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Major Events of January 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 January 1915 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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

  • 01 Jan 1915 Allied Offensive in Artois and Champagne Begins: The Allied forces launched a strategic military offensive in the Artois and Champagne regions of France during World War I, marking a significant moment in the war's Western Front campaign.
  • 02 Jan 1915 Grand Duke Nicholas Seeks British Alliance: Grand Duke Nicholas, commander of the Russian Imperial armed forces, formally appealed to Great Britain for military assistance against the Ottoman Empire. This diplomatic overture was pivotal in setting the groundwork for the subsequent Dardanelles and Gallipoli campaign, which would become a significant theater of World War I.
  • 03 Jan 1915 Battle of Sarikamish in Caucasus: During the Caucasus Campaign of World War I, Ottoman forces were driven out to the Choruk Valley by Russian troops. The Ottoman military attempted to relieve pressure on their soldiers positioned near the city of Sarikamish by launching counterattacks along the Russian defensive line.
  • 04 Jan 1915 London Stock Exchange Resumes Operations: The London Stock Exchange reopens after a period of closure, signaling economic resilience and continuity during the challenging early years of World War I.
  • 05 Jan 1915 Altitude Record in Early Aviation: Joseph E. Carberry set a significant early aviation altitude record by reaching 11,690 feet (3,560 m) while carrying Captain Benjamin Delahauf Foulois as a passenger in a fixed-wing aircraft. This achievement represented an important milestone in the technological development and understanding of aircraft capabilities during the early 20th century.
  • 06 Jan 1915 Battle of Sarikamish: Decisive Russian Victory in Ottoman Campaign: During the Caucasus Campaign of World War I, Russian forces achieved a significant strategic victory against the Ottoman Third Army. The Russian advance was so successful that they penetrated deep into Ottoman territory, capturing entire military divisions. The battle resulted in the capture of 108 officers and 80 soldiers, with the campaign commander Hafiz Hakki Pasha forced to order a full retreat after narrowly escaping capture.
  • 07 Jan 1915 Battle of Sarikamish - Ottoman Retreat: During the Caucasus Campaign of World War I, the remaining Ottoman forces began a strategic withdrawal towards Erzurum in eastern Turkey after suffering significant losses in the Battle of Sarikamish. This battle, fought between Ottoman and Russian forces from December 1914 to January 1915, was a decisive engagement that resulted in a catastrophic defeat for the Ottoman Empire, with estimates suggesting they lost up to 90% of their original invasion force due to harsh winter conditions and Russian military tactics.
  • 08 Jan 1915 First Canadian Casualty in World War I: H.G. Bellinger of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry was killed at Ypres, Belgium, marking a somber milestone as the first Canadian soldier to lose his life during World War I. His death symbolized the significant human cost of the conflict and Canada's early involvement in the global war.
  • 09 Jan 1915 Les Paul: Guitarist and Musical Inventor: Les Paul, a pioneering guitarist and innovative musical inventor, was born on this date. He would later revolutionize electric guitar design and multi-track recording techniques, profoundly influencing modern music.
  • 10 Jan 1915 Shackleton's Endurance Reaches Antarctic Coast: The British polar exploration ship *Endurance*, carrying explorer Ernest Shackleton and the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition crew, arrived at the Antarctic coastal region of Coats Land, encountering formidable 100-foot (30 m) ice walls that would challenge their ambitious expedition.
  • 11 Jan 1915 Ottoman Forces Prepare for Suez Canal Raid: The Ottoman Fourth Army, led by German General Friedrich Freiherr Kress von Kressenstein, began assembling approximately 20,000 soldiers in southern Palestine, preparing for a strategic raid on the Suez Canal during World War I.
  • 12 Jan 1915 Women's Suffrage Proposal Rejected by House: On January 12, 1915, the United States House of Representatives voted against a critical proposal that would have required states to grant women the right to vote. The narrow vote of 204-174 reflected the ongoing struggle for women's suffrage in the early 20th century, highlighting the significant political resistance to women's electoral participation at the time.
  • 13 Jan 1915 Devastating Avezzano Earthquake of 1915: A catastrophic 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck the Province of L'Aquila in central Italy, causing massive destruction and significant loss of life. The earthquake reached a maximum Mercalli intensity of XI, resulting in between 29,978 and 32,610 fatalities. This seismic event was one of the deadliest in Italian history, completely devastating the town of Avezzano and surrounding regions.
  • 14 Jan 1915 Establishment of Eureka Football Club in Buenos Aires: On January 14, 1915, the Association football club Eureka was officially founded in the Barracas neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina. This local sporting organization would become part of the rich footballing culture that defines Argentine sports history.
  • 15 Jan 1915 Japan's Economic Control of China: Japan asserted economic control over China, marking a significant moment in the geopolitical tensions of East Asia during the early 20th century and foreshadowing future imperial ambitions.
  • 16 Jan 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition Gold Coin Authorization: The United States Congress authorized the minting of commemorative gold coins for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, with denominations of $1 and $50. These coins were special collector's items celebrating the opening of the Panama Canal and the international exposition held in San Francisco.
  • 17 Jan 1915 Battle of Sarikamish: Russia Defeats Ottoman Turkey: During the Caucasus Campaign of World War I, Russian forces decisively defeated the Ottoman Turkish army in the Battle of Sarikamish, a significant engagement that demonstrated Russia's military strength in the Caucasus region.
  • 18 Jan 1915 First Zeppelin Bombing of UK Cities: German zeppelins conducted their inaugural bombing raid on the British cities of Great Yarmouth and King's Lynn, marking a significant escalation in aerial warfare during World War I. The attack resulted in over 20 civilian casualties and represented a new, terrifying dimension of military conflict.
  • 19 Jan 1915 First German Zeppelin Bombing Attack on Great Britain: On January 19, 1915, during World War I, German Zeppelin airships conducted the first strategic aerial bombing of Great Britain. The L3 Zeppelins targeted the towns of Great Yarmouth and King's Lynn in Norfolk, resulting in the deaths of at least 20 civilians. This marked a significant escalation in warfare, introducing aerial bombardment of civilian targets as a new military strategy.
  • 20 Jan 1915 SMS Wiesbaden Launch: The German light cruiser SMS Wiesbaden was launched at the AG Vulcan shipyard in Stettin, Germany, during World War I. This naval vessel was part of the German Imperial Navy's fleet expansion efforts during the conflict.
  • 21 Jan 1915 Founding of Kiwanis International: Kiwanis International was established in Detroit, Michigan, as a civic service organization dedicated to improving communities and serving children worldwide. The organization began with a mission to promote fellowship, business networking, and community service among its members.
  • 22 Jan 1915 Guadalajara Train Disaster: A catastrophic train accident occurred in Mexico when a passenger train derailed and plunged into a deep canyon, resulting in the tragic loss of over 600 lives. The incident represents one of the deadliest train accidents in Mexican history, highlighting the significant transportation safety challenges of the early 20th century.
  • 23 Jan 1915 Austro-Hungarian Offensive in the Carpathian Mountains: During World War I, an Austro-Hungarian military force of approximately 175,000 troops launched a strategic offensive against Russian forces in the challenging terrain of the Carpathian Mountains. This offensive was part of the broader Eastern Front conflict, representing a significant military operation aimed at gaining territorial advantage and disrupting Russian military positions during the early stages of the war.
  • 24 Jan 1915 Detailed Account of Battle of Dogger Bank: A pivotal naval battle during World War I where British naval intelligence played a crucial role. By intercepting and decoding German wireless transmissions, the British gained strategic advantage. The battle involved a pursuit and engagement between British and German battle cruisers, resulting in the disabling of the German cruiser Blücher and significant damage to the British flagship HMS Lion. Despite initial success, communication issues allowed part of the German squadron to escape.
  • 25 Jan 1915 First Transcontinental Telephone Call: Alexander Graham Bell makes history by inaugurating the first U.S. transcontinental telephone service, successfully communicating with Thomas Watson from New York to San Francisco, marking a significant milestone in telecommunications technology.
  • 26 Jan 1915 Ottoman Raid on the Suez Canal: On January 26, 1915, during World War I, the Ottoman Army launched a strategic military operation targeting the Suez Canal, a critical maritime route controlled by the British Empire. This raid was part of the Ottoman Empire's broader effort to challenge British colonial control in Egypt and disrupt Allied maritime communications. The attack represented a significant moment in the Middle Eastern theater of World War I, demonstrating the Ottoman Empire's military ambitions and strategic capabilities.
  • 27 Jan 1915 US Marines Occupy Haiti: The United States Marines initiated an occupation of Haiti, marking a significant intervention in Caribbean geopolitics during the early 20th century.
  • 28 Jan 1915 United States Coast Guard Established: An act of the U.S. Congress officially creates the United States Coast Guard as a new branch of the United States Armed Forces, merging the Life-Saving Service and Revenue Cutter Service into a unified maritime security organization.
  • 29 Jan 1915 German Saboteur's Dynamite Plot Against US Infrastructure: On January 29, 1915, during the early stages of World War I, German saboteur Werner Horn departed from Grand Central Station in New York City, carrying a suitcase filled with dynamite. His clandestine mission was to travel to Maine and conduct a strategic act of sabotage aimed at disrupting the American war effort and infrastructure. This event highlights the covert operations and tensions between Germany and the United States during the conflict, demonstrating the complex international dynamics of the time.
  • 30 Jan 1915 German Submarine Sinkings in World War I: German submarine SM U-21 engaged in maritime warfare, sinking British cargo ships Linda Blanche and Kilcuan, and scuttling the British collier Ben Cruachan.
  • 31 Jan 1915 First German Poison Gas Attack in World War I: During World War I, Germany launched its first large-scale poison gas attack against Russian forces on the Eastern Front, marking a significant and controversial escalation in warfare tactics. The attack occurred near the Polish village of Bolimów, west of Warsaw, involving approximately 18,000 artillery shells containing liquid xylyl bromide tear gas. However, due to freezing temperatures, the chemical weapon's effectiveness was severely limited.