TheGreatWar.pl
Timeline
Battles
People
Guide
Topics
The key questions about the war
Countries
The warring and neutral states
Places
Cities, fortresses, rivers, islands
Armed forces
Armies, fleets and air services
Series
Selected threads, article by article
Glossary
Terms, abbreviations and names
Key dates
The war in numbers
Voices from the front
Contact
pl
Timeline
Battles
People
Guide
Topics
Countries
Places
Armed forces
Series
Glossary
Key dates
The war in numbers
Voices from the front
Contact
← Timeline
SMS Goeben
Tag
(11)
1914
August
04
Goeben and Breslau bombard ports in Algeria
On the morning of 4 August 1914 the German warships Goeben and Breslau shelled the French ports of Philippeville and Bône in Algeria, flying Russian colours.
07
HMS Gloucester attacks Goeben and Breslau off Greece
On 7 August 1914 the British cruiser Gloucester shadowed the German ships Goeben and Breslau and opened fire on Breslau off the coast of Greece.
11
Goeben and Breslau enter the Dardanelles
The German warships Goeben and Breslau, pursued by the British, took refuge in the Dardanelles. Their arrival drew Turkey closer to war on Germany's side.
September
17
Admiral Souchon takes command of the Turkish fleet
In September 1914 the German admiral Wilhelm Souchon took command of the Ottoman fleet. A few weeks later he drew Turkey into the war.
October
29
Key event
Ottoman fleet attacks Russian ports
On 29 October 1914 Admiral Souchon's Ottoman warships shelled Russian Black Sea ports without a declaration of war. Turkey entered the war.
30
Allied ultimatum to Turkey
On 30 October 1914 London gave Turkey 12 hours to expel the German missions and the crews of Goeben and Breslau, or face a break in relations.
November
18
Battle of Cape Sarych
On 18 November 1914, in fog off the Crimea, Russian battleships clashed with Goeben. After a quarter of an hour of fire Souchon turned away into the fog.
December
10
Goeben shells Batum
On 10 December 1914 the battlecruiser Goeben shelled the Russian port of Batum in the Caucasus. The bombardment lasted under ten minutes and did little damage.
1915
April
03
Turkish raid on Odessa
On 3 April 1915 the Turkish cruiser Mecidiye struck a Russian mine off Odessa and sank. Goeben and Breslau, covering the raid, escaped the Black Sea Fleet.
1918
January
20
Sinking of Breslau
On 20 January 1918 off Imbros the German-Turkish cruiser Breslau (Midilli) ran into a minefield and sank. About 330 men died; Goeben ran aground.
26
Goeben is refloated
On 26 January 1918 the Turkish battleship Turgut Reis pulled the cruiser Goeben off a Dardanelles sandbank. A week of British bombing had failed to destroy her.