lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Feb 14, 2023 3:49:57 GMT
Day 1286 of the Great War, February 14th 1918
Sinai and Palestine campaign
British troops advance at Mukhmas, north-east of Jerusalem; line advanced two miles on six mile front.
Poland
Resignation of M. Kucharzewski, Prime Minister, and Cabinet, Warsaw.
Russia: Russia Adopts the Western Calendar
Thoughtful readers may have noticed that the February Revolution in Russia occurred in March, and that the October Revolution of 1917 happened on November 7. Unlike Western Europe, the Orthodox and Islamic populations of the east had stuck with the old Roman Julian calendar. By 1918 only a few holdouts remained.
The Bolsheviks swept away the old calendar along with the other vestiges of feudalism. Russia switched to the Gregorian calendar by skipping from February 1st, on the old calendar, ahead to February 14, catching up to the rest of Europe. The Tsar, imprisoned in Tobolsk with his family, was irritated by the change. “We learned from instructions which we received in the mail to change our calendar from the 1st of February and count as if today were already the 14th of February. This misunderstanding and confusion will not be the last!“ The deposed monarch still underestimated Lenin and did not realize the full extent of changes in Russia since his abdication.
Spain: British Intercept German Anthrax Shipment in Spain
The Western Front saw the first use of chemical weapons in combat; the Allies were worried that the Germans might try to deploy biological weapons, as well. Most of these fears concerned biological agents that would target crops and livestock, as retaliation for the Allied blockade of Germany; the Americans, in February 1918, took action to safeguard against about a far-fetched scheme to destroy their wheat crop with a fungus. The Germans were considering some similarly elaborate plans, however, and put some of them in motion. The primary means considered was anthrax, which would be concealed in small ampules inside sugar cubes, which could be fed to livestock and quickly eradicate entire herds.
The Germans had been preparing to use them in Romania, but she entered the war before they could be used; a similar plan to use them against reindeer in Lappland (in an attempt to cut off sledge routes to the Russians) was foiled by the Norwegians. One attempt was possibly seen to completion, however, targeting Argentina’s large supply of livestock which were used as draft animals and for food by the Allies. On February 14, U-35 (which had extensive experience with such clandestine missions) landed two German agents near Cartagena in Spain, along with twelve shipments of the anthrax-laden sugar cubes. Room 40 knew of the plans and was able to get the shipment briefly seized by the local police. They were not able to seize the whole shipment permanently without arousing German or Spanish suspicion, but were able to sneak away one of the boxes from a moving train, and presented the Spanish King with evidence of the Germans’ plans.
The remainder of the anthrax shipment did make it to South America, despite Room 40′s best efforts; an attempt to intercept the shipment again when it left Spain failed due to fog. German agents in Argentina were able to poison several hundred mules bound for use in Allied armies during the last year of the war.
Naval operations: ship losses
ATLAS (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 10 nautical miles (19 km) east south east of Hartlepool, County Durham by SM UC-71 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
BESSIE STEPHENS (United Kingdom) The schooner was shelled and sunk in the Bristol Channel 10 nautical miles (19 km) west by south of Lundy Island, Devon by SM U-86 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
CARLISLE CASTLE (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 8 nautical miles (15 km) east by north of the Royal Sovereign Lightship ( United Kingdom) by SM UB-57 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
SAGA (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) east north east of Sunderland, County Durham (54°56′N 1°19′W) by SM UB-64 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
VENTMOOR (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Aegean Sea 8 nautical miles (15 km) south west by south of Skyros, Greece (38°41′N 24°36′E) by SM UC-37 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 21 of her crew.
WAR MONARCH (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 11 nautical miles (20 km) east of the Royal Sovereign Lightship ( United Kingdom) (50°46′N 0°43′E) by SM UB-57 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Feb 15, 2023 3:52:10 GMT
Day 1287 of the Great War, February 15th 1918YouTube (No War, No Peace – Trotsky's Gamble)Western FrontPhoto: Horses being exercised at No 4 Base Remount Depot in Boulogne, 15 February 1918 East Africa campaignMaloktera (on Upper Lurio) reoccupied by Portuguese troops. In Coastal area British column from Port Amelia approaching Meza. Sweden: Sweden Invades the Åland IslandsFinland was a Swedish possession until the Napoleonic Wars, and still had a substantial Swedish minority population. The Åland Islands, at the entrance of the Gulf of Bothnia between Sweden and Finland, had Swedish speakers as over 90% of its population, and Finnish independence provided Ålanders with an opportunity to rejoin Sweden. A delegation of Ålanders met with the Swedish King and PM, appealing for a landing of Swedish troops for protection against the stranded Russian garrison on the islands–and hoping it would be a prelude to annexation by Sweden. Sweden had refused to intervene in the Finnish Civil War as a whole, but intervention in Åland was a popular move and might appease those who wanted further intervention. While the Swedes were considering their options, the Civil War spread to Åland, as a detachment of White troops fled over the ice from the outskirts of Red-dominated Turku. On February 15, a Swedish icebreaker arrived at the islands and landed the first detachment of Swedish troops. The Swedes began negotiations with the Russians, with an aim to disarm the troops and return them to Russia; the Russian Army had demobilized, but the troops there had no means to return home. The Whites, on the other hand, assumed the Swedes had come to help them, and began attacking Russian positions, assuming them to be hostile. Red forces arrived two days later, made the same assumption, and prepared to fight the Whites and Swedes. The Swedes, who were unwilling to become embroiled in a shooting war, then had to scramble to come up with a peaceful solution between all four parties involved. Photo: Swedish troops disarming the Soviets in Degerby village United StatesU.S. Government takes over complete control of foreign trade. U.S. government threatens striking shipbuilders that their draft exemptions will be revoked if they do not go back to work. Naval operations: German Ships Raid DoverWhile the Home Fleet stayed in port, a flotilla of tiny vessels protected the British coasts. Fishing trawlers armed with a light gun and a submarine net patrolled the seas around England, hunting the feared German U-boats. They were not meant for anything more than that, and so it was a disaster when a German destroyer appeared off the coast of Dover on the night of February 15, with no other Royal Navy ships nearby. The German ship headed straight for the drifters in the dark, almost colliding with one and pouring accurate fire into the rest. It sank eight, killing at least thirty-six men, although the reason was partly because the British sailors refused to run and manned their light guns against the German ship which was enormous compared to them. Later that night the German submarine they had been chasing shelled the town, killing one civilian and injuring seven others. Naval operations: ship lossesNEGURI (Spain) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean (29°11′N 20°30′W) by SM U-152 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived. SAN RITO (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Aegean Sea 23 nautical miles (43 km) south west of Chios, Greece (37°51′N 25°33′E) by SM UC-37 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of three of her crew.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Feb 16, 2023 3:52:39 GMT
Day 1288 of the Great War, February 16th 1918Western FrontFighting in Cambrai section. Austria-Hungary: Austrian Polish Troops Mutiny, Flee to RussiaSeveral thousand Poles had, over the course of the war, volunteered to serve in the Polish Legions aligned with the Central Powers, hoping that victory over Russia might lead to an end of the partition of Poland. However, as the German and Austrian occupation of Poland continued, they began to worry that Poland’s future might not be so bright under the Central Powers, after all. By mid-1917, while the Allies promised a completely independent Poland, the Central Powers required the Legionaries to take an oath to a “future King” of Poland and be a “loyal brother-in-arms” to the Germans and Austrians. The Legionaries refused to take the oath, and the Legions were largely disbanded. After a treaty was signed at Brest-Litovsk with the Ukrainians on February 9, giving them the province of Chelm, Polish relations with the Central Powers deteriorated even further. The Polish puppet government in Warsaw resigned (for a second time) and serious protests broke out in Cracow, forcing the gendarmerie out of the city and attempting to liberate some former Polish Legionaries who had been taken into custody. In the marketplace, pictures of the Kaiser and Emperor Charles were placed around a picture of the crucified Christ, with the caption “Jesus Christ, never on the Cross were you in the company of such rascals.” A few thousand Austrian Polish Legionaries were still serving on the Eastern Front in the Polish Auxiliary Corps, even after the oath crisis. Upon hearing the news of the treaty, they mutinied on February 15 near Rarańcza, leading to open combat with neighboring Austrian units. A general uprising was out of the question, but they hoped to escape to Russian lines and continue the fight with the Allies. After a determined battle, around 1500 Polish troops made it across the armistice line; they eventually joined Polish units that had been serving with the Russian army. The rest of the mutineers were captured and arrested, and would spend the rest of the war awaiting trial. United Kingdom Sir Henry Wilson succeeds Sir William Robertson as Chief of Imperial Staff. Lithuania: Lithuania Declares IndependenceOn February 16, 1918, Lithuania officially broke off from the Russian Empire, of which it had been part since the partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the 18th century. The twenty-man Council of Lithuania announced that the new country would have a democratic, republican government, with the capital in Vilnius. Photo: The original 20 members of the Council of Lithuania after signing the Act of 16 February 1918 This independence day, however, does not resonate in Lithuanian history. In reality German troops controlled the country after driving out the Russian army, and an independent Lithuania only existed at the mercy of the German Empire. German military authority severely limited Lithuania’s autonomy and prevented the formation of a national army. Eventually the Brest-Litovsk treaty would recognize the Baltic states as de facto German zones of influence, and the German briefly installed a prince as King of Lithuania in June. It would take the end of World War I and Baltic victory against the Bolsheviks in the ensuing Russian Civil War for true independence to arrive in the region. Aerial operations: Y1KToday, five Giants (Zeppelin-Staaken R.VI) set off to bomb London. Of these only two reached London. One of these (R39) dropped the first 1000kg bomb on any target in England. The bomb hit the Chelsea Hospital around 2215. An officer of the hospital staff was killed with his wife, her sister, and two children. Three other children were taken alive from the debris. Neighbouring buildings were also damaged. The other (R12) approached Woolwich but was got tangled in the balloon barrage in the area. The pilot managed to free the aircraft but in the process two 300kg bombs were shaken free. They fell on Woolwich killing seven people, injuring two, and damaging several buildings including the Garrison Church. Relieved to be still flying, the crew jettisoned the remaining eight 50kg bombs and turned for home. The remaining three aircraft (R25, R33, and R36) were forced to turn back due to high winds and dropped their bombs on Dover causing only minor damage. AA guns and 60 aircraft attempted to intercept the raid but none of them got close. All five bombers retuned safely, despite one of them losing three of its four engines. Naval operations: ship lossesCOMMANDER (United Kingdom) The fishing smack was scuttled in the English Channel 8 nautical miles (15 km) south south west of Beer Head, Devon by SM UB-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived. MAR CASPIO (Spain) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west of the Canary Islands by SM U-152 ( Kaiserliche Marine). TEA (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean south west of Cape St. Vincent, Portugal (35°30′N 10°28′W) by SM U-155 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Feb 17, 2023 6:55:38 GMT
Day 1289 of the Great War, February 17th 1918
United Kingdom: CIGS Robertson Refuses “Promotion” to Supreme War Council
General William Robertson, Chief of the Imperial General Staff, had had deteriorating relations with PM Lloyd George for some time. Mainly, this was as a result of Lloyd George’s increasing distrust in his generals after the tremendous cost of the fighting on the Western Front in the last two years; additionally, Robertson’s skepticism over Lloyd George’s insistence that the war could be won away from the Western Front cause its share of issues. After the bloodbath at Passchendaele and the capture of Jerusalem, Lloyd George felt vindicated (despite the disaster at Caporetto). Robertson did not want a major offensive in the West early in 1918 (unlike Haig), but he adamantly opposed Lloyd George’s pan to expand the power of the Supreme War Council at Versailles. Robertson thought the move would cause confusion by dividing British command structure, and that the possibility that a unified Allied command could put British troops under French command was unthinkable.
Lloyd George was insistent, however, and by mid-February had arranged to either force Robertson out or have his way on Versailles. He offered Robertson an ostensible promotion to British representative at Versailles, or to keep his job as CIGS while moving many of its responsibilities over to Versailles. The disagreement spilled in to the press, and on February 17 Robertson adamantly refused to do either. The next day, he was forced to resign as CIGS and was instead given the command of part of Britain’s home defense forces. The demotion left Robertson vulnerable financially; unlike many of his colleagues, he was not independently wealthy, having risen up the ranks all the way from private.
Aerial operations: Single
The attack yesterday was followed today by another raid, this time by a single Zeppelin-Staaken R.VI (R25). However, the confusion and damage was such that at the time it was thought that there were multiple raiders. The noise of the aircrafts engines was heard over a wide area contributed to this.
The Giant approached London from the south-east and dropped nineteen 50-kg. bombs between Lee and St. Pancras railway station.
The main damage was inflicted by the last six bombs dropped which all fell near St Pancras station. Damaged was caused to the Midland Hotel and the booking office. 20 people sheltering there were killed and twenty-two injured. One other person was killed elsewhere.
Sixty-nine pilots, twenty-two them in Sopwith ‘Camels’, patrolled, but only three of them came in contact with the bomber but soon lost it. One of these got off fifty rounds, but to no avail. The confusion led to a large number of AA guns firing, often at RFC aircraft. No hits were recorded.
Naval operations: ship losses
ESTRELLA DA BISSAO (Portugal) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off Freetown, Sierra Leone by SM U-157 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
NORTHVILLE (United Kingdom) The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 3.5 nautical miles (6.5 km) south east by east of Berry Head, Devon (50°23′N 3°24′W) by SM UB-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
PINEWOOD (United Kingdom) The collier was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 15 nautical miles (28 km) south of Mine Head, County Cork (51°50′N 7°35′W) by SM U-86 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two of her crew.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Feb 18, 2023 9:22:20 GMT
Day 1290 of the Great War, February 18th 1918Western FrontPhoto: Troops of the Royal Engineers making concrete slabs in the course of constructing reserve trenches with strong point, dug-outs etc. at Wieltje, 18 February 1918 Eastern Front: Germans Invade Russia After Calling off ArmisticeAt first, Trotsky’s unilateral proclamation at Brest-Litovsk that the war was over was welcomed in Germany. However, a few days later, at a meeting of the German Crown Council, the Kaiser demanded that the Bolsheviks be “beaten to death,” that large annexations should be secured, and Russia should be effectively dismembered. This “plan” soon attracted the support of Hindenburg & Ludendorff, who favored large annexations to feed the German war machine, perhaps reaching as far as the Caucasus. The civilians present were horrified–establishing a new empire in the East would take resources and manpower that would be needed in the West, and would make any negotiated settlement with the other Allies impossible. Gaining an empire to prepare for a war in the future was pointless; any gains in the east would be more than offset by the fact that Austria-Hungary, who had learned their lesson, would not join them again. Nevertheless, the Kaiser and military had their way, and on February 16 the Germans gave the Russians 48 hours notice that they would be calling off the armistice; this was less than the week required by the original armistice terms, but the Germans justified this by saying that the Russians had already violated the armistice by demobilizing and moving troops away from the front. The Germans had, of course, redeployed troops themselves, but still had 53 (second-rate) divisions available. The Russians, on the other hand, had effectively disbanded their own army; while some troops remained near the front, they were not prepared or willing to put up a fight. The new Red Army, only four days old, mainly existed on paper; what few forces it did have were busy fighting the Ukrainians or Cossacks. On February 18, the Germans and Austro-Hungarians began their advance, meeting little more than token resistance all along the front. In the north, German forces tasked with taking the rest of the Baltic coast secured the key rail junction of Dvinsk [Daugavpils] on the first day. In the center, they moved towards Minsk and Smolensk, hoping to threaten Moscow. In the south, the Germans had officially signed a peace treaty with Ukraine, but given the threat they faced from the Reds, the Rada actually welcomed the German advance; Lutsk fell on the first day. Soon, the Germans were advancing using the Russians’ own railways, often at the rate of over thirty miles per day. General Hoffmann, commanding the operation, wrote: It is the most comical war I have ever known. We put a handful of infantrymen with machine guns and one gun onto a train and rush them off to the next station; they take it, make prisoners of the Bolsheviks, pick up a few more troops, and so on. The proceeding has, at any rate, the charm of novelty. The Germans captured large stores of materiel left behind by the Russian army, taking over 1500 guns in the first three days. As the Russian forces had melted away, only around 9000 PoWs were captured in the same timeframe. Many of the Bolsheviks, meanwhile, were sent into a panic; for nearly a week, they had thought that Trotsky’s gambit had worked. Trotsky, realizing he had gambled and lost, through his support behind Lenin, and an emergency meeting of the Central Committee narrowly approved an immediate acceptance of the last German peace offer; despite all the evidence, Bukharin and his supporters still urged a revolutionary war. That evening, Trotsky broadcast a radio message to the Germans: Sovnarkom lodges a protest over the German government’s movement of troops against the Russian Soviet Republic, which had declared the state of war ended and had started to demobilize its army on all fronts…Sovnarkom finds itself forced, in the situation that has arisen, to declare its readiness formally to conclude peace on the terms the German government demanded at Brest-Litovsk. The Germans’ demands had grown in the meantime, however; even this capitulation would not be enough. Finnish Civil War Southern Finland now in hands of Bolsheviks. General Mannesheim (commanding Constitutional forces, "White Guards") gathers an army together in the north. ArmeniaRussians evacuate Armenia. Turks within eight miles of Trebizond. Aerial operations: Lafayette disbandedEscadrille Lafayette, the French Squadron which was home to a large number of American volunteer pilots since 1916 has been disbanded. The main reason for this is the arrival of official American forces on the Western Front. This includes US air forces which have started to arrive in England or training. One of these, the 103d Aero Squadron was organized on 31 August 1917 at Kelly Field, Texas, where its enlisted members, drawn from other units, trained until being moved to Garden City, New York for preparation for overseas movement. On 23 November 1917 the unit sailed on board the RMS Baltic from its port of embarkation at New York City. The Baltic joined a convoy at Halifax, Nova Scotia and arrived at Liverpool on 7 December 1917. Because of a measles outbreak, it was quarantined at Winnall Down Camp outside Winchester until 23 December 1917, when it proceeded to France through Southampton and Le Havre. The squadron arrived at Issoudun on 28 December 1917, where it spent the month of January constructing hangars for the instructional school being built there. On 1 February it resumed training for combat at the front. The Americans were keen to have an active Squadron at the front. To speed up this process, Major William Thaw, formerly with the Lafayette Escadrille, took command of the 103d Aero Squadron on 11 February. Today, 17 pilots from Lafayette Escadrille were assigned to 103 Aero Squadron. Obviously these pilots have been serving at the front for a considerable period and need no further training. Combat operations began the next day, with the 103rd Aero Squadron becoming the first active US Squadron in France. Naval operations: ship lossesCECIL L. SHAVE (United Kingdom) The schooner was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off the Azores, Portugal (35°30′N 11°20′W) by SM U-155 ( Kaiserliche Marine). NORMAND (France) The cargo ship was torpedoed and damaged in the Mediterranean Sea off Marsa Sirocco, Malta by UB-52 ( Kaiserliche Marine). She was beached on Malta two days later. Subsequently refloated, repaired and returned to service.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Feb 19, 2023 7:39:01 GMT
Day 1291 of the Great War, February 19th 1918
Eastern Front
Germans occupy Dvinsk and Lutsk and advancing on whole line from Riga to Volhynia, enter Estonia and press towards Reval and Petrograd.
Bolshevik Government formally declare willingness to sign peace upon conditions dictated at Brest-Litovsk by Quadruple Alliance.
Austria-Hungary/Ukraine relations
Austria-Hungary and Ukraine sign agreement by which Kholm district of Poland will not necessarily be included in Ukraine Republic.
Sinai and Palestine campaign
British troops attack on 15-mile front east of Jerusalem; all objectives secured.
British now within eight miles of Jericho.
France
General Sir H. Rawlinson appointed British Army representative at Versailles. Premier defends arrangements re: latter.
Naval operations: Ice Cruise of the Baltic Fleet
The resumption of hostilities on the Eastern Front meant that Estonia was likely to soon fall to the Germans, both to troops marching north from Riga and to those coming across from the narrow channel from Moon [Muhu] Island in the Gulf of Riga. Much to Lenin’s regret, the Bolsheviks were sure they could not defend the major port of Reval [Talinn] on the Gulf of Finland, and began to evacuate the substantial portion of the Baltic Sea Fleet that was stationed there (some of which had only arrived months before after the loss of the Gulf of Riga). However, the Gulf of Finland was largely frozen over in February, and the evacuation required several icebreakers. Over the course of the next week, five cruisers, eight submarines, and many smaller vessels left Reval for Helsinki, which was still a major Russian naval base despite Finnish independence (and was, regardless, now in the hands of friendly Finnish Reds). The fleet was also able to evacuate over four thousand civilian refugees from the German advance. Eleven submarines did not make it out in time, however, and had to be scuttled.
Naval operations: ship losses
BARROWMOMRE Barrowmore (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 53 nautical miles (98 km) north west by west of the Bishop Rock, Isles of Scilly (49°58′N 7°54′W) by SM U-94 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 25 of her crew.
BEACON LIGHT (United Kingdom) The tanker was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 15 nautical miles (28 km) south east of the Butt of Lewis, Outer Hebrides by SM U-91 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 33 of her crew.
COMANDANT BARATIER (France) The sailing vessel was scuttled in the English Channel 8 nautical miles (15 km) south of Penzance, Cornwall, United Kingdom by SM UB-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
COMMONWEALTH (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) north east of Flamborough Head, Yorkshire by SM UC-71 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of fourteen of her crew.
GLENCARRON (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 47 nautical miles (87 km)) south by east of The Lizard, Cornwall (49°20′N 4°57′W) by SM U-82 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
PHILADELPHIAN (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 47 nautical miles (87 km) south by east of The Lizard by SM U-82 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of four of her crew.
WHEATHFLOWER (United Kingdom) The coaster was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 10 nautical miles (19 km) north west by north of the Tuskar Rock, Ireland (52°09′N 5°45′W) by SM U-86 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
WILHELMINA VII (Netherlands) The fishing vessel was shelled and sunk in the North Sea (54°49′N 3°37′E), probably by SM UB-64 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of six of her crew.
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Post by lordroel on Feb 20, 2023 7:32:52 GMT
Day 1292 of the Great War, February 20th 1918
Western Front
A French raid against German lines in Lorraine, north of Bures and east of Moncel, nets them 500 German prisoners.
Eastern Front: German Advance Into Russia Continues
Forty-eight hours had passed since hostilities had resumed on the Eastern Front, and as of yet there was no sign of effective Russian resistance. On February 20, German forces entered Minsk without opposition, an advance of around fifty miles. German forces also crossed the ice from Moon [Muhu] Island onto mainland Estonia, putting them within striking distance of Reval [Talinn], and, the Russians feared, perhaps Petrograd beyond. The Bolsheviks began preparing for a defense of the city and their revolution as a whole; Lenin privately knew it was useless, but needed to give the appearance of doing something while the Germans approached. He knew that he had to capitulate to whatever terms the Germans offered, but none were forthcoming as of yet; the only reply to Trotsky’s radio message was that negotiations by radio were unacceptable. Perhaps the Germans intended to have the Bolsheviks “beaten to death,” as the Kaiser demanded.
Finnish Civil War
German troops reach Finland to reinforce White Guard.
Italian Front
Great bombing raids from both sides; Venice, Padua, etc., again bombed.
Sinai and Palestine campaign
British troops north of Jerusalem advance on four-mile front on Shechem road; within four miles of Jericho.
Mesopotamia campaign
Khan Abu Rayan occupied by British patrols within ten miles of Hit (Mesopotamia).
United Kingdom
Inter-Allied Labour and Socialist Conference meets at Westminster.
Aerial operations: Schlachtstaffeln
Unlike tne famous Jastas, one of the lesser known German aerial formations is the Schlachtstaffeln (often abbreviated to Schlastas), which make up about 10% of german formations at this point. They had originated as security flights for the Fliegerabieilungen who carried out reconnaissance.
As the war progressed, their two-seaters transitioned into more of a ground-
attack role aircraft specially designed for that role were introduced.
With the preparations for the forthcoming German offensive in full swing, an entire section of the new German attack doctrine issued in January 1918 was devoted to air support for the ground forces.
That doctrine was underlined by a document issued today specifically dealing with the and their control under divisional command in the initial stages of the attack. It lays out the role of the squadrons as “flying ahead of and carrying the infantry along with them, keeping down the fire of the enemy’s infantry and barrage batteries,” adding that the appearance of ground-attack aircraft over the battlefield “affords visible proof to heavily engaged troops that the Higher Command is in close touch with the front, and is employing every means to support the fighting troops.” It also directs the squadrons to “dislocate traffic and inflict appreciable loss on reinforcements hastening up to the battlefield.”
The new doctrine also stressed ground attack by multiple aircraft in formation, rather than by indi-
vidual planes. The Second Army air orders required an entire Schlachtstaffeln to attack in lines, two waves to a line. The first wave was to attack enemy artillery positions, and the second wave was to support the infantry attack.
Naval operations: ship losses
BALGRAY (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 38 nautical miles (70 km) south west by west of Dellimara Point, Malta (35°07′N 14°01′E) by SM UB-52 (Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
DJERV (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Irish Sea 12 nautical miles (22 km) north north west of The Skerries, Isle of Anglesey (53°41′N 4°32′W) by SM U-86 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two of her crew.
HUNTSMOOR (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 23 nautical miles (43 km) south west of the Owers Lightship ( United Kingdom) by SM UB-40 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of twenty of her crew.
HAGIOS NICOLAOS (Greece) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Bay of Pelgonesi by SM UC-23 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
KITHIRIA (Greece) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Morocco (10°11′N 16°04′W) by SM U-157 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
LINZ (Austria-Hungary) The ocean liner sank in the Adriatic Sea on 20 February or 19 March 1918 after she hit a mine.
MARIA ARCHIS (Greece) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Aegean Sea by SM UC-23 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
SNOWDROP (United Kingdom) The fishing smack was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 8 nautical miles (15 km) south west of the Eddystone Lighthouse (50°03′N 4°21′W) by SM UB-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
TAXI ARCHES (Greece) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Aegean Sea by SM UC-23 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
TAXIARCHIS (Greece) The schooner was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea (32°06′N 29°08′E) by SM UB-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
ZENO (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 48 nautical miles (89 km) south west of Dellimara Point, Malta (35°04′N 14°03′E) by SM UB-52 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
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Post by lordroel on Feb 21, 2023 7:59:09 GMT
Day 1293 of the Great War, February 21st 1918
Eastern Front
Germans within 60 miles of Reval.
Sinai and Palestine campaign: British Forces Enter Jericho
After securing the area around Jerusalem, Allenby now turned his attention east, towards the river Jordan. He ultimately hoped to cross it, link up with the Arab forces that were beginning to operate on the far side, then push towards Amman with the dual aims to cut off the Hejaz Railway and secure his flank for an advance north to Damascus. The first step in the planned advance was Jericho; this required a steep descent down into the Jordan valley, far below sea level. Thanks to Turkish sabotage during their withdrawal, and the harassment of Turkish gunners, it was slow going, but they reached and entered the city by February 21, after a week of operations. The name had obvious Biblical connotations, and many of the men expected some great walled city; the reality, however, was far more mundane. One New Zealander opined that “of all the cities of the east that our men had passed through, Jericho easily led the way as the filthiest and most evil-smelling of htem all.”
Germany
Main Committee of German Reichstag adopts peace treaty with the Ukraine.
New peace terms for Russia formulated by Germany.
Aerial operations: £1000
In the first major debate on the Air Services since the Passage of the Air Force Act in December 1917, the House of Commons discussed the Air Force Estimates for the coming year. Under the guise of refusing to provide assistance to the enemy, the debate was over the nominal amount of £1000, and members were asked to refrain from certain lines of questioning.
The Undersecretary of State for the Air, Major John Baird, led the debate. He highlighted progress made in setting up the new Air Ministry, including the establishment of a Secretariat, Finance Branch, Works and Buildings Department and a General Branch of Statistics. Establishments for the service directorates and their staffs have been prepared, and the majority of pay and conditions of service questions had been addressed. Discussions are now ongoing between the Admiralty and the War Office about the practical transfer of the two services. The new Air Council has been established and is now developing its own programme of work.
The Minister came under pressure from Mr William Joynson-Hicks and Mr Noel Pemberton-Billing, both perennial thorns in the Governement’s side regarding Air matters, over the issue of:
- poor training of pilots
- the lack of standardisation of equipment hampering production and repair of aeroplanes
- the failure to enact sufficient reprisal attacks against German cities for the air raids in England
- An attempt to introduce an amendment to require reprisal attacks was defeated.
Mr Pemberton-Billing also called for a dedicated medical service for the air and castigated the house in general as so few MPs had turned up (no more than 25 at any time).
Naval operations: ship losses
BOR (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea off Coquet Island, Northumberland, United Kingdom by SM UC-49 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
CHEVIOT RANGE (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed, shelled and sunk in the English Channel 25 nautical miles (46 km) south of The Lizard, Cornwall by SM U-102 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 27 crew.
HUGIN (Sweden) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean[129] 4.5 nautical miles (8.3 km) off St Agnes, Cornwall (50°28′N 5°12′W) by SM U-60 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
IDALIA (United Kingdo) The fishing ketch was scuttled in the English Channel 10 nautical miles (19 km) south east of Berry Head, Devon (50°27′N 3°14′W) by SM UB-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Her crew survived.
IREX (United Kingdom) The fishing smack was scuttled in the English Channel 10 nautical miles (19 km) east by south of Hope Cove, Devon (50°27′N 3°14′W) by SM UB-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
LEONORA (United Kingdom) The fishing ketch was shelled and sunk in the English Channel 11 nautical miles (20 km) east of Hope's Nose, Devon (50°27′N 3°14′W) by SM UB-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
MERCIA (Sweden) The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea 85 nautical miles (157 km) east of Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom (57°43′N 2°28′E) by SM UB-86 ( Kaiserliche Marine). The crew of eighteen did not survive.
ORYX (United Kingdom) The fishing smack was shelled and sunk in the English Channel 10 nautical miles (19 km) south east by south of Berry Head, Devon (50°27′N 3°14′W) by SM UB-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
REAPER(United Kingdom) The drifter struck a mine laid by UC 49 (Hans Kükenthal) and sank in the North Sea 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) north east of Tynemouth, Northumberland with the loss of eight of her crew.
RIO VERDE (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in then Irish Sea 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) off Crammock Head, Wigtownshire by SM U-100 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of twenty of her crew.
ROSEBUD (United Kingdom) The fishing smack was scuttled in the English Channel 10 nautical miles (19 km) south south east of Hope Cove by SM UB-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
SM U-23 (Austro-Hungarian Navy) The U-20-class submarine was sunk in the Strait of Otranto by the Italian destroyer AIRONE ( Regia Marina) with the loss of all eighteen crew.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Feb 22, 2023 3:46:00 GMT
Day 1294 of the Great War, February 22nd 1918
YouTube (Operation Faustschlag - Germany Advances In The East Again)
Sinai and Palestine campaign
Retreat of Turks beyond River Jordan.
Campaign in South Arabia: British Bombing Campaign in Yemen
In addition to the campaigns in Sinai & Palestine and Mesopotamia, British forces also faced off against the Turks in modern-day Yemen. The theater was relatively quiet, however, due to its remoteness from the rest of the Ottoman Empire–the nearest railhead was a thousand miles away in Medina. As a result, the Turks had difficulty bringing troops to the area and the British saw no advantage to advancing into the seemingly-endless desert. The only major action in the theater was in July 1915, when Turkish forces in the area invaded southern Yemen, nearly capturing the critical port of Aden before reinforcements were rushed there from India. After the revolt of the Hashemites largely cut off Turkish forces in the area in 1916, the area quieted down even further.
Although the British were still unwilling to conduct offensive operations in the area themselves, they encouraged actions by the local Arabs population. They gained an ally in the Idrisids, the rulers of Asir in northern Yemen. On February 22 1918, seaplanes from the CITY OF OXFORD began bombing Turkish positions around the port of Luhayyah and the Turkish base at Zuhrah, hoping to drive off Turkish forces and encourage further attacks by the Idrisids. Although the bombing campaign did bolster the standing of the anti-Turkish forces in the area, it apparently did not have the fully desired effect. One of the British flight commanders wrote that the Idrisids “seemed to prefer their job should be shifted to the shoulders of the Air Force.”
East Africa campaign
German rearguard dispersed between Mtende and Msalu (Portuguese East Africa); v. 21 March 1918.
Russia
Soviet Russia publishes the decree “The Socialist Fatherland is in Danger!” to urge its citizens to resist the Central Powers offensive.
Naval operations: ship losses
HAILEYBURY (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Irish Sea 15 nautical miles (28 km) east south east of The Maidens by SM U-91 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two of her crew.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Feb 23, 2023 3:48:13 GMT
Day 1295 of the Great War, February 23rd 1918
Western Front: First American Attacks on the Western Front
As the Allies coped with horrible news from Russia, where German soldiers were advancing hundreds of miles, there was a hidden bright spot in the newspapers. Readers of the Times were surely tired of articles about trench raids and artillery battles, but there surely must have been some interest to read that a small group of Americans had gone into action on the Western Front.
Two American officers and twenty-four men had volunteered to accompany a French raid on the German trenches. American companies were being slowly parceled into the front-lines, egged on my experienced French and British trainers. The “Sammies” were green, but they were also eager to fight. On the 13th American artillerymen had taken part in a six-hour rolling barrage before a French attack. The raid on the 23rd lasted half an hour and took twenty-five Germans prisoners. For the Americans, it was a great morale booster, and The Times commented that while “the actual occasion was not of much importance - February 23 is one of the dates that will always be remembered in the history of the war.”
Sinai and Palestine campaign
Patrol activity on wide front north of Jerusalem, east of Jericho.
United Kingdom
End of Inter-Allied Labour Conference; statement of War Aims.
Central Powers/Russian relations
Central Powers now demand from Russia the ceding of the Baltic Countries, Poland, and Ukraine, as well as commercial concessions.
Aerial operations: Hit
Out in Mesopotamia, following the capture of Ramada, Turkish forces on the Euphrates had been relatively quiet. However, in January 1918, there was a build up of Turkish Forces at Hit to the Northwest.
Once Turkish forces started reconnaissance down the river as far as Qubba and Nafata. Lieutenant-General Marshall in charge of British forces decided to capture Hit and its garrison. The advance from Ramadi began on the 19th of February, when air reconnaissances by 30 Squadron RFC brought back news that the Turks were evacuating their trenches south of Hit and were taking up a prepared position on high ground about two miles above the town at the Broad Wadi. There was also a strong enemy force at Sahiliya.
The British decided not to bother attacking until they could be sure of victory, and therefore waited until they had built up better communications and supplies accumulated.
This included the aircraft, and yesterday, 52 Kite Balloon Section, which had been at Ramadi since the beginning of January 1918, moved forward to Qubba. Today ‘B’ Flight of 30 Squadron RFC moved to Ramadi from Falluja, and ‘A’ Flight of 30 Squadron and ‘A’ Flight of 63 Squadron flew to Ramadi from Samarra and Baquba.
This composite unit, under the command of Major H. de Havilland, was instructed to undertake a vigorous bombing offensive against the Turks. They got to work straightaway, and ten aeroplanes bombed and attacked with machine-gun fire Turkish camps in the Hit-Sahiliya area. Seventy-five 20-lb. bombs were dropped: horses were stampeded, transport disorganized, one aeroplane on the Hit aerodrome destroyed, and several hits on camps were made.
Naval operations: ship losses
ASPASIA (Greece) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Aegean Sea by SM UC-23 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
BIRCHLEAF (United Kingdom) The tanker was torpedoed, shelled and severely damaged in the Irish Sea 20 nautical miles (37 km) west by north of The Skerries, Anglesey by SM U-91 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of three of her crew. Her captain was taken as a prisoner of war. Birchleaf was salvaged, repaired and returned to service.
BRITISH VISCOUNT (United Kingdom) The tanker was torpedoed and sunk in the Irish Sea 12 nautical miles (22 km) north by west of The Skerries, Anglesey by SM U-91 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of six of her crew.
HUMBERTO (Portugal) The barquentine was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea 10 nautical miles (19 km) south east of Cape Tortosa, Spain by SM U-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
HMT MARION (Royal Navy) The naval trawler struck a mine laid by UC 25 (Ernst von Wangenheim) and sank in the Mediterranean Sea off Malta (35°45′N 14°23′E) with the loss of six of her crew.
Remus (United Kingdom) The collier struck a mine laid by UC 59 (Herbert Lefholz) and sank in the North Sea 6 nautical miles (11 km) south south west of Copinsay, Orkney Islands (58°20′N 2°42′W) with the loss of five of her crew.
SARDINERO (Spain) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west of Gibraltar (34°30′N 8°40′W) by SM U-155 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
ULABRAND (Norway) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Irish Sea 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) off Crammag Head, Wigtownshire, United Kingdom (54°40′N 5°03′W) by SM U-86 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of thirteen of her crew.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Feb 24, 2023 8:26:55 GMT
Day 1296 of the Great War, February 24th 1918
Eastern Front
The Central Powers offensive against Soviet Russia results in the capture of Dorpat (Tartu, Estonia), and troops reach Zhitomir (Ukraine).
Eastern Front: Bolsheviks Accept Peace Terms
Over the last six days, the Germans had moved at a rapid pace, in many places advancing over 100 miles; by February 24 they were quickly approaching Reval [Talinn] and Pskov. With the threat of further advances looming, the Germans issued an 48-hour ultimatum on February 22 with their new peace terms. The courier carrying the ultimatum did not reach Petrograd until February 23, however, leaving the Bolsheviks with a single day to consider the offer, or risk the Germans rescinding the “olive branch” entirely and pushing on to Petrograd. While the Germans had no plans to push beyond the Narva, the Bolsheviks had no way of knowing this.
The terms themselves were far harsher than what had been offered earlier in the month. Russia was to relinquish all rights to Finland, the Baltic states, Belarus, Ukraine, and the territory taken from Turkey in 1878, and evacuate all remaining forces from those areas. Various economic concessions and payment of indemnities was also demanded.
Lenin, who had wanted to accept the more lenient German terms, again urged capitulation, threatening to resign if he did not get his way. Still, Bukharin argued for a revolutionary war against the Germans, while Lenin dismissed this as nonsense:
Only those who are blind or intoxicated by phrases can close their eyes to the fact that the policy of a revolutionary war, without an army, brings grist to the mill of our bourgeoisie….Let everyone know: he who is against an immediate, even though extremely onerous peace, is endangering Soviet power.
We are compelled to endure an onerous peace. It will not halt the revolution in Germany and in Europe. We shall set about preparing a revolutionary army, not by phrases and exclamations (after the manner of those who…have done nothing even to halt our fleeing troops), but by organizational work, by deeds, by creation of a proper, powerful army of the whole people.
The Central Committee ultimately sided with Lenin by the slimmest margin possible. Trotsky, whose “no war, no peace” policy had directly led to the German invasion, abstained.
Early on the morning of February 24, the Bolsheviks sent a radio message to the Germans indicating their acceptance of the proposed terms. While the Russian delegation proceeded back to Brest-Litovsk, and the last details were hammered out, the German advance continued unabated.
Russian Civil War: Reds Take Rostov; Volunteer Army Begins “Ice March”
While Russia was being overrun from the west by the almost-unopposed German advance, the Red forces on the Don were still finding success. Of course, the scales of the forces involved differed greatly–the Germans had 53 divisions on the Eastern Front, while the Whites had, at best, 4,000 men. With what little Cossack resistance there was melted away after Kaledin’s suicide, the Reds were able to enter Rostov with little opposition on February 23, and Novocherkassk two days later.
Alexeyev’s and Kornilov’s Volunteer Army, outnumbered by the Reds, marched off into the steppe, heading south towards the Kuban River–more remote and with its own host of Cossacks that they hoped would be friendlier to their cause. The Volunteer Army, and those civilians who chose to follow it rather than risk reprisals by the Bolsheviks, now had to march through open country and deep snow in the height of winter. They needed to deliberately avoid any railways, by which the Reds could easily bring large forces to near against them, as well as any large towns, which were likely loyal to the Reds as well.
The Volunteer Army’s so-called “Ice March” eventually grew into a legend among Russian emigrés from the Civil War. Denikin, who would eventually command the force would wax grandiloquently: “We went from the dark night and spiritual slavery to unknown wandering–in search of the bluebird.”
Ottoman Empire
Turks re-occupy Trebizond.
Japan
Count Motono states if Russia concludes separate peace Japan will take decided and adequate steps to meet occasion.
Naval operations: Germany
German auxiliary cruiser "WOLF" returns to Kiel after 15 months' absence, having sunk 11 vessels, 33,000 tonnage.
Aerial operations: “only a few indecisive combats”
The RFC Communiqué for today focussed on bombing activity:
“The sky was covered with low clouds, but there were a few short bright intervals.
Nine reconnaissances were carried out and 25 plates exposed.
Twenty-nine hostile batteries were engaged for destruction with aeroplane observation and 12 neutralized. Three gun-pits were destroyed, 12 damaged, 16 explosions and 13 fires caused. Sixty zone calls were sent down. Of the hostile batteries engaged, 12 were by machines of the 1st Brigade, 16 by those of the 2nd Brigade and one by those of the 3rd Brigade.
On 24th instant, balloons of the 1st Brigade registered nine targets, five of which were hostile butteries, and those of the 2nd Brigade, five targets, three of which were hostile batteries. One explosion and one fire were caused and 17 active hostile batteries located.
208 bombs were dropped follows:
Night 23rd/ 24th – 9th Wing: No 58 Squadron dropped 12 25-lb bombs on Moorseele Aerodrome, nine 25-lb bombs on Menin Station, 22 25-lb bombs on Bavichove Aerodrome and 24 25-lb bombs on Oyghem.
Day 24th – 1st Brigade: 34 25-lb bombs were dropped by machines of the 1st Wing. 4th Squadron A.F.C. dropped 10 25-lb bombs on transport hitting one wagon.
2nd Brigade: 34 25-lb bombs were dropped by machines of the 2nd Brigade. Five 25-lb bombs were dropped on an Anti-aircraft Battery by No. 70 Squadron.
3rd Brigade: 20 25-lb bombs were dropped.
5th Brigade: 33 25-lb bombs were dropped by machines of 15th Wing.
Enemy Aircraft:
Enemy aircraft activity was very slight, only a few indecisive combats taking place.”
Naval operations: ship losses
AMSTERDAM (United Kingdom) The coaster was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) south east by east of Coquet Island, Northumberland by SM UC-49 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of four of her crew.
GAETANA COSTANZO (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off Rio de Oro (24°18′N 15°49′W) by SM U-152 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
RENFREW(United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in St. George's Channel 8 nautical miles (15 km) south west of St. Ann's Head, Pembrokeshire by SM U-91 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 40 of her crew.
SARPFOS (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Irish Sea off Holyhead, Anglesey, United Kingdom (53°46′N 5°04′W) by SM U-105 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two crew.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Feb 25, 2023 8:00:16 GMT
Day 1297 of the Great War, February 25th 1918
Eastern Front
Revel and Pskov occupied by Germans.
In Ukraine Germans reach Zhitomir, temporary capital of Ukraine Republic.
Italian Front
Austro-Hungarian aeroplanes drop 62 bombs on Venice, Mestre, and Castelfranco, resulting in 5 deaths and 12 injuries.
United Kingdom
Meat, butter and margarine rationing comes into force in London and Home Counties.
German-Austria/Romanian relations
Fresh meeting of German-Austrian and Romanian peace delegates at Bucharest.
Ottoman Empire: Falkenhayn Departs From Ottoman Service
Since his dismissal from overall command of German forces, Falkenhayn had been increasingly sidelined–first to Romania, and then to command the new joint Turko-German Yildirim Army Group in the Middle East. The original plan for Yildirim had been to retake Baghdad, but this was eventually called off; Falkenhayn’s more ambitious plans for another attack across the Sinai were forestalled by Allenby’s own very successful offensive in Palestine in the fall of 1917. As a result, Falkenhayn’s chief accomplishment of his Ottoman service was the loss of Jerusalem and most of the rest of Palestine. On February 25, Falkenhayn was dismissed and replaced by Liman von Sanders, who had had overall command of the successful Turkish defense at Gallipoli. Falkenhayn was sent to command the Tenth Army in Belarus, where he would command the German occupation of the area for the remainder of the war.
Ultimately, neither Falkenhayn nor Liman von Sanders were quite up to the task of defending against the British. One of Liman von Sanders’ Turkish staff officers would write:
The policy of Falkenhayn was defense by maneuver; that of Liman defense by resistance in trenches. Falkenhayn never fully realized how difficult maneuver was to troops short of transport on bad roads; Liman never realized that ground in Palestine had not the value it had at Gallipoli.
Russia: Russian Army Demobilized, Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army Formed
Was the Bolshevik revolution to be stillborn? On February 23, Lenin, Trotsky, and Stalin convinced the Bolshevik Central Committee to accept peace with Germany. The terms were devastating: Russia lost all claims to the Baltic, Ukraine, and Finland, while the Germans would keep the land they had occupied since breaking the armistice. Germany also demanded the Russian Army be demobilized. The Bolsheviks only agreed to peace after a stormy session where Lenin threatened to resign if no conclusion was reached.
The peace was to be signed in March, but already its effects were clear. It put Petrograd almost in German hands; the Bolsheviks would have to leave for Moscow. Moreover, even if peace was made with the Germans, the soviet regime could obviously not be left defenseless in the face of its many enemies. With the Russian army gone now both officially and quite literally, scattered in every direction by the Central Powers’ invasion, a new army had to be formed.
That week the Bolsheviks began calling for volunteers for a new revolutionary army. 60,000 workers in Petrograd signed up to be a part of the Workers’ and Peasents’ Red Army. Trotsky appealed to former imperial officers to sign up as well. Over 8,000 did. Although few Russian officers sympathized with the October Revolution, most of them had been left unemployed, while they also desired to continue fighting against the Germans. Despite these initial recruiting successes, morale remained low. Thousands of men deserted quickly, leaving the Red Army with a strength of only 150,000 men by March. Worse, organization was hap-hazard. Many units elected their own officers, and the Bolsheviks had abolished the military’s rank structure. In battle against experienced German troops the nascent Red Army stood no chance.
Aerial operations: “Not exceeding 1000”
Today the Air Force Estimates received their second reading in the House of Commons, as follows:
“Motion made, and Question proposed, “That a number of Air Forces, not exceeding 1,000, all ranks, be maintained for the Service of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland at Home and Abroad during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1919.”
The number of ranks listed at 1000 is of course a nominal figure to ensure that the enemy is not easily informed of the size of the air forces.
As at the first reading on 21 February, Noel Pemberton-Billing dominated the discussions with a long rant about the diversity of engines in the flying services, claiming that there were at least 61 different engines in service, with attendant requirements for spares and mechanics capable of servicing them. He also claimed that the production of new engines was being held back by the array of different types. To be fair to Mr Pemberton-Billing there probably are this many types in service. However, the Under Secretary of State for the Air Major Baird, pointed out that whilst a large number of engines have certainly been in service, a much smaller number were now been manufactured and the services were standardizing under a smaller number of engines. However he failed to reveal how many were actually being produced hiding behind the fact that this might assist the enemy.
What the Minister did not mention is that the engine development process is long and that both services had hedged their bets on a number of engines and some of these, such as the Sunbeam Arab, just didn’t work out as they were too unreliable.
Mr Pemberton-Billing also went on another rant about Acceptance Parks and how they were “the greatest wasters of public money” essentially wrecking new machines with the constant building and dismantling of new machines. Major Baird again rebutted his argument noting that it was the responsibility of the services to test all aircraft if we expect our pilots to use them. He further noted that aircraft were taken both packed and erected and that the scenario described by Pemberton-Billing was simply untrue.
Naval operations: ship losses
APOLLO (Denmark) The schooner was sunk in St. George's Channel by SM U-60 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of all seven crew.
RUBIO (United Kingdom) The collier struck a mine laid by UC 4 (Kurt Loch) and sank in the North Sea 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) north of the Shipwash Lightship ( United Kingdom). Her crew survived.
SANTA MARIA (United States) The tanker was sunk in Lough Swilly, County Donegal, United Kingdom (55°14′N 6°19′W) by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Feb 26, 2023 7:37:48 GMT
Day 1298 of the Great War, February 26th 1918Western FrontAmerican trenches near Toul, France are hit by German gas shells for the first time, resulting in at least 5 deaths and 80 injuries. Sinai and Palestine campaignPatrols reach Rujm el Bahr (at northern end of Dead Sea, two miles east of mouth of Jordan). Finnish Civil WarPhoto: Finnish Jägers in Vaasa, Finland, on 26 February 1918. The battalion is being inspected by White Commander-in-Chief C. G. E. Mannerheim IrelandLawlessness in Ireland; additional troops sent to aid police. RussiaForeign ambassadors in Petrograd prepare to leave the city as the German offensive continues to advance towards the Soviet capital. Aerial operations: Gothas Raid VeniceThe Central Powers’ use of their Gotha bombers had expanded beyond raids on Britain. Paris was first struck in late January; on the Italian front, Venice provided a tempting target. Although Austrian raids had targeted the city since 1915, Austrian victory at Caporetto now meant the city was within 20 miles of the front line. On the night of February 26, Austrian Gothas conducted an eight-hour raid on the city, with each plane making the round trip multiple times. The raid dropped over 32,000 pounds of bombs and caused extensive damage, hitting several historic churches. It was difficult for local Venetians to take adequate shelter, there being few adequate basements given that Venice had been slowly sinking into the lagoon for centuries. Many instead fled for outlying islands by boat; ultimately, only one civilian was killed in the raid. Apart from an extensive naval presence in its eastern part, the city itself had little military value; as a result Allied propaganda departments used the attacks on Venice as further proof of the Austrians’ and Germans’ barbarity. Aerial operations: A PfalzAir activity on the Western Front intensified today. In the thick of the action were 24 Squadron RFC who carried out multiple patrols during the day. Early on, around 0840, one patrol ran into a group of Triplanes. 2nd Lieutenant Ian Donald Roy McDonald claimed to have driven down one which was seen to crash. 2nd Lieutenant Andrew King Cowper attacked another which broke up in the air and fell in pieces. McDonald then joined 2nd Lieutenant Herbert Brian Richardson, 2nd Lieutenant Wilfred Forman Poulter, 2nd Lieutenant James Jeffery Dawe, 2nd Lieutenant Herbert Vane Lancelot Tubbs and 2nd Lieutenant Ronald Tumbull Mark, in destroying another. Tubbs returned with his aircraft (C9542) shot up. A little after this, 2nd Lieutenant Cowper was attacked by an enemy Pfalz which overshot him on the British side of the lines, allowing Cowper to get on to its tail and fire a long burst. The Pfalz dived down to 500 feet but Cowper kept east, heading it off whenever it tried to recross the lines, finally forcing it to land intact at 52 Squadron’s aerodrome. The pilot Unteroffizier Hageler from Jasta 15 was taken prisoner. That afternoon, 2nd Lieutenant Charles Henry Crosbee was taken prisoner when his SE5a (B548) was shot down by – Vitzfeldwebel Ulrich Neckel from Jasta 12 Naval operations: ship lossesDALEWOOD (United Kingdom) The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the Irish Sea 10 nautical miles (19 km) south west of the Isle of Man (53°48′N 5°09′W) by SM U-105 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of nineteen crew. EUMAEUS (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and damaged in the English Channel 24 nautical miles (44 km) north north east of Île Vierge, Finistère, France by SM U-55 ( Kaiserliche Marine). She was taken in tow by HMS CROCUS ( Royal Navy and was scuttled by that ship after the tow parted. Her crew survived. HMHS GLENART CASTLE (Royal Navy) The hospital ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Bristol Channel 10 nautical miles (19 km) west of Lundy Island, Devon (51°07′N 5°03′W) by SM UC-56 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 162 lives. GREAVESASH (United Kingdom) The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 10 nautical miles (19 km) north east of Cape Barfleur, Manche, France by SM UB-74 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of eight of her crew. MALTBY(United Kingdom) The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 10 nautical miles (19 km) west by south of Pantelleria, Italy by SM UC-27 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of five of her crew. MOUCHE (France) The sailing vessel was sunk in the English Channel 25 nautical miles (46 km) south east of The Lizard, Cornwall, United Kingdom by SM U-55 ( Kaiserliche Marine). PYTHEAS (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 40 nautical miles (74 km) south by east of Cape Palos, Murcia, Spain by SM U-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two crew. RAMBLER (United Kingdom) The trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) east of Blyth, Northumberland with the loss of nine of her crew. ROMNEY (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 10 nautical miles (19 km) off Cape Barfleur by SM UB-74 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of nine of her crew. SAIDE (France) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 50 nautical miles (93 km) off Cyprus by SM UB-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine). SILJESTAD (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean (23°36′N 16°16′W) by SM U-152 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived. SNYG (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 20 nautical miles (37 km) north by east of Ouessant, Finistère, France (48°51′N 5°12′W) by SM U-94 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of four of her crew. TIBERIA (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in Belfast Lough (54°47′N 5°39′W) by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Feb 27, 2023 3:52:44 GMT
Day 1299 of the Great War, February 27th 1918
Western Front
Big British raid in Houthulst Forest (Flanders).
Ukraine/German relations
Ukraine Central Soviet accepts treaty concluded with Germany by the Rada.
Russia/German relations
Soviet Russia announces a peace delegation is on their way to Brest-Litovsk to sign the surrender to the Central Powers.
Germany: Kaiser First Sees New German Tank
The Germans were far behind the Allies in tank development and production, having not even started work on a prototype until months after the British first deployed them in battle. By early 1918, the Germans had a small number of working models of their A7V tank. On February 27, the Kaiser and Ludendorff first saw a demonstration of one of these new tanks, along with several captured British tanks, put on by the Rohr Battalion. This came over two years after the Kaiser’s counterpart in Britain, King George V, first saw (and rode in) a working tank. Compared to the British models, the A7V was larger and more unwieldy, having a crew twice their size. It also suffered from frequent mechanical failures. Most importantly, however, the Germans’ lack of emphasis on tank production and general shortage of steel meant the A7V would never be produced in a quantity to even match the first day of British tank use on the Western Front.
Aerial operations: Drama
Out in Macedonia, 17 Squadron has been doing it’s best to harass the enemy. This morning two SE5a’s from the Squadron crossed the lines at 16,000 feet, turned behind the mountains, and then dived for the aerodrome at Drama.
The enemy was taken by surprise. Each pilot dropped two 20-lb. bombs, from a height of 100 feet, on the aerodrome, and then, going down within a few feet of the ground, the pilots fired their machine-guns against troops running for cover, and into the hangars.
Subsequently, for a few minutes, the pilots circled over the where little in the way of anti-aircraft or machinegun
fire was directed at them. No enemy aeroplanes ascended to challenge them and eventually they flew off home.
Naval operations: ship losses
LARGO (United Kingdom) The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the Irish Sea 12 nautical miles (22 km) west of the Calf of Man, Isle of Man (53°52′N 5°02′W) by SM U-105 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
MACHAON (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 50 nautical miles (93 km) north by east of the Cani Rock (38°40′N 10°35′E) by SM UC-27 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Feb 28, 2023 4:00:27 GMT
Day 1300 of the Great War, February 28th 1918
Western Front
Repulse of German attack near Chavigeron (north-east of Soissons).
Eastern Front
Continued German advance in the Ukraine: armed Pripet flotilla captured.
Austrians invade the Ukraine north of the Pruth River.
Eastern Front: Bolsheviks Arrive at Brest-Litvosk to Make Peace
After some desperate pleading, the Bolsheviks obtained an agreement to make peace with the Central Powers. On the last day of February 1918, the Russian delegation arrived at Brest-Litovsk again to resume the negotiations as before Germany ended the armistice. But their humiliations were to continue for a few more days, as the Germans refused to cease their invasion until the treaty was actually signed. In the meantime, German and Austrian forces finished the conquest of the Baltic, capturing the naval base at Reval. On the 27th Mogilev, the sight of Russia’s military headquarters, Stavka, fell. That day a bomber dropped its payload on Petrograd. The Bolsheviks had no chance but to sign to end the war before more of Russia’s chief city fell into enemy hands.
Serbia
Resignation of M. Pashich and Serbian Cabinet.
Russia: Lenin proclaims the Russian Civil War to be over
The Don region of Russia has seen fighting between supporters and opponents of the Bolshevik regime. This conflict has already assumed a brutal character, with both sides killing or torturing their real or suspected enemies, using terror to cow their potential enemies. The Whites had hoped that the Don Cossacks would rally to their cause, but their support has been lukewarm at best. Instead the Reds have had the upper hand in the fighting and today Novocherkassk, the region’s capital, falls to the Red Army.
When Lenin hears the news, he is jubilant. Having just signalled acceptance of the Germans’ harsh peace terms, the Bolshevik leader needs all the good news he can get. The Whites have already been forced from Rostov, so now Bolshevik control of the Don is complete. Lenin proclaims the Russian civil war to be over.
Aerial operations: Mixed messages
Lord John French, as Commander-in-Chief, Home Forces, wrote another report back in January 1918 on the defence of London for the War Cabinet which they considered today.
Sir Henry Wilson, who had succeeded Sir William Robertson as Chief of the Imperial General Staff a few days before, wrote an accompanying memorandum, in which he recommended that, in view of the importance of maintaining the morale of the capital of the Empire, home defence requirements for anti-aircraft guns should be given precedence over the demands of the British Expeditionary Force.
On the other hand, because of the great importance of superiority in the air in the battle which it was anticipated would begin before long on the Western front, the Royal Flying Corps in France should continue to have precedence over home defence for aeroplanes.
These recommendations received the approval of the War Cabinet.
Aerial operations: Idflieg bi-monthly report on German fighters operating at the front at the end of February 1918
Albatros:
D.III--357
D.V---250
D.Va--475
Fokker:
D.V----25
Dr.I--143
Halberstadt:
CL.II--224
D.II------1
D.III-----1
D.V------2
Hannover:
CL.II-295
LFG Roland:
D.III----9
Pfalz:
D.III--182
D.IIIa-261
Naval operations: merchant shipping losses
British, Allied and Neutral ships lost to enemy submarines, mines and cruisers etc in the month - 142 ships of 321,000 tons gross. (Lloyd's War Losses).
Naval operations: ship losses
HAGIOS TRIAST (Greece) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Aegean Sea by SM UC-23 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
HEENVLIET (Netherlands) The coaster was sunk in the North Sea 15 nautical miles (28 km) south west of the Swartebank Lightship ( Netherlands) by SM UB-31 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
SAVOYARDE (France) The sailing vessel struck a mine laid by UC 27 (Otto Gerke) and sank in the La Galite Channel.
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