Video: 'The Sussex Pledge WW1'

(Wednesday, January 31, 1917; during the Atlantic U-boat campaign of World War I) — The German government announced today that its U-Boats would once again be allowed to practice unrestricted warfare against all allied shipping and any neutral ships that crossed into the waters around the British Isles. Continue reading Germany to resume unrestricted submarine warfare 100 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 31 1917) →

Video: 'The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century (4of7): Slaughter' (Battle of Verdun ends at 12:26)

(Wednesday, December 18, 1916; on the Western Front during World War I) — The Battle of Verdun, one of the largest battles of the First World War on the Western Front between the German and French armies, ended today in a French victory. Continue reading 10-month Battle of Verdun ends in French victory 100 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 18 1916) →

Video: '1917 Immigration Act'

(Thursday, December 14, 1916; during World War I) — President Woodrow Wilson vetoed an immigration measure today aimed at preventing “undesirables” and anyone born in the “Asiatic Barred Zone” from entering the U.S. Continue reading President Wilson vetoes sweeping immigration bill 100 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 14 1916) →

Video: 'The Great War episode 5 Mutiny' (Dec. 13, 1916, at 25:19)

(Wednesday, December 13, 1916; during the Battle of the Verdun, part of the Western Front of World War I) — With heavy casualties in the battles of the Somme and Verdun and following the formation of a new government in Paris, General Joseph Joffre was formally replaced today as Commander-in-Chief of French armies on the Western Front by General Robert Nivelle, who promised new tactics to break out of the trenches and win the war. Continue reading Nivelle replaces Joffre as French commander-in-chief 100 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 13 1916) →

Video: 'The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century (4of7): Slaughter' (Nov. 18, 1916, at 34:00)

(Saturday, November 18, 1916; during the Battle of the Somme, part of the Western Front of World War I) — The Battle of the Somme, a battle of the First World War fought by the armies of the British and French empires against the German Empire, ended today when German troops retired from the final large british attack at the Battle of the Ancre amid worsening weather. Continue reading British Expeditionary Force commander Douglas Haig calls off Battle of the Somme 100 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 18 1916) →

Video: 'The First Battle of Champagne'

(Wednesday, March 17, 1915; part of the Western Front of World War I) — The First Battle of Champagne between the French Fourth Army and the German Third Army in the Champagne region of France ended today in stalemate after three months of bloody fighting.

Video: 'La bataille des Dardanelles (1915)'

(Friday, February 19, 1915, 7:30 a.m. local time; during Naval operations in the Dardanelles Campaign, part of World War I) — British and French warships launched their initial attack today on Ottoman forces in the Dardanelles, a strait in northwestern Turkey. The Gallipoli Campaign that followed proved disastrous for the Allies.

Video: 'The Great War episode 2 Stalemate' (Dec. 26, 1914, at 54:25)

(Saturday, December 26, 1914, 8:30 a.m. local time; on the Western Front of the First World War) — An unofficial Christmas truce that began two days ago on the Western Front ended today after German and British soldiers exchange pleasantries.