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

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

01 Oct 1917 German Air Raid and Polygon Wood Counterattack during World War I: On October 1, 1917, during World War I, German forces launched a significant military operation with two notable components. First, German troops initiated counterattacks against British positions in Polygon Wood, located in West Flanders, Belgium. Simultaneously, the German Luftstreitkräfte (Air Force) dispatched an air raid involving eighteen Gotha bombers targeting the United Kingdom. Of the eighteen bombers, eleven successfully reached English territory. In a remarkable display of ineffective anti-aircraft defense, British gunners fired an astounding 14,000 rounds without directly hitting a single German aircraft. Ironically, the spent antiaircraft shells' falling fragments caused more damage to British civilians, resulting in eight fatalities and 67 injuries.
02 Oct 1917 Christian de Duve: Nobel Laureate Biologist: Christian de Duve was a renowned Belgian-born biochemist and cell biologist who made groundbreaking discoveries in cellular biology. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work on the structure and function of cellular organelles, particularly lysosomes and peroxisomes. His research significantly advanced our understanding of cellular mechanisms and contributed to the field of molecular biology.
03 Oct 1917 National Party's First Conference in Chicago: The National Party of the United States convened its inaugural conference in Chicago, formally endorsing American participation in World War I. This meeting represented a significant political moment in the United States' entry into the global conflict, signaling growing political support for military engagement.
04 Oct 1917 Battle of Broodseinde Ridge - World War I Engagement: The Battle of Broodseinde Ridge was a significant World War I operation launched by British General Herbert Plummer as part of the larger Ypres offensive in 1917. This complex military engagement involved twelve divisions, including forces from I and II ANZAC. The battle commenced before dawn on October 4th, 1917, with Australian troops facing intense pre-attack artillery bombardment that caused substantial casualties even before the main assault began. In a remarkable tactical coincidence, German forces were simultaneously preparing their own offensive. The Australian troops successfully pushed through the German assault waves, ultimately capturing all their assigned objectives along the strategic ridge. However, the victory came at a heavy cost, with Australian divisions suffering approximately 6,500 casualties. The battle was particularly challenging due to the formidable German defensive positions, especially their well-fortified concrete pillboxes.
05 Oct 1917 German Submarine SM UB-41 Sinks in North Sea: On October 5, 1917, during World War I, the German submarine SM UB-41 struck a naval mine and sank in the North Sea near Scarborough, England. The tragic incident resulted in the complete loss of the submarine's entire crew of 22 sailors, highlighting the deadly nature of maritime warfare during this period.
06 Oct 1917 Final Russian Imperial Duma Dissolved: The fourth and final legislative assembly of the Russian Empire, known as the Duma, was formally dissolved. This marked a critical moment in Russian political history, as the Provisional Government anticipated holding elections for the Russian Constituent Assembly to replace the imperial legislative body, signaling the transition away from monarchical governance in the wake of the Russian Revolution.
07 Oct 1917 Uruguay Breaks Diplomatic Ties with Germany: During World War I, Uruguay officially severed diplomatic relations with Germany, reflecting the growing international tensions and alignment of South American countries with the Allied powers.
08 Oct 1917 Trotsky Leads Petrograd Soviet: Leon Trotsky was named Chairman of the Petrograd Soviet, a critical moment in the Russian Revolution. This position solidified his influential role in the Bolshevik leadership and the impending October Revolution.
09 Oct 1917 Battle of Poelcappelle: Royal Newfoundland Regiment's Heroic Effort: On 9 October 1917, during World War I, the Royal Newfoundland Regiment participated in the challenging Battle of Poelcappelle in Flanders, Belgium. The battle was characterized by extremely difficult terrain, with pervasive mud severely hampering military movements. The regiment faced extraordinary obstacles: a five-mile march took an arduous five hours due to washed-out roads and treacherous duckboards. Despite these formidable conditions, the Newfoundlanders demonstrated remarkable resilience, successfully reaching the Green Dotted Line by 7 AM and continuing their advance to the Blue Dotted Line against intensifying enemy resistance. The battle came at a significant human cost, with 67 soldiers killed and 127 wounded. Their extraordinary courage was recognized through thirty-three military decorations, highlighting the regiment's valor and determination in one of the war's most challenging engagements.
10 Oct 1917 British Hospital Ship Damaged by Mine: During World War I, the British hospital ship 'Ghoorka' sustained damage after striking a mine off the coast of Malta, highlighting the dangerous maritime conditions for medical vessels during wartime.
11 Oct 1917 United States Army Division Formations: The United States Army officially established three new infantry divisions: the 28th, 30th, and 31st Divisions, significantly expanding its military organizational structure in preparation for World War I combat operations.
12 Oct 1917 First Battle of Passchendaele in World War I: The First Battle of Passchendaele was a devastating engagement during World War I, resulting in the largest single-day loss of life in New Zealand's military history. The New Zealand division launched an attack to take the Bellevue offshoot, suffering catastrophic casualties: 2,700 total losses, with 845 soldiers falling in less than four hours.
13 Oct 1917 Soviet Military Establishment in Petrograd: On October 13, 1917, the Soviets formally accepted the establishment of a military organization in Petrograd (now St. Petersburg), a critical development during the Russian Revolution that would significantly impact the political and military landscape of Russia.
14 Oct 1917 Uruguay Wins South American Football Championship: The Uruguay national football team secured its second South American Championship by defeating Argentina 1-0 in the series final held at Parque Pereira in Montevideo. This victory further solidified Uruguay's emerging reputation as a powerhouse in South American football.
15 Oct 1917 Execution of Mata Hari: Mata Hari, a famous Dutch exotic dancer and alleged German spy during World War I, was executed by firing squad in Paris, France. Her controversial trial and execution became a significant historical event highlighting the complex espionage landscape of the war.
16 Oct 1917 World War I: British Artillery and Dutch East Indies Elections: During the challenging conditions of World War I, British soldiers were struggling to maneuver an 18-pounder field gun through the muddy terrain near Langemark, Belgium, symbolizing the harsh realities of trench warfare. Simultaneously, a significant political milestone was occurring in the Dutch colonial territories, with the first free elections taking place in the Dutch East Indies (modern-day Indonesia), marking an important moment in the region's path towards democratic representation.
17 Oct 1917 First British Bombing of Germany in World War I: During World War I, British forces conducted their inaugural aerial bombing mission targeting German territory, marking a significant escalation in aerial warfare tactics and demonstrating the evolving nature of military strategy during the conflict.
18 Oct 1917 Battle of Mahiwa during East African Campaign of World War I: During World War I's East African theater, a German colonial force of approximately 1,500 soldiers successfully counterattacked and repelled a larger Allied force of 4,900 South African and Nigerian troops. This engagement demonstrated the tactical prowess of German colonial forces under challenging battlefield conditions in German East Africa (modern-day Tanzania).
19 Oct 1917 Final Major German Airship Raid on England in World War I: A fleet of 11 German Zeppelin airships conducted a strategic bombing raid over England, which would ultimately be the last major airship attack of its kind during World War I. This raid represented a significant moment in aerial warfare, signaling the declining effectiveness of airship-based military operations.
20 Oct 1917 Alice Paul's Imprisonment During Women's Suffrage Movement: Alice Paul, a prominent American women's rights activist, began a seven-month jail sentence after peacefully protesting for women's voting rights by picketing outside the White House in Washington, D.C. Her arrest was part of the broader suffragette movement's strategy of civil disobedience to draw national attention to the fight for women's electoral equality. Paul's imprisonment was a pivotal moment in the struggle for the 19th Amendment, which would ultimately grant women the right to vote in 1920.
21 Oct 1917 Petrograd Garrison Joins Bolshevik Revolution: The garrison of Petrograd (St. Petersburg) accepted the Revolutionary Military Committee, a critical moment in the Russian Revolution that would ultimately lead to the Bolshevik seizure of power and the establishment of the Soviet state.
22 Oct 1917 Battle of Poelcappelle during Third Battle of Ypres: On 22 October 1917, during the First World War, the British Fifth Army and French First Army launched a strategic offensive against the German 4th Army in the Ypres region. The multi-pronged attack involved the 18th (Eastern) Division capturing the east end of Poelcappelle, while the 34th and 35th Divisions attempted to advance northward towards Houthulst Forest. Although Poelcappelle was successfully captured, the attack between the 34th and 35th divisions faced significant resistance. German counter-attacks effectively pushed back the 35th Division in the central sector, limiting the overall Allied gains.
23 Oct 1917 Lenin Calls for October Revolution: Vladimir Lenin, leader of the Bolshevik Party, issued a decisive call for an armed uprising against the Provisional Government in Russia, marking a critical moment in the Russian Revolution that would ultimately lead to the establishment of the Soviet state.
24 Oct 1917 Battle of Caporetto: Italian Military Disaster: During World War I, the Italian Army suffered a catastrophic defeat at the Battle of Caporetto on the Austro-Italian front. The battle, which lasted from October 24 to November 19, 1917, saw 35 German and Austro-Hungarian divisions crossing the Isonzo River, resulting in a massive strategic and tactical defeat for Italy.
25 Oct 1917 Bolshevik Revolution Commences: The Bolshevik Revolution begins in Russia, marking a pivotal moment in world history. According to the Julian calendar used in Russia at the time, this revolution would later be recognized as November 7 on the Gregorian calendar. Led by Vladimir Lenin, the Bolsheviks launched a decisive uprising against the Provisional Government in Petrograd (St. Petersburg), fundamentally transforming Russia's political landscape.
26 Oct 1917 Battle of Caporetto: A Decisive World War I Engagement: During World War I, the Battle of Caporetto was a catastrophic defeat for Italy, where Austro-Hungarian and German forces decisively overwhelmed Italian troops. A notable highlight was the remarkable performance of young Oberleutnant Erwin Rommel, who captured Mount Matajur with just 100 German soldiers against a force of over 7,000 Italians, demonstrating extraordinary tactical skill.
27 Oct 1917 Twelfth Battle of the Isonzo (Battle of Caporetto): Austro-German forces launched a major offensive against Italian positions in what became known as the Battle of Caporetto (also called Karfreit or Kobarid). This battle was a significant turning point on the Italian Front during World War I, resulting in a decisive Central Powers victory.
28 Oct 1917 Battle of Penang: German Naval Engagement in Malacca Strait: During World War I, the German light cruiser SMS Emden, under the command of Karl von Müller, conducted a daring naval raid in the Strait of Malacca. The Emden successfully sank two British warships, demonstrating the German Navy's capability to disrupt Allied maritime operations in the Far East. This engagement was part of the German commerce raiding strategy during the early stages of the war.
29 Oct 1917 Australian Troops Crossing Flooded Battlefield at Passchendaele: A haunting photograph by renowned Australian war photographer Frank Hurley captures Australian soldiers navigating treacherous, waterlogged terrain during the infamous Battle of Passchendaele (Third Battle of Ypres) in World War I. The image depicts the extreme environmental challenges faced by soldiers, with muddy, flooded ground turning the battlefield into a quagmire that made movement and combat incredibly difficult. Hurley, known for his dramatic and often staged war photography, documented the harsh realities of warfare, highlighting the physical and psychological toll on soldiers.
30 Oct 1917 Balfour Declaration Approved: The British government officially approved the Balfour Declaration, a pivotal diplomatic document that expressed support for the establishment of a 'national home for the Jewish people' in Palestine. This momentous decision would have far-reaching geopolitical consequences for the Middle East and global Jewish diaspora.
31 Oct 1917 Battle of Beersheba: Historic Cavalry Charge: During World War I, the Battle of Beersheba was a pivotal moment in the Sinai and Palestine campaign. The British Empire's Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) launched a strategic attack against the Ottoman Empire's Yildirim Army Group garrison. In a remarkable military maneuver, the Australian Mounted Division's 4th and 12th light horse regiments executed a daring mounted infantry charge with bayonets, successfully capturing the town and part of the garrison during their withdrawal. This battle is historically significant as it was considered the last successful cavalry charge in military history.