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Battle of Tannenberg
The battle was a major defeat for Russia, with the Germans capturing 92,000 Russian prisoners and killing or wounding another 30,000. The battle also led to the suicide of the Russian Second Army's commanding general, Alexander Samsonov. -
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First Battle of the Marne
The Germans invaded France with a plan to win the war in 40 days by capturing Paris and destroying the French and British armies. The French and British armies counterattacked the Germans on a 300-kilometer front, stopping the German advance. The French were helped by some British troops. The battle resulted in the establishment of trench warfare, which characterized the rest of World War I. -
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Second Battle of Ypres
The Germans introduced chlorine gas as a weapon, creating a large gap in the Allied lines when French troops fled due to the gas exposure. Although the Germans did not achieve a decisive breakthrough, they gained territory and inflicted heavy casualties on the Allies. -
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Battle of Gallipoli
Allied troops landed on the peninsula, including New Zealanders, Australians, British, French, Indian, and Newfoundland soldiers. The Allies advanced little beyond their initial landing positions, and by November 1915, it was clear the stalemate would not be broken. In late December, the Allies evacuated the peninsula with few casualties, and all Allied troops were withdrawn by January 20, 1916. -
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Battle of Verdun
The French resistance at Verdun proved a turning point, halting the German advance. The battle lasted 300 days, making it the longest battle of World War I. The battle resulted in an estimated 800,000 soldiers dead, wounded, or missing. France emerged victorious, but neither side gained much territory. -
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Battle of the Somme
British and French forces launched a frontal attack against an entrenched German army north of the Somme River in France. There were over one million casualties and 300,000 fatalities.