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Major Battles of World War 1


Battles of World War 1French Armored Cars Heading to the Front, 1914

This section lists the main battles of world war 1. On the Western Front the Germans and the Allies fought several major battles including the battles of the Marne, Ypres, Verdun, and the Somme. These battles were all characterized by major slaughter of soldiers on both sides in a war of attrition that did not significantly alter the front lines of either side. Because both sides relied on heavily fortified trenches, thousands of men died in nearly suicidal attacks on each others positions, only to be mowed down by machine guns, choked by gas, or entangled on barbed wire.

  • First Battle of the Marne: See combat photographs.
  • Second Battle of the Marne
  • Ypres
  • Verdun
  • Battle of the Marne
  • Battle of the Somme
  • Vimy Ridge
  • Battle of Château-Thierry
  • Battle of Cambrai (first)
  • Battle of Cambrai (second)
  • Battles of the Aisne
  • Gallipoli
  • Battle of the Mazurian Lakes (Russian Front)