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(23)
1914
August
26
Germans destroy Leuven
On the night of 25–26 August 1914 the Germans set fire to the Belgian city of Leuven and its famous university library. About 250 civilians were killed.
September
19
Fire at Reims Cathedral
On 19 September 1914 German shells set fire to Reims Cathedral, where the kings of France were crowned. The burning church became a symbol of wartime barbarity.
October
02
Germans occupy Dendermonde
On 2 October 1914 the Germans again occupied ruined Dendermonde on the Scheldt, threatening the road by which the Belgian army could leave Antwerp.
18
Germans take Roeselare
On 18–19 October 1914 the Germans took Roeselare after fighting the French. Taking the inhabitants for francs-tireurs, they murdered dozens of civilians.
1915
January
02
Russians abandon Urmia
On 2 January 1915 Russian troops withdrew from Urmia in northern Persia. Thousands of Assyrians and Armenians fled with them; Kurds and Turks took the town.
April
16
Turks occupy Urmia
On 16 April 1915 Halil Bey's regular Ottoman troops reached Urmia in northern Persia. Since January the town had been held by Kurds and Turkish volunteers.
May
12
The Bryce Report
On 12 May 1915 Lord Bryce's British committee published its report on German atrocities in Belgium. It became one of the best-known documents of war propaganda.
24
Russians retake Urmia
On 24 May 1915 the Russians returned to Urmia, left a few days earlier by the Turks and Kurds. An occupation tragic for the Christians was over.
August
19
Baralong sinks U-27
On 19 August 1915 the British Q-ship Baralong sank U-27. Her crew shot the submarine's survivors, which became a notorious affair.
21
Lifeboats of the Ruel fired on
On 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.
1916
March
30
Sinking of the hospital ship Portugal
On 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.
July
08
Sinking of the hospital ship Vpered
On 8 July 1916 the German U-38 torpedoed the Russian hospital ship Vpered in the Black Sea off Lazistan. Seven or eight people were killed.
1917
March
21
Torpedoing of the hospital ship Asturias
On the night of 20–21 March 1917 the German UC-66 torpedoed the lit hospital ship Asturias off Start Point. Over 30 people died; the ship was beached.
30
Torpedoing of the hospital ship Gloucester Castle
On the night of 30–31 March 1917 the German UB-32 torpedoed the hospital ship Gloucester Castle in the Channel with wounded aboard. She survived; 3 people died.
April
17
Sinking of the Lanfranc and Donegal
On 17 April 1917 German submarines sank two ships carrying wounded from Le Havre in the Channel. The Lanfranc also carried 167 wounded German prisoners.
May
26
Sinking of the hospital ship Dover Castle
On 26 May 1917 the German UC-67 torpedoed the hospital ship Dover Castle off Algeria with over 600 patients aboard. The patients survived; 7 stokers died.
1918
January
04
Sinking of the hospital ship Rewa
On 4 January 1918 U-55 torpedoed the lit hospital ship Rewa in the Bristol Channel, carrying wounded from the Mediterranean. Four engine-room men were killed.
February
26
Sinking of the hospital ship Glenart Castle
On 26 February 1918 UC-56 torpedoed the lit hospital ship Glenart Castle in the Bristol Channel. 153 people died, including all the nurses.
March
10
Attack on the hospital ship Guildford Castle
On 10 March 1918 a U-boat fired two torpedoes in the Bristol Channel at the hospital ship Guildford Castle with 438 wounded. One hit but did not explode.
April
06
Whites take Tampere
On 6 April 1918, after three weeks of fighting, the last defenders of Tampere surrendered. Mannerheim's Whites took some 11,000 prisoners and broke Red Finland.
29
Whites take Vyborg
On 29 April 1918 the Whites took Vyborg, the last capital of Red Finland. After taking the city they shot hundreds of prisoners and several hundred Russians.
May
07
End of the Finnish Civil War
In early May 1918 the Whites took Kotka and Hamina, and the last Reds laid down their arms on the Kymijoki. The Finnish Civil War was over.
June
27
Sinking of the Llandovery Castle
On 27 June 1918 U-86 torpedoed the Canadian hospital ship Llandovery Castle and fired on the lifeboats. 234 people died, including 14 nurses.