who fought in the battle of ypres ww1

As stated above, the First Battle of Ypres

was fought between the Allied

Allies of World War I

The Allies of World War I or Entente Powers were the coalition that opposed the Central Powers of Germany, Austria–Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria during the First World War. By the end of the first decade of the 20th century, the major European powers were divided between the Tripl…

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Powers of France, Britain and Belgium against the Central Power of Germany. It is estimated that the Allies had a fighting force of over 4.4 million, while Germany had 5.4 million.

Full Answer

What was the Battle of Ypres WW1?

The Battle of Ypres was a series of engagements during the First World War, near the Belgian city of Ypres, between the German and the Allied armies (Belgian, French, British Expeditionary Force and Canadian Expeditionary Force). First Battle of Ypres (19 October – 22 November 1914). During the Race to the Sea.

What countries were involved in the Battle of Ypres?

French, British and Belgian troops covered the Belgian and British withdrawal from Antwerp towards Ypres and the Yser from Dixmude to Nieuport, on a 35 km (22 mi) front. The new German 4th Army was ordered to capture Dunkirk and Calais, by attacking from the coast to the junction with the 6th Army.

Who fought in the Battle of the Yser?

Battle of the Yser. French, British and Belgian troops covered the Belgian and British withdrawal from Antwerp towards Ypres and the Yser from Dixmude to Nieuport, on a 35 km (22 mi) front. The new German 4th Army was ordered to capture Dunkirk and Calais, by attacking from the coast to the junction with the 6th Army.

What weapons were used in the First Battle of Ypres?

First Battle of Ypres. The defensive use of artillery and machine guns, dominated the battlefield and the ability of the armies to supply themselves and replace casualties prolonged battles for weeks. Thirty-four German divisions fought in the Flanders battles, against twelve French, nine British and six Belgian,...

Who participated in the first battle of Ypres?

On October 19, 1914, near the Belgian city of Ypres, Allied and German forces begin the first of what would be three battles to control the city and its advantageous positions on the north coast of Belgium during the First World War.

How many people fought in the Battle of Ypres?

More than 6,500 Canadians were killed, wounded or captured in the Second Battle of Ypres. The Second Battle of Ypres was fought during the First World War from 22 April to 25 May 1915. It was the first major battle fought by Canadian troops in the Great War....Canada and the Second Battle of Ypres.Published OnlineJuly 27, 2006Last EditedDecember 4, 2018Jul 27, 2006

How many battles were fought in Ypres ww1?

threeYpres gave its name to three major battles: First Ypres (19 October - 22 November 1914), Second Ypres (21 April - 25 May 1915) and Third Ypres (31 July - 10 November 1917). The severe casualties suffered in the area made Ypres a focus for post-war remembrance.

Who fought in the Battle of Passchendaele ww1?

On 6th November 1917, after three months of fierce fighting, British and Canadian forces finally took control of the tiny village of Passchendaele in the West Flanders region of Belgium, so ending one of the bloodiest battles of World War I.

Who attacked first in WW1?

On July 28, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, and the tenuous peace between Europe's great powers collapsed. On July 29, Austro-Hungarian forces began to shell the Serbian capital of Belgrade, and Russia, Serbia's ally, ordered a troop mobilization against Austria-Hungary.

Why was Ypres so important in WW1?

The defence of Ypres, or “Wipers”, was key to the British hold on this sector of the Western Front. The town was an important strategic landmark blocking the route for the Imperial German Army through to the French coastal ports.

Who won the first battle of Ypres ww1?

A German assault at Langemarck, north of Ypres, was checked, but a French counterattack on October 24 yielded little result. Thus, the first phase of the battle ended with the French holding the northern half of a semicircle east of Ypres and the British occupying the southern half.

Who won ww1 lost?

The war pitted the Central Powers—mainly Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Turkey—against the Allies—mainly France, Great Britain, Russia, Italy, Japan, and, from 1917, the United States. It ended with the defeat of the Central Powers.

Why was the Battle of Ypres so important?

Ypres was so important because it was the last geographical object protecting the Allied ports at Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer. The loss of these ports would have denied the shortest logistical supply route to Allied forces on the Front. For the German Army, Ypres was also vital.

What happened at the Battle of Ypres?

On April 22, 1915, German forces shock Allied soldiers along the Western Front by firing more than 150 tons of lethal chlorine gas against two French colonial divisions at Ypres in Belgium.

What is the battle of Ypres?

The Battle of Ypres was a series of engagements during the First World War, near the Belgian city of Ypres, between the German and the Allied armies (Belgian, French, British Expeditionary Force and Canadian Expeditionary Force). During the five engagements, casualties may have surpassed one million.

Was the Battle of Ypres a success?

Haig's vision was for a war-winning breakthrough. He planned to capture the high ground around Ypres, as well as a key rail junction to the east, and then advance on the German-occupied ports of the Belgian coast - critical to the U-Boat campaign. The battle failed to achieve Haig's objectives. It lasted over 100 days.

How many people were killed at Ypres?

The French lost at least 50,000 at Ypres, while the Belgians suffered more than 20,000 casualties at the Yser and Ypres. A month of fighting at Ypres cost the Germans more than 130,000 casualties, a staggering total that would ultimately pale before later actions on the Western Front.

How many soldiers died at the Battle of Ypres?

The Allies suffered over 250,000 casualties - soldiers killed wounded or missing - during the Third Battle of Ypres. Casualties among German forces were also in the region of 200,000. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission commemorates over 76,000 soldiers who died during the Third Battle of Ypres.

Who won the Ypres battle?

BritishAfter more than three months of bloody combat, the Third Battle of Ypres effectively comes to an end on November 6, 1917, with a hard-won victory by British troops at the Belgian village of Passchendaele.

Who was involved in the Second Battle of Ypres 1915?

The Second Battle of Ypres marked the Canadians' first major engagement.An Important Allied Position. In 1915, the Germans were attacking Russia in the east. ... Canadians Gassed in Battle. On 22 April, two Canadian brigades were in the front lines, with a third in reserve near Ypres. ... A New Reputation but High Casualties.

Who was the commander of the British I Corps at the Battle of the Yser?

Over the next few days there was a comparative lull in the fighting, and the commander of the British I Corps, Lieut. Gen. Sir Douglas Haig, used that opportunity to reorganize and strengthen his front.

What was the German attack on November 11 1914?

On the next day the German attack was made after an intense bombardment on the front from the Messines Ridge to the north of the Menin road. The Prussian Guard attacked astride the Menin road, gaining the only real success achieved by the Germans during the November 11 offensive. The Guard broke through the left of the British 1st Division and penetrated into the Nonne Bosschen, but again the situation was restored by a pair of counterattacks. The first was delivered by the Royal Scots Fusiliers near the Menin road. The second, by the 2nd Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry, drove the Germans out of the Nonne Bosschen. In preparing the latter attack, FitzClarence was killed in a burst of German rifle fire. Farther south the German XV Corps secured Hill 60 near Verbranden-Molen (Verbrandenmolen). This small rise remained a bone of contention until December 1914, but elsewhere the attack made no significant progress.

What would happen if the Belgians broke at the Yser?

The situation was critical: if the Belgians broke at the Yser, the Allied left flank would be compromised , and the “Race to the Sea” would be won by the Germans. The Belgians were exhausted and critically short on ammunition, but Albert held a trump card that he was loath to use. Beginning on October 25, the Belgians began manipulating the floodgates on canals and watercourses in the Yser valley, opening them at high tide and closing them before the water could recede. When German guns renewed their bombardment of Belgian positions on October 29, Albert ordered the opening of the sluices at Nieuport ( Nieuwpoort ). That night, Belgian engineers unleashed the sea, destroying the town of Nieuport and inundating the battlefield. Three German divisions were forced into hasty retreat as the floodwaters rose around them. The Belgians suffered some 18,000 casualties at the Yser, and the French more than 5,000, but the Allied left flank had been secured.

What was the last attack the Germans made on the Herentage Wood?

The failure of this last attack by the Germans to break through practically closed the battle, though on November 17 Duke Albrecht made an attack on the Herentage Wood, which met with no success. Thereafter the Germans adopted a defensive attitude in the West and sent all available troops to the Russian front. On November 21 the British troops were relieved by the French, with the infantry of the II Corps taking over the front opposite the Messines Ridge, while the I Corps went into reserve.

Why did the British Expeditionary Force move northward?

The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was then moving northward from the Aisne River, in order to shorten its communication lines with England, and the French commander in chief, Joseph-Jacques-Césaire Joffre, determined to use the BEF as part of a third effort to turn the German flank.

Where did Foch support the British?

The French 32nd Division went to the help of the British cavalry at Oosttaverne, and five French battalions came up to support the right of the British 7th Division at Klein Zillebeke and St. Eloi.

When did the Western Front control the Western Front?

Areas of control on the Western Front at the end of 1914.

Where was the Battle of Ypres?

The First Battle of Ypres ( French: Première Bataille des Flandres; German: Erste Flandernschlacht 19 October – 22 November 1914) was a battle of the First World War, fought on the Western Front around Ypres, in West Flanders, Belgium. The battle was part of the First Battle of Flanders, in which German, French, ...

Who attacked Belgium at the Battle of Ypres?

Attacks by the BEF ( Field Marshal Sir John French) the Belgians and the French Eighth Army in Belgium made little progress beyond Ypres. The German 4th and 6th Armies took small amounts of ground, at great cost to both sides, during the Battle of the Yser and further south at Ypres.

What was the Battle of Langemarck?

The Battle of Langemarck took place from 21–24 October, after an advance by the German 4th and 6th armies which began on 19 October, as the left flank of the BEF began advancing towards Menin and Roulers. On 20 October, Langemarck, north-east of Ypres, was held by a French territorial unit and the British IV corps to the south. I Corps (Lieutenant-General Douglas Haig) was due to arrive with orders to attack on 21 October. On 21 October, it had been cloudy and attempts to reconnoitre the German positions during the afternoon had not observed any German troops movements; the arrival of four new German reserve corps was discovered by prisoner statements, wireless interception and the increasing power of German attacks; 5#N#+#N#1⁄2 infantry corps were now known to be north of the Lys, along with the four cavalry corps, against 7#N#+#N#1⁄3 British divisions and five allied cavalry divisions. The British attack made early progress but the 4th army began a series of attacks, albeit badly organised and poorly supported. The German 6th and 4th armies attacked from Armentières to Messines and Langemarck. The British IV Corps was attacked around Langemarck, where the 7th Division was able to repulse German attacks and I Corps was able to make a short advance.

What was the 4th Army's role in the Battle of Antwerp?

Falkenhayn sent the 4th Army headquarters to Flanders, to take over the III Reserve Corps and its heavy artillery, twenty batteries of heavy field howitzers, twelve batteries of 210 mm howitzers and six batteries of 100 mm guns, after the Siege of Antwerp (28 September – 10 October). The XXII, XXIII, XXVI and XXVII Reserve corps, of the six new reserve corps formed from volunteers after the outbreak of the war, were ordered from Germany to join the III Reserve Corps on 8 October. The German reserve corps infantry were poorly trained and ill-equipped but on 10 October, Falkenhayn issued a directive that the 4th Army was to cross the Yser, advance regardless of losses and isolate Dunkirk and Calais, then turn south towards Saint-Omer. With the 6th Army to the south, which was to deny the Allies an opportunity to establish a secure front and transfer troops to the north, the 4th Army was to inflict an annihilating blow on the French, Belgian and BEF forces in French and Belgian Flanders.

Where did the Germans attack on 11 November?

On 11 November, the Germans attacked from Messines to Herenthage, Veldhoek woods, Nonne Bosschen and Polygon Wood. Massed small-arms fire repulsed German attacks between Polygon Wood and Veldhoek. The German 3rd Division and 26th Division broke through to St Eloi and advanced to Zwarteleen, some 3,000 yd (2,700 m) east of Ypres, where they were checked by the British 7th Cavalry Brigade. The remains of II Corps from La Bassée, held a 3,500 yd (3,200 m) front, with 7,800 men and 2,000 reserves against 25 German battalions with 17,500 men. The British were forced back by the German 4th Division and British counter-attacks were repulsed. Next day, an unprecedented bombardment fell on British positions in the south of the salient between Polygon Wood and Messines. German troops broke through along the Menin road but could not be supported and the advance was contained by 13 November. Both sides were exhausted by these efforts; German casualties around Ypres had reached about 80,000 men and BEF losses, August – 30 November, were 89,964; (54,105 at Ypres). The Belgian army had been reduced by half and the French had lost 385,000 men by September, 265,000 men having been killed by the end of the year.

What was the purpose of the transfer of the British army from the Aisne to Flanders?

In late September, Marshal Joseph Joffre and Field Marshal John French discussed the transfer of the BEF from the Aisne to Flanders, to unify British forces on the Continent, shorten the British lines of communication from England and to defend Antwerp and the Channel Ports. Despite the inconvenience of British troops crossing French lines of communication, when French forces were moving north after the Battle of the Aisne, Joffre agreed subject to a proviso, that French would make individual British units available for operations as soon as they arrived. On the night of 1/2 October, the transfer of the BEF from the Aisne front began in great secrecy. Marches were made at night and billeted troops were forbidden to venture outside in daylight. On 3 October, a German wireless message was intercepted, which showed that the BEF was still believed to be on the Aisne.

What war did Britain and France declare?

Britain and France declared war on Turkey on 5 November and next day, Keupri-Keni in Armenia was captured, during the Bergmann Offensive (2–16 November) by the Russian army. On 10 October, Przemysl was surrounded again by the Russian army, beginning the Second Siege; Memel in East Prussia was occupied by the Russians a day later. Keupri-Keni was recaptured by the Ottoman army on 14 November, the Sultan proclaimed Jihad, next day the Battle of Cracow (15 November – 2 December) began and the Second Russian Invasion of North Hungary (15 November – 12 December) commenced. The Second German Offensive against Warsaw opened with the Battle of Łódź (16 November – 15 December).

Who was the leader of the Allied forces at the Battle of Ypres?

In early April 1915 the Allied forces on the Ypres front comprised (from south to north) elements of the two corps of the British Second Army—which included the 1st Canadian Division—commanded by Gen. Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien, the French 45th (Algerian) and 87th Territorial divisions under Gen. Henri Putz, and the Belgian 6th Division under Maj. Gen. Armand de Ceuninck. The remainder of the Belgian army extended north through the area that had been flooded during the First Battle of Ypres. Opposite the Allies was the German Fourth Army under Albrecht, duke of Württemberg.

What was the second battle of Ypres?

The battle marked the Germans’ first use of poison gas as a weapon. Although the gas attack opened a wide hole in the Allied line, the Germans failed to exploit that advantage.

Where was the 1st Canadian Brigade sent?

The 1st Canadian Brigade was first sent to the west bank of the Yser canal and then ordered to cross and attack at 5:00 am from Hill Top Ridge to German-held Pilckem (Mauser) Ridge in conjunction with a detachment of the British 3rd Battalion, Middlesex Regiment on the right and a projected French advance on the left.

What was the German gun used in the Battle of Ypres?

That same day, German heavy guns, including a 17-inch howitzer, began the preparatory bombardment of Ypres, and an increase of tear gas dispersion in the forward area was an ominous sign of the coming battle.

Who wrote the poem "In Flanders Fields"?

It was during this time that Canadian officer John McCrae penned the first lines of the poem “In Flanders Fields” as a tribute to a friend who had been killed in the fighting. “In Flanders Fields” was published in Punch in December 1915, and it became perhaps the best-known poem about World War I. “In Flanders Fields”.

What happened on April 22?

At 5:00 pm on April 22 a heavy greenish yellow haze rose from the German trenches opposite Langemarck and rolled southwestward on the gentle breeze of that sunny afternoon. Soon French troops were seen staggering back through a storm of high-explosive and gas shells, past the Canadian batteries and reserve infantry battalions. It was clear that the line on the left had broken, but the extent of the disaster was not realized at first. In fact, the German XXIII and XXVI Reserve Corps, after a short artillery preparation, had attacked under cover of a discharge of nearly 200 tons (180,000 kg) of chlorine gas. The effect of the gas on the French was greater than the German infantry had anticipated. By nightfall the XXIII Corps had crossed the Yser canal and the XXVI had advanced some 2 miles (3 km), capturing the high ground at Pilckem (later called Mauser) Ridge and approaching the town of St. Julien (now St. Juliaan), some 2.5 miles (4 km) northeast of Ypres. By 8:00 pm there were no formed bodies of French troops east of the canal, all their batteries in that sector had been captured, and the entire left flank of the 1st Canadian Division lay exposed to attack. Although the Belgian and Canadian hinges held firm, the gates to Ypres had been thrown open. However, no German troops were ready to pass through.

When was the first battle of Ypres?

October 19 – November 22, 1914: The First Battle of Ypres. October 1, 2020 by Jenny Ashcraft. The First Battle of Ypres was a bloody WWI Battle fought October 19 – November 22, 1914, around the city of Ypres in West Flanders, Belgium. It was the climactic fight of the “ Race to the Sea ,” an attempt by the German army to break through Allied lines ...

Who was the soldier who was missing in Ypres?

Pvt. Thomas H. Evans is one of many soldiers reported missing at Ypres. On October 25, Belgium’s King Albert took drastic action to prevent a German incursion north of the Lys River. He ordered Belgians to manipulate the canals and floodgates in the Yser valley.

Where did the Allied forces come face to face?

The armies came face to face near Ypres, the gateway to the English Channel and key ports including Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer. Fighting began on October 19, 1914, and with the real possibility of losing the Channel ports, Allied soldiers were ordered to entrench and hold their position to prevent German soldiers from pushing through.

What happened on October 31st?

On October 31 st , German troops broke through the line and captured Gheluvelt but a counterattack pushed them back out of the village. British heavy artillery gun is transported into position in Ypres. In early November, Germany captured Messines and Wytschaete, but fresh French reinforcements stopped the advance.

When was the 3rd Battle of Ypres?

Thus, when the Third Battle of Ypres was begun, on July 31, only the left wing’s objectives were achieved: on the crucial right wing the attack was a failure. Four days later, the ground was already swampy. When the attack was resumed on August 16, very little more was…

Who was the commander of the Canadian Corps in the Battle of Lens?

After surveying the German defenses, the Canadian commander, Lieut. Gen. Arthur Currie, opted instead to seize the high ground north of Lens at Hill 70. Currie’s operation was an unqualified success, and, although the Canadian Corps suffered some 9,000 casualties, the unit inflicted nearly three times that number on the Germans.

Why did Haig order Currie to bring his troops to Belgium?

In early October Haig had ordered Currie to bring his four divisions to Belgium to relieve the decimated ANZAC troops and take up the fight around Passchendaele.

How many people died in the Battle of Passchendaele?

The armies under British command suffered some 275,000 casualties at Passchendaele, a figure that makes a mockery of Haig’s pledge that he would not commit the country to "heavy losses.” Among these were 38,000 Australians, 5,300 New Zealanders, and more than 15,600 Canadians; this final figure was almost exactly the total that had been predicted by Currie ahead of the battle. The Germans suffered 220,000 killed or wounded. At the end, the point of it all was unclear. In 1918 all the ground that had been gained there by the Allies was evacuated in the face of a looming German assault. Passchendaele would be remembered as a symbol of the worst horrors of the First World War, the sheer futility of much of the fighting, and the reckless disregard by some of the war’s senior leaders for the lives of the men under their command.

What happened in 1917?

By the spring of 1917, Germany had resumed the practice of unrestricted submarine warfare, sinking merchant ships in international waters. At about the same time, legions of weary French soldiers began to mutiny following the failure of a large French offensive on the Western Front. Because some French armies were temporarily unwilling or unable to fight, the commander of the British armies in Europe, Gen. Douglas Haig, decided that Britain must begin a new offensive of its own. Haig wanted to attack German forces in the Ypres salient, a long-held bulge in the Allied front lines in the Flanders region of Belgium. The salient had been an active battlefield since 1914.

What happened at the Battle of Messines?

Preparation and the Battle of Messines. By the spring of 1917, Germany had resumed the practice of unrestricted submarine warfare, sinking merchant ships in international waters. At about the same time, legions of weary French soldiers began to mutiny following the failure of a large French offensive on the Western Front.

What was the Battle of Passchendaele?

World War I. ... (Show more) Full Article. Battle of Passchendaele, also called Third Battle of Ypres, (July 31–November 6, 1917), World War I battle that served as a vivid symbol of the mud, madness, and senseless slaughter of the Western Front. The third and longest battle to take place at the Belgian city of Ypres, ...

Overview

Background

Prelude

Battle

Aftermath

Footnotes

Further reading

External links