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

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

01 Jul 1915 First Synchronized Fighter Plane Aerial Victory: Lieutenant Kurt Wintgens of the German Army Air Service achieved the first known aerial victory using a fighter plane equipped with a synchronized machine gun, specifically the Fokker M.5K/MG Eindecker. This technological advancement marked a significant milestone in aerial warfare during World War I, revolutionizing combat tactics in the skies.
02 Jul 1915 Anarchist Eric Muenter's Bombing Campaign: German-American anarchist Eric Muenter conducted a dangerous terrorist campaign in 1915, targeting significant American institutions. He first detonated a bomb at the United States Capitol, then traveled to New York City where he planted another homemade bomb on the munitions ship SS *Minnehaha*. His final target was the residence of prominent banker J. P. Morgan Jr. in Glen Cove, New York, where he arrived armed with dynamite and two revolvers, representing a significant act of domestic terrorism during a tumultuous period in American history.
03 Jul 1915 British Munitions of War Act: The British Parliament passed the Munitions of War Act to address critical artillery shell shortages during World War I. This landmark legislation was designed to mobilize industrial production and improve military preparedness. David Lloyd George was appointed Minister of Munitions, a role that would prove crucial in coordinating wartime manufacturing efforts.
04 Jul 1915 Birth of Timmie Rogers: Timmie Rogers, a notable African American entertainer, was born in Detroit, Michigan. He would go on to become a prominent singer and actor during the mid-20th century, particularly known for his performances during the Harlem Renaissance era.
05 Jul 1915 Battle of Gully Ravine during Gallipoli Campaign: During the Gallipoli Campaign, Ottoman Empire forces suffered a devastating defeat in their final attempt to recapture ground from the British. General Otto Liman von Sanders halted further assaults after experiencing catastrophic losses, with Ottoman casualties estimated between 14,000 and 16,000 - approximately four times higher than British losses. This marked a critical turning point in the bloody Gallipoli peninsula conflict.
06 Jul 1915 Battle of Rufiji Delta in German East Africa: During World War I, the German cruiser SMS Königsberg, which had been concealed within the dense jungles surrounding the Rufiji River in German East Africa (modern-day Tanzania) for nearly eight months, engaged in a naval confrontation with British monitor ships HMS Mersey and HMS Severn. The intense naval exchange resulted in the British vessels being forced to withdraw, demonstrating the strategic resilience of the German naval forces in the African theater of the war.
07 Jul 1915 First Battle of the Isonzo Concludes: The First Battle of the Isonzo, a significant engagement between Italian and Austro-Hungarian forces during World War I, comes to an end. This battle was part of the brutal mountain warfare in the Alps and marked the beginning of a series of costly confrontations.
08 Jul 1915 Establishment of the Women's Peace Army: On July 8, 1915, the Women's Peace Army was founded in Melbourne, Australia, as a significant anti-war movement protesting Australia's involvement in World War I. This organization represented an early example of feminist pacifism, bringing together women who opposed the war and advocated for peaceful resolution of international conflicts.
09 Jul 1915 German South West Africa Surrenders: Germany officially surrenders its colonial territory of South West Africa (modern-day Namibia) to the Union of South Africa during World War I, marking a significant shift in colonial control in the region.
10 Jul 1915 Battle of Malazgirt (Manzikert) in World War I: In a significant engagement during World War I, a Russian force of 22,000 troops attempted to capture strategic hills near the town of Malazgirt (Manzikert) in eastern Turkey. The Russian advance was decisively halted by an Ottoman defensive force of approximately 40,000 troops, who successfully repelled the invasion and maintained their territorial integrity.
11 Jul 1915 SMS Königsberg Scuttled in Rufiji River: During World War I, the German cruiser SMS Königsberg was forced to scuttle in the Rufiji River in German East Africa (modern-day Tanzania) after being cornered by British naval forces. This event was a significant moment in the naval warfare of the African theater during World War I, effectively neutralizing the German naval presence in the region.
12 Jul 1915 Battle of Achi Baba Nullah during Gallipoli Campaign: On July 12, 1915, a significant engagement occurred during the Gallipoli Campaign where 7,500 soldiers from the British 52nd Division's 155th and 157th Brigades launched an attack along the strategically important Achi Baba Nullah, also known as 'Bloody Valley' on the Gallipoli peninsula. The assault was characterized by heavy casualties and minimal territorial gains. The attacking British and French forces suffered approximately 3,900 total casualties, while the Ottoman defenders incurred around 9,000 casualties and captured 600 prisoners. The battle highlighted the brutal and costly nature of trench warfare during World War I.
13 Jul 1915 Central Powers Offensive on Eastern Front During World War I: During World War I, the Central Powers launched a significant offensive on the Eastern Front, successfully pushing back the Russian southern wing by approximately 160 kilometers (99 miles) to the Bug River in the region of Galicia, which is now part of southern Poland. This strategic military maneuver demonstrated the Central Powers' tactical prowess and the vulnerability of the Russian defensive lines.
14 Jul 1915 McMahon-Hussein Correspondence Begins: The McMahon–Hussein Correspondence was a critical diplomatic exchange between Hussein bin Ali, Sharif of Mecca, and British official Henry McMahon during World War I. The correspondence centered on potential Arab support against the Ottoman Empire, with the British promising recognition of an independent Arab kingdom in exchange for military assistance. However, the terms remained deliberately ambiguous, leading to future geopolitical complications and contributing to the complex dynamics of Middle Eastern territorial negotiations.
15 Jul 1915 United States Occupation of Haiti: On July 15, 1915, the United States military began its occupation of Haiti, a complex intervention that would last nearly two decades until 1934. This occupation was primarily motivated by strategic geopolitical interests, including concerns about potential European intervention in the Caribbean and desires to protect American economic and political influence in the region. The U.S. Marines landed in Haiti following a period of political instability, effectively establishing direct control over the country's governance, financial systems, and infrastructure.
16 Jul 1915 Ottoman Third Army Counterattacks Russian Forces: During World War I, the Ottoman Third Army, led by Abdul Kerim Pasha, launched a counterattack against invading Russian forces in the Battle of Manzikert, representing a significant military engagement on the eastern front.
17 Jul 1915 Second Battle of Isonzo Begins: The Italian offensive at the Isonzo River commenced on July 17, 1915, during World War I. This strategic military operation was part of Italy's campaign against Austria-Hungary along the challenging Alpine frontier. The battle would prove to be a grueling and costly engagement, characterized by difficult terrain and high casualty rates.
18 Jul 1915 2nd Battle of Isonzo During World War I: The Second Battle of the Isonzo was a significant engagement between Italian and Austro-Hungarian forces during World War I. The battle resulted in massive casualties, with approximately 280,000 men killed or wounded, highlighting the brutal nature of trench warfare on the Italian Front.
19 Jul 1915 Georges Guynemer's First Aerial Victory in World War I: French fighter pilot Georges Guynemer achieved a significant milestone during World War I by shooting down his first enemy aircraft, a German Aviatik, while piloting a Morane-Saulnier L monoplane. This event marked the beginning of Guynemer's legendary career as one of France's most celebrated fighter pilots.
20 Jul 1915 Battle of Manzikert: Ottoman-Russian Conflict: During World War I, the Ottoman Army successfully pushed Russian forces out of Malazgirt (Manzikert), a strategically important location in eastern Turkey. This military engagement was part of the broader conflict between the Ottoman Empire and Russia on the Caucasus Front, highlighting the complex geopolitical tensions of the period.
21 Jul 1915 Third Diplomatic Warning to Germany Regarding Lusitania Incident: On July 21, 1915, the United States government dispatched its third diplomatic note to Germany, strongly warning about the consequences of the Lusitania sinking. This note was part of a series of diplomatic communications expressing American outrage over the submarine attack that killed 128 U.S. citizens on May 7, 1915, and signaling potential escalation of tensions between the two nations.
22 Jul 1915 British Elections and Registration Act of 1915: During World War I, the British government passed the Elections and Registration Act, which was a significant legislative measure aimed at managing electoral processes during wartime. This act likely addressed voter registration, potential electoral reforms, and administrative adjustments necessitated by the ongoing conflict.
23 Jul 1915 Royal Flying Corps No. 21 Squadron Established: On July 23, 1915, No. 21 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps was officially established at Netheravon, England. This new squadron would play a significant role in the aerial operations during World War I, contributing to the development of military aviation tactics and capabilities.
24 Jul 1915 Eastland Disaster in Chicago: The passenger ship S.S. Eastland capsized while docked in the Chicago River, resulting in one of the most tragic maritime accidents in Great Lakes history. On a summer morning, the vessel suddenly rolled onto its side while still moored, causing a catastrophic loss of life. 844 passengers and crew perished in this shocking incident, making it the deadliest single shipwreck in Great Lakes maritime history.
25 Jul 1915 RFC Captain Lanoe Hawker Earns Victoria Cross: During World War I, Royal Flying Corps (RFC) Captain Lanoe Hawker made history by becoming the first British military aviator to be awarded the Victoria Cross, Britain's highest military honor. On this day, he demonstrated extraordinary aerial combat skills by single-handedly defeating three German two-seat observation aircraft over the Western Front, showcasing remarkable courage and tactical prowess in the early days of aerial warfare.
26 Jul 1915 French Submarine Mariotte Scuttled in Dardanelles: During World War I, the French submarine Mariotte was deliberately sunk in the Dardanelles strait after being captured. All 31 crew members were taken as prisoners of war, representing a significant naval engagement in the Mediterranean theater of the conflict.
28 Jul 1915 Black Protest Against Lynchings in New York City: On July 28, 1915, approximately 10,000 African Americans marched down Fifth Avenue in New York City in a powerful demonstration against racial violence and lynchings, highlighting the ongoing struggle for civil rights and racial justice during the Jim Crow era.
29 Jul 1915 US Military Intervention in Haiti: United States Marines landed in Haiti, initiating an occupation that would last until 1924. This intervention was part of the U.S. policy of military interventionism in the Caribbean during the early 20th century, aimed at maintaining political stability and protecting American economic interests.
30 Jul 1915 German Offensive at Gallipoli: During the Gallipoli Campaign of World War I, German military forces launched a strategic offensive against British and Allied troops, utilizing innovative and terrifying flame-thrower technology. The surprise deployment of these incendiary weapons created significant psychological and tactical disruption among the Allied forces, demonstrating the evolving nature of warfare in the early 20th century.
31 Jul 1915 Battle of Kara Killisse during World War I: On July 31, 1915, during World War I, the Russian Caucasus Army decisively defeated the Ottoman Third Army in a significant engagement at Kara Killisse (modern-day Ağrı, Turkey). The Russian forces, numbering approximately 20,000 troops, strategically outmaneuvered and routed the Ottoman forces, demonstrating their military prowess in the challenging Caucasus theater of the war.