In January 1918, Woodrow Wilson announced his 14 Points for a potential peace agreement. Throughout the year, the Germans launched several strong offensives in France, making gains but suffering heavy casualties. However, from July onwards Allied counter-attacks began to take the initiative as American troops arrived in larger numbers. Bulgaria agreed to an armistice in September and Turkey sought one in October as the Allied offensives succeeded in breaking through the Hindenburg Line.

1. 1918
JANUARY
8
American President
Woodrow Wilson announces
‘14 Points’ that he believes
could form the basis for a
peace agreement
FEBRUARY
6 23 25
Representation of the Newly formed Soviet Red Rationing begins in London
People Act receives Royal Army goes into action and the south of Britain
Assent, extending the right against the Germans for
to vote to almost all British the first time
men as well as women aged
over 30
MARCH
3 21 23 26
The Bolshevik Russian First Battle of the Somme, Following their advance At a conference in Doullens,
government signs a peace 1918. The Germans launch through the former Allied French General Ferdinand
treaty with the Germans a strong offensive in France lines, the Germans use a Foch becomes General in
and other Central Powers at (Operation Michael) aimed long range railway gun to Chief of all the Allied armies
Brest-Litovsk at splitting the British and shell Paris. Continues to 15 in France
French lines. The British August.
in particular suffer heavy
casualties and begin a
far reaching withdrawal.
Fighting continues to 5 April.
APRIL
1 7 9 10 14 17 21
The Royal Air Force is formed Meat rationing introduced Battle of the Lys. The Third Military Service Batum, in the Caucasus, Considered finally ready for Germany’s top air ace,
by combining the army’s across Britain Germans launch a second Act passed by the British captured by Turkish troops battle, US 1st Division sent Freiherr Manfred von
Royal Flying Corps with offensive (Operation parliament increasing who take advantage of to join French Fifth Army Richtofen, shot down and
the navy’s Royal Naval Air Georgette) against the eligibility for armed service Russia’s withdrawal from the killed on the Somme
Service British line in Flanders, again to those aged up to 51 and war to recapture lost ground
capturing much ground. men living in Ireland
Fighting continues until
29 April.
Women’s Auxiliary Army
Corps renamed Queen
Mary’s Auxiliary Army Corps
in recognition of their
conduct during the German
offensive the previous
month
23
Royal Navy ships launch a
raid against Zeebrugge and
Ostend, aimed at blocking
the exits from the inland
German submarine bases
MAY
19 27
Largest and final German Third Battle of the Aisne.
aeroplane raid on London, Third German offensive
involving 33 aircraft. 49 (Operation Blucher) against
people are killed and 177 the French line, centres
wounded. on the Chemin des Dames
above the River Aisne.
Fighting continues to 6 June.
JUNE
9 15
Battle of the Matz. Fourth Battle of the Piave. Austro-
German offensive (Operation Hungarians launch a
Gneisenau), hitting the renewed attack on the
French line again, this time Italian line in the north-east
south of Verdun near along the River Piave. The
St Mihiel. Fighting continues attack is beaten off. Fighting
until 14 June. continues to 24 June.
JULY
15 16 18 26
Fourth Battle of Champagne. Former Tsar Nicholas II and Second Battle of the Marne. Major Edward Mannock,
Fifth major German attack his family executed by the General Ferdinand Foch Britain’s highest rated ‘air
since March. On a smaller Bolsheviks launches his first counter- ace’, shot down and killed.
scale, German troops assault attack after five concerted Mannock was posthumously
the French line facing the German offensives. The awarded the Victoria Cross.
River Marne. For the first Allied armies take the
time the German attack is initiative. Fighting on the
unsuccessful. Continues to Marne continues until 7
18 July. August.
AUGUST
5 8
Last German airship raid Battle of Amiens. British,
on Britain Australian, Canadian
and French forces
launch a powerful strike
against the German
army on the Somme.
General Ludendorf calls
it ‘the black day of the
German army’. Fighting
now continues until 11
November.
SEPTEMBER
12 15 18 19 26 27 28
Battles of the Hindenburg French and Serbian troops Battle of Monastir-Doiran. Battle of Megiddo. In Battle of Champagne Battle of the Canal du Nord. Battle of the Flanders Ridges.
Line. Allied troops begin at Salonika launch strong On the Salonika front, Alllies northern Palestine, Allied and Argonne. French and Allied troops in France begin In Belgium, Allies make a
attacks on the outer offensive against the begin an attack that leads troops launch a devastating American troops begin a a successful assault on the strong advance from Ypres
defences of the strong Bulgarians and make steady to the capture of Doiran. attack on the Turks and steady push against the German Hindenburg Line. that begins to push the
German Hindenburg Line in gains Fighting continues to 24 begin a steady advance into Germans along the southern Fighting continues until 9 Germans back. Fighting
France. September. Syria. Fighting continues part of the front. Fighting October. continues until 10 October.
until 25 October. continues until 15 October.
Battle of St Mihiel. American
troops launch a successful
attack against the German
lines south of Verdun.
29 30
Battle of the St Quentin Bulgaria agrees an armistice
Canal. Allied troops with the Allies
successfully break through
the Hindenburg Line.
Fighting continues until
2 October.
OCTOBER
1 3 14 16 17 24 26
Australian and British Prince Max von Baden Turkish government seeks Austro-Hungarian Battle of the Selle. Allied Battle of Vittorio Veneto. General Eric Ludendorff
troops, supported by Arab becomes German Chancellor an armistice government announces troops renew their offensive Italians launch a strong resigns as the German
forces, capture Damascus in the country is to become a in France, beginning a series offensive in the north-east army’s Chief Quartermaster
Syria. Further gains follow, federal nation based on its of battles that force the along the River Piave, against General
including the cities of Beirut, German government seeks many nationalities. Hungary Germans steadily back. the Austro-Hungarian line
Homs and Aleppo. an armistice based on is to remain as a separate which begins to collapse.
President Wilson’s 14 Points kingdom.
27 30
Austro-Hungarian Turkey signs an armistice
government seeks an with the Allies. Turkish troops
armistice with the Italians in Mesopotamia surrender.
NOVEMBER
1 3 4 9 11 21 25
Serbian troops recapture German sailors Bolshevik demonstrations The German Kaiser, Wilhelm Germany signs an armistice Elements of the German Colonel Paul von Lettow-
Belgrade mutiny at Kiel begin in Germany II, abdicates and prepares with the Allies, agreeing to High Seas Fleet surrender Vorbeck ends his long
to leave Germany. Germany an immediate cease fire and off Rosyth. 39 German campaign in German East
declared a republic. the withdrawal of its troops submarines surrender at Africa and surrenders
to its own borders. Fighting Harwich. undefeated
ends in France and Belgium
at 11.00am.
Canadian troops in Belgium
recapture Mons
DECEMBER
1 14
Allied troops enter Germany British Prime Minister, David
Lloyd George, wins general
election at the head of a
national government
Military events
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