Russia and the Great War
~ 1915 ~

 

 

 
1915 - The Widening Conflict
 

This section will focus on a the events of the Great War, as well as the costs in men and equipment. It was the most devastating conflict the world ever engaged in until the Great Patriotic War of 1941.  The war would sap the strength of the massive Russian military machine, and plunge the nation into revolution.

With few exceptions noted in parenthesis, all dates given below are according to the Gregorian  Calendar that was used by most of the world during this period.  Additionally, the dates below are color coded depending on where the selected event took place.  All dates in Black took place in Europe, while naval actions will be highlighted in Dark Blue, actions that took place in the Caucasus and Asia will be highlighted in Brown.
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History and Battles
of the Great War

 

 

January 1915
  1-4 January Battle of Sarikamish
Turkish forces under Ahmet Pasha were defeated by the Russians at the Battle of Sarikamis.  The Turks lose 77,000 men of their original 95,000.
1 January Russians advance in Bukovina and Uzsok Pass.
2 January Russian army succeeds in repelling Germans at Bzura river and Ravka.
Heavy fighting occurs near Gorlitse.
Russians make progress near Uzsok and Rostoka passes.
3 January Russians occupy Suczava in Bukovina.

Heavy fighting at Ardahan in the Caucasus region.

6 January In Bukovina the Russian army reaches the Hungarian fronties and occupies Kimpolung.
7 January Fierce German assaults along the lower Ravka are repulsed.
12 January Russians capture several villages near Rosog in East Prussia.
13 January Russians advance on the Lower Vistula and occupy Serpets.
 Cruiser 'Rurik' runs aground on island of Gotland during a heavy snowstorm.  The ship manages to take the damaged ship to Reval for repairs.
13-16 January Battle of Kara Urgan in Armenia between Russians and Turks. After several days of heavy fighting the Russian army takes 4,000 Turkish prisoners and routs the Turkish army there.
16 January Russian army continues its advance on the lower Vistula.  It also repulses fierce attacks near Bolimov and occupies the Kirlibaba pass in Bukovina.
20 January Skempe in Poland is taken by the Russians.
Russian advance continues in Bukovina.
Attack by Austrians in the Kirlibaba pass is repulsed.
20-22 January Austrians begin several attempts to take the Kirilibaba pass.  First two attempts fail, but after being reinforced they recapture the pass.
23 January Two Turkish divisions are defeated by Russian army at Khorsan.
25 January German Zepplin is shot down by Libau forts.
Russian army advances in the Pillkallin district of East Prussia.
Heavy fighting occurs in the Carpathians.

Russian submarine torpedoes German light cruiser 'Gazelle' off Rugen, but is towed back to harbor.

26 January Russian victory near Dukla pass.
28 January Russians are pushed back near Beskid pass.

Trebizond and Rize are raided by a Russian torpedo boat.

29 January Russian forces begin loosing ground in the heavy fighting between Dukla and Wyszkov passes.
Elsewhere Russian army advances towards Tilsit.

German torpedo boat is sunk by a Russian submarine off Cape Moen in Denmark.

30 January German offensive near Lipno in Poland is driven back.

Turks are defeated by Russians at Sufian, and are driven back from Tabriz.

31 January German attacks in the area of Bolimov make little progress.  German forces first use of gas (xylyl bromide) against the Russian forces at Bolimov in Poland, results are highly ineffective.  Due to this fact, Russian army does not report on incident to Western Allies.
February 1915
  1 February Russian army begins regaining ground near Bolimov.

Russians advance in the Carpathians from Dukla pass to the upper San river.

2 February Russians storm Skempe in north-west Poland.

Fighting continues on the Ravka near Bolimov.

3 February Russians make gains in Bolimov sector and take Gumin.

In the Carpathians the Russians withdraw from Beskid and Tucholka passes, but make gains near Uzsok pass.

4 February Rossian army crosses Bzura and take positions near Dachova.
Heavy fighting continues along the Bzura-Ravka line.

In Bukovina the Russian army begins falling back.

5 February Continous fighting in the Carpathians, but Russians manage to repulse enemy attacks.

Russian army has several successes on the Bzura and Ravka rivers.

6 February Austrians recapture Kimpolung.
7 February Second Battle of Masurian Lakes.
Russian 10th Army is defeated.

German army begins offensive along the southern flank of the East Prussian front.  They make gains of 40 kilometers towards Johannisburg.

Very heavy fighting at Kosziowa before Austrian advance is checked.  Austrians reach upper Suczava valley in Bukovina.

8 February German army takes Johannisburg and Austrians continue their advance in Bukovina.

Russian cruisers bombard Trebizond; the German ship 'Breslau' bombards Yalta in the Crimea.

9 February German forces take Biala and turn the Russian right flank near Pillkallen.  The Russians withdraw to beyond the Suczava.
10 February German advance reaches the line from Pillkallen to Vladislavov.  They advance and capture Eydtkuhnen and Wirballen.  Germans are repulsed at Kosziowa.
11 February Serpets in Poland falls to the Germans, but they are again repulsed at Kosziowa.

Austrians reach the Sereth.

12 February Germans occupy Mariampol and Kalvaria in Poland.  Their central advance moves towards Lyck in East Prussia.

Austrians force their way through Jablonitsa pass and rapidly advance through Galicia.

13 February Russian defensive positions around Lyck fall to Germans.

Fighting in Carpathians intensifies with both sides making temporary gains.

14 February Germans re-take Lyck and completely drive the Russian army from East Prussia.

Russian army holds its ground in the Carpathians, but Austrians take Nadworna in East Galicia.

15 February Germans take Plotsk.
16 February After continued fighting along East Prussian front the Russian forces fall back to the river Niemen.

Germans suffer a reversal at Kosziowa, but Austrians take Kolomea in Bukovina.

17 February Russian forces defeated in northwest Poland along Plotsk-Ratsionj line.

More fighting near Nadworna and Kolomea.  Austrians take Czernowitz.

18 February German army takes Tauroggen, while in the south Austrians continue offensive along the river Dunajec near Tarnow.
19 February Russian counter-offensive begins on East Prussian frontier.

Austrian offensive along the Dunajec is stopped, but Russians retreat near Nadworna.  Austrian attempt to relieve Przemsyl is repulsed.

20 February Germans repulsed at Kosziowa.
21 February Russians counterattack near Lomja and Plotsk.  They also take the heights near Lupkow and Wyzskow passes.  Russians also attack Austrians southeast of Stanislau.

Turks driven across river Ichkalen in Armenia.

22 February Germans claim to have taken 100,000 prisoners and some 300 guns in the recent East Prussian offensive.

Heavy fighting occurs across northern Poland.  Strong German attacks at Pryasnysz are repulsed.  Large battle is fought south of the Dolina-Stanislau line.

23 February Russians advance across the river Bobr southeast of Augustovo.
24 February Germans cross the Niemen near Sventsiansk and take Pryzasnysz.  They also take 10,000 prisoners and 20 guns.

Russians take Mozely near Bolimov.

25 February Heavy fighting continues near Pryzasnysz.  Germans bombard Osovyets.

Russians retake Stanislau and take 2,600 prisoners.

26 February Germans begin to pull back from around Pryzasnysz.
27 February Russian army retakes Pryzasnysz and take 5,400 prisoners.  They also capture 4,000 prisoners in an action near Dolina in southern Galicia.
March 1915
  1 March German offensive along the Niemen river front that began on 6 February collapses and begins a general retreat.

Heavy fighting occurs near Grodno and Osovyets.

Austrian attacks are repulsed in the Carpathians.

2 March Russians continue to push Germans back along the Niemen river front.  They take over 10,000 prisoners.

Russians bombard Czernowitz.

Austrian attacks at Lupkow pass intended to relieve pressure on Przemysl fail and are repulsed.

3-4 March Russians retake Stanislau and Krasna.  They take over 19,000 prisoners.
5 March Germans begin concentrating forces between Thorn and Mlava.  Russians cross the river Bistritza in the Carpathians.
6 March Austrian attacks in the Carpathians are again repulsed.  They also begin to retreat in the Bukovina region.
7 March Russians begin pursuing fleeing Germans forces into Augustovo woods in northern Poland.

Heavy fighting at Osovyets.

Further attacks by the Austrians in the Carpathians are repulsed at Baligrod.

8 March The whole front along the Vistula erupts in heavy fighting.  The fighting goes in favor of the Russians around Osovyets.

Austrians take heavy losses by continue to attack Baligrod.  Russians are stopped at Kosiziowa in the Carpathians.

The Black Sea Fleet bombards Heraclea and neighboring coast.

9 March The Germans launch a new offensive near Przasnysz.
Austrian attacks in the Carpathians fail.

Russian army begins advance north of Osovyets.

10 March Russians repulse renewed German attacks along the Niemen and west of Grodno.
11 March New German offensive forms near Przasnysz.
12-13 March German attacks near Augustovo woods and north of Przasnysz are repulsed by Russians.
13 March Austrian attacks in the Carpathians and in East Galicia fail.
14 March Russian army meets continued success in Przasnysz district.
15 March Russians launch counteroffensive along both banks of the river Orzec in northern Poland.

Austrian center line is broken by Russian counter offensive near Smolnik in the Carpathians.

17 March Austrians are reinforced and attempt to cross the river Pruth in Bukovina.
18 March Memel in East Prussia is occupied by Russians.

Austrians are repulsed in both the Carpathians and Bukovina.

19 March Another Austrian attempt to relieve Przemysl fails.
20 March Russians attack near Smolnik and take 2,400 prisoners.
21 March Memel is reoccupied by German forces.  Germans also abandon attack on Osovyets and withdraw their artillery.
22 March Przemysl falls to Russians
126,000 men and 700 heavy guns are captured ending a seige that began 11 November the previous year.
25-26 March Russian counteroffensive in the Carpathians makes good gains and take Lupkow pass.  7,900 men prisoner during the operation.
27 March German attacks in the Niemen district are repulsed.
28 March Germans attempt to renew their offensive in north Poland.

Russians make good progress in the Carpathians against light Austrian resistance.

Russian Black Sea Fleet bombards the Turkish forts along the Bosphorous.

29 March Germans take Tauroggen.

Russians continue to advance in the Carpathians and take 5,600 prisoners.

31 March Germans bombard Libau.  In the south heavy fighting occurs in the Carpathians.

April 1915
  April As ice melts in the Baltic, Russian ships resume minelaying activities.
1 April Russian advance in Poland is halted by the Germans.

In the Caucasus the Russians occupy Tsria.

2 April Cavalry battle between Russians and Germans in northern Poland.   Russians emerge victorious.  In the Carpathians the Russians take Cigielka.
3 April Russian attacks in the Carpathians are repulsed.

Heavy fighting occurs north of Czernowitz.

Turkish cruiser 'Medjidia' is sunk by a Russian mine off Odessa.  Black Sea Fleet engages the German ships 'Goeben' and Breslau'.

4 April Russian hospital in Radom, Poland is bombed.

In the Carpathians, Cisna is occupied by the Russians who reach Sztropko.  A fierce battle takes place at Okna.

'Goeben' and 'Breslau' withdraw to the Bosphorus.

5 April Russians make further gains in the Carpathians.
6 April Russian army advances in the Niemen district.

Russians enter Artvin in Armenia.

8 April Ottoman Turks begin deporting and massacring Armenians.
9 April. Russians advance near Suvalki.  Continued indecisive fighting in the Carpathians.
10 April Heavy fighting for Uzsok pass.
11 April Germans bombard Osovyets.

Russians capture Wysocko Nizhne near Uzsok pass.

12 April Russians stopped east of the Uzsok pass.
13 April Heights near Uzsok pass are captured by the Russians.
14 April German forces are repulsed at Osovyets.

Russians make progress east of Czernowitz.

15 April Black Sea fleet bombards Ergeti and other locations along the coast of Anatolia.
16 April Russian troops capture heights southwest of Rosztoki pass.
17 April Austrians launch offensive towards Stryj in East Galicia.
18 April Russians repulse attacks in the Carpathians.
20 April Near Gorlitze the Austrians are repulsed by Russian troops.
21 April In the Carpathians Russian troops manage to take Hill 1002 northeast of Lubonia.
22 April Russian attacks are repulsed on both sides of Uzsok pass.

Austrian attack towards Stryj fails.

24 April Ostaij is captured by Austrian troops.
25 April Heavy fighting near Stryj.

Turkish forts on the Bosporus are shelled by the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

26 April Russian troops in Armenia advance on Olty.
27 April Germans advance towards Shavli in the Baltic.

Russian forces expel Turkish defenders from Kutur in Persia.

28 April General Von Mackensen commands powerful Austro-German offensive between Dunajec and Biala rivers.  Russians fall back before Austro-German advance.
29 April German troops advance in Galicia and in the Baltic provinces.  They manage to reach the Libau-Dvinsk railway.

Russian forces repel Austrian attacks in Uzsok pass.

30 April Germans continue advance and reach the Muravievo and Radziviliski railway stations.
May 1915
  1 May Shavli is occupied by German troops and approach Libau.

The Austro-German offensive moves towards the Uzsok pass.

2 May Von Mackensen's army takes Gorlitse, Ciezkowica, and cross the Biala river.  Focus of the attack is the poorly supplied Russian 3rd Army.

Russian troops take Mt. Makovka near Stryj, but it is soon retaken by the enemy.

Turkish forces on the Bosporus are again shelled by the Black Sea Fleet.

3 May Germans continue to advance towards Mitau in the Baltic provinces.  They take 8,200 prisoners.  In the south Von Mackensen's force makes steady progress.
4 May Heavy fighting in Galica as Russian troops make their stand on the Visloka river.
5 May Germans bombard Grodno; other German force is stopped south of Mitau.

Russian troops decisively defeat a Turkish force in Armenia.

6 May Tarnow is occupied by Austrian troops.
7 May Russian forces fall back to the Vistok river and retreat in the Carpathians.

Turks begin massacre of Christians.

8 May Libau falls to German troops.  Russian forces in Galicia continue their retreat.
9 May German forces defeated at Krakinow then begin a retreat.
11 May Shavil is evacuated by German troops.

Von Mackensen's force continues its advance across Galicia and north of Uzsok pass.  Russian 3rd Army falls back to the river San.

Russian troops make gains in Tabriz district.

12 May In Poland the Germans occupy Kyeltsi.

Austrians retreat south of Pruth river.

13 May Russians retreat in Galicia
Sniatyn is occupied by Russian troops.
14 May Battle of the San
Von Mackensen's Austro-German force takes Jaroslav, while Russian troops take Kolomea.
15 May Russian forces drive Austrians back on the Dniester river.
16 May Austrians heavily defeated between Kyeltsi and Ostrovyets in southern Poland.
17 May Von Mackensen's force crosses the San river.

Ardjuche on Lake Van is occupied by Russian troops in Armenia.

18 May Russian forces driven back from San river by Austrian forces.
19 May Germans take Lutkow in Galicia.

Van falls to the Russians.

20 May Von Mackensen's army bombards Przemysl.
21 May Russian counter-offensive begins to counter evacuation of Prezemysl.

Turks retreat on Bitlis river in Kurdistan.

22 May Russian battleship 'Penteleimon' is torpedoed on the Black Sea.
24 May Austro-German army occupies Radyno.
25 May Von Mackensen's Austro-German army takes the Zagrody bridgehead on the river San.

Miandob in Persia is occupied by Russian troops.

26 May Heavy fighting around Przemysl results in some Austro-German gains.
27-28 May Sieniawa and Kindowary are taken by the Russians in the Baltic provinces.  Bubie is taken next day.

On Lake Van, Vastan is occupied by Russian troops.

29 May Austrian forces retreat in the face of Russian counter-offensive in east Galicia.
30 May Przemysl forts come under attack by Von Mackensen's forces.

Russian troops have successes along the river San.

June 1915
  1 June German forces use poison gas in an unsuccessful attack west of Warsaw.
2 June Przemysl is attacked by Austro-German army under Von Mackensen.

Austrians beaten by Russian army on the Dniester river at Mikolajow.

3 June Przemysl is taken by Von Mackensen's army.
6 June Central Powers troops cross the Dniester at Zurawno and continue their advance east of Przemysl.
9 June In Shavli district Russian forces repel German attacks.

Von Mackensen's force is pushed back to the right bank of the river Dniester.

10-11 June Russian troops drive Austro-German army driven back at Zurawno and take 16,000 Austrians prisoner.
12 June Austro-German force crosses the Dniester at Kolomea.
Germans attack north of Shavli, north of Przasnysz, along the Bzura river, and at Mosciska in Galicia.
13 June Russian forces counterattack along the Styr and Tysmienice rivers.

Austro-German army successfully attacks along the San river to Mosciska.

14 June Russian troops fall back towards the Grodek line near Lemberg.
15 June Germans advance along right bank of river San.
17 June Russians announce that Central Powers have lost 120,000 men in fighting along the Dniester during the last month.
18 June Official report is issued by Russians summarizing the past month's actions along the Dniester.  The report claims that 40,000 prisoners have been taken and between 120,000 and 150,000 enemy troops have been killed.
19 June Russians retreat as Austro-German army attacks the Grodek line.
21 June Zolkiew and Rawa Ruska are taken by Austro-German troops.

Russians manage to repulse Austrians at Nizniow.

22 June Austrians take Lemberg.
23 June Advance of the Austro-German army is halted long the Zurawno-Demeszkowiec line.
25 June Russian troops fight a rearguard action at Bobrka.
26 June Heavy German attacks along Bukaczowce-Halicz front are repulsed by Russian troops, who retreat after doing so.
27 June Halicz is taken by the Germans who then advance to the river Bug.  Russian troops retreat from the Dniester to the Gnila-Lipa line.

Russian attacks north of Przasnyaz lose momentum and break down.

28 June Russian troops continue their retreat across Galicia.
29 June Austro-German army advances towards the river Vistula and river Bug.

Russian army repulses attack near Halicz.

30 June. German forces cross the Gnila-Lipa line.
Joint Austro-German force advances from Tomashov.
Germans claim that they have taken 150,650 Russian prisoners in the month of June.

Late that night a powerful Russian naval squadron sails south to bombard the port of Memel.

July 1915
  1 July Von Mackensen's army occupies Zamosc, while Germans under Lisingen cross the Gnila Lipa line south of Rohatyn in Galicia.

Russians evacuate a bridgehead on the Vistula near Tarlov.

2 July Austrians under Archduke Ferdinand occupy Krasnik.  Heavy fighting occurs between Russians and Austrians between river Bug and Vistula.

German ship 'Albatross' is sunk by Russian warships off Gothland.

3 July Russians in Galicia leave Gnila Lipa for Zlota Lipa.
4 July German troops reach Zlota Lipa.
5 July Russians severely defeat Austrians between the Bug and Vistula rivers, and Austrian offensive between Veprj and Bug rivers is repulsed.

Austro-German army suspends movement north from Galicia towards Kholm-Lyublin line.

6 July Austricans under Archduke Josef Ferdinand are beaten by Russians near Krasnik.  Russians take 15,000 prisoners.

Russian battleship 'Imperatritsia Maria' enters service with the Black Sea fleet.
7 July Vonmakensen's army is held up near Krasnostav.
8 July Austrian troops defeated on Urzedowka and withdraw to the heights north of Krasnik.
9 July Austrian offensive on Zlota Lipa is repulsed by the Russians.
10 July Austrian army counterattacks near Krasnik.

Russian General Russki is made commander in chief of Northern front.

Turkish troops attack Russians near Karaderbent in the Caucasus.

11 July Fighting continues on the Lyublin front.

Austrians lose all ground they have gained over the past week.  Furthermore their attacks on Zlota Lipa and the Dniester are repulsed.

Russian forces withdraw to the right bank of the Urzedowka.

12 July Germans mount an offensive on the Bobr and Narev fronts northeast of Warsaw.
13 July Austrian army advances across the river Dniester in Bukovina.
14 July Austro-German offensive from Baltic to Bukovina
Russians fall back towards Narev, as Przasnysz falls to the enemy.
15 July Germans begin offensive towards Riga.  They also storm a line south of Zielovna, and force the Russians to retreat towards the Narev river.
16 July Germans attack Russian forces on the Wolitsa river.

Russian troops repulse Archduke Josef Ferdinand's Austrian Army north of Krasnik.  Russians also defeat Austrians on the east bank of the river Dniester and capture 2,000 prisoners.

17 July Von Mackensen continues his offensive on the Wolitsa river.

Heavy fighting occurs between the Vistula and Bug rivers.

18 July Krasnostav falls to Von Mackensen's army.  Windau is also captured.

Russians retreat along the entire front between the Vistula and Bug.  They also retreat from positions north and west of Warsaw.

19 July Russian forces begin concentrating on the river Narev as Germans attack north and south of Warsaw.  Heaviest fighting takes place along Lyublin-Kholm line.
20 July Russian troops mount a stubborn defense of the Lyublin-Kholm railway.  Heavy fighting takes place south of Ivangorod.  Russians evacuate positions west of Groitsi and retreat north of Novogorod.

Germans also break though the Russian line on the river Bubissa.

21 July Russians lauch offensive around Sokal and push enemy from right bank of Upper Bug river.
22 July Left bank of river Vistula north of Ivangorod is cleared of enemy forces by Russian troops.

Germans storm Miluny and attacks the Narev bridgehead at Rojan.

23 July Germans storm Russian fortresses at Rojan and Pultsk.  They soon cross the river Narev.  Russians are overtaken and defeated near Shavli.
25 July Russian government orders the evacuation of factories in Riga and Warsaw.

Germans cross the Narev north of Ostrolenka.  They also reach Posvol and Poneviezh district.

26 July Russian forces hold the Germans along the Narev line.  Heavy fighting east of Rojan.  Russians also capture a German Zepplin and repulse Germans at Shlok.

Baltic Fleet gives fire support to Russian army on land.

27 July Goworowo falls to the Germans.  Warsaw is attacked on three sides.

Austrians lose heavily in attacks near Majdan-Ostrowski and in the Cholm region.

Fighting for the Pruth river south east of Poltusk begins.

Turkish troops force Russian army back near Mush in Asia Minor.

28 July Germans cross the Vistula between Warsaw and Ivangorod.  They also repulse Russian forces southwest of Gora Kalvariya.

Austrians repulsed beyond the Kamienka.

29 July Lyublin-Kholm railway is cut by advancing German troops.  Germans also break through Russian positions west of the Veprj.  A further attempt to advance between Narev and the river Orz is unsuccessful.
30 July Russian army falls back on entire line in Poland
Only Russian resistance is north of Grusbieszow.
The evacuation of Warsaw continues.

Austrians occupy Lyublin.

31 July Germans cross the Aa after two days fighting.  They also advance on the Kamienka front.  Russians are forced from positions near Kurow.  Kholm is occupied by German troops.
August 1915
  1 August Mitau is evacuated and is soon captured by the Germans.
Germans are stopped west of Warsaw on the Blonie line, but progress along the Narev.

Austrians capture Novo Alexandria.

2 August Russians retreat east of Ponevyej.

Germans claim to have taken 9,000 prisoners taken near Lomja and at Ivangorod.

On the Leczna-Kholm line the Russian army has 2,000 men taken prisoner.

3 August Russians pull back north of Lomja.

Von Mackensen is victorious near Kholm and Germans cross the Narev.

In a raid along the Turkish coast Russian ships sink a number of small vessels.

4 August Warsaw is evacuated as Germans advance.  Russians abandon the Bloni-Nadarzyn line 15 miles west of Warsaw.  They later evacuate Ivangorod.
5 August Ivangorod is captured by the Austrian army.
German troops enter Warsaw.

Russians capture Turkish positions near Olti and Sarikamish in the Caucasus, and repel later Turkish attacks.

6 August German army is repulsed at Osovyets.

Austrian Archduke Josef Ferdinand's army enters Lyublin.

7 August German army is repulsed near Riga, but attacks Kovna.
Poison gas used by Germans near Osovyets.
Sierok is occupied and Germans reach the Vistula near Pienkow.

Russians retreat behind Jara river.

8 August Kovna is attacked by the Germans who are repulsed with heavy losses.

Novo Georievask is cut off.  Praga is occupied.
Von Mackensen forces the Russian army back across the Veprj river.

German squadron of 11 battleships, 12 cruisers, and many destroyers enter the Gulf of Riga which is defended by the battleship 'Slava', two gunboats, and British submarines.  Germans lose two torpedo boats and have one cruiser damaged.

9 August Osovyets is evacuated and destroyed by Russian army.

Germans launch a night attack on Kovna fortress where they lose three battalions in a Russian counterattack.
Other German forces advance east of Warsaw.

255,000 Armenians from Van migrate into Caucasus region.

10 August Vilna and Kovna are evacuated.  Novo Georgievsk and Brest-Litovsk are bombarded.  Germans reach Kaluszyn east of Warsaw.  Russians are also pushed out of Kock.  Lomja and Ostrov also fall into German hands.

German fleet bombards Riga, but is driven off by Russian Baltic fleet.

Russians pursue the Turks on the Upper Euphrates river and capture critical high ground in Passin valley.

11 August Dvinsk is evacuated.
12 August Sokolov, Syedlets, and Lukow are evacuated by Russians.  Strategic materials are evacuated from Riga.

Germans are driven back beyond river Aa.  Russians capture Kovarsk and Toviamy southwest of Dvinsk.

Russian and German fleets clash near Oesel in the Baltic.

In Armenia Russian left flank reoccupies Alshgerd.

13 August After three days of fightin Russians repel German army from Vlodava.
14 August Russian sortie from Kovna is repulsed.
In Bukovina Russian forces launch attack near Czernowitz.

Germans force crossing of the Nurzec river.

15 August Outside Kovna some 1730 Russian soldiers are taken prisoner.  Russian line at Bransk is broken resulting in the capture of 5,000 more Russians.

Germans capture Losice, Biala, and Mezyrecze.  They also cross the river Bug east of Droghiczyn.

16 August Russian army retreats to Brest-Osovyets-Kovna line.
Bialystok is partially evacuated.
Germans are repulsed from Mitau.
Kovna is bombarded and a breech is made in its defenses.
Austrians cross the Krzna.

German fleet attacks at entrance of Gulf of Riga late that night.

Turks driven back near Olti in Caucasus.
In Armenia Russian troops enter Van.  They also announce the defeat of the Turks in a communique and occupy Kep.

17 August Kovna falls to Germans
After fierce attack the outlying forts of Novo-Georgievsk are captured.  Over the next few days the Germans capture some 1,980 guns.
Austrians approach Brest-Litovsk.
Germans cut the Bialystok-Byelsk railway and Kholm-Brest-Litovsk railway.

STAVKA divides the Eastern front into three separate fronts: the Northern, North-Western, and South-Western.

Germans lose the destroyer V100 in the Gulf of Riga.
18 August Russians defeat German fleet in Gulf of Riga.  Germans retreat after losing two cruisers and eight torpedo boats.  Russians lose the gunboat 'Sivuch'.
19 August Fall of Novo-Georgievsk
Germans drive Russian troops back to between Augustovo and Osovyets.  Von Mackensen reaches Piszcza and moves towards Brest-Litovsk.

Russian forces destroy German force landing at Pernau.

20 August Russians evacuate Bialystok as Germans occupy Byelsk.

Naval battle of Riga continues as German fleet penetrates into the Gulf.

21 August German fleet withdraws from Riga area as their landing failed.
22 August Osovyets falls to Germans
Russians fall back from the Bobr and Niemen rivers.

STAVKA relocated to Mogilev.
23 August Russians stubbornly defend Kleszczeli.
24 August Germans break through positions near Bodrynka southwest of Brest.
25 August Brest-Litovsk is stormed and falls.

Turks again massacre Armenian civilians.

26 August Germans occupy fort of Olita and the river Niemen and begin advancing east from Brest-Litovsk.
27 August Russian line on Zlota Lipa is broken near Brzezany.

German forces begin massing on the Romanian frontier.

Russian and British consuls are attacks in Kengaver, Persia by a band of thugs paid by the German Vice-Consul stationed there.

29 August Germans near Grodno and Vilna.  Lipsk is stormed.  Germans also attack Dvina bridgehead at Friedrichstadt.
30 August Russians achieve a victory against the Austrians on Strypa river.  They take 4,000 prisoners and 30 guns.
31 August Germans are defeated by Russians near Lutsk.  Russians take 7,000 prisoners.
Late August Austrians launch their 'Black-Yellow' offensive.

September 1915
  1 September Grodno is attacked by German forces.
Brody is taken by the Austrians.

Russian troops mass around Vilna.

2 September Grondno falls to German forces.
Austrians continue to advance east of Brody.

Russians retreat to the river Sereth.
Heavy fighting takes place near Vilna.

3 September Russian forces in Friedrichstadt are forced to the east bank of the river Dvina by advancing Germans.

Russian troops reenter Grodno and manage to hold a line running between the Dniester and Pripet marshes.

Austrians reach the right bank of the river Sereth.

Grand Duke Nicholas is appointed the Viceroy of the Caucasus.
General von Beseler is appointed Governor General of Russian Poland.

4 September Germans begin offensive on Dubno-Kovna road.  Russians slowly pull back.
5 September Tsar Nicholas II assumes supreme command over army.  Appoints General Alexeyev as Chief of Staff.

Fighting continues between Styr and Sereth rivers.

6 September Russian army is pushed back along its center line by advancing Germans.  It is also pushed back over the east Galician boarder by the Austrians.  Heavy fighting occurs near Brody.

In the Black Sea Russian destroyers damage the Turkish cruiser 'Hamidiya' and sink four coal transports.

7 September Austrians enter Dubno.

Russian army launches successful counter-offensive at Tarnopol and Trembovla.

8-9 September Russians are victorious at Tarnopol and Trembovla and take 13,000 prisoners.
9-18 September Battle of Vilna
Russians hold positions in most areas, but begin falling back in the center.
11 September Russian army goes on the offensive along the river Dvina, but then withdraw northwest of Vilna.

In southern Galicia Austrians fall back towards Strypa.

12 September Vilna-Dvinsk railway is cut near Svyentsyani.  Russian forces are pushed back east of Grodno.
13 September Battle of Meiszagola

Heavy fighting from the Dvina to the Vilia rivers.

Romania orders a partial mobilization.

14 September Russians successful in Rovno and Tarnopol areas, but are under heavy pressure from Germans in the northern sectors.
15 September Fighting around Dvinsk as Germans attempt to divide the Russian Vilna and Dvinsk groups.

Germans advance on Pinsk, but are driven back across the river Strypa in the south.

A sortie by the battleships 'Gangut' and 'Petropavlovsk' is interrupted as sailors mutiny due to bad food.

16 September Russians put up stubborn defense in Vilna-Dvinsk area, but situation is deteriorating.  Pinsk is taken by German troops.
17 September Russian troops fall back between Vilia and Pripet rivers, but stop German advance at Rovno.
18 September Fall of Vilna
Russian army begins retreat towards Minsk.
19 September German army reaches Smorgon and Molodechna.
Russians manage to hold upper Vilia river.
20 September Heavy fighting in northern sector near Riga.
21 September Heavy fighting around Dvinsk.
Russians retake Smorgon.
Austrians are driven back in Rovno region.

Bulgaria orders mobilization, but claims to stay neutral.

22 September Russian army conducts successful operations over entire line, with the exception of the center.

General Brusilov's 8th Army halts Austrian 'Black-Yellow' offensive.
23 September Vileika is recaptured by Russian army.
The army also drives the Germans back across the Oginski Canal.
Lutsk is taken by the Russians and they take 12,000 prisoners.
25 September Russians near Dvinsk drive Germans back inflicting severe losses upon them.

Baltic Fleet bombards German positions on the Gulf of Riga and silences artillery batteries.

26 September Germans are driven back from Pinsk.
Fighting continues around Dvinsk.
27 September Germans attack Eckau, Dvinsk, and along Vilia and Niemen rivers.  All are repulsed.
28 September Russian forces abandon Lutsk.
Germans push Russians in Pripet district back, but take heavy casualties in the marshes.
29 September Russians driven further back in Pripet region.
Heavy fighting continues southeast of Dvinsk and on Strypa river.
30 September German advance halted across the line.

Russians still slowly retreating around Lutsk and in Southern Pripet marshes.  They have strong presence in Dvinsk.

October 1915
  1 October Dvinsk and Smorgon attacked by German troops.
3 October Russian offensive around Postavi-Smorgon collapses.

Desparate fighing in the regions south of Dvinsk.

4 October Russians take offensive between Drisviati Lake and Smorgon.

Two Russian naval squadrons operate off Varna.

5 October Actions across Riga front and around Smorgon.
6 October Heavy fighting continues on Dvinsk front and in Lakes district.

Romanians begin fortifying Giurgevo.

7 October Two Russian destroyers sink 19 Turkish supply ships off Turkish coast.
8 October Russians capture 1,000 prisoners near Novo Alexintaz.
9 October Russian army pushed back northwest of Dvinsk.
Heavy losses taken in Volhynia.
11 October Heavy fighting around Dvinsk.
Gen. Ivanov catpures 2,000 Austrians on the Strypa river.
12 October Russian forces repel Turks in Van pass and and Arkhava.
13 October Russian army holds Lake Drisviati near Dvinsk, but are driven back across the Strypa.
14 October Heavy fighting at Illukst.
Austro-German forces stopped on the Strypa.
Mid-October Russians reorganize.  Domestic munitions production increases and supply problems are being resolved.  One million refugees have moved into the Russian heartland as have strategic industrial concerns.
16 October Heavy fighting along entire Russian front, especially near Mitau.
17 October German troops near Jakobstadt.
Russian army has successes on middle Styr river.
18 October Germans advance on the Dvina.
Russians capture Chartorysk.
19 October Heavy fighting around Mitai.
20 October Near Tarnopol Gen. Ivanov takes 7,500 prisoners.
21 October Germans capture Dvina river bank ten miles east of Riga.

Fighting at Baranovichi.

22 October Germans advance west of Charotysk and capture Kolki.

Russian Naval Infantry lands and defeats a German force near Domesnes on the Gulf of Riga.  The troops capture many German supplies.

23 October Germans storm Illukst.  
Heavy fighting near Postavk and on Oginski Canal.
24 October Germans repulsed on lower Aa river.
25 October Heavy fighting near Illukst, Uxkull, and Chartorysk.
26 October Germans advance at Illukst.

Cossacks sent to help Russian and British Consuls at Kengaver in Persia.

27 October Russians driven back from Styr river.
28 October Germans concentrating heavily near Riga.
Fierce fighting along Dvina river.
30 October Russian army victory near Tarnopol results in 8,000 prisoners.
November 1915
  1 November Food shortage in Petrograd.
2 November German press reports about prospect of Russian internal dissent helping Central Powers.

Russian and British ministers at Tehran area assured by Persian foreign office that rumors of agreement with Germany are unfounded.

3 November Russian victory in Siemikowice resulting in the capture of 5,000 prisoners.  Actions around Dvinsk are also successful.
5 November German forces are repulsed with heavy losses at Platonovka south of Lake Sventen.
7 November General Alexeyev gives his estimate of Central Powers forces in the field.
Russian army makes progress near Riga.
Total casualties for Russian army are found to have reached 2,000,000 at the end of September.
8 November German army is on the defensive along the Eastern front.  They fortify positions in Kolki region.
9 November Russian victories along the river Styr yield 3,500 prisoners.
10 November German lines are broken west of Charorysk.  Russians take 2,050 prisoners.

Russians advance on Tehran.  Persian police under foreign officers revolt and imprison British citizens because of German intrigues in the region.

11 November Germans retreat near Riga.
Russian army wins victory at Kemmern near Gulf of Riga with the help of the Baltic Fleet.

Russian battleships 'Gangut' and 'Petropavlovsk' launch sortie into the Gulf of Finland and sail as far south as Gotland in an effort to mask minelaying operations in the Gulf of Riga.
12 November Meeting between Kaiser and Hindenburg.  Hindenburg threatens to resign if Kaiser insists on the capture of Riga and Dvinsk.
14 November Germans retreat from Riga and the Shlok and Kemmern regions.

In Persia the Turks and Germans are defeated by Russians.  Turkish ambassador and Austro-German Ministers leave the country.

21 November Russian army suffers a great shortage of weapons and uniforms.
23 November Russians take Tsarzemunde on the Riga front.
24 November Russian army captures Yanopol and almost encircle Germans.  German forces withdraw from the newly created salient.
26 November Turks and Kurds are defeated by Russian troops who occupy Karaj and Yengi Iman some 40 miles from Tehran.
28 November German 82nd division staff are surprised and taken prisoner by Russians near Pinsk.  Two generals are captured.
29 November Russians conduct successful actions at Illukst.
December 1915
  2 December Austro-German forces are driven back to the left bank of river Styr in Galicia.
3 December Austrian offensive in Galicia is repulsed in several places.
5 December Russian front at Dvinsk is bombarded.  Russian attack near Lake Babit is reported to have failed.
9 December Heavy artillery barrages along Riga front.
Germans use poison gas.

Russian troops occupy Sultan Bulak pass in Persia.  Turco-German mercenaries are routed by Russians in Hamadan.

10 December Black Sea Fleet sings two Turkish gunboats.
11 December Russian army occupies Hamadan in Persia.
15 December Russians penetrate German line north of Lake Drisviati but are repulsed by German counterattack.  Russians also repulsed near the mouth of the river Beresina.
17 December Austrian army repulse by Russians on river Strypa

Russian troops drive hundreds of Kurds into the mountains.

19 December German colum scattered with heavy losses north of Lake Miadzol.
20 December General Russki is relieved of command.

Russians in Persia take Kum and stop German intrigue there.  Turkish strength in Armenia is now 11 divisions.

24 December Heavy fighting along the river Strypa.
25 December Major Arab force is attacked and dispersed near Matruh.  Rebel force routed near Tehran.
27 December Russian army launches attack against Austrians in northern Bukovina to support Serbia.
28 December German force routed by Latvian troops along Aa river.
30 December Heavy fighting in Bukovina continues.
31 December Russians launch strong offensive across river Styr at Charorysk in Galicia.

 

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