Rouleau Compresseur

I have been floating around the forums for a while reading other people's timelines, and i finally mustered the energy to start my own. I encourage comment. Feel free to have at me. Here is the POD.


9:13 AM
March 12th 1913 - Warsaw



"A dozen, please." Antoni Slawek deftly pulled the roses from his cart, wrapped them in brown paper
and handed them to the young lieutenant. By his accent he guessed him to be Ukrainian, not that it mattered.
"Sixty Kopeks", he answered as the flowers changed hands. The Officer pulled the coins from his purse,
and handed them over, then smiling, went on his way down Podwale and turned the corner onto Castle Square.
Antoni silently wished him luck with the girl, thankful that otherwise traffic was light, and went back to waiting by his cart.
Timing and precision would be the key, and he had waited, and planned, for the right time, so as to be sure. He had waited years in fact, and he had always been precise. He had been a clockmaker, a long time ago, in what seemed another man's life, and precision had been his hallmark. He tried not to think about that too much, it was distracting, especially today. But the thought came anyway, unbidden. Little August peering over the edge of his workbench in the old shop, and himself as a younger man, showing his 4 year old son what the tools did. "Patience and precision, Augustus, are what make a clock to be proud of."

But August Slawek had not been patient, nor had he followed his father in his trade of clockmaker. He had won a place at the University studying law. Antoni had been proud of his only child, so brilliant, so passionate, so patriotic. But patriotism in Poland was dangerous, and August was six years dead now, at the hands of the Department for Defense of Public Security and Order, along with Antoni's wife, Maryla. Killed "resisting" the arrest of her son for treason against the Tsar. Killed with Antoni's life as a clockmaker and father. But his love of precision was still alive, merely redirected. Now he was Antoni the flower seller, and he had been selling flowers at this spot for years, waiting, watching, precisely planning, gathering the tools he required. Every man needed a purpose in life, and Antoni Slawek had his. He looked up. The cars were coming, and he was ready. He calmly reached into his cart, under the flowers, found the button, and as the middle car passed the mark he had set in his mind, months before, he started the last clock he ever made, and pushed his cart out into the street. It was all perfectly timed, as he had planned.





10:35 AM
March 12th 1913 - Lublin


The Commander of His Imperial Majesty's XIV Corps, looked out the window at the drill yard and tightly said, "Read that last sentence back to me please, Sergei." "Yes General", replied his aide. "And so, to lay to rest these tensions, i would like to formally request a transfer from the Warsaw Military District, to whatever position his Imperial Majesty deems appropriate." The young ensign looked up from the desk, already knowing why his Commander was sending this letter to Petersburg. Everyone in the XIV corps Headquarters knew about the "tensions" in command. "Would you like to change this sir?" "No, it sounds right, append my name and i will sign it." Turning, the General exclaimed. "What is that noise?" The noise in question being the pounding of booted feet, accompanied by muffled yelling, in the entry hall leading to his office. There was a sharp rap on the door, and even as Sergei got up to answer it, Captain Bezmelnizin, the duty communications officer burst in, red faced from what had obviously been a full run from across the barracks yard, and waving a piece of paper. "Sir, Sir, there is a message from Warsaw!"

His Commanding General answered wryly, "I take it that is it in your hand? May i have it please, Captain, as i gather it is for me?" Bezmelnizin went ramrod straight, and thrust out the piece of paper towards his commanding officer. The General took the note and quickly scanned it. He looked up, "Captain, message to Military District Headquarters i am coming as fast as possible. Inform General Bulganin that he will need to report to Corps Headquarters to assume command, i will leave orders for him." As the Captain left, he turned to his aide. "Sergei, summon all the senior officers on post to the Staff Room. Briefing in 15 minutes." Reaching out to pick up the letter he had so recently dictated, he continued. "Then get my car ready with appropriate escort. We are going to Warsaw." Smoothly ripping his transfer request in half, General Aleksei Alekseevich Brusilov, deputy commander of the Warsaw Military District, finished flatly to his aide. "Governor-General Skalon has been assassinated, and i must take command of the district."





Deckhand
 
Update

This is where it get's interesting.

11:03 AM
August 3rd 1914 - Deutsch Eylau

The rifle fire was getting louder. The Germans were recovering from the shock, and getting organized. Almost time to go. Colonel Ulanov looked over his shoulder at the embankment behind him. The Engineers were running away from the bridge over the cutting. They must be done. Ulanov normally didn't think much of the regular army. He was an officer of the Orenburg Cossacks! Commanding Officer of the 2nd Voivod Nagyi Regiment specifically. But these men were necessary. They had managed to stay in the saddle with his own men since his regiment crossed the Prussian Frontier two days ago, so they would do. Ulanov smiled, forty miles in two days and nights, aye they would do.

Ulanov trained his glasses forward again. Nagy's men were starting to fall back in skirmish order towards the horse holders. A new sound echoed across the field, a "wheee" sound, followed by a large explosion, and then another near it, to the left of the position Nagy was moving from. Then an echo of the distant "whump". The Germans were getting their artillery into action, it was really time to go.

Ulanov turned to a runner. "Tell Captain Nagy to retreat to the rally point, time to leave." The man leapt onto his horse, and rode off, crounched low over the saddle. His commander turned again, and looked a question at the Engineer Lieutenant crouching twenty yards away. The man nodded, and Ulanov made a short chopping motion with his arm. The Engineer twisted the device in his hands, and a moment later there was a truly beautiful explosion, as the main rail line to Posen had a rather large hole blown in it. Ulanov yelled out. "Everyone in the saddle! Time to go!"

An hour later, Ulanov was taking the report of Captain Tarasov in a farmyard a few miles to the west. Tarasov had wrecked 3 miles of the Elyau to Mlava line by the simple expedient of lighting sticks of dynamite every few hundred feet in the railbed. Tarasov had suffered no casualties. Nagy's Squadrons on the other hand, had 24 dead and abandoned and 42 wounded, 5 of whom probably woudn't live to see the sunset. Well over a quarter of Nagy's force. Had they not left when they did it would have been much worse. But it was necessary, not just for wrecking the railway, but for spreading panic among the German civilians. If Captain Petrov's force, which had yet to arrive, had done it's job to the east, then Eylau was useless as a rail hub, for a few days or a week anyway. And given the spread of the destruction, the enemy would think the Cossacks were everywhere.

And so they would be, thought Ulanov. When Petrov got here, they would have one more march to break contact, and then they would would rest the men and horses. So far, all Ulanov had seen of the Germans was infantry, and if that was all they had, he would wreck every rail line in East Prussia. Unless the Germans put a company on every mile of track. Ulanov smiled. That would serve the Tsar just as well, he thought.


6:23 PM
August 16th - Luxembourg City

"If you order this, i won't be able to press much further past Longwy, and our hinge will be very thin indeed." Crown Prince Wilhelm looked across the table at the Duke of Wuertemberg for support. Duke Albrecht looked up from the map and nodded, "You are going to throw the whole timetable off, von Moltke. And how do you expect us to do this on such short notice? I can't just reverse half my force. It's insane!" There was a murmur of agreement from the staff officers crowding the banquet hall. Helmuth von Moltke, standing at the end of the large table waved his hand at eastern end of the map of Germany laid out on the table before him.

"I don't have a choice. Koenigsberg has been invested, and the last time i spoke to Prittwitz he was seeing Russians in the trees. He wanted to withdraw to the Vistula! I told him to hold but that was two days ago, and now i can't raise him because all the land lines are cut. Radio reports have him making a fighting withdrawal, but i have no clear idea of the situation. Von der Goltz is reporting Russian Cavalry probing the Vistula crossings. Not in force as yet, but he only has one division. If they come in strength with anything more than cossacks there is nothing to stop them. I need to reinforce the east gentlemen, or we will have a disaster on our hands, and there is no where else to get the men."

Von Moltke paused for a moment, took a drink of water, and continued to gesture at the map."Even if Prittwitz somehow manages to pull this out, i am going to have to relieve him. I will have to think on who to send. But that aside. First, second and third are committed to the plan, and besides they are too far from the railheads. Sixth and seventh are engaged and cannot be weakened. The troops have to come from the center. The ardennes is good ground, and now we have secured Liege we will soon be back on schedule with the right wing. This has to be done gentlemen, i don't want to have to explain to his Imperial Majesty why we traded Paris for Berlin. Do you?"


Duke Albrecht shook his head, and smiled thinly. "Clearly not, but 6 corps, and my whole army staff? Can we not send two or three? Combined with the Eighth army that will give us 7 in the east, surely that will be enough to hold the Vistula? Von Moltke shook his head. "We have to assume the worst, that Prittwtz is ruined and that you will be holding alone. If i am wrong then combined you should have enough to hold or counterattack possibly depending upon the situation. Don't worry, once we are in Paris we shall turn and teach the Tsar a lesson he shan't forget."

Deckhand

 
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Back at it after summer vacation.

7:56 AM
August 22nd - Neufchateau


Yves Fournier crouched behind a downed tree, chewing the end of his pipe, while the old chateau crumbled under the fire from the 75's. "The French army accepts no law in the conduct of operations other than the offensive!" That was what Captain Bourassa had said, three days ago at close of the Company briefing. It was very inspiring, the way he said it, even if it was a direct quote from the 1913 field regulations. It was no longer so inspiring. Bourassa had met the business end of a Boche shell the next day, and there had hardly been enough left of him to identify. Robillard had gone later that day, along with Dupont, Messieres, and Girard. Dead or invalided out to the rear. Which was why Lieutenant Yves Fournier was in command of the company, or what was left of it. And as a company, it still had to do a company's work, or so he had been informed at the battalion briefing. "The offensive spirit of the French army was unbroken, and they would continue to victory." So said Colonel Martine, or words to that effect. Yves had stopped listening once he knew the objectives. Their spirit might be strong. but the way they were going about it was pretty damned weak. Lining up a metre apart, and marching! Marching into entrenched german machine guns. The only reason they had gotten this far was they had more men than the Germans, but he wondered how long that would last. If they hadn't found that gully yesterday they never would have taken this hill.

But they had, and now they were paying the Boche back. After manhandling the 75's up the hill during the evening, all they had to do this morning was watch while direct fire took care of the strongpoints below. Yves glanced to the right, where he could see motion through the trees. The Colonials were already past the town, and it looked like the cavalry was passing by as well. The enemy didn't seem to have enough men to stop them. Unlike his own men yesterday, they weren't even taking fire. Yves spat on the ground and muttered, "reserve bastards." "Sir?" said Sergeant Richard, acting second Platoon leader. Yves motioned towards the burning chateau slowly being reduced to rubble. "Nothing." The Boche had stopped firing, and he saw something white being waved from a lower window. "I think they're done. Michelin! Cease fire!" After the 75's had stopped, Fournier tied a handkerchief to a stick and said, "Come on, Richard, let's go claim our glorious victory so we can move on to the next opportunity to serve the Republic , maybe we will win some medals." Richard merely nodded and followed, but the look on his face spoke volumes.


10:24 AM

August 26th - St Quentin



"What all are they yelling about in there, Tommy lad?" "Dunno Ed, half of it is in frog, like, but it's big, and the old man is hopping." Corporal Edward James Hargrove, Soldier-Servant attached to Sir William Robertson, Quartermaster-General of His Majesty's British Expeditionary Force addressed his query to Corporal Thomas William Franklin, Soldier-Servant attached to Sir John French, Commanding Officer of His Majesty's British Expeditionary Force, while the two orderlies prepared refreshments, on the off chance that the the visiting General Joffre or Sir John needed them. "Maybe that lad knows something" said Ed, nodding towards the French driver leaning on his car smoking a cigarette. "Speak English old son?" The French soldier merely shrugged, and replied, "Je ne comprends pas anglais." Tommy laughed, and said,"Oh well, collect the sherry will you? Let's go." He picked up his tray and led his fellow towards the large tent in which the officers were meeting. The guards at the entrance pushed the flap aside for them to enter, and they went in. Quickly moving their burdens to a side table, they stood at the ready, waiting for a chance to offer the refreshments to the officers who were oblivious to their presence.

An older white haired man in Blue and Red Uniform was speaking brisky and passionately in French, while staring intently at Sir John. That worthy, on the other hand, looked uncomfortable, and worried, as he listened to the French officer translating. He protested, "If I agree to this movement, it could mean the absolute destruction of His Majesty's Expeditionary Force." After translation, Joffre's face grew red, and he burst out. "Alors pourquoi êtes-vous venus en France ?" Stepping closer to Sir john, he spoke in a calmer tone, but with equal if not greater fervour. "Où est l'honneur de l'Angleterre ?" Joffre paused, and the French Colonel hesitantly spoke into the deafening silence, "General Joffre says..", "Damn it, I know what he said!" Roared Sir John. He stared at Joffre. "Are you sure?" Joffre reached out with his right hand, and grasped French's upper arm, and in heavily accented English said, "We will win." Sir John nodded, "Very well, we will do as you ask, and may God help us."


As the two Generals shook hands, Ed Hargrove leaned over to Tommy Franklin, and whispered. "Don't like the sound of "absolute destruction", old son." Tommy replied. "Aye, not much i don't either. I wonder what the plan is?" They followed the Officers out to the courtyard, and watched the French contingent climb into their cars and leave. Sir John turned and said, "Franklin." The orderly stepped forward and replied, "Sir?" "clear away and get the car ready. I want to be travelling in a half an hour." Tommy Franklin replied, "Yes sir, may i ask the destination?" Sir John French looked back at the dwindling cloud of dust that was all to be seen of the French Supreme Commmander, and replied, " We will be moving Headquarters to Calais."

Deckhand
 
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Hendryk

Banned
Nice start. Let's see where this leads to.
Radio reports have him making a fighting withdrawal, but i have no clear idea of the situation.
Two nitpicks: shouldn't a radio be referred to as a wireless in 1914? And make sure to capitalize your first person singular pronouns.
 
You are right, they are nitpicks. :)

But you are also right about the wireless. Sorry about the anachronism, I will fix that from now on. It has been 25 years since my last English class.
 
Update

2:45 PM

August 29th - Osterode



Alexandr Samsonov watched as the German officer stiffly dismounted from his car and saluted Brusilov with his left arm. Brusilov returned the salute and then motioning to the door behind him, said in French. "Please General, come in and sit down, i see you are wounded." In the same language, General August von Mackensen, erstwhile commmander of the German XVII corps, responded in a tone as stiff as his posture. "General Brusilov, i would prefer to discuss the disposition of my men, and the details of surrender before i take any ease." Brusilov responded quickly. "His Imperial Majesties government is a signatory to the Hague convention, and your troops will be treated according to the rules of war. Further, i personally assure you, General, that they will be treated with the respect due to brave men." Brusilov paused, and continued. "You have made a brave stand sir, and have done all that your sovereign would expect. Will you not come in and let my surgeon look at your arm while we discuss the details of this matter?" Some of the stiffness went out of Von Mackensen at Brusilov's words, and he replied," It shall be as you say, General Brusilov, you are the victor in this contest." Brusilov again gestured to the door, and he and Mackensen went in, followed by the other officers in attendance.

The Russian Headquarters had been established in the town hall, and the main council chamber had been given over to this meeting. As the men filed in and took their seats, Samsonov reflected on his commander's words. The Germans had fought well, and ferociously in defense. Had the German rearguard not held as long as they had this would have been a much greater victory.

Rennenkampf's fault. If he had moved quicker they could have bagged them all. Samsonov was glad the commander of First Army was directing the pursuit of the retreating Germans. He detested the man, and was sure if he were present he would attempt to wrest away the glory that rightfully belonged to his own Second Army. Just as well he was not here. The commander of the Northwest Front had made it perfectly clear what he thought of personal rivalries interfering with operations, and had reinforced the point by relieving several officers last year during maneuvers, including Samsonov's own former chief of staff. Samsonov was fairly certain that he himself was too senior for such treatment, but best to keep his opinions about Rennenkampf to himself.


After they were seated, and introductions were made, the details became clear and were written down, and Samsonov signed as army commander, just below Brusilov as supreme commander. General von Mackensen thought he had fifteen to twenty thousand men left, his own corps, and some attached units. As Samsonov left to issue the appropriate orders to his staff, he hoped his logistics train would support that many extra mouths to feed. There were already some shortages among his own troops that needed to be addressed. Samsonov half smiled at that thought. Had he not a moment ago been wishing for more prisoners? And now he wasn't sure they could feed the ones they had. He definitely needed to speak to the Quartermaster about planning for advance to the Vistula.



11:54 AM

August 30th - Noyon


Captain Hans Schlemmer took a bite of his lunch, biscuit with some salted ham on it, and looked through the window at the Aisne river. Both the rail bridge and the road bridge were blown, lying in twisted strands in the water below . The rail bridge didn't matter for now as it only crossed the canal to the west. But the First Army needed the road bridge to the south to support the advance.

Which was why Schlemmer was here. As part of the Pioneer regiment of the First Army, he, and the rest of his company, were going to replace said destroyed bridge with a pontoon bridge. Assuming of course, that the infantry of the 4th division, could take the far side away from the French, who apparently had other ideas. From his vantage point on the second floor of the Hotel Actif, Schlemmer watched the assault columns ready their boats as the preliminary bombardment pounded the far side. "Poor Bastards", he thought to himself. Glad again, for not the first time this month, that he had chosen engineering at University.

Five minutes later, Schlemmer watched as the Pomeranians of the 2nd Grenadier Regiment rose nearly as one, and dashed for the river, some 50 metres away. The initial going was shielded by a flood berm, but as soon as the first groups crossed it, and reached the riverbank, it became fairly clear that the preliminary and ongoing shelling of the far side had been less than perfect in silencing the French, and the remaining light guns of the enemy began firing directly on the Grenadiers as they launched their boats. Very soon thereafter, the french guns were joined by machine gun and rifle fire. Schlemmer grimaced as one boat was hit directly by a 75 millimetre shell, and the men in it were flung like rag dolls into the air. Schlemmer tried to mentally compare the rate of advance by the boats
against the rate at which the were being swamped, exploded, or denuded of men. It looked like at least some of them were going to make it. More importantly, the rest of 5th Brigade had reached the berm, and was ready to go with the second wave once the first had reached the far shore.

Schlemmer found it surprising that no french artillery was firing indirect at the next wave. The river assault was only being opposed with direct fire. He looked back across the river. Some of the Grenadiers had made it across, but pitifully few. "My god", muttered Schlemmer, "they're annihilated." The second wave was in the river now, and due to the interference of their fellows on the far side, were having what appeared to be an easier time of it. Easier being a relative word. More of them were going to make it, clearly. It looked like the First Army would win it's crossing, but Schlemmer doubted they would be ready for him for a while yet, and he didn't need to watch any more of it. Turning from the window, he headed for the stairs to the bar, where he was sure there was a bottle of cognac that as an officer he could appropriate. Left behind on the sill was the remnants of his biscuit, he wasn't particularly hungry any more.


Deckhand

P.S. I am working on a end of month summary and positiion map for next post.
 
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End of August timeline summary

Synopsis of Events during the Great Serbian War

March 1913
12th
* Governor-General Georgi Skalon is assassinated in Warsaw. Alexei Brusilov assumes command of the Warsaw Military district. He will later be confirmed in this position.

May 1913
1st

* Brusilov implements a monthly training and maneuver regimen for all forces within his command, as well as seasonal Front wide mobilization and operations exercises, including partial callup of reservists.
Several officers are cashiered or transferred for incompetence and non compliance throughout the folowing months.

JUNE 1914
28th

* The Archduke Franz Ferdinand assassinated at Sarajevo.

JULY 1914
5th

* The Kaiser receives at Potsdam the special envoy from Austrian Emperor and promises "the full support of Germany" in the event of Austrian action against Serbia.

23rd

* Austro-Hungarian Government sends ultimatum to Serbia.

25th

* Serbian Government orders Mobilisation.

26th

* Austro-Hungarian Government order Partial Mobilisation against Serbia.

28th

* Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia.

29th

* Russian Government order Partial Mobilisation against Austria. (Evening) Russian Minister for War orders General Mobilisation without the knowledge of the Tsar.
* Hostilities commence between Austria-Hungary and Serbia: Belgrade bombarded by Austrian artillery.
* German Government make proposals to secure British neutrality.

30th

* The Tsar signs order for full mobilisation of Russian army .
* British Government reject German proposals for British neutrality.


31st

* Belgian Government order Mobilisation.
* Russian Government order General Mobilisation.
* Austro-Hungarian Government order General Mobilisation.
* German Government send ultimatum to Russia.
* Hostilities commence on Polish frontier.
* Russian cavalry crosses the frontier (morning).
* State of "Kriegsgefahr" proclaimed in Germany.
* Turkish Government order Mobilisation.


AUGUST 1914
1st

* British Government order Naval Mobilisation.
* German Government order General Mobilisation and declare war on Russia.
* French Government order General Mobilisation.
* Partially mobilised Russian northwest front commences early offensive against East Prussia.

2nd

* German Government send ultimatum to Belgium demanding passage through Belgian territory.
* German troops cross frontier of Luxembourg.
* Hostilities commence on French frontier.
* British Government guarantee naval protection of French coasts against German aggression way of the North Sea or English Channel.
* German mobilization and supply in East Prussia heavily disrupted by Russian cavalry (ongoing).

3rd

* Belgian Government refuse German demands.
* British Government guarantee armed support to Belgium should Germany violate Belgian neutrality.
* Germany declares war on France.
* British Government order General Mobilisation.
* Italy declares neutrality.

4th

* British Government send ultimatum to Germany.
* Great Britain declares war on Germany at 11 pm (midnight 4th-5th by Central European time).
* Belgium severs diplomatic relations with Germany (see 2nd and 3rd).
* Germany declares war on Belgium.
* German troops cross Belgian frontier and attack Liége.
5th

* Montenegro declares war on Austria-Hungary.
* Insterberg occupied by Russians. Fortress of Lotzen invested.

6th

* Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia. (Declaration presented at St. Petersburg).
* Serbia declares war on Germany (see July 28th).
* "Battle of Alsace" begins in France.
* Naval Convention between France and Great Britain concluded in London. French Admiral to command Allied Naval Forces in the Mediterranean.
* Admiral von Spee's squadron leaves Ponape.

7th

* City of Liége occupied by German forces .
* First units of British Expeditionary Force land in France.
* French troops cross the frontier of Alsace.
* Action between H.M.S. "Gloucester" and the "Goeben" and "Breslau" off the coast of Greece.

8th

* Montenegro severs diplomatic relations with Germany.
* "State of War" commences between Montenegro and Germany.
* Mulhouse (Alsace) occupied by French forces.
* First battle of Wehlau results in Russian repulse.
* British forces cross frontier of Togoland and occupy Lome.
* Swiss Government order Mobilisation.
* Hostilities commence in East Africa.


9th

* H.M.S. "Birmingham" sinks German submarine "U.-15" in the North Sea. (First submarine destroyed.)
* Russian forces occupy Allenstein.

10th

* France severs diplomatic relations with Austria-Hungary.
* Second Battle of Wehlau results in German retreat.

11th

* German warships "Goeben" and "Breslau" enter the Dardenelles.
* Mulhouse retaken by German forces.

12th

* Great Britain and France declare war on Austria-Hungary.
* Lotzen surrenders.
* Austrian forces cross the Save and seize Shabatz.


13th

* Austrian forces cross River Drina and begin first invasion of Serbia.
* Four squadrons Royal Flying Corps fly from Dover to France. (First units to cross by air.)
* Allied advance on Kamina (Togoland) from Lome begins.


14th

* Proclamation issued by Russian Commander-in-Chief promising autonomy to Poland.
* Battles of Morhange and Sarrebourg begin.
* Russian forces reach the Baltic near Braunsberg. Koenigsberg invested.
* General retreat ordered for German forces in East Prussia.

15th

* Initial Russian mobilisation completed (mostly).
* Japanese Government send ultimatum to Germany demanding evacuation of Tsingtau.
* German troops cross frontier of British East Africa and occupy Taveta.


16th

* Landing of original British Expeditionary Force [4 Divisions and 1 Cavalry Division.] in France completed.
* Last forts of Liége captured by German forces (16th/17th).
* Naval action in the Southern Adriatic: Austrian light cruiser "Zenta" sunk by Allied squadron.


17th

* German 4th Army commences transfer to east Prussia
* Battle of the Cauldron(East Prussia) commences. (Continues for 10 days)
* Battle of the Tser and the Jadar (Serbia) begins.
* Belgian Government transferred from Brussels to Antwerp.


18th

* Battle of the Gette (18th/19th).
* Osterode occupied by Russian forces.

19th

* Belgian Army retreats from the Gette to Antwerp.
* Mulhouse again taken by French forces

20th

* Brussels occupied by German forces.
* Battles of Morhange and Sarrebourg end.
* Longwy invested by German forces.
* Death of Pope Pius X.
* General von Hindenburg takes over command of German Eighth Army.

21st

* German forces begin attack on Namur.
* Battle of Charleroi begins.
* Ardennes Offensive begins.
* Battle of the Tser and the Jadar ends. Austrian Armies in Serbia retreat.
* German forces from German South-West Africa cross frontier of British South Africa.
* British Government issue orders for the raising of the first New Army of six Divisions.

22nd

* Austria-Hungary declares war on Belgium.

23rd

* Battle of Mons.
* Neufchateau taken by French forces.
* German airship "Z.-8" shot down in the Vosges.
* First Battle of Krasnik (Poland) begins.
* Germany severs diplomatic relations with Japan.
* Japan declares war on Germany.


24th

* British army retreats from Mons.
* Battle of Charleroi ends.
* Austria-Hungary severs diplomatic relations with Japan.


25th

* Namur captured by German forces.
* Battle of the Meuse begins.
* Battle of Malines begins.
* Virton offensive begins.
* Valenciennes taken by German forces.
* Maubeuge invested by German forces.
* Bastogne taken by French forces.
* Mulhouse again retaken by German forces.
* First use of aircraft for patrol purposes (over retreating British forces in France).
* First Battle of Krasnik (Poland) ends.
* Shabatz retaken by Serbian forces. Last Austrian forces recross the Drina. End of First Austrian invasion of Serbia.
* Japan severs diplomatic relations with Austria-Hungary.
* Japan declares "State of War" with Austria-Hungary.
* Nigerian frontier of the Cameroons crossed by British forces.
* Affair of Tepe. Chad frontier crossed by French forces.
* French 6th, 7th and 9th armies begin forming.
* Army of Alsace disbanded


26th

* Louvain sacked by German troops.
* Noyon taken by German forces.
* Longwy capitulates to German forces.
* Cambrai occupied by German forces.
* Douai occupied by German forces.
* British "run to the ports", begins.
* First Battle of Lemberg (Galicia.)
* Battle of Zamosc-Komarow begins.
* Naval action off the Aaland Islands. German cruiser "Magdeburg" destroyed by Russian squadron.
* German forces in Togoland capitulate to the Allied forces.
* General Galliéni appointed Governor of Paris.


27th

* Battle of Malines ends.
* Battle of the Cauldron ends.
* French occupy La Roche.
* French cavalry reach Verviers
* British Marines landed at Ostend, accompanied by R.N.A.S. unit.
* Mezières occupied by German forces.

28th

* Battle of Marche begins.
* Elbing occupied by Russian forces.
* Austro-Hungarian declaration of war received by Belgian Government .
* Naval action off Heligoland (German light cruisers "Köln", "Mainz", and "Ariadne" sunk by British squadron).

29th

* Arras evacuated by the French forces.
* Fumay taken by German forces.
* Elements of the BEF begin reaching Boulogne and Calais.
* Alexandraw (Poland) taken by German forces.
* German rearguard in East Prussia surrenders.


30th

* First Battle of the Aisne commences.
* First German aeroplane raid on Paris.
* BEF begins transferring to Ghent
* First Battle of Lemberg (Galicia) ends.
* First attack on Garua (Cameroons).
* Samoa occupied by New Zealand Expeditionary Force.


31st

* Virton offensive ends.
* Russian forces invest Marienwerder
* Amiens entered by German forces.
 
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