Major Events of June 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 June 1915 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.
Major Events of June 1915: Key Historical Moments from the Month
- 01 Jun 1915 First Zeppelin Air Raid on England: On June 1, 1915, during World War I, German Zeppelin airships conducted their first strategic bombing raid over England, marking a significant escalation in aerial warfare. These massive hydrogen-filled dirigibles, capable of long-distance flight, dropped bombs on the eastern coastal regions, causing panic and demonstrating a new form of military technology that would dramatically change warfare strategies.
- 02 Jun 1915 Shabin-Karahisar Uprising: In a courageous act of resistance during the Armenian Genocide, a militia of 250 Armenian fighters established a defensive position in a fort located in the Giresun Province of Turkey. They mounted a month-long resistance against the Ottoman Empire, symbolizing the Armenian people's struggle for survival and dignity during this tragic period of systematic persecution.
- 03 Jun 1915 Second Battle of Artois: During World War I, French forces launched a strategic offensive against German defenses near Neuville-Saint-Vaast in France. The French military conducted a comprehensive three-day artillery bombardment to weaken German defensive positions before initiating a ground assault, demonstrating the intense and methodical nature of trench warfare during the conflict.
- 04 Jun 1915 Third Battle of Krithia during Gallipoli Campaign: During the Gallipoli Campaign, British, French, and Indian allied forces launched their third and final attempt to capture Achi Baba, a strategically critical position in the Ottoman defenses on the Gallipoli peninsula. Despite intense fighting, the allied forces were repelled, suffering significant casualties of approximately 6,500 troops. The Ottoman defenders also experienced substantial losses, with casualties estimated between 9,000 and 10,000 men, highlighting the brutal nature of this World War I engagement.
- 05 Jun 1915 Third Battle of Krithia in Gallipoli Campaign: During the Gallipoli Campaign in World War I, Ottoman forces launched a counter-attack after the Allies failed to capture Achi Baba. The battle was intense, nearly breaking British defenses. Lieutenant George Moor played a crucial role by rallying retreating troops and ordering them to retake a critical trench. His leadership motivated the remaining forces to stand their ground, and he was subsequently awarded the Victoria Cross for his heroic actions.
- 06 Jun 1915 Third Battle of Krithia at Gallipoli: During World War I, British General Aylmer Hunter-Weston successfully reorganized Allied forces along the Gallipoli Peninsula, mounting an effective defensive strategy against Ottoman troops. In a critical engagement, the Allies inflicted approximately 3,000 casualties on the Ottoman forces and established a strategic stalemate, demonstrating the challenging nature of the Gallipoli Campaign.
- 07 Jun 1915 First German Zeppelin Destroyed in Aerial Combat: British Royal Flying Corps pilot Reginald Warneford achieved a historic milestone on June 7, 1915, by becoming the first pilot to shoot down a German Army Zeppelin airship in aerial combat. The engagement occurred over Ghent, Belgium, with the airship ultimately crashing in Sint-Amandsberg. The incident resulted in one ground casualty and the near-total loss of the airship's crew. In recognition of his extraordinary bravery, Warneford was awarded the prestigious Victoria Cross.
- 08 Jun 1915 Battle of Hébuterne during World War I: During World War I, German forces strategically regrouped to impede the French military advance in the Hébuterne sector. Through a calculated counteroffensive, the Germans successfully recaptured their second defensive line by the end of the day, demonstrating tactical resilience on the Western Front.
- 09 Jun 1915 William Jennings Bryan Resigns as Secretary of State: U.S. Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan resigns from the Woodrow Wilson administration due to a fundamental disagreement over the United States' diplomatic response to the sinking of the RMS Lusitania, a pivotal moment in early World War I international relations.
- 10 Jun 1915 Girl Scouts Founded in the United States: Juliette Gordon Low establishes the Girl Scouts of America in Savannah, Georgia, creating a transformative organization dedicated to empowering young women through leadership, community service, and skill development.
- 11 Jun 1915 Second Battle of Artois during World War I: During World War I, the Second Battle of Artois saw French forces advancing 500 metres on a 300-metre front near Neuville-Saint-Vaast, France. Despite suffering significant casualties from German resistance, the French military made strategic territorial gains in this intense Western Front engagement.
- 12 Jun 1915 David Rockefeller Birth: David Rockefeller was born, who would later become a prominent banker and influential international power broker, playing a significant role in global financial and diplomatic circles throughout the 20th century.
- 13 Jun 1915 Shabin-Karahisar Uprising: During the Armenian Genocide, an Armenian militia of 250 fighters initiated a month-long resistance against the Ottoman Empire. Using a strategic fort in the Giresun Province of Turkey, they mounted a courageous stand against systematic persecution, symbolizing Armenian resistance during this tragic period of history.
- 14 Jun 1915 Second Battle of Artois: French Offensive in World War I: During World War I, the French launched a significant offensive in the Artois region, targeting German defensive positions. French forces conducted an intensive three-day artillery bombardment of German defenses around Neuville-Saint-Vaast before initiating a ground assault. Despite making advances on the southern front towards Souchez, the operation did not result in a decisive strategic breakthrough, reflecting the challenging and attritional nature of combat during this period of the war.
- 15 Jun 1915 Second Battle of Artois - World War I Offensive: During World War I, French forces conducted a strategic offensive against German defenses near Neuville-Saint-Vaast, France. The attack involved a three-day bombardment preceding a major ground assault, representing a significant military engagement on the Western Front.
- 16 Jun 1915 Second Battle of Artois during World War I: On June 16, 1915, the French 10th Army launched its second major offensive to capture Vimy Ridge from German forces during World War I. Despite an initial breakthrough, the French troops faced intense German artillery fire and a devastating counter-attack. The battle resulted in massive casualties: 100,000 French soldiers and 60,000 German troops, ultimately ending in a strategic stalemate.
- 17 Jun 1915 Second Battle of Artois: French Assault on Vimy Ridge: During World War I, French forces launched a significant offensive attempting to capture the strategically important Vimy Ridge in northern France. Despite intense fighting, the French troops were unable to successfully take the ridge, highlighting the challenging defensive positions of the German forces.
- 18 Jun 1915 French Offensive at Western Front: During World War I, the French military launched a prolonged offensive at the Western Front on June 18, suffering catastrophic losses of 102,000 men without achieving significant strategic gains. The British had already suspended their attacks three weeks earlier due to a critical shortage of artillery shells against the Germans' extensive machine gun defenses.
- 20 Jun 1915 German Offensive in Argonne Forest during World War I: During World War I, German forces launched a strategic offensive in the Argonne Forest region of northeastern France, part of the broader Western Front military campaign. This offensive was characterized by intense trench warfare and artillery bombardments typical of the conflict's brutal combat conditions.
- 21 Jun 1915 Supreme Court Strikes Down Oklahoma Voting Discrimination: In a landmark civil rights decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Guinn v. United States that Oklahoma's grandfather clause legislation was unconstitutional. This clause had been systematically used to disenfranchise African American voters by creating discriminatory voting requirements based on ancestry, effectively preventing many Black citizens from exercising their right to vote.
- 22 Jun 1915 Brooklyn Rapid Transit Subway Service Begins: The Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company (BMT) launched its subway service in New York City, marking a significant milestone in the city's public transportation infrastructure. This expansion represented an important development in urban mobility, connecting various neighborhoods and transforming commuter experiences in early 20th-century Brooklyn.
- 23 Jun 1915 First Battle of Isonzo: Italy's World War I Campaign: On June 23, 1915, Italy launched its first major military offensive in World War I, initiating the First Battle of Isonzo. The Italian Army, consisting of 225,000 troops under the command of General Luigi Cadorna, attacked Austro-Hungarian positions along the Isonzo River in present-day Slovenia. This battle marked Italy's entry into World War I on the side of the Allies and would become the first of twelve battles fought in this strategically critical region.
- 24 Jun 1915 Eastland Steamer Disaster in Chicago: The SS Eastland, an excursion steamer docked in the Chicago River, catastrophically capsized, resulting in the tragic loss of 800 lives. This maritime disaster occurred while passengers were preparing for a company picnic, becoming one of the deadliest maritime accidents in Great Lakes history.
- 25 Jun 1915 Extremely Close Chilean Presidential Election of 1915: In a remarkable display of electoral drama, Juan Luis Sanfuentes was elected President of Chile by the narrowest possible margin—winning by just a single vote over his rival Javier Ángel Figueroa. This unprecedented electoral outcome highlighted the razor-thin political divisions in Chile during the early 20th century and demonstrated the critical importance of every single vote in a democratic process.
- 26 Jun 1915 German Newspaper Suppressed for Advocating Peace: During World War I, the German socialist newspaper Vorwärts was forcibly suppressed by the imperial government after publishing an editorial calling for an end to the ongoing conflict. This action demonstrated the strict censorship and control of media during wartime, effectively silencing dissenting voices that challenged the military's narrative and war efforts.
- 27 Jun 1915 Preventing a Potential Mexican Uprising: U.S. State Department agent Zach Cobb successfully coordinated the apprehension of exiled Mexican Generals Victoriano Huerta and Pascual Orozco, preventing a potential German-funded rebellion against the Mexican government.
- 29 Jun 1915 Vienna Diplomatic Note on Munitions Traffic: The Embassy in Vienna issued a significant diplomatic communication highlighting the complex international dynamics of munitions trade during World War I, revealing tensions between Austro-Hungarian and German governments.
- 30 Jun 1915 Shabin-Karahisar Uprising During Armenian Genocide: On June 30, 1915, a group of 250 Armenian militia members initiated a month-long resistance against the Ottoman Empire in the Giresun Province of Turkey. This uprising was a direct response to the ongoing Armenian Genocide, with the militia using a strategic fort to defend themselves against systematic persecution. The resistance represented a courageous act of self-preservation during one of the most tragic periods of ethnic violence in modern history.