Natalia
Author
(1244)1915
January
- 13
- End of the battle of Kara UrganIn mid-January 1915 the Russians forced the Ottoman XI Corps to retreat from Kara Urgan. It was the last act of the fighting for Sarikamish.
- Burián replaces BerchtoldOn 13 January 1915 Baron István Burián replaced Count Berchtold as Austro-Hungarian foreign minister. Berchtold had to go for being ready to yield to Italy.
- 24
- Battle of Dogger BankOn 24 January 1915 Beatty's battlecruisers intercepted Hipper's squadron in the North Sea. The German cruiser Blücher was sunk; the other Germans escaped.
- Airship PL 19 shot down off LibauAt the end of January 1915 the German airship PL 19, damaged after a raid on Libau, came down in the Baltic. Seven airmen were taken prisoner by the Russians.
- Robertson ceases to be BEF quartermaster generalOn 24 January 1915 General William Robertson stepped down as Quartermaster General of the BEF to take over as chief of staff from Murray.
- 26
- Turkish march on the Suez CanalAt the end of January 1915 Djemal Pasha's Ottoman army crossed the Sinai desert. On 26 January its troops clashed with the British at Kantara.
- London agreement extended to TurkeyAccording to the British chronology, on 26 January 1915 the Entente agreed the Pact of London's ban on a separate peace also applied to the war with Turkey.
- 31
- German gas attack at BolimówOn 31 January 1915 the Germans attacked the Russians at Bolimów, firing 18,000 shells filled with tear gas. In the frost the gas had almost no effect.
- Idrisi takes the Farasan IslandsOn 31 January 1915 the Arab forces of Muhammad al-Idrisi, ruler of Asir, occupied the Farasan Islands in the Red Sea, abandoned by the Turks.
February
- 02
- Turkish advance guards on the Suez CanalOn 2 February 1915 the leading Turkish units approached Ismailia. In a sandstorm they clashed with Indian troops and dug in a few kilometres from the canal.
- Entente opposes intervention in AlbaniaAccording to a British chronology, on 2 February 1915 the Entente advised Greece, Serbia and Montenegro not to enter Albania, mindful of Italy's interests.
- 17
- Austro-Hungarians retake Czernowitz againOn 17 February 1915 Karl Pflanzer-Baltin's Austro-Hungarian troops entered Czernowitz. The second Russian occupation of the Bukovinian capital was over.
- Loss of airships L 3 and L 4On 17 February 1915 engine failure and a snowstorm forced airships L 3 and L 4 down in Denmark. L 3 burned on Fanø; L 4 vanished at sea with four men.
- 22
- Start of the battle of PrzasnyszOn 22 February 1915 German divisions began to encircle Przasnysz in northern Mazovia, and the Russians sent fresh Siberian corps against their flank.
- Anti-submarine net barrage in the North ChannelOn 22 February 1915 British drifters began laying nets in the North Channel to close the way for U-boats into the Irish Sea, to Liverpool and Glasgow.
March
- 04
- Russians retake StanisławówOn 4 March 1915 the Russian 9th Army retook Stanisławów, captured by the Austrians two weeks earlier. The town stayed in Russian hands until June.
- Sinking of U-8On 4 March 1915 British destroyers destroyed the German submarine U-8 in the Strait of Dover after it had been detected thanks to indicator nets.
- 05
- Venizelos offers the Entente the fleet and troopsOn 5 March 1915 Venizelos offered the Entente the Greek fleet and one division for the Dardanelles operation, although the King had not yet agreed.
- Bombardment of Smyrna beginsOn 5 March 1915 Vice-Admiral Richard Peirse's British squadron shelled the forts defending Smyrna, to destroy the defences and clear the gulf of mines.
- 09
- Dimitrios Gounaris becomes prime minister of GreeceOn 9 March 1915 King Constantine I appointed Dimitrios Gounaris prime minister of Greece. He was an opponent of Venizelos and a supporter of neutrality.
- British reply on LemnosOn 9 March 1915 London replied to the Greek request for an explanation of the occupation of the island of Lemnos, citing military necessity.
- 12
- London agrees to a Russian ConstantinopleOn 12 March 1915 Britain agreed that Russia would get Constantinople and the Straits after the war. In return it wanted, inter alia, Persia's neutral zone.
- French reprisal decreesIn mid-March 1915 France, following Britain's example, decided to stop goods going to and from Germany and extended its contraband lists.
- Ian Hamilton to command the Mediterranean forceOn 12 March 1915 Kitchener gave General Ian Hamilton command of the land forces that were to support the fleet attacking the Dardanelles.
- 13
- End of the battle of Neuve ChapelleOn 13 March 1915 Haig halted the attack at Neuve Chapelle. The British held the village but did not reach Aubers Ridge. Shells had also run short.
- Franco-Belgian agreement on military serviceOn 13 March 1915 France and Belgium suspended for the war the 1891 convention that had let some young men of both countries defer military service.
- 18
- John Nixon takes command in MesopotamiaOn 18 March 1915 General Sir John Nixon became commander of the British forces in Mesopotamia. Force D was to grow to two divisions.
- Agreement on American cottonIn March 1915 London agreed with American exporters to let through or buy up cotton already contracted. Cotton became contraband only in August.
- 21
- Germans retake MemelOn 21 March 1915 the Germans drove the Russians out of Memel after street fighting. In the pursuit, aided by warships, they took about 500 prisoners at Palanga.
- First airship raid on ParisOn the night of 20–21 March 1915 two German airships bombed Paris and its suburbs. Z X, damaged by fire from the ground, crashed on the way back.
April
- 12
- Battle of Shaiba beginsOn 12 April 1915 Turkish troops and the Arab allies of Süleyman Askerî attacked the British camp at Shaiba near Basra. The attacks were repulsed.
- Entente offers Smyrna to GreeceOn 12 April 1915 the Entente ministers promised Gounaris's government gains in the vilayet of Aidin if Greece joined the war on Turkey. The prize was Smyrna.
- 28
- First attack on KrithiaOn 28 April 1915 the British and French attacked from Helles towards Krithia village and the hill of Achi Baba. Turkish resistance halted the weary troops.
- British treaty with al-IdrisiIn late April 1915 Britain concluded a treaty with Muhammad al-Idrisi, ruler of Asir. Idrisi undertook to fight the Turks in return for arms and protection.
May
- 07
- Key eventSinking of the LusitaniaOn 7 May 1915 U-20 torpedoed the British liner Lusitania off Ireland. Within 18 minutes almost 1,200 people died, including more than a hundred Americans.
- Japanese ultimatum to ChinaOn 7 May 1915 Japan gave China 51 hours to accept its demands. It set aside most of the far-reaching fifth group for later.
- 09
- Wilson on the sinking of the LusitaniaAfter the Lusitania was sunk President Wilson long kept silent. On 10 May 1915 in Philadelphia he said that a man could be "too proud to fight".
- China accepts Japan's demandsOn the night of 8–9 May 1915 Yuan Shikai's government accepted the Japanese ultimatum. In China 9 May was named the Day of National Humiliation.
- 13
- South Africans occupy WindhoekOn 12 May 1915 Botha rode into Windhoek, surrendered without a fight by the town authorities. The capital of German South West Africa passed to the Union.
- Resignation of the Salandra governmentOn 13 May 1915 Prime Minister Antonio Salandra and Foreign Minister Sidney Sonnino resigned. Most MPs backed the neutralist Giolitti, the streets backed war.
- 14
- Central Powers take JarosławIn mid-May 1915 the German Guard and the Austro-Hungarian VI Corps took the Russian bridgehead at Jarosław and reached the San. The town suffered from shelling.
- Fall of Pimenta de Castro's governmentOn 14 May 1915 the navy and armed civilians rose in Lisbon against the dictatorship of General Pimenta de Castro. His government fell that same day.
- 15
- Key eventStart of the Battle of FestubertAt 11.30 p.m. on 15 May 1915 the British 2nd Division and the Garhwal Brigade attacked the Germans at Festubert, the first British night attack of the war.
- João Chagas becomes Prime Minister of PortugalOn 15 May 1915 President Arriaga appointed João Chagas Prime Minister of Portugal. He never took office, as a senator shot him on his way to Lisbon.
- 16
- Battle of the San beginsOn 16 May 1915 the Germans entered Jarosław and began crossing the San. On the river line the Russians were to halt the Central Powers' offensive in Galicia.
- Salandra remains prime ministerOn 16 May 1915 Victor Emmanuel III rejected the resignation of Salandra's government. The neutralists gave way, and on 20 May the Chamber gave it war powers.
- 23
- End of the Battle of the SanUntil 23 May 1915 the Germans and Austrians held their San bridgeheads against Russian counter-attacks. Mackensen prepared to attack Radymno and Przemyśl.
- Key eventItaly declares war on Austria-HungaryOn 23 May 1915 Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary, its ally in the Triple Alliance. The state of war took effect the following day.
- Luigi Cadorna takes charge of the Italian armyOn 23 May 1915 a decree of King Victor Emmanuel III gave effective direction of the army's operations to the Chief of the General Staff, General Luigi Cadorna.
- 25
- End of the Second Battle of YpresOn 25 May 1915 the Second Battle of Ypres died down. After five weeks of fighting and gas attacks the Germans had shrunk the salient but not taken Ypres.
- End of the Battle of FestubertOn 25 May 1915 the London 47th Division took a German trench at Festubert and French decided to halt the offensive. Ten days of fighting cost 16,600 men.
- Sino-Japanese treatiesOn 25 May 1915 in Peking, China and Japan signed treaties on Shantung and on South Manchuria and eastern Inner Mongolia.
- 31
- Siege of Garua beginsOn 31 May 1915 British and French troops began bombarding the German fortress of Garua in Kamerun. Heavy guns quickly silenced its artillery.
- Key eventFirst airship raid on LondonIn the night of 31 May – 1 June 1915 the German airship LZ 38 bombed east London. Seven people were killed, including children, and 35 were injured.
June
- 07
- Warneford destroys airship LZ 37On 7 June 1915 British airman Reginald Warneford bombed the airship LZ 37 in mid-air over Ghent. The burning wreck fell on a convent in Sint-Amandsberg.
- Allies abandon the march on JaundeOn 7 June 1915 Gen. Dobell, still without news of Aymerich's columns, halted the march on Jaunde. Col. Mayer's troops were to fall back to the Ndupe river.
- 10
- Capitulation of GaruaOn 10 June 1915, after a failed breakout and a mutiny of his African troops, Capt. von Crailsheim gave up Garua unconditionally. The Allies took 37 Germans.
- Battle of Żydaczów beginsOn 10 June 1915 the South Army, thrown back over the Dniester the day before, struck upstream at Żydaczów, into the flank of the Russians advancing on Stryj.
- 15
- Battle of Mościska and Lubaczów endsOn 15 June 1915 Mackensen's armies broke the second Russian line at Nahaczów and Oleszyce. Brusilov ordered a retreat to the Gródek line in front of Lviv.
- Battle of Rarańcza endsOn 15 June 1915 XI Corps fell back to the Rokitna and the Second Brigade dug in at Rarańcza, where the uhlans killed in the charge at Rokitna were buried.
- 19
- South Africans advance on OtavifonteinOn 18–19 June 1915 Botha led the Union forces north from around Karibib towards the last Germans at Otavi. On 19 June Brits took Omaruru.
- José de Castro becomes prime minister of PortugalOn 19 June 1915 José de Castro, acting head of Portugal's government since May, took the helm of a new cabinet made up mainly of Afonso Costa's Democrats.
- 22
- End of the battle of ŻydaczówOn 22 June 1915 the battle of Żydaczów ended. Threatened from the north, the Russians gave up the south bank of the Dniester; the South Army prepared to cross.
- British capture BukobaOn 22–23 June 1915 a British force sailed across Lake Victoria to Bukoba, broke the German defence, destroyed the wireless station and re-embarked.
- 28
- End of the first advance on YaoundéOn 28 June 1915 German attacks on Col. Mayer's troops, withdrawn to the Kele line, ceased. The failed advance on Yaoundé cost the Allies over 300 casualties.
- Allies take NgaundereOn 28 June 1915 Lt-Col. Webb-Bowen's column fought its way in a storm onto the plateau near Ngaundere in Kamerun. Next day the Allies took the town unopposed.
July
- 02
- Munitions of War ActOn 2 July 1915 the British Munitions of War Act came into force. It banned strikes in the armaments industry and placed factories under state control.
- Ministry of MunitionsFrom 2 July 1915 Lloyd George's Ministry of Munitions, at work for a few weeks, could take control of factories and direct workers to jobs.
- 13
- Second Battle of Przasnysz beginsOn 13 July 1915, after a bombardment of several hours from some 800 guns, Army Group Gallwitz broke the Russian First Army's main defence line at Przasnysz.
- Battles of Masłomęcz and Grabowiec beginOn 13 July 1915 the German Army of the Bug took up positions between Hrubieszów and Grabowiec. The attack on the Russian Thirteenth Army began on 15 July.
- 17
- End of the second battle of PrzasnyszBy 17 July 1915 the Germans had pushed the Russian 1st Army back about 30 km from Przasnysz and Ciechanów to fortified bridgeheads on the Narew.
- Women march for the "right to serve"On 17 July 1915 Emmeline Pankhurst led tens of thousands of women through London in a procession demanding work in the munitions factories.
- 18
- Start of the Second Battle of the IsonzoOn 18 July 1915 the Italians struck on the Isonzo for the second time. With much stronger artillery they attacked Monte San Michele and Sei Busi on the Karst.
- End of the battles of Masłomęcz and GrabowiecOn 18 July 1915 the Russian Thirteenth Army still held off the Bug Army near Hrubieszów and Grabowiec. It fell back that night as the front broke at Krasnystaw.
- End of the Battle of KrasnystawOn 18 July 1915 the Germans held Krasnystaw and the Wieprz bridgehead despite Russian Guards counter-attacks. At night the Russians fell back near the railway.
- 21
- Central Powers encircle IvangorodOn 21 July 1915 Woyrsch's troops reached Ivangorod. Kövess's Austro-Hungarians closed it off from the west; the Germans prepared to cross the Vistula.
- End of the second battle of IvangorodOn 21 July 1915 the Silesian Landwehr broke the front at Zwoleń. The Russians left Ivangorod's forefield for the Kozienice–Gniewoszów line on the Vistula.
August
- 06
- Landing at Suvla BayOn the evening of 6 August 1915 British IX Corps began landing at Suvla Bay on Gallipoli. The Turks had only three battalions there and were caught unawares.
- Bernardino Machado elected president of PortugalOn 6 August 1915 Portugal's Congress elected former prime minister Bernardino Machado president. He won only on the third ballot and took office on 5 October.
- Japanese-Chinese agreement on customs at TsingtaoOn 6 August 1915 the reopening of the Chinese customs house at Tsingtao was agreed in Peking. The Japanese took over the privileges the Germans had held there.
- 10
- Loss of airship L 12On the night of 9–10 August 1915 guns at Dover hit airship L 12. It came down in the sea, was towed to Ostend and was bombed there by RNAS airmen.
- Ōkuma becomes acting foreign ministerOn 10 August 1915 Japanese Prime Minister Shigenobu Ōkuma reshuffled his cabinet and took the foreign ministry himself. He held it until mid-October.
- 19
- Sinking of the ArabicOn 19 August 1915 U-24 torpedoed the liner Arabic off Ireland without warning. 44 people died, Americans among them, setting off a new crisis with the USA.
- Baralong sinks U-27On 19 August 1915 the British Q-ship Baralong sank U-27. Her crew shot the submarine's survivors, which became a notorious affair.
- 21
- Attack on Scimitar HillOn 21 August 1915 the British attacked the hills above Suvla Bay. Twice they took the top of Scimitar Hill, but lost 5,300 men and returned to their positions.
- Lifeboats of the Ruel fired onOn 21 August 1915 a German U-boat sank the British steamer Ruel and fired on the lifeboats with the crew. One seaman was killed and the master wounded.
September
- 01
- Germany gives way on submarine warfareOn 1 September 1915 Ambassador Bernstorff assured Secretary of State Lansing in writing that German submarines would not sink liners without warning.
- French occupy Ruad islandOn 1 September 1915 French sailors occupied Ruad (Arwad) off the Syrian coast. It became a base for blockading the Ottoman coast and for intelligence.
- 09
- Border convention at DidymoteichoIn September 1915 Turkey agreed to cede Didymoteicho and the Maritsa valley with the railway to Dedeagach to Bulgaria. News of the new border reached the West.
- US demands the recall of Ambassador DumbaOn 9 September 1915 the US demanded the recall of Austro-Hungarian ambassador Konstantin Dumba, who had proposed strikes in American munitions plants.
- 22
- Dedeagatch agreementOn 22 September 1915 Sofia announced the terms of its pact with Turkey. Bulgaria got the Maritsa valley and the whole railway to the Aegean port of Dedeagatch.
- Bulgaria announces general mobilisationLate in the evening of 22 September 1915 Tsar Ferdinand signed the decree for general mobilisation. Radoslavov gave assurances of "armed neutrality".
- Order for the second advance on JaundeOn 22 September 1915 Gen. Dobell issued orders for a new advance on Jaunde in Kamerun. The British and French columns were to set off on 6 October.
- 25
- Key eventThird Battle of Artois beginsOn 25 September 1915 the French Tenth Army again attacked Vimy Ridge. The left wing reached Souchez, but on the rest of the front the attack broke down.
- Key eventSecond Battle of Champagne beginsOn 25 September 1915 two French armies attacked in Champagne. They took the German first line and 14,000 prisoners, but the second position stopped the attack.
- Bulgaria begins mobilisationIn late September 1915 hundreds of thousands of reservists poured into Bulgarian barracks. Rifles and uniforms were short, and zeal was lower than in 1912.
- Serbia promises Dojran and Gevgelija to GreeceUnder 25 September 1915 the British chronology records that Serbia promised Greece the Dojran and Gevgelija area. Pašić hoped to win Greek help this way.
- 28
- Dumba recalled from the United StatesOn 28 September 1915 the State Department asked Britain and France for safe conduct for Ambassador Dumba, whom Vienna had finally recalled from Washington.
- Greece rejects the offer of Entente troopsOn 28 September 1915 Athens thanked London for its offer of troops, deeming them unnecessary for now. A day later the Greeks asked for this reply to be ignored.
October
- 05
- Russia breaks off relations with BulgariaOn 5 October 1915 Sofia rejected the Russian ultimatum. Minister Savinsky announced the break in relations, and the Russian legation staff left Bulgaria.
- Bernardino Machado takes office as presidentOn 5 October 1915, the fifth anniversary of the republic's proclamation, Bernardino Machado was sworn in as President of Portugal, succeeding Teófilo Braga.
- 06
- Alexandros Zaimis becomes prime minister of GreeceOn 6 October 1915, a day after Venizelos resigned, Alexandros Zaimis was forming a new government in Athens. Its members opposed war on Serbia's side.
- Constantine gives assurances of Greek neutralityIn early October 1915 King Constantine I assured the British minister that Greece would stay neutral. Mobilisation and the Entente landing were to go on.
- 08
- Greece declares armed neutralityOn 8 October 1915 the Zaimis government told the Greek legations the country would keep armed neutrality. The army stayed mobilised but would not aid Serbia.
- Germans take the Gauala ridgeOn the night of 8/9 October 1915 the besieged Mora mountain garrison took the Gauala ridge, from which the Allies had shelled German positions for a year.
- 13
- Airship raid on TheatrelandOn the evening of 13 October 1915 the airship L 15 bombed London's Theatreland. The raid by five airships killed 71 people and injured 128.
- Britain breaks off relations with BulgariaIn mid-October 1915 Britain broke off diplomatic relations with Bulgaria. The Bulgarian minister left London, and the Bulgarian army moved against Serbia.
- Théophile Delcassé resignsOn 13 October 1915 the French foreign minister Théophile Delcassé finally stepped down. He left ill, after the failure of Entente diplomacy in Bulgaria.
- 15
- Third Battle of Artois endsOn 15 October 1915 General d'Urbal ordered the 10th Army to fortify its gains for the winter. The French took Souchez, but Vimy Ridge stayed in German hands.
- Britain declares war on BulgariaOn 15 October 1915 the Foreign Office announced that from 10 p.m. Britain was at war with Bulgaria, an ally of the Central Powers fighting Serbia.
- Montenegro declares war on BulgariaOn 15 October 1915 Montenegro declared a state of war with Bulgaria. King Nicholas I's small monarchy stood by Serbia, now attacked from two sides.
- 19
- Key eventRussia and Italy declare war on BulgariaOn 19 October 1915 Nicholas II's manifesto on war with Bulgaria, "betrayer of the Slav cause", was published. Italy also declared war on Bulgaria that day.
- Japan joins the Pact of LondonOn 19 October 1915 Japan acceded to the Pact of London of 1914. It undertook not to conclude a separate peace with Germany.
- 29
- Fall of the Viviani governmentOn 29 October 1915 René Viviani's government fell. After Balkan setbacks and failed offensives he could not reshape his cabinet and gave way to Briand.
- Millerand leaves the Ministry of WarOn 29 October 1915 War Minister Alexandre Millerand, criticised for munitions shortages and deference to Joffre, left office with Viviani's government.
November
- 03
- End of the Third Battle of the IsonzoOn 3 November 1915 the Italians last stormed Podgora and Monte San Michele. Next day the defenders retook their trenches and Cadorna halted the offensive.
- Port and Transit Executive CommitteeOn 3 November 1915 Asquith set up a committee with executive powers to clear the congestion in British ports and speed up the turn-round of ships.
- 04
- Attack on Mount BanyoOn 4 November 1915, in fog, four Nigerian companies under Cunliffe attacked the fortified Mount Banyo in Kamerun. At night the Germans threw dynamite at them.
- Kitchener leaves for the DardanellesOn the night of 4/5 November 1915 Lord Kitchener left London to decide the fate of Gallipoli on the spot. Asquith took charge of the War Office.
- 06
- End of the Second Battle of ChampagneOn 6 November 1915 the last fighting of the Second Battle of Champagne died down. German counter-attacks retook the Butte de Tahure and Hill 199 near Massiges.
- Capture of Mount BanyoAt dawn on 6 November 1915 Cunliffe's Nigerians reached the top of Mount Banyo in Kamerun. The German garrison fled at night in a storm, but most were caught.
- Stefanos Skouloudis becomes prime minister of GreeceAfter the fall of the Zaimis government King Constantine gave power to the 76-year-old banker Stefanos Skouloudis. A few days later he dissolved parliament.
- 07
- Sinking of the cruiser UndineOn 7 November 1915 the British submarine E19 torpedoed the light cruiser Undine, escorting a ferry to Sweden, north of Rügen. About 24 men were killed.
- Sinking of the AnconaOn 7 November 1915 a submarine flying the Austro-Hungarian flag shelled and sank the Italian liner Ancona off Sardinia. About 200 died, Americans among them.
- 10
- Kitchener arrives at the DardanellesOn 10 November 1915 Lord Kitchener held talks at Mudros on the fate of Gallipoli. After seeing the beachheads he leaned towards a partial evacuation.
- Britain introduces licences for shipsFrom 10 November 1915 British ships of 500 tons or more needed a licence to carry cargo between foreign ports. They were to return to serving the home country.
December
- 02
- Bulgarians take BitolaIn early December 1915 Bulgarian cavalry entered Bitola, the second city of Serbian Macedonia. Its defenders fell back not to Salonika but to Albania.
- French abandon KrivolakIn early December 1915 the French withdrew from Krivolak and the loop of the Vardar and Crna Reka before the Bulgarians could strike at them.
- 06
- Austro-Hungarian squadron shells DurrësOn 6 December 1915 the cruiser Helgoland and destroyers sank sailing vessels carrying supplies for the Serbs, some at Durrës. A day earlier Novara raided Medua.
- British economic pressure on GreeceOn 6 December 1915 Britain placed Greece under export restrictions. Halted supplies and detained ships were meant to force Athens to make concessions.
- Second Chantilly ConferenceOn 6–8 December 1915, at Joffre's headquarters in Chantilly, the Allied commanders agreed on simultaneous offensives on all the main fronts in 1916.
- 08
- Order to evacuate Suvla and AnzacOn 8 December 1915 an order from London reached the Dardanelles. The Cabinet had decided to evacuate Suvla and Anzac and to hold Cape Helles for the time being.
- Bulgarians take Debar and OhridIn early December 1915 the Bulgarians took Debar and Ohrid on the western edge of Serbian Macedonia. The last Serbian units were retreating there into Albania.
- 13
- Clash at Wadi SenabFrom 11 to 13 December 1915 a column from Mersa Matruh twice fought the Senussi. The Senussi forces were driven off, but Lieutenant-Colonel Snow was killed.
- Easing of pressure on GreeceOn 13 December 1915 London partly eased its economic pressure on Greece. Greek ships were released, but supplies of goods to Greece were still restricted.
- 15
- Last Entente troops leave MacedoniaIn mid-December 1915 the last Entente troops left Serbian Macedonia. The Bulgarians halted at the Greek border and the Allies fell back towards Salonika.
- Ottoman troops occupy Qasr-e ShirinOn 15 December 1915 Ottoman troops took Qasr-e Shirin on the Persian border. The Turks were coming to help the Germans and Persian émigrés against the Russians.
- 19
- Key eventStart of the evacuation of Suvla and AnzacOn the night of 18/19 December 1915 half of the last garrisons left Suvla and Anzac. Next day the remaining troops staged an ordinary day for the Turks.
- Haig becomes commander of British forces in FranceOn 19 December 1915 General Douglas Haig took over command of the British Expeditionary Force from John French. He was to command it until the end of the war.