Immediately, seven British cruisers and an battleship rush to intercept German ships. The fire contact is established on December 8, 1914. Further, quite straightforwardly, the caliber of the guns affects the course of the battle. Size matters. At a distance of 12 kilometers 305 mm. British guns can confidently hit enemy ships, and 210 mm. guns of German cruisers – no. In the photo – the old, but formidable British battleship “Canopus”, the port guard, firing from 12-inch guns. Initially, the Germans expected to see at Port Stanley only this one, which has a rather weak booking
The Scharnhorst gets 40 hits and goes down. Of the 860 sailors, no one is saved. Two hours later, the same fate befalls Gneisenau. Survive 187 people. In addition, two light German cruisers and transports are killed in fire and water. One cruiser and hospital ship manages to escape. The total human losses of the Germans – 2110 people, 212 prisoners. The British squadron loses 6 sailors. Somewhat later, on August 28, 1915, in the battle near the island of Helgoland, the British allowed four German ships to the bottom and finally restore the reputation of their fleet.Photography – sailors from the Gneisenau are looking for salvation on the British cruiser Inflexible
Size matters. On the left – guns of the Invincible cruiser, on the right – the Scharnhorst
Since February 19, 1915, after the preliminary “raids”, seven Anglo-French pennants fired at Turkish forts. Thanks to both the actions of spies and their own logic, the Ottomans strengthen the citadels in advance. In the morning, February 18, despite an unfavorable forecast, the allied fleet attacks the Turkish coastal fortifications. The main idea of the initiator of the operation, then still quite young lion (or even a bulldog) of W. Churchill: “Turkey is an Asian power over which progressive Europe, led by Great Britain, will easily triumph.” It is supposed to land troops on the Gallipoi Peninsula (North-West Coast of Asia Minor), 80,000 people, in order to open a sea connection with Russia and force Turkey to peace. As a prize for all-round assistance, the notorious Straits (free communication of the Black and Mediterranean Seas) are offered to Emperor Nicholas II, even if veiled, Photo – French squadron battleship Charlemagne. In the foreground are soldiers of the Entente who are preparing to disembark on the Turkish coast. January 1915
As a result of the counteraction of the Turkish coastal batteries, a series of battles, explosions on mines, the ten pennants of the Allied fleet very quickly go to the bottom. Be that as it may, a large-scale landing of naval assault forces has been carried out since April 25. Already on the first day of the operation, under heavy machine-gun fire, the allies lose at least 18,000 people alone with those killed. Somewhat later, Turkish artillery collects a heavy harvest. Britain still does not believe in the failure of the ambitious operation and is pushing the “last battalion” – an additional 10,000 paratroopers. German-Turkish guns devour them as well. The command of the Entente recognizes the catastrophe and withdraws the troops. The evacuation continues from December 7, 1915 to January 9, 1916. Britain loses 40,000 people, its allies from the dominions 10,000, France 10,000, Turkey 100,000 (but it wins). The photo is a British battleship doddornoot “Irrenzistable”, suffered damage from a sea mine, coastal batteries of the enemy, gone to the bottom on March 18, 1915.
From January 20, 1915, the Russian and Austro-Hungarian armies almost simultaneously begin their offensive in the Carpathians. The result of a chain of battles that do not differ in diversity is 250,000 dead Russians, 230,000 Austrians and Hungarians. The garrison of the fortress of Przemysl exhausts food supplies, eats up the last horses, and surrenders. This is the last inspirational victory of the Russian army, won by small forces with acceptable losses. 120,000 soldiers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire are taken prisoner. On the photo – frames of the Russian aerial photography, one of the forts of Przemysl, March 1915
Storm of the Carpathians, winter of 1915. Russian soldiers. Randomly selected photo
Emperor Nicholas II and Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Army Nikolai Nikolayevich (grandson of Nicholas I). It seems that still can be very good. Already very soon, the royal personages will visit the islands of Imbros, Tenedos in the Aegean Sea, will reverently enter the church of St. Sophia. Petrograd streets fill out festive demonstrations. In the temples solemn prayers are held. But we know that this is the peak of the achievements of our great and at the same time terrible past of the Empire. Further decline and collapse of the state. Neighborhood of Przemysl, March 1915
On February 7, 1915, the German armies began an offensive in the area of the Russian, and now Polish, city of Augustine. The maximum task is to surround and destroy the entire 10th Russian army, 155 thousand people. This plan is implemented only in part. One of the corps (38,000 fighters) gets into the environment, then a prisoner. Three other corps are moving to a new line of defense. Russia is losing 20,000 dead, 35,000 prisoners, Germany 5,000, and 4,000 prisoners. The territorial acquisitions of the German army are not large. The result of the subsequent Prasnysh operation is the counteroffensive of the Russian troops. By March 30, German troops return to their original line of defense. Russia’s irretrievable losses are 25,000, Germany’s 22,000. The photo shows Russo-Balt armored cars in the Prasnysh operation, March 1915. The armor is penetrated by rifle bullets from 30 meters, although their prohibitive action is already small. Russian, machine-gun and cannon armored cars that shoot Germans point-blank, have a decisive influence on the success of the counteroffensive
For the first time, the heavy bombers “Ilya Muromets” take off on February 14 (27), 1915. Most of the targets are located on the territory of modern Latvia. Initially, the aircraft factory as a branch of the famous Russo-Balt was located in Riga. In 1915 he was evacuated to Central Russia. The production of airplanes continued until 1918, with the domestic aircraft engines Russobalt, which replaced the German Argus. In the civilian version, the revolutionary C-22 was designed to transport a dozen passengers with all imaginable amenities. The bomber has a takeoff weight of 5 tons. Crew – 5—7 people, 4—6 machine guns, 350—500 kg. bombs. Engines are protected by armor 5 mm. The maximum speed of 135 km. hours, the flight duration of 4—5 hours, the ceiling of 3 000 meters. Built 83 copies
A squadron of 60 cars makes 400 combat sorties, drops 65 tons of bombs, shooting down 12 airplanes. The first “Ilya of Murom” was lost in aerial combat on September 12, 1916, in a battle with four German fighters. In this case, three enemy aircraft C-22 can be shot down. The effectiveness of the bombing of “Ilya Muromets”, according to the assurances of British experts, reaches 90%. For some time, the “backward” Tsarist Russia waged a high-tech war. Be that as it may, the airplanes wear out, and their entry into the troops is difficult due to the exacerbated political situation. By 1917, only four such aircraft remained on the front line. Designer Igor Sikorsky and the tsarist government are selling a license to design the heavy bomber Entente. The last flight, like a training airplane, “Ilya Muromets” makes October 10, 1922 over the city of Serpukhov
Russian soldiers in worship, spring 1915. The army obeys orders and