Russia
Russia in the First World War →Tag
(562)1916
January
- 13
- Ottoman troops in KermanshahIn January 1916 Ottoman battalions arrived in Kermanshah. The city was not captured, but was a centre of Persian nationalists allied with Germany.
- Russians take KangavarOn 13 January 1916 Baratov's corps took Kangavar in western Persia after hard fighting, routing Kanitz's detachments and the Turkish battalion supporting them.
February
March
- 05
- Resignation of FarmanfarmaAt the turn of February and March 1916 the government of Prince Farmanfarma, Britain's closest friend in Tehran, fell. It had lasted just over two months.
- Resignation of the Persian foreign ministerAlong with Farmanfarma's government in March 1916, Persia's foreign minister Moshaver ol-Mamalek left office, not Mohtasham os-Saltaneh as the chronology says.
- 12
- Reports of the capture of KerendAccording to British sources, on 12 March 1916 the Russians took Kerend on the Kermanshah–Baghdad road. They did not hold it: in April the Turks defended it.
- Third Chantilly ConferenceOn 12 March 1916 at Chantilly Allied commanders resolved that a joint offensive would start soon to relieve Verdun, and that the Salonika army would stay.
- 30
- Sinking of the hospital ship PortugalOn 30 March 1916 the German U-33 torpedoed the Russian hospital ship Portugal in the Black Sea off Rize. Between 85 and 115 people died, including nurses.
- Ōshima becomes Japanese minister of warOn 30 March 1916 Vice-Minister General Ken'ichi Ōshima became Japan's minister of war. He held the post until 1918, including in Masatake Terauchi's cabinet.
April
May
- 07
- Russians occupy Qasr-e ShirinOn 7 May 1916 Baratov's cavalry entered Qasr-e Shirin on the border with Iraq. It came too late, as Kut had capitulated more than a week earlier.
- Nikola Pašić in RussiaIn early May 1916 Serbian prime minister Nikola Pašić was the Tsar's guest in Petrograd. Contrary to the British chronology, the government stayed on Corfu.
- 15
- Russians take RowanduzIn mid-May 1916 a Russian detachment from Persian Azerbaijan stormed Rowanduz in Kurdistan, a few days' march from Mosul.
- Russians halt before KhanaqinIn mid-May 1916 Baratov stood before Khanaqin but did not take it. The Turks were bringing reinforcements from Kut and the Russians were told not to attack.
June
- 21
- Russians take RădăuțiOn 21 June 1916 Petrograd announced the capture of Rădăuți in southern Bukovina. Terek Cossacks had passed through it a day earlier, pursuing the Austrians.
- Entente ultimatum to GreeceOn 21 June 1916 the ministers of France, Britain and Russia demanded that Greece demobilise, form a non-party government and hold elections. Athens gave in.
July
August
- 17
- Romania's treaty with the EntenteOn 17 August 1916 in Bucharest Brătianu signed a secret treaty and military convention with the Entente, promising to attack Austria-Hungary by 28 August.
- Brusilov offensive winds downBy mid-August 1916 Brusilov's attacks on Kovel had stalled. On 17 August he set his armies new objectives, but the offensive was already losing momentum.
September
- 01
- Key eventBulgaria declares war on RomaniaOn 1 September 1916 Bulgaria declared war on Romania to regain the Dobruja lost in 1913. Tsar Ferdinand called for a fight against the "treacherous neighbour".
- Russo-British agreement on Asia MinorOn 1 September 1916 the Russian ambassador in London confirmed in a note to Grey the Anglo-Russian deal on dividing Asiatic Turkey. He raised one reservation.