Diary February 21, 1916

02-1916, Diary WWI, Year 1916 / 1 minute of reading

German artillerymen operating a eight-inch (21-cm) howitzer — German artillerymen operating one of the 128 eight-inch (21-cm) howitzers deployed against Verdun.

Diary for Monday, February 21, 1916:

Western Front

BATTLE OF VERDUN BEGINS (until December 18): From 0715 hours violent 9-hour artillery preparation by 1,240 guns (including 150 mortars) on 8-mile front including gas shells (French field guns reply from 1300 hours). Led by 6,000 picked men (including 96 flamethrowers), 140,000 Germans (600 casualties) attack across 656-1203-yards No Man’s Land. They enter Herbebois and Le Bois de Ville; seize Haumont Wood and part of Caures Wood; shelling heard 100 miles away in Vosges.

see also: Battle of Verdun

Flanders: Germans attack French positions in Givenchy woods near Bethune and take PoWs; gas attack at Maucourt Rouvray.

Southern Fronts

Greece: General Sarrail visits King of Greece.

Air War

Germans begin ‘barrage patrols’ over Verdun offensive, 168 aircraft including 21 Fokker Es (Boelcke from own landing ground 7 miles behind front). French shoot down Zeppelin L77.

Politics

Anglo-French reply to US 25 January protest offers postwar international tribunal. General Sarrail in Athens.

Home Fronts

Britain: House of Commons votes £ 120million (total £ 1,420 million for year). Adjutant-general Home Forces Sclater resigns, Macready succeeds following day. Second Industries Fair (London, until March 3).

About The Author

Kretaner

My name is Norman 'Kretaner' and since my childhood I am interested in history and strategy games. Later, I have learned programming and the development of computer games, and finally with the Internet, also web design. I'm in the fortunate position to combine all my interests with my work and to live on a place of my choice, on Crete. All information, figures, specifications and statistics used here had been compiled from a variety of sources and the large, over decades collected, library of the author about military history, WW2 and weapons.