine operation.

Political, etc
Germany: The Kaiser crosses the frontier into Holland (see 9th and 28th) at Eysdin at about 0700 hours with 70 staff in 11 cars, waits for and reboards imperial train for journey through Liege (Crown Prince follows him on November 12 with 4 staff).
Kaiser Wilhelm II crossing the border into Dutch exile: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...lland.jpg?ssl=1
Chancellor radios Armistice delegation after 1800 hours to sign.
Death of Herr Albert Ballin.
United Kingdom: Carl Mannerheim arrives from Finland at Aberdeen.
British tanks on parade at the Lord Mayor’s Show, London: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...953968547913729
Turkey: Sultan appoints Tewfik Pasha (ex-London Ambassador) to form pro-Allied government (Assembly approves on November 18).
Belgium: German troops hoist red flag in Brussels.
Romania: King of Romania announces that the Romanian nation have taken up arms again on the side of the Allies (see December 6th, 1917).
Emerging States: Czechoslovakia: Tomáš Masaryk elected President in Geneva. 2 Hungarian divisions drive 1,100 Czechoslovaks from Slovakia.

11 November 1918
 

Armistice concluded between the Allied and Associated Powers and Germany. [Signed in Marshal Foch's special train at Rethondes, station in the Forest of Compiègne, at 0505 hours.] Hostilities on the Western front cease at 11 a.m. (see 8th and December 14th). Germans to evacuate France and Low Countries in 14 days. New German Foreign Minister Dr Solf appeals for lighter terms and immediate talks (November 12).
The Allied Plenipotentiaries at the signing of the Armistice in Foch’s Salon Carriage: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...-1918.jpg?ssl=1
In the forest of Compiègne, the German delegation signs the armistice with the Allied powers, which will come into effect in 6 hours: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...468586286424069
On “the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month,” the armistice between Germany and the Allied Powers comes into effect. The Great War is over. © IWM (Q 65857): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...559244095401986
Western Front
Allied line from Selzaete and Ghent to Thann and Swiss border: BEF stands on 55-mile line; Franco-Belgian frontier east of Avesnes-Jeumont-Givry, 4 miles east of Mons (captured by 3rd Canadian Division and 5th Lancers) - Chievres 4 miles east of Ath-Lessines (captured at 1055 hours with 150 PoWs) – Grammont. Since July 18 Allied Armies have taken 385,500 PoWs and 6,615 guns (BEF share totals 188,700 PoWs and 2,840 guns). Petain weeps in frustration that Armistice has denied ‘decisive’ victory, but at 2000 hours writes GHQ order ‘Closed due to victory’.
Meuse: Vanguards of US Second Army and 3 French corps are within 6 miles of Montmedy. AEF strength 1,981,701 men (1,078,222 combat troops).
British soldier George Edwin Ellison, French soldier Augustin Trébuchon, Canadian soldier George Lawrence Price, and American soldier Henry Gunther are few of the last known Allied soldiers killed in the War. Gunther is killed 1 minute before 11 am.
Western Front, Air: French Breguet 14 (Minier) carries German plenipotentiary Major Geyer from Tergnier to German GHQ at Spa with armistice terms. They include immediate demobilization of German Army Air Service and surrender of 2,000 fighters and bombers (eventually reduced to 1,700). Special importance is attached to confiscation of all Fokker D-VII fighters and Zeppelins – 2,713 planes handed over by January 16, 1919.
French first-line strength 4,511 aircraft and 61,000 men in 80 fighter, 32 bomber and 146 reconnaissance squadrons; German 2,390 (2,709 establishment) including 1,134-1,296 fighters and 164 bombers in 284 flying units with c.4,500 airmen. Since May 16, French 1st Air Division (600 aircraft) alone has claimed 637 German aircraft and 125 balloons, dropping 1,360t of bombs. At the time of the Armistice, the Royal Air Force was the largest air force in the world, holding 22,647 aircraft of all types, including 3,300 on first-line strength and 103 airships. These were operated by no fewer than 133 squadrons and 15 flights overseas, on the Western Front and in the Middle East, Italy and the Mediterranean, 55 squadrons at home and 75 training squadrons and depots.
Royal Air Force units operated from 401 aerodromes at home and 274 abroad and had a personnel strength of 27,333 officers and 26,3837 other ranks. Between January and November 1918, nearly 5,500 tons of bombs had been dropped, 2,953 enemy aircraft destroyed and an area of 5,000 square miles photographed. British aircraft manufacturers were producing 3,500 aeroplanes a month.
https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/images.../IWM-Q69031.jpg
American engineers at Oudenaarde, Belgium help reconstruct a destroyed bridge: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...335196895711232
Canadian troops marching in the streets of Mons in the morning as the news of the armistice spreads: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...532755908091904

Eastern Front
Germans have 26 divisions from Finland to Georgia, Austrians have 7 divisions in Ukraine.
Lithuania: Carl Hoffmann diary (Kovno) ‘A Soldiers’ Council has been formed here also.’
Northern Russia: Allies (53 casualties) at Kurgomin-Tulgas (river Dvina) repulse 1,000 Reds (over 600 casualties) and gunboats.

Southern Front
Balkans: 80,000 Germans (53 battalions or 6 divisions) with 338 guns on Southeastern (Danube) front. British effective other ranks strength 103,996 (November 1 ration strength 158,707).

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: Armistice terms stipulate delivery of 11 German battleships, 5 battlecruisers, 8 cruisers, 50 destroyers (all modern warships) and all U-boats to internment. Germany to retain only 6 battleships, 6 cruisers and 24 destroyers (all oldest classes). Record 20 Q-ships under SNO Scotland. Germany has 171 U-boats plus 149 building.
Naval Council of 21 in command at Wilhemshaven.
Britain: Light cruiser Carlisle completed by Fairfield Yard, joins Harwich Force.

Political, etc
Austria: Emperor Karl renounces rule (and as King of Hungary on November 13). Minister-President Heinrich Lammasch and last Imperial Cabinet resign. Emperor accepts his last Minister-President’s resignation. Imperial family leave Schoenbrunn for Eckartsau, 37 1/2 miles northeast of Vienna.
Karl I, Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary, relinquishes his political power over Austria: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...578047890092032
Germany: Berlin workers delegates appoint council of Six Peoples Commissars (non-Bolshevik). Abdication of Grand Dukes of Hesse, Mecklenburg and Saxe-Weimar. King of Saxony and Grand Duke of Oldenburg dethroned.
Appeal of Dr. Wilhelm Solf, German Foreign Minister, to President Wilson for mitigation of armistice terms.
Demonstrations continue in Germany a day after the proclamation of the German Republic: © IWM (Q 88160): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...289900312535040
Firefights also break out in Berlin. Armed men at the Schloßplatz: © IWM (Q 52733): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...304999932817413
Estonia: New National Government formed in Estonia (see 16th, and January 13th).
Poland: Directorate formed at Warsaw, deposes Regency Council.
France: From 1100 hours church bells salute the Armistice, Paris anti-aircraft guns fire 1,200 shots.
Citizens in Paris go out into the streets to celebrate the end of war: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...566731511042049
A flag vendor and a boy in Paris making the most of the celebrations: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...608255250685953
United Kingdom: King’s message to Empire. Joyous pandemonium in London and elsewhere from 1100 hours. CIGS Wilson records No 10 dinner ‘Lloyd George wants to shoot the Kaiser. Winston does not …’ War Risks Insurance reduced 50% since November 1.
British Government recognize Latvian Provisional Government as independent (see January 12th).
American troopship arrives in England as the war comes to a close: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...547847915585536
Crowds celebrate at the Victoria Memorial outside Buckingham Palace: © IWM (Q 47894): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...638451035074561
Belgium: First German Army Soviet formed at Malines.
United States: AP flash brings armistice news at 0300 hours. Wilson reads terms to joint session of Congress. Greatest nationwide celebration ever known. Wilson Washington speech says Allies will feed Central Europe.
Holland: Kaiser given refuge at Count Bentinck’s Amerongen moated house near Utrecht.
Switzerland: Bolshevik Mission expelled.

So, with the conclusion of the armistice (technically only supposed to last 36 days, it was extended at several points until the meeting of a formal peace delegation in Paris on 18 January 1919, and the subsequent signing of the peace treaty in the Palace of Versailles (and therefore became known as the Treaty of Versailles) on 28 June 1919: and subsequently registered with the League of Nations on 21 October 1919. Technically, this treaty only covered the hostilities between the Allied powers and Germany itself. The other Central Powers concluded separate peace treaties.

Meanwhile, there was much conflict ongoing, as a direct result of the First World War: The ongoing civil war in Russia; much conflict in the emerging states from the dismembered Austro-Hungarian empire; the ongoing Allied Powers invasions (claimed as 'necessary intervention') is Russia: and a particularly ugly conflict between emerging Poland (with some aspects of a civil war in that country), and Russia, after the Soviets had mostly finished off the counter-revolutionaries in Russia. The Armistice may have formally ended the hostilities in the west, but the fallout of the First World War can be directly seen in the origins of the Second.

GG … thank you again for sharing this wonderful recounting of this epic struggle. One has to wonder if Wilson's 14 points had been the basis of the treaty if WWII would have ever happened.

100 years ago
 

We Do Not Require The History Of The World Wars!! This Is PIXES Place And Here We Talk About Sex, Love, Lesbian And Homosexual Relationships.
And The Love Between A Father And Daughter And A Mother And Daughter Or Her Son.

Sorry you didn't enjoy the thread. Best advice … don't read it. Some of us did find it very interesting.