Year 1918

World War One Diary for Monday, March 25, 1918: Western Front Somme: A gap opens between BEF and French Armies. Germans capture Bapaume, Nesle and Noyon. Gough’s Fifth Army pushed […]

World War One Diary for Sunday, March 24, 1918: Western Front Somme: First Battle of Bapaume (until March 25). Separation of BEF and French Armies threatened. Germans destroy 500-strong South

World War One Diary for Friday, March 22, 1918: Western Front Somme – GERMANS OVERRUN MOST OF BEF BATILE ZONE. Masses of infantry advance; Germans ‘leapfrog’ fresh divisions through tired

World War One Diary for Thursday, March 21, 1918: Western Front Somme – SECOND BATTLE OF THE SOMME AND GERMAN SPRING OFFEN­SIVE begins: German Michael Offensive (or ‘Kaiser Battle’) (until

World War One Diary for Wednesday, March 20, 1918: Air War Germany: Iron Cross markings ordered changed to Balkenkreuze (Greek Cross) as from April 15. Britain: ­Trenchard tenders resignation but

World War One Diary for Tuesday, March 19, 1918: Western Front German attacks in Champagne and on Meuse. Somme: General Gough writes home predicting German offensive on Thursday, March 21.

World War One Diary for Monday, March 18, 1918: Western Front Germany: Hindenburg and Ludendorff moved forward HQ from Spa to Avesnes. Britain: British and Portuguese trench raids. Churchill visits

World War One Diary for Sunday, march 17, 1918: Western Front Britain: Two German deserters tell BEF XVIII Corps to expect 6-hour barrage, but no date. Eastern Front Ukraine: Kosch’s

World War One Diary for Saturday, March 16, 1918: Western Front Germany: Most German Operation Michael artillery now in position, infantry begins night approach marches until March 18. Verdun: Raid

World War One Diary for Friday, March 15, 1918: Air War Western Front: French ace Fonck (20 victories to date) kills German ace and fighter leader Tutshek (27 victories) over

World War One Diary for Thursday, March 14, 1918: Air War North Sea­: Floatplane clash; 2 Royal Naval Air Service planes attack 5 German planes (1 lost, 1 damaged, 1

World War One Diary for Wednesday, March 13, 1918: Home Fronts Germany: Interior Minister Waldow decides to cut farmers’ rations not workers to save 140,000t before Ukraine grain arrives. Western

World War One Diary for Tuesday, March 12, 1918: Air War Western Front­: Richthofen’s 64th victory in Jasta 11, clash with 9 Bristol Fighters of No 62 Squadron (4 lost).

World War One Diary for Monday, March 11, 1918: Air War France: 60 Gotha bombers (4 lost) attack Paris (night March 11-12, 141 casualties including 101 killed when War Ministry

World War One Diary for Sunday, March 10, 1918: Western Front Britain: BEF GHQ Weekly Intelligence Summary: ‘… the imminence of the [German] offensive in the Arras-St Quentin area has

World War One Diary for Saturday, March 9, 1918: Air War Western Front: DH9 operational debut; controversial DH4 replacement aircraft of No 6 (Naval) Squadron attack St Pierre Capelle. 53

World War One Diary for Friday, March 8, 1918: Eastern Front USSR: Trotsky appointed People’s Commissar for War. Baltic: Duchy of Courland’s throne offered to Kaiser; Germans declare protectorate on

World War One Diary for Thursday, March 7, 1918: Air War Britain: 3 of 6 ‘Giant’ bombers sent attack London (63 casualties, 25 houses destroyed, night March 7-8) in moonless

World War One Diary for Wednesday, March 6, 1918: Middle East Arabia: Turks (including 703rd German battalion) retake Tafila from Zeid and drive him on to Shobek on March 7,