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

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

  • 01 Nov 1915 Battle of Agua Prieta: Pancho Villa's Defeat: On November 1, 1915, a significant engagement occurred during the Mexican Revolution at Agua Prieta, Sonora. Revolutionary leader Pancho Villa, with a force of approximately 15,000 soldiers, was decisively defeated by troops under Plutarco Elías Calles. Despite Villa's numerical superiority, Calles' tactical prowess enabled him to triumph, which ultimately helped Mexican leader Venustiano Carranza consolidate control over northern Mexico.
  • 02 Nov 1915 Battle of Krivolak in World War I: During World War I, French forces in Serbian-controlled Vardar Macedonia strategically deployed two floating bridges across the Vardar River, establishing new defensive positions against an anticipated Bulgarian attack. This tactical maneuver demonstrated the importance of river crossings and mobile infrastructure in military operations.
  • 04 Nov 1915 Third Battle of Artois: A significant World War I offensive on the Western Front where Allied forces attempted to recapture French territory from German control. The battle resulted in substantial casualties: French forces suffered 48,320 losses, British forces lost 61,713 troops, while German forces incurred approximately 51,100 casualties. The offensive ultimately failed to achieve its strategic objectives, highlighting the brutal and costly nature of trench warfare during this period.
  • 05 Nov 1915 Sinking of British Steamer Tara: The British armed boarding steamer Tara was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea near Sollum by the German submarine SM U-35. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of 12 crew members, exemplifying the naval warfare tactics of World War I's submarine campaigns.
  • 06 Nov 1915 Second Battle of Champagne Concludes: The five-week Battle of Champagne officially ended with French forces halting operations for the winter. The battle was a grueling war of attrition with substantial casualties: approximately 145,000 French soldiers and between 72,500-97,000 German troops were lost.
  • 07 Nov 1915 Battle of Krivolak: French Offensive Fails: In a significant World War I engagement, French forces attempted but failed to capture a strategic Bulgarian stronghold located at a monastery in the Vardar Macedonia region, demonstrating the complex military operations of the Balkan theater.
  • 08 Nov 1915 Sinking of Italian Ocean Liner Ancona: On November 8, 1915, during World War I, the Italian ocean liner Ancona was torpedoed and sunk by the Austro-Hungarian submarine SM U-38 in the Mediterranean Sea near Tunisia. The tragic maritime incident resulted in the devastating loss of over 200 civilian lives, highlighting the brutal nature of naval warfare during the conflict.
  • 09 Nov 1915 Morava Offensive: Bulgarian Invasion of Serbia: In a significant military campaign during World War I, Bulgarian forces launched the Morava Offensive, penetrating 90 kilometers into Serbian territory after breaking through Serbian defenses at Pirot. The battle resulted in substantial casualties: 6,000 Serbian soldiers killed, while Bulgarian forces suffered 1,906 killed, 10,637 wounded, and 925 missing.
  • 10 Nov 1915 Lord Kitchener Travels to Gallipoli: On November 10, 1915, Lord Kitchener, a prominent British military leader, set sail for Gallipoli to personally assess the military situation. His visit underscored the strategic importance of the Gallipoli Campaign and the high-level attention being given to this challenging military operation.
  • 11 Nov 1915 French Military Convoy Attacked During Zaian War: On November 11, 1915, during the Zaian War, a French military convoy was ambushed by approximately 1,500 Zayanes warriors near Khenifra, Morocco. This attack effectively terminated an informal six-month ceasefire that had previously existed between the French colonial forces and the indigenous Zayanes tribe. The incident highlighted the ongoing resistance of Moroccan tribal groups against French colonial expansion in North Africa.
  • 12 Nov 1915 Roland Barthes Birth: Roland Barthes, a prominent French literary critic and semiotician, was born. He would later become famous for influential works like 'L'Empire des Signes' and significantly impact literary theory and cultural analysis.
  • 13 Nov 1915 Battle of Krivolak: Bulgarian Offensive in Vardar Macedonia: During World War I, Bulgarian forces launched renewed attacks against French military positions in the Vardar Macedonia region. These aggressive assaults compelled French troops to suspend their ongoing military operations and strategically retreat from their current positions. The battle highlighted the intense military pressure exerted by Bulgarian forces and demonstrated the challenging terrain and strategic complexity of the Macedonian front during the conflict.
  • 14 Nov 1915 Masaryk's Call for Czechoslovak Independence: Thomas Masaryk, a prominent Czech politician and future first president of Czechoslovakia, publicly demanded independence for Czechoslovakia from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a pivotal moment in the national liberation movement during World War I.
  • 15 Nov 1915 Central Powers Withdraw from Tehran during World War I: During World War I, representatives of the Central Powers strategically evacuated Tehran as Russian imperial forces advanced into the region, marking a significant geopolitical shift in the Persian (Iranian) theater of conflict.
  • 16 Nov 1915 World War I: Mid-November Developments: While no specific landmark events are directly attributed to November 16, 1915, this period was characterized by ongoing military operations during World War I. The conflict was in its second year, with intense fighting occurring on multiple fronts, including the Western Front in Europe and the Ottoman Empire's territories.
  • 17 Nov 1915 HMHS Anglia Sunk by Mine in English Channel: During World War I, the British Red Cross hospital ship HMHS Anglia struck a German naval mine off the coast of Folkestone, Kent on 17 November 1915. The maritime disaster resulted in significant loss of life, highlighting the dangerous conditions for medical vessels during wartime. Hospital ships, despite being clearly marked with Red Cross insignia, were not always spared from the indiscriminate nature of naval warfare in the early 20th century.
  • 18 Nov 1915 First Mainstream Nude Film in U.S. Cinema: The silent film 'Inspiration' was released, marking a significant moment in early American cinema by featuring actress Audrey Munson in the first mainstream film with a nude leading actress. This groundbreaking film challenged contemporary artistic and social norms regarding on-screen representation.
  • 19 Nov 1915 Royal Naval Air Service Bombing Raid Tragedy: During World War I, Royal Naval Air Service pilots Richard Bell Davies and Gilbert Smylie were killed while conducting a bombing raid against a strategic railway junction. Their mission represented the dangerous early days of aerial warfare, where pilots faced extreme risks in combat operations.
  • 20 Nov 1915 Bulgarian Forces Capture Strategic Bridgehead in Macedonia: During World War I, Bulgarian military forces successfully captured a critical bridgehead from French troops in the Vardar Macedonia region. This strategic maneuver represented an important tactical achievement for Bulgarian forces on the Balkan front.
  • 21 Nov 1915 Endurance Shipwreck During Shackleton's Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition: Ernest Shackleton's legendary Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition suffered a dramatic setback when the ship Endurance was crushed by pack ice and ultimately sank in the harsh Antarctic waters of the Weddell Sea. This moment marked a critical turning point in one of the most remarkable survival stories in exploration history. Despite the ship's destruction, Shackleton and his crew would go on to survive an incredible two-year ordeal, ultimately returning home without a single life lost—a testament to human resilience and leadership in the face of extreme adversity.
  • 22 Nov 1915 Uneventful Day in World History: On November 22, 1915, during the midst of World War I, no major historical events were recorded. This period was characterized by ongoing global conflict, with various military campaigns and strategic developments happening across different theaters of war. While no specific local or global event was documented for this precise date, the world was in the midst of significant geopolitical transformations.
  • 23 Nov 1915 Einstein Submits General Relativity Paper: Albert Einstein submitted his groundbreaking paper on general relativity to the Prussian Academy of Sciences, a pivotal moment in scientific history that would fundamentally transform our understanding of space, time, gravity, and the fundamental structure of the universe.
  • 24 Nov 1915 Revival of the Ku Klux Klan: William J. Simmons officially re-established the Ku Klux Klan at Stone Mountain, Georgia, marking a significant moment in the resurgence of white supremacist ideology in the United States. This event signaled the beginning of the second era of the KKK, which would grow to have substantial political and social influence in the early 20th century.
  • 25 Nov 1915 Einstein Presents General Relativity Field Equations: Albert Einstein presented the groundbreaking field equations of general relativity to the Prussian Academy of Sciences, revolutionizing our understanding of gravity, space, and time. This moment marked a pivotal point in theoretical physics, fundamentally changing how scientists conceptualize the structure of the universe.
  • 26 Nov 1915 Gallipoli Campaign: Severe Weather Impact: During the Gallipoli Campaign of World War I, a significant heavy rainstorm struck the peninsula, disrupting Allied military operations. The unexpected severe weather conditions impacted troop movements and strategic positioning of the U.S. 12th Infantry under the command of William H. Gallipoli, highlighting the challenging environmental conditions soldiers faced during this campaign.
  • 27 Nov 1915 Devastating Winter Storm at Gallipoli During World War I: On November 27, 1915, during the Gallipoli Campaign of World War I, Allied troops experienced a catastrophic natural disaster. What began as a severe rainstorm rapidly transformed into a brutal blizzard, creating treacherous conditions for soldiers already enduring the harsh realities of war. The extreme weather event caused significant flooding in the trenches, leading to approximately 200 soldiers drowning. Many more troops suffered from exposure, with numerous cases of severe frostbite and hypothermia. This natural calamity compounded the already challenging military situation, highlighting the brutal and unpredictable nature of warfare during this period.
  • 29 Nov 1915 Santa Catalina Island Fire of 1915: A devastating fire swept through Santa Catalina Island, California, destroying most of the island's buildings. This significant event likely caused substantial economic and infrastructural damage to the local community, disrupting the island's development and potentially impacting its emerging tourism and settlement patterns.
  • 30 Nov 1915 Birth of Henry Taube, Nobel Prize-Winning Chemist: Henry Taube was born on this day, a distinguished Canadian-born chemist who would later become a Nobel Prize laureate. Throughout his remarkable scientific career, Taube made groundbreaking contributions to the understanding of electron transfer reactions in chemistry, which significantly advanced the field of inorganic chemistry. His pioneering work would ultimately earn him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1983, highlighting his profound impact on scientific research.