World War One Diary for Tuesday, December 31, 1918: Home Fronts Germany: Vorwaerts publishes draft German constitution. Landsturm demobilized and dissolved. USA: War Industries and Railroad Board dissolved. Britain: 288,438 troops demobilized so far; 124,680 British ex-PoWs reach dispersal camps.… learn more
World War One Diary for Monday, December 30, 1918: Home Fronts Germany: German Communist Party founded. Eastern Front North Russia: Allies take Kadish. Siberia: Kolchak takes Birsk. Politics Britain: Wilson receives freedom of Manchester. learn more
World War One Diary for Sunday, December 29, 1918: Home Fronts Germany: Majority Socialist demo in Berlin vs Spartacists, but 3 Independent Socialists leave Government. France: Liberated Districts Ministry formed. Britain: Meat ration coupon value raised from 4d to 5d… learn more
World War One Diary for Saturday, December 28, 1918: Home Fronts Germany: 3 Commissars (USPD) resign but replaced by SPDs. BRITISH GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS: Government Coalition 478 seats (Tory 384; LG Liberal 138, Coalition Labour 14) vs 219 Opposition (58… learn more
World War One Diary for Friday, December 27, 1918: Eastern Front USSR: Lenin writes to Chicherin urging Berlin or Holland conference to found Third Communist International by February 1, 1919 (platform basis to be that of Bolsheviks and Spartacus League… learn more
World War One Diary for Thursday, December 26, 1918: Eastern Front Baltic States: 2 Royal Navy cruisers and 3 destroyers capture Red destroyers Spartak and Avrotil (until December 27) after chase off Reval, 247 PoWs; ships later given to Estonian… learn more
World War One Diary for Wednesday, December 25, 1918: Eastern Front Urals: General Pepelyayev’s White Siberian Corps of General Gadja’s Northern Army (Kolchak) captures and loots Perm (province capital and industrial city) in surprise thrust, takes 30,000 PoWs; 50 guns;… learn more
World War One Diary for Tuesday, December 24, 1918: Middle East North Syria: 28th Indian Brigade (7th Division) occupies Killis and Aintab, north of Aleppo, and Baghdad Railway. Home Fronts Austria: Toasts to Emperor drunk all over Vienna (provisional President… learn more
World War One Diary for Monday, December 23, 1918: Home Fronts Germany: Spartacists and Marines seize Berlin Chancery but Government troops eject with 29 killed until December 24. Western Front Germany: Erzberger, head of German Armistice delegation, praises Foch’s ‘benevolent… learn more
World War One Diary for Sunday, December 22, 1918: Eastern Front Georgia: British brigade (from Salonika Army) lands at Batumi to link with Baku garrison as Armenian vs Georgian fighting in progress (peace signed with British mediation on January 17,… learn more
World War One Diary for Saturday, December 21, 1918: Home Fronts Czechoslovakia: President Masaryk arrives in Prague (inaugurated December 22). Britain: Children’s sugar rations increased (manufacturers allowance doubled on December 30). Germany: Prussia National Assembly elections fixed for January 16,… learn more
World War One Diary for Friday, December 20, 1918: Eastern Front General Borius’ 1,800 French African troops (156th Colonial Division) land at Odessa. Petlura’s Ukrainians capture Kiev and end Skovopadski’s rule. Home Fronts Germany: Hindenburg protests vs Berlin Conference military… learn more
World War One Diary for Thursday, December 19, 1918: Home Fronts Britain: Haig and his 5 army commanders return to London. Sir E Geddes made Coordinator for Army demobilization. Military gratuities scale issued (Navy’s on December 24). Czechoslovakia: 8 hour… learn more
World War One Diary for Wednesday, December 18, 1918: Home Fronts Germany: Berlin Conference decides on Ebert Provisional Government pending National Assembly elections (fixed for January 19, 1919). Britain: Information Ministry abolished. Government to grant up to £10 million for… learn more
World War One Diary for Tuesday, December 17, 1918: Western Front British occupation of Cologne bridgehead and US occupation of Koblenz bridgehead completed, 40 Allied divisions deployed. Eastern Front Latvia declared a Soviet Republic. Germany: Oberost HQ to move to… learn more
World War One Diary for Monday, December 16, 1918: Home Fronts Germany: Conference of Workers and Soldiers Councils at Berlin (until December 20), 450 deputies. Britain: Demobilization scheme for Army and RAF men with jobs to go to. Lard rationing… learn more
World War One Diary for Sunday, December 15, 1918: Home Fronts Germany: People’s Party programme. Austria: Emperor Charles ill at with flu at Eckartsau (all his 5 children too). Eastern Front Estonia proclaimed Soviet Republic. Lenin urges Trotsky’s deputy to… learn more
World War One Diary for Saturday, December 14, 1918: Home Fronts Britain – GENERAL (THE ‘KHAKI’ OR ‘COUPON’) ELECTION, first since 1910 (results on December 28 to allow forces’ votes to be counted). Munitionette volunteers released. Soldiers released for civil… learn more
World War One Diary for Friday, December 13, 1918: Politics France: President Wilson lands at Brest, arrives Paris on December 14 (receives freedom of city on December 16). Britain: Lloyd George election press statement backs universal abolition of conscription. Indian… learn more
World War One Diary for Thursday, December 12, 1918: Home Fronts Germany: Republican Guard formed. Britain: Men over 41 called up in 1918 to be demobilized. Horseflesh prices fixed due to rise in consumption. Churchill’s final election speech at Dundee… learn more
