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Major Events of February 1918: 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 February 1918 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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Major Events of February 1918: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Feb 1918 Austro-Hungarian Navy Mutiny in Gulf of Cattaro: Sailors of the Austro-Hungarian Navy's Fifth Fleet mutinied in the Gulf of Cattaro, near Montenegro, reflecting the growing unrest and disintegration of the Austro-Hungarian military during World War I.
  • 02 Feb 1918 Soviet-Ukrainian War: Battle for Kiev's Arsenal Factory: During the tumultuous period of the Ukrainian War of Independence, militias led by Ukrainian independence leader Symon Petliura launched a significant assault on Kiev's Arsenal Factory. The attack targeted Bolshevik-supporting workers who had barricaded themselves inside the facility, marking a critical moment in the struggle for Ukrainian sovereignty.
  • 03 Feb 1918 Austro-Hungarian Navy Mutiny Suppression: The Austro-Hungarian Navy's Third Fleet quelled a significant naval mutiny, resulting in approximately 800 sailors being imprisoned and dozens facing court-martial. Four sailors were ultimately executed, highlighting the severe military discipline of the era.
  • 04 Feb 1918 General Alexeyev's Failed Moscow Campaign: General Mikhail Alexeyev, leading a force of Don Cossacks, attempted a military action against the Bolsheviks near Moscow. By February 13th, his campaign was decisively defeated, and in the aftermath, Alexeyev took his own life, symbolizing the collapse of anti-Bolshevik resistance.
  • 05 Feb 1918 First US Aerial Victory in World War I: Stephen W. Thompson achieved the first aerial victory for the United States military by shooting down a German Albatros fighter during a bombing raid over Saarbrücken, Germany. This historic moment marked a significant milestone in American military aviation history during World War I.
  • 06 Feb 1918 British Women's Voting Rights Milestone: The Representation of the People Act 1918 was passed by Parliament, granting voting rights to British women over 30 who met specific property qualifications. This landmark legislation was a significant step towards women's suffrage in the United Kingdom.
  • 07 Feb 1918 Execution of Bishop Vladimir Bogoyavlensky during Russian Revolution: Bishop Vladimir Bogoyavlensky, a prominent religious leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, was executed by Red Army soldiers under the command of Mikhail Artemyevich. This brutal act occurred in front of his monks, symbolizing the violent religious persecution during the early stages of the Russian Revolution. Bogoyavlensky was known for his opposition to the Bolshevik regime and was targeted for his religious and political stance.
  • 08 Feb 1918 Lafayette Escadrille Transferred to US Army: The Lafayette Escadrille, an American volunteer squadron serving in the French Army, was officially transferred to the United States Army and redesignated as the 103rd Aero Squadron, symbolizing growing US military involvement in World War I.
  • 09 Feb 1918 Central Powers-Ukrainian People's Republic Protectorate Treaty: The Central Powers signed an exclusive protectorate treaty with the Ukrainian People's Republic during negotiations at Brest-Litovsk, Belarus. This diplomatic agreement represented a significant geopolitical arrangement during World War I, establishing a formal relationship between the Central Powers and the emerging Ukrainian state.
  • 10 Feb 1918 Trotsky Announces End of Russo-German War: Leon Trotsky, a key Bolshevik leader, announced the cessation of hostilities between Russia and Germany. Notably, while declaring an end to the state of war, Trotsky stated that Russia would not sign a formal peace treaty, signaling the complex diplomatic situation following the Russian Revolution.
  • 11 Feb 1918 German U-boat Sinks British Cargo Ship: German submarine SM U-53 conducted a maritime attack in the Atlantic Ocean, torpedoing and sinking the British cargo ship SS Merton Hall. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of 57 crew members, highlighting the deadly naval warfare during World War I.
  • 12 Feb 1918 Birth of Julian Schwinger, Renowned Physicist: Julian Schwinger, a brilliant American theoretical physicist, was born on this date. He would later become a Nobel Prize laureate for his groundbreaking contributions to quantum electrodynamics. Schwinger was a key figure in quantum mechanics and made significant advancements in understanding subatomic particle interactions. His work was instrumental in developing quantum field theory and he shared the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1965 with Richard Feynman and Sin-Itiro Tomonaga.
  • 13 Feb 1918 First World War Combat Casualty from Madison: On February 13, 1918, during World War I, Private Ralph Spaulding from Madison, who was serving in Company H of his regiment, became the first combat fatality from his unit. His death marked a somber milestone for his hometown and highlighted the human cost of the ongoing global conflict.
  • 14 Feb 1918 Estonian Declaration of Independence: After seven centuries of foreign rule, Estonia officially declares its independence from Russia, marking a significant moment in the nation's struggle for sovereignty and self-determination.
  • 15 Feb 1918 US Army Troop Ship Sunk During World War I: On February 15, 1918, during World War I, a United States Army troop transport ship was torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine off the coast of Ireland. This incident represented a significant escalation of naval warfare and highlighted the dangerous conditions faced by American military personnel during maritime operations in the Atlantic.
  • 16 Feb 1918 Lithuania Declares Independence: Lithuania officially declares its independence from Russia and Germany, marking a pivotal moment in the nation's history and establishing February 16th as its National Day.
  • 17 Feb 1918 British Military Mission to North Persia During World War I: General Lionel Dunsterville led a British military expedition that successfully reached Enzeli (modern-day Bandar-e Anzali) in northwestern Persia (Iran) during a critical period of World War I. This mission was part of the British strategic efforts to secure the region and prevent potential German or Ottoman influence in the area.
  • 18 Feb 1918 German Resumption of Hostilities on Eastern Front: The armistice between Russia and Germany on the Eastern Front of World War I expired, leading to the immediate resumption of military hostilities. German armies began a strategic advance, notably capturing the strategic city of Dvinsk (now Daugavpils in Latvia), signaling a significant escalation of conflict following the breakdown of diplomatic negotiations.
  • 19 Feb 1918 Russia Seeks Peace with Germany during World War I: The Russian Bolshevik government, led by Vladimir Lenin, signaled its intention to negotiate and sign a peace treaty with Germany during World War I. This marked a critical moment in the conflict, as the new revolutionary government sought to withdraw Russia from the war and focus on internal political transformation following the October Revolution of 1917.
  • 20 Feb 1918 Ukraine Signs Peace Treaty with Central Powers at Brest-Litovsk: On February 20, 1918, the Ukrainian People's Republic signed a separate peace treaty with the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria) at Brest-Litovsk. This treaty was a significant diplomatic move during World War I, effectively withdrawing Ukraine from the conflict and establishing its sovereignty. The United Kingdom subsequently announced that it would not recognize this treaty, viewing it as a unilateral agreement that undermined the broader Allied war efforts.
  • 21 Feb 1918 British Forces Capture Jericho in Palestine: As part of the British campaign in the Middle Eastern theater of World War I, British forces successfully captured the historic city of Jericho in Palestine. This strategic military operation was part of the broader effort to push back Ottoman Turkish forces from the region.
  • 22 Feb 1918 Germany's Territorial Expansion During World War I: During the ongoing World War I, Germany claims territorial control over the Baltic states, Finland, and Ukraine, effectively expanding its geopolitical influence by exploiting Russia's internal political turmoil following the Russian Revolution.
  • 23 Feb 1918 Red Army's First Victory Against German Troops: On February 23, 1918, the Red Army achieved its first significant victory over Kaiser's German troops near Narva and Pskov. This historic battle became a pivotal moment in early Soviet military history. From 1923 onward, this date was celebrated as 'Red Army Day'. After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, the holiday was renamed 'Defender of the Fatherland Day' and is now colloquially known as 'Men's Day', continuing to commemorate military service and national defense.
  • 24 Feb 1918 Estonia's Declaration of Independence: On February 24, 1918, Estonia officially declared its independence from the Russian Empire after seven centuries of foreign domination. This historic moment marked the end of prolonged foreign rule and the beginning of Estonia's journey as a sovereign nation. Simultaneously, other Caucasian regions like Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia also declared independence, forming the Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic.
  • 25 Feb 1918 German Occupation of Tallinn in World War I: During World War I, German forces successfully captured Tallinn, effectively completing their occupation of Estonia. This strategic military action significantly impacted the geopolitical landscape of the Baltic region.
  • 26 Feb 1918 Sinking of Hospital Ship Glenart Castle: German submarine U-56 torpedoed the British hospital ship 'Glenart Castle' in the Bristol Channel during World War I, resulting in a tragic loss of life with only 38 of the 200 personnel aboard surviving the attack.
  • 27 Feb 1918 World War I: A Day of Quiet on the Western Front: On February 27, 1918, during the final months of World War I, the Western Front experienced a relatively calm day with no major military engagements recorded. This period was characterized by strategic positioning and preparation, as both the Allied and Central Powers were anticipating significant developments in the ongoing conflict.
  • 28 Feb 1918 Bolshevik Russia Halts Military Operations on Eastern Front: On February 28, 1918, the Bolshevik government suspended military operations on the Eastern Front and resumed diplomatic negotiations. This marked a critical moment in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution, as the new Soviet leadership sought to extract Russia from World War I and focus on consolidating internal power. The cessation of hostilities was part of the broader context of the Brest-Litovsk peace negotiations with Germany, which would ultimately result in a controversial and harsh peace treaty for Russia.