Eastern Front, major theatre of combat during World War I that included operations on the main Russian front as well as campaigns in Romania. The principal belligerents were Russia and Romania (of the Allied and Associated Powers) versus the Central Powers
Central Powers
The Central Powers, consisting of Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria - hence also known as the Quadruple Alliance—was one of the two main coalitions that fought World War I.
What was the Eastern Front in WW1?
... (Show more) Eastern Front, major theatre of combat during World War I that included operations on the main Russian front as well as campaigns in Romania. The principal belligerents were Russia and Romania (of the Allied and Associated Powers) versus the Central Powers countries of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Bulgaria.
Where was the war fought in WW1?
The war was fought at the eastern and western front. The Eastern front was fought between Germany and Russia The western front was fought against Germany and the allies on the eastern side of France.
What countries were involved in WW1?
Fought between July 28, 1914 and November 11, 1918, World War I was a global conflict between the Central Powers of Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria; and the Allies which was a coalition of many nations, most prominently the Great Britain, France, Russia, Japan and Italy.
Where was World War 2 fought on many fronts?
World War Two was fought in the Pacific and the Atlantic and Western Europe and Eastern Europe (and Africa) at the same time. So technically the war was fought on many fronts. In Europe it was a two front war on the West and East side. When you consider the USA the war was fought on two sides of the.
What countries were on the Western Front in ww1?
Following the outbreak of war in August 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France....Western Front (World War I)Date4 August 1914 – 11 November 1918LocationBelgium, north-eastern France, Alsace-Lorraine, Luxembourg, western Germany1 more row
What two countries fought on Eastern front?
The two principal belligerent powers were Germany and the Soviet Union, along with their respective allies.
Where was the Eastern Front in World war 1?
Eastern EuropeCentral EuropeEastern Front/LocationsIt stretched from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Black Sea in the south, involved most of Eastern Europe, and stretched deep into Central Europe as well. The term contrasts with "Western Front", which was being fought in Belgium and France.
What countries were on what sides in ww1?
Over 30 nations declared war between 1914 and 1918. The majority joined on the side of the Allies, including Serbia, Russia, France, Britain, Italy and the United States. They were opposed by Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire, who together formed the Central Powers.
What side were Russia on in ww1?
the AlliesThe war quickly involved countries not part of the Triple Entente, so the opposing side was known as the Allies: Serbia, Russia, France and its Empire, Belgium, Montenegro and Britain and its Empire, including self-governing colonies like Canada and Australia.
Who started the Eastern Front ww1?
This front was initiated early in the war when Russian forces attacked the German state of East Prussia. 3. By 1915 the Eastern front ran 1,000 miles, from the Baltic coast to the Black Sea, much longer than the Western Front.
Who was fighting on the Western Front?
On the Western Front, in an attempt to drive the German Army from the occupied territories, the Allies succeeded in mobilizing a coalition force comprising more than twenty nations with the French and British Armies providing by far the most soldiers and equipment; however the United States, which entered the war in ...
Which countries fought on the Italian front?
The Italian front or Alpine front (Italian: Fronte alpino, "Alpine front"; in German: Gebirgskrieg, "Mountain war") involved a series of battles at the border between Austria-Hungary and Italy, fought between 1915 and 1918 in the course of World War I.
Where was the Western Front in ww1?
FranceBelgiumAlsaceWestern Front/Locations
Who were the Axis and Allies ww1?
During the conflict, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire (the Central Powers) fought against Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Romania, Canada, Japan and the United States (the Allied Powers).
Who were in the Axis?
The Axis powers (Germany, Italy, Japan) were opposed by the Allied Powers (led by Great Britain, the United States, and the Soviet Union). Five other nations joined the Axis during World War II: Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, and Croatia.
What side was Japan on ww1?
the AlliesJapan entered World War I as a member of the Allies on 23 August 1914, seizing the opportunity of Imperial Germany's distraction with the European War to expand its sphere of influence in China and the Pacific.
On which two fronts did Germany have to fight?
During World War I, Germany fought a two-front war against France, Great Britain, Italy, Belgium and later also American forces on the Western Front and Russia and later Romania on the Eastern Front.
Which countries fought on the Italian front?
The Italian front or Alpine front (Italian: Fronte alpino, "Alpine front"; in German: Gebirgskrieg, "Mountain war") involved a series of battles at the border between Austria-Hungary and Italy, fought between 1915 and 1918 in the course of World War I.
Where did Germany and Russia fight in ww1?
Battle of Tannenberg, (August 26–30, 1914), World War I battle fought at Tannenberg, East Prussia (now Stębark, Poland), that ended in a German victory over the Russians. The crushing defeat occurred barely a month into the conflict, but it became emblematic of the Russian Empire's experience in World War I.
Who won World war 1?
The AlliesWho won World War I? The Allies won World War I after four years of combat and the deaths of some 8.5 million soldiers as a result of battle wounds or disease. Read more about the Treaty of Versailles. In many ways, the peace treaty that ended World War I set the stage for World War II.
What was the Eastern Front?
Eastern Front, major theatre of combat during World War I that included operations on the main Russian front as well as campaigns in Romania. The principal belligerents were Russia and Romania (of the Allied and Associated Powers) versus the Central Powers countries of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Bulgaria. The Eastern Front, which stretched ...
What were the two main fortresses on the Eastern Front?
Certain second-line troops were tasked with the defense of the Eastern Front fortresses such as Posen (now Poznań, Poland), Thorn (now Toruń, Poland), Danzig (now Gdańsk, Poland), and Konigsberg (now Kaliningrad, Russia) and to watch the Polish frontier.
How many men were in the Russian army in 1914?
Military strength was counted in terms of divisions (12,000–20,000 officers and men), the smallest military units capable of independent action. In August 1914 the Russian army consisted of 102 regular divisions divided into six field armies, boasting a total manpower of some 1.4 million.
What was the German plan for 1914?
The German plan of 1914 was a modification of one drawn up by Alfred von Schlieffen many years previously . It provided for an offensive against France designed to obtain a rapid and decisive victory and a defensive in the east against Russia until the decision had been obtained in the west. The choice of France for the initial offensive was actuated chiefly by the relative slowness of Russian mobilization and by the impossibility of gaining a rapid decision against Russia owing to the great distances. Germany’s problem in the east was then to determine the minimum strength to be left for defensive purposes. This was eventually fixed at nine divisions, active and reserve, with one cavalry division, for the protection of East Prussia. Certain second-line troops were tasked with the defense of the Eastern Front fortresses such as Posen (now Poznań, Poland), Thorn (now Toruń, Poland), Danzig (now Gdańsk, Poland), and Konigsberg (now Kaliningrad, Russia) and to watch the Polish frontier. The troops in East Prussia, organized into four corps, formed the Eighth Army under Max von Prittwitz.
How many sub-theatres were there on the Eastern Front?
The shape of the frontier, the great distances, and the physical features and nature of the communications combined to divide the Eastern Front into three “sub-theatres” until the Russian retreat out of Poland in 1915.
How long was the front of Romania?
After Romania joined in the war on the side of the Allies in 1916, the front extended from the Baltic to the Black Sea, a span of some 800 miles (roughly 1,300 km) in a direct line, or more than twice that distance if measured along the borders between the opposing countries.
What happened on August 1 1914?
With the German declaration of war against Russia on August 1, 1914, all hope had been lost of the conflict between Serbia and Austria-Hungary remaining a localized affair. Armies were already mobilizing along what would become the Eastern Front.
Which country was part of the Eastern Front?
The Eastern Front was fought from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Black Sea in the south and took over large portions of Eastern Europe. On one side was the Central Powers of Germany and Austro-Hungary and on the other side was the Russian Empire. Russia was part of the Triple Entente during the course of World War I, ...
When was the Eastern Front active?
The fighting along the Eastern Front occurred from August 1st, 1914 until May 7th, 1918. During this time, millions of soldiers participated for both the Allied Powers and the Central Powers in the battles, ...
What was the main cause of World War I?
The Eastern Front developed following the failure of the German plan of attack ( Schlieffen Plan) at the beginning of World War I, which forced Germany to fight a two-front war against the Allied Powers .
How did the Eastern Front differ from the Western Front?
With that said, the Eastern Front differed greatly from the more famous Western Front in terms of the extent of the trench systems and the movement of the front. The Western Front was dominated by trench warfare and developed into a stalemate between the different sides that saw little or no movement of the front for the duration of most ...
Why did the Eastern Front have a lot of back and forth?
This was due to several factors, but was mainly due to the differing powers of the Russian Army and the German or Austrian Armies.
What caused the Russian army to suffer huge numbers of casualties and to negatively impact the morale of Russian soldiers?
This lack of proper equipment caused the Russian forces to suffer huge numbers of casualties and to negatively impact the morale of Russian soldiers. However, it also caused the German and Austrian armies to capture large sections of Russia, which moved the Eastern Front over large areas of land.
Why was the Eastern Front important?
The Eastern Front was also significant due to the political changes that occurred. For instance, Russia underwent the events of the Russian Revolution during the time of the Eastern Front and World War I. At the time, Russia was led by a Tsar, which was the title for Russian absolute monarchs before 1917. Tsar Nicholas II ruled over Russia ...
What was the Eastern Front of WW1?
The Eastern Front of the First World War was roughly delimited by the Baltic Sea in the west; Minsk in the east; Saint Petersburg in the north; and the Black Sea in the south; a distance of more than 1,600 kilometers. The entire frontier had the Russian Empire and Romania on one side; and the Central Powers on the other. The Eastern Front saw the Central Powers defeating the Russian Empire in several major battles. This ultimately led to Russian withdrawal from WW1 through the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. Here are the major battles and events of World War I on the Eastern Front including their dates, places and nations involved.
What was the last major action on the Eastern Front?
Operation Faustschlag. Date: February 18 – March 3, 1918. The last major action on the Eastern Front began with Operation Faustschlag (“Operation Fist Punch”). This offensive by the Central Powers saw little Russian resistance due to the turmoil of the Russian Revolution and the subsequent Russian Civil War.
How many men did the Austro-Hungarians lose?
The Austro Hungarians had by now lost close to 1,000,000 men as casualties and 25,000 sq. km of territory. Due to this, Germany had to aid its ally and send divisions from the Western Front. This, in turn, would ruin German plans on the Western Front.
What was the German attack on the Vistula River?
Date: February 7 – 22, 1915. The German Eighth and Tenth Armies launched a winter offensive with the intent of advancing beyond the Vistula River. The battle ended in a German victory giving them a toehold in Russian territory. However, the Russian Tenth Army was able to halt any further advance.
Why did the Russian Second Army launch an operation near Lake Narach?
Fulfilling the request of the French, the Russian Second Army launched an operation near Lake Narach to help relieve pressure on the western front from Verdun. The operation was a total failure for the Russians.
Where was the German offensive in 1915?
Due to this, they looked for German support on the Eastern Front. A joint offensive under General August von Mackensen was thus planned and launched in the Gorlice Tarnow area, southeast of Krakow.
Which Austrian fortress was the only Austrian post to hold out?
As the Austro-Hungarian forces fell back over 160 kilometers to the Carpathian Mountains after the Battle of Galicia, the fortress of Przemyśl was the only Austrian post to hold out. The Siege of Przemyśl, the longest siege of the First World War, ended in a complete Russian victory a few months later.
Russia Invades East Prussia and Galicia
Battle of Galicia
- Date: August 23 to September 11, 1914, aka Battle of Lemberg By August 23, 1914, Austro-Hungarian1st, 3rd and 4th Armies were concentrated in Galicia with the aim of invading Russian Poland. They now faced the Russian 3rd, 4th, 5th and 8th Armies in the majorBattle of Galicia. The Austro-Hungarian armies were severely defeated and forced out of Galicia, while the Russians c…
Battle of Tannenberg
- Date: August 26 – 30, 1914 The GermanEighth Army launched a surprise attack on the invading Russian 2nd Army and won a decisive battle near Tannenberg. The Russian 1st Army was also routed in subsequent engagements and there were 170,000 Russian casualties with minimal loss to the Germans.
First Battle of Masurian Lake
- Date: September 7 – 14, 1914 In a German offensive, General Paul von Rennenkampf’s Russian First Army was pushed back and eventually out of German territory by the General Hindenburg’s German Eighth Army. A German advance was however halted by the arrival of the Russian Tenth Army.
Siege of Przemyśl
- Date: September 16, 1914 – March 22, 1915 As the Austro-Hungarian forces fell back over 160 kilometers to the Carpathian Mountains after the Battle of Galicia, the fortress of Przemyśl was the only Austrian post to hold out. The Siege of Przemyśl, the longest siege of the First World War, ended in a complete Russian victory a few months later.
Black Sea Raids
- Date: October 29, 1914 The Ottomans, with the help of the Germans, carried anaval sortie in the Black Sea ports of Russia. The attack was conceived by Ottoman War Minister Enver Pasha and led to the entry of the Ottoman Empire in World War I. They would officially declare war on the 11th of November.
Second Battle of Masurian Lakes
- Date: February 7 – 22, 1915 The GermanEighth and Tenth Armies launched a winter offensive with the intent of advancing beyond the Vistula River. The battle ended in a German victory giving them a toehold in Russian territory. However, the Russian Tenth Army was able to halt any further advance. In the following weeks, the Germans drove the Russians out of their remaining small e…
Gorlice Tarnów Offensive
- Date: May 2 – June 22, 1915 The Austro-Hungarians had faced considerable reverses since the beginning of the war. Due to this, they looked for German support on the Eastern Front. A joint offensive under General August von Mackensen was thus planned and launched in the Gorlice Tarnow area, southeast of Krakow. Initially conceived as a minor effort to relieve pressure on th…
Great Retreat of 1915
- Date: July – September 1915 Suffering heavy casualties and loss of military equipment, the Imperial Russian Army was ordered toretreat from the Galicia Poland salient by the Russian Stavka, the high command of the armed forces in the Russian Empire. A strategic retreat was therefore conducted to shorten the front lines and avoid the potential encirclement of large Russ…
Lake Naroch Offensive
- Date: March 18 – 30, 1916 Fulfilling the request of the French, the Russian Second Army launched an operation near Lake Narach to help relieve pressure on the western front from Verdun. The operation was a total failure for the Russians.