German occupation
Tag
(80)1914
August
September
- 05
- Germans occupy ReimsAt the beginning of September 1914 German troops occupied Reims. The occupation of the coronation city of the kings of France lasted just over a week.
- Germans leave LilleOn 5 September 1914 the German detachment that had entered Lille three days earlier left the city. The Germans returned for good only in October.
October
- 09
- Germans occupy Armentières, Hazebrouck, Merville and EstairesA British chronicle records the German capture of four towns in French Flanders on 9 October 1914. In reality these were cavalry raids.
- Germans occupy MeninThe British chronology records the German capture of Menin on the Lys around 9 October 1914. Belgian sources date the town's occupation from 14 October.
- 12
- Capitulation of LilleOn 12 October 1914, after heavy bombardment, the French garrison of Lille surrendered. For the city a German occupation lasting four years began.
- Germans occupy GhentOn 12 October 1914 the Germans entered Ghent, abandoned by the Allies after the fighting at Melle. The city remained under occupation until November 1918.
December
1915
1916
July
December
- 06
- Key eventFall of BucharestOn 6 December 1916 Falkenhayn's and Mackensen's troops entered Bucharest unopposed. Ploiești fell the same day, and the cut-off Cerna Group laid down its arms.
- Decree establishing the Provisional Council of StateOn 6 December 1916 Beseler and Kuk's decree on the Provisional Council of State was published. Its Polish members, named by the occupiers, were only to advise.
1917
January
March
- 17
- British take BapaumeOn 17 March 1917 the Australians entered burning Bapaume, goal of the Somme battle. The Germans gave it up without a fight, falling back to the Hindenburg Line.
- French take RoyeOn 17 March 1917 the French advance guard entered Roye, ruined by the Germans. About 800 inhabitants whom the occupiers had not deported awaited the troops.
April
July
September
October
November
1918
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
October
- 03
- The British retake Armentières againIn early October 1918 the Germans abandoned Armentières, taken in April on the Lys. The British returned to a town that had been reduced to ruins.
- British take LensOn 3 October 1918 the British entered Lens, abandoned by the Germans. After four years of occupation the mining town was a field of rubble.
November
- 10
- Belgians retake GhentOn 10 November 1918 the Germans left Ghent and the Belgians entered the city. The occupation of the capital of East Flanders, in place since 1914, was over.
- Piłsudski returns to WarsawOn the morning of 10 November 1918 Józef Piłsudski, freed from Magdeburg, arrived in Warsaw. A dozen people met him; by evening he was talking to the regents.
- 18
- Germans leave FranceAccording to the British chronology, on 18 November 1918 the last Germans crossed back over France's 1914 border. The occupation of the north-east was over.
- Belgians return to BrusselsIn mid-November 1918 the last Germans left Brussels, Burgomaster Max returned, and Belgian soldiers entered the capital. The occupation was ending.