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Major Events of December 1917: 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 December 1917 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

history

Major Events of December 1917: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Dec 1917 Battle of Jerusalem during World War I: During World War I, the Ottoman Empire's Yildirim Army Group engaged in a significant military confrontation with the British Egyptian Expeditionary Force at Ell Burj, near Jerusalem. This battle was part of the broader Middle Eastern campaign that would reshape the geopolitical landscape of the region.
  • 02 Dec 1917 Brest-Litovsk Armistice Marks Russia's Withdrawal from World War I: On December 2, 1917, Russia and the Central Powers signed an armistice at Brest-Litovsk, marking a critical turning point in World War I. This agreement initiated peace negotiations that would ultimately lead to the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, effectively ending Russia's participation in the conflict and allowing the Central Powers to redirect military resources to the Western Front.
  • 03 Dec 1917 Halifax Explosion: Catastrophic Maritime Disaster: On December 3, 1917, a devastating maritime collision occurred in Halifax Harbour, Nova Scotia, when two freighters collided, causing an immense explosion that became one of the most significant non-nuclear disasters in history. The blast killed at least 1,963 people, injured approximately 9,000 individuals, and caused extensive destruction to a significant portion of Halifax. Until the Trinity nuclear test decades later, this was considered the largest human-made explosion in recorded history.
  • 04 Dec 1917 Finland Declares Independence: On December 4, 1917, the Finnish Senate submitted a formal proposal to the Parliament of Finland outlining the governmental structure of the newly emerging republic. Simultaneously, the Senate issued an official communication declaring Finland's independence, marking a pivotal moment in the nation's journey towards sovereignty and self-determination.
  • 05 Dec 1917 Establishment of the Supreme Soviet of the National Economy (Vesenkha): On December 5, 1917, shortly after the Bolshevik Revolution, the Soviet government established the Supreme Soviet of the National Economy (Vesenkha) through a decree by the Council of People's Commissars and the All-Russian Central Executive Committee. This centralized economic planning body was tasked with organizing and coordinating the economic life of the newly formed Soviet state, aiming to centralize economic decision-making and resource allocation under communist principles. Vesenkha played a crucial role in implementing the Soviet Union's planned economy, overseeing industrial production, managing state enterprises, and directing economic development according to centralized five-year plans. It represented a fundamental shift from the previous capitalist economic model to a state-controlled economic system.
  • 06 Dec 1917 Halifax Explosion: A catastrophic maritime disaster occurred in Halifax, Nova Scotia, when a munitions ship exploded, causing the largest artificial explosion up to that time. The massive blast resulted in over 1,900 fatalities and widespread destruction in the city.
  • 07 Dec 1917 United States Declares War on Austria-Hungary in World War I: On December 7, 1917, the United States officially declared war on Austria-Hungary, further expanding its involvement in World War I. This declaration marked a significant escalation of American military engagement in the European conflict, solidifying the country's commitment to the Allied Powers.
  • 08 Dec 1917 Battle of Jerusalem in World War I: A significant military engagement during World War I where the Ottoman Empire's Yildirim Army Group strategically abandoned Jerusalem as the Egyptian Expeditionary Force advanced, marking a pivotal moment in the Middle Eastern theater of the war.
  • 09 Dec 1917 Capture of Jerusalem by British Forces: During World War I, Field Marshal Edmund Allenby captured Jerusalem from the Ottoman Empire, marking a significant strategic victory for the British in the Middle Eastern theater of the war. This event was a crucial moment in the Palestine Campaign and had major geopolitical implications.
  • 10 Dec 1917 Nobel Prizes Awarded: The Nobel Prize Committee announced prestigious awards across multiple categories. Charles Glover Barkla won the Nobel Prize in Physics, while Danish authors Karl Adolph Gjellerup and Henrik Pontoppidan shared the Nobel Prize in Literature. The International Committee of the Red Cross was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize for its humanitarian efforts during World War I.
  • 11 Dec 1917 British Capture of Jerusalem: British General Edmund Allenby entered Jerusalem on foot, symbolically taking control of the city and declaring martial law, a pivotal moment in the Middle Eastern theater of World War I.
  • 12 Dec 1917 Deadly Train Disaster in French Alps: A catastrophic train derailment near Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne in the French Alps results in the deaths of 543 French troops and hundreds of injuries, marking one of the worst railway accidents in history during World War I.
  • 13 Dec 1917 Sinking of HMS Stephen Furness: During World War I, on December 13, 1917, the Royal Navy armed steamship HMS Stephen Furness was tragically sunk in the Irish Sea west of the Isle of Man by the German Submarine SM UB-64. The attack resulted in the devastating loss of 101 lives, underscoring the brutal maritime warfare of the period.
  • 14 Dec 1917 Naval Engagement in Mediterranean: Châteaurenault Sinking: A significant naval encounter occurred in the Mediterranean Sea when the French cruiser Châteaurenault was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine SM UC-38. In a dramatic turn of events, the submarine was subsequently sunk by the French destroyer Lansquenet. The rescue operation was extensive, with 1,162 survivors from the Châteaurenault and 20 survivors from the UC-38 being saved by Lansquenet and fellow destroyers Mameluk and Rouen.
  • 15 Dec 1917 Russia-Central Powers Armistice: During World War I, an armistice was signed between Russia and the Central Powers, marking a significant turning point in the conflict. The Bolshevik government, having recently come to power through the Russian Revolution, sought to withdraw Russia from the war and negotiate peace terms with the Austro-Hungarian Empire, German Empire, Ottoman Empire, and Kingdom of Bulgaria.
  • 16 Dec 1917 Bolsheviks Capture Sevastopol: During the Russian Civil War, Bolshevik forces captured the strategic port city of Sevastopol in Crimea, just three days after the region had declared independence. This military action was part of the broader struggle for control of the region during the tumultuous period following the Russian Revolution.
  • 17 Dec 1917 World War I: United States Expands Military Involvement: During December 1917, the United States was deeply engaged in World War I, having entered the conflict earlier that year in April. The U.S. military was rapidly mobilizing troops and resources to support the Allied Powers against Germany and the Central Powers. This period marked a significant escalation of American military involvement in the European theater, with troops being trained and deployed to France.
  • 18 Dec 1917 President Wilson's State of the Union Address: U.S. President Woodrow Wilson delivered a pivotal State of the Union Address to the 65th United States Congress, emphasizing the nation's involvement in World War I and outlining the strategic and moral imperatives of the conflict.
  • 19 Dec 1917 First NHL Game on Artificial Ice in Toronto: On December 19, 1917, a groundbreaking moment in hockey history occurred when the first National Hockey League (NHL) game was played on artificial ice at an arena in Toronto. This technological innovation marked a significant advancement in sports infrastructure, allowing for more consistent and controllable playing conditions.
  • 20 Dec 1917 Establishment of Cheka: Soviet Secret Police: On December 20, 1917, the Cheka (All-Russian Extraordinary Commission for Combating Counter-Revolution and Sabotage) was officially founded by the Bolshevik government. Led by Felix Dzerzhinsky, this secret police organization became a critical instrument of state control during the Russian Revolution and early Soviet period, responsible for suppressing political opposition and enforcing revolutionary policies.
  • 21 Dec 1917 Battle of Jaffa during World War I: On December 21, 1917, the British 21st Corps conducted a decisive bayonet attack against Ottoman units, successfully capturing the city of Jaffa. This battle was a significant moment in the Middle Eastern theater of World War I, demonstrating the British military's strategic capabilities.
  • 22 Dec 1917 Brest-Litovsk Peace Negotiations: Peace negotiations were actively proceeding at Brest-Litovsk on the Eastern Front, signaling potential diplomatic efforts to resolve conflicts between Russia and the Central Powers during World War I.
  • 23 Dec 1917 Christmas Truce Moment: German Soldiers' Festive Gesture: On December 23, 1917, amid the harsh conditions of World War I, German soldiers demonstrated a poignant moment of humanity by placing Christmas trees outside their trenches and singing traditional hymns like 'Stille Nacht' ('Silent Night'), momentarily transcending the brutal conflict through a shared cultural tradition.
  • 24 Dec 1917 British Capture of Jerusalem During World War I: On December 24, 1917, during World War I, British forces under General Edmund Allenby entered Jerusalem, ending four centuries of Ottoman rule. This momentous event occurred on the eve of Hanukkah and represented a significant turning point for the city's population. The British liberation brought relief to Jerusalem's inhabitants, who had suffered from severe hardships including potential starvation, disease, potential exile, and dire living conditions under Ottoman control. The capture was part of the broader British campaign in the Middle Eastern theater of World War I and had profound geopolitical implications for the region.
  • 25 Dec 1917 "Why Marry?" Wins First Pulitzer Prize for Drama: The groundbreaking play "Why Marry?" by Jesse Lynch Williams premiered at the Astor Theatre in New York City, marking a significant milestone in American theater history by becoming the first dramatic work to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
  • 26 Dec 1917 Alexandra Kollontai: First Female European Cabinet Minister: Following the October Revolution, Alexandra Kollontai becomes the first woman cabinet minister in Europe, appointed as People's Commissar for Social Welfare in the Russian Soviet government.
  • 28 Dec 1917 Canadian Fighter Ace Shot Down in World War I Aerial Combat: On December 28, 1917, during World War I, Canadian fighter pilot Alfred Edwin McKay was engaged in an aerial dogfight over Belgium when he was shot down by German ace Carl Menckhoff. This incident highlights the dangerous and intense aerial warfare that characterized the conflict, with skilled pilots from opposing sides engaging in high-stakes combat.
  • 29 Dec 1917 Tom Bradley Born in Los Angeles: Thomas Bradley was born on December 29, 1917, who would later become a groundbreaking political figure as the first African American mayor of Los Angeles, serving from 1973 to 1993. His long tenure and significant impact on urban policy made him one of the most influential mayors in the city's history.
  • 30 Dec 1917 Record Low Temperature in West Virginia: On December 30, 1917, Lewisburg, West Virginia experienced an extraordinary cold snap, recording a bone-chilling temperature of -37 degrees Fahrenheit (-38 degrees Celsius). This remains the coldest temperature ever officially recorded in the state's history, highlighting the severe winter conditions of the early 20th century.
  • 31 Dec 1917 Dutch Social Democratic Trade Union Membership Growth: The Nederlandse Vakverbond (NVV), a prominent Dutch social-democratic trade union, reported a significant membership of 159,450 members at the end of 1917. This figure reflects the growing labor movement and workers' organization in the Netherlands during the tumultuous period of World War I, indicating increasing worker solidarity and political engagement.