previous year1909
1910191119121913191419151916191719181919
1920next year

Major Events of February 1915: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from February 1915 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

history

Major Events of February 1915: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Feb 1915 Turkish Forces Approach Suez Canal: Turkish advance-guards reached the Suez Canal, signaling a potential strategic military movement during World War I that threatened British imperial interests in Egypt.
  • 02 Feb 1915 Maritz Rebellion Surrender: The final group of Boer rebels, led by Manie Maritz, surrendered to the Union of South Africa government, marking the end of an internal uprising against the state during World War I. This rebellion, which began in 1914, was a significant moment of internal conflict within the young South African nation, reflecting ongoing tensions between Afrikaner factions and British colonial authorities.
  • 03 Feb 1915 Ottoman-German Forces Attempt Suez Canal Invasion: During World War I, Ottoman Turkish troops, supported by German military advisors, launched an offensive to attack the strategically critical Suez Canal. The canal, controlled by British forces, was a vital maritime route connecting Europe with its colonial territories in Asia and Africa. This military operation was part of the Central Powers' broader strategy to disrupt British imperial communications and potentially threaten British control of Egypt.
  • 04 Feb 1915 German Zeppelin Raids Begin on Great Britain: Germany initiated a policy of unrestricted submarine warfare and launched zeppelin raids on Great Britain, bringing the war directly to British civilian territories. These aerial attacks represented a new and terrifying dimension of warfare, targeting civilian populations and dramatically escalating the psychological impact of World War I.
  • 05 Feb 1915 Birth of Robert Hofstadter, Renowned Physicist: Robert Hofstadter was an influential American physicist who made significant contributions to nuclear physics and solid-state physics. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his groundbreaking research on the structure of atomic nuclei and electron scattering. His work fundamentally advanced our understanding of nuclear and particle physics in the mid-20th century.
  • 06 Feb 1915 Second Battle of the Masurian Lakes: During World War I, the German 8th Army launched a strategic offensive against Russian forces on the Eastern Front, successfully penetrating and capturing poorly defended enemy trenches. This battle was part of the ongoing conflict between the German and Russian empires, demonstrating the German military's tactical prowess and the vulnerability of Russian defensive positions.
  • 07 Feb 1915 Germany Declares Unrestricted Naval Warfare Zone: Germany officially declared the waters surrounding the British Isles a war zone, announcing that ships could be sunk without warning—a provocative declaration that would escalate naval warfare and international tensions.
  • 08 Feb 1915 Second Battle of the Masurian Lakes: During World War I, the German 10th Army launched a strategic offensive against the Russian line, continuing the momentum from the previous day's advances by the 9th Army. Despite challenging winter conditions including heavy snow and poor road conditions, German forces demonstrated remarkable mobility, advancing 120 kilometers (75 miles) in a week and inflicting substantial casualties on the Russian forces.
  • 09 Feb 1915 German Naval Warning of War Zone Around British Isles: Admiral Hugo von Pohl, commander of the German High Seas Fleet, issued a critical maritime warning in the Deutscher Reichsanzeiger. He declared the waters surrounding Great Britain and Ireland a war zone, explicitly stating that neutral vessels risked being accidentally attacked alongside Allied shipping. This proclamation was a significant escalation of naval warfare tactics during World War I.
  • 10 Feb 1915 Ottoman Raid on the Suez Canal: During World War I, the Ottoman Empire launched a strategic raid on the Suez Canal, a critical British-controlled waterway. Despite deploying a small force of approximately 400 men, the Ottoman Expeditionary Force suffered significant casualties, with over 1,500 troops killed, wounded, or captured. In contrast, British forces experienced relatively light losses, with 32 killed and 130 wounded, effectively repelling the Ottoman attack and maintaining control of this strategically important maritime route.
  • 11 Feb 1915 German Steamship Dacia Sold During World War I: During World War I, the German steamship S.S. 'Dacia', which was interned in the United States due to the ongoing conflict, was sold to Mr. Breitung, an American businessman. This transaction occurred during a period of significant maritime tensions, as many German vessels were immobilized in neutral ports to prevent their use in military operations.
  • 12 Feb 1915 Lincoln Memorial Construction Begins: On February 12, 1915, the first stone of the Lincoln Memorial was ceremonially placed in Washington, DC, marking the commencement of this iconic national monument's construction. This moment symbolized a significant tribute to President Abraham Lincoln and his enduring legacy of preserving the Union and advancing civil rights.
  • 13 Feb 1915 German Torpedo Boat SMS V25 Sinks in North Sea: During World War I, the German torpedo boat SMS V25 struck a naval mine in the North Sea, resulting in a catastrophic sinking. The incident led to the tragic loss of 79 crew members, highlighting the deadly nature of naval warfare during this period. Naval mines were indiscriminate weapons that posed significant risks to maritime operations, often causing unexpected and devastating casualties.
  • 14 Feb 1915 The Phantom Air Raid of Ottawa in 1915: On Valentine's Day night, Sunday 14 February 1915, Ottawa residents experienced a tense moment of potential aerial threat during World War I. The Prime Minister, Sir Robert Borden, received an urgent telephone call from Mayor Donaldson of Brockville, reporting that at least three German airplanes had allegedly crossed the St. Lawrence River from Morristown, New York. Multiple Brockville citizens claimed to have witnessed the planes, which were believed to be heading towards the Canadian capital. As a precautionary measure, key government buildings in Ottawa were immediately blacked out to prevent potential aerial targeting. However, no actual air raid occurred, and the event remains a curious historical footnote of wartime anxiety and heightened vigilance.
  • 15 Feb 1915 Unremarkable Day in World History: February 15, 1915, appears to be a day without significant documented historical events. During this period, World War I was ongoing, with major conflicts and geopolitical tensions shaping the global landscape. While no specific event was recorded for this exact date, the broader context of the early 20th century was marked by significant transformations in international relations, technology, and societal structures.
  • 16 Feb 1915 Allied Naval Attack on Dardanelles Begins: The Allied naval forces initiated a major offensive against the Dardanelles straits, a critical maritime passage controlled by the Ottoman Empire. This naval attack was a significant strategic operation during World War I, aimed at opening a sea route to Russia and potentially forcing the Ottoman Empire out of the conflict.
  • 17 Feb 1915 First US Combat Fatality in World War I: Edward Stone became the first American combatant to be mortally wounded during World War I, marking a significant moment in early US military involvement in the global conflict. His death symbolized the United States' emerging role in the international war effort, though the country would not officially enter the war until 1917.
  • 18 Feb 1915 German Unrestricted Submarine Warfare Begins: The Imperial German Navy officially institutes unrestricted submarine warfare in the waters surrounding Great Britain and Ireland, marking a significant escalation of naval tactics during World War I.
  • 19 Feb 1915 First Naval Attack on Dardanelles in World War I: An Anglo-French naval task force initiated the first significant naval assault on the Dardanelles, targeting Ottoman artillery positions along the Gallipoli coast. This operation was a critical moment in the Gallipoli Campaign, aimed at securing a strategic maritime passage.
  • 20 Feb 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition Opens in San Francisco: The Panama-Pacific International Exposition was a grand world's fair held in San Francisco from February 20, 1915, to December 4, 1915. The event celebrated two significant milestones: the completion of the Panama Canal and the 400th anniversary of Vasco Núñez de Balboa's historic discovery of the Pacific Ocean. This exposition showcased technological innovations, cultural achievements, and international cooperation, attracting millions of visitors from around the world.
  • 21 Feb 1915 Russian Army Corps Surrender in World War I: During the Second Battle of the Masurian Lakes in World War I, the 20th Russian Army Corps was forced to surrender to German forces in the Augustów Primeval Forest region of Poland. This significant military engagement represented a major defeat for Russian imperial forces on the Eastern Front.
  • 22 Feb 1915 Germany Launches Unrestricted Submarine Warfare in World War I: On February 22, 1915, Germany officially implemented a controversial naval strategy of unrestricted submarine warfare during World War I. This aggressive policy allowed German U-boats to attack and sink merchant and passenger ships without warning, including those from neutral countries. The decision was a significant escalation in naval combat tactics and would ultimately play a crucial role in drawing the United States into the war.
  • 23 Feb 1915 German Naval Aggression During World War I: During World War I, Germany escalated its naval warfare by sinking the US ships Carib and Evelyn, and torpedoing the Norwegian vessel Regin, further intensifying international tensions and maritime conflict.
  • 24 Feb 1915 German Capture of Zhytomyr During World War I: During the Eastern Front campaign of World War I, German Imperial forces successfully captured the strategically important city of Zhytomyr in Ukraine on February 24, 1915. This military action was part of the broader German offensive against Russian Imperial forces, demonstrating the complex territorial struggles of the conflict.
  • 26 Feb 1915 First German Flame-Thrower Deployed in World War I: During the Battle of Malancourt in the Argonne Forest, German forces introduced the flame-thrower (Flammenwerfer) as a new and terrifying weapon of warfare. This marked a significant technological advancement in military weaponry, designed to clear trenches and create psychological terror among enemy troops.
  • 27 Feb 1915 S.S. Dacia Cargo Voyage during World War I: The steamship S.S. Dacia departed from the United States, bound for Bremen, Germany, carrying a cargo of cotton. This maritime journey occurred during a critical period of World War I, when transatlantic trade was significantly impacted by naval conflicts and international tensions.
  • 28 Feb 1915 Birth of Sir Peter Medawar, Pioneering Immunologist: Sir Peter Medawar was born in London, England, a distinguished zoologist and immunologist who would later be awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1953 for his groundbreaking work in understanding tissue transplantation and the immune system's response to foreign cells.