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

history

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

  • 01 Mar 1918 German U-Boat Sinks HMS Calgarian: During World War I, the German submarine U-19 attacked and sank the British ship HMS Calgarian near Rathlin Island off the coast of Northern Ireland. This naval engagement was part of Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare campaign, which was a significant strategic element of their maritime combat strategy.
  • 02 Mar 1918 German Forces Capture Kiev During World War I: During World War I, German troops captured Kiev as part of the 'Operation Fist Punch', a significant military operation on the Eastern Front that demonstrated the Central Powers' strategic advances in the region.
  • 03 Mar 1918 Russia Withdraws from World War I: Russia officially withdrew from World War I by signing the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany and Austria-Hungary, marking a pivotal moment in the conflict and dramatically altering the war's geopolitical landscape.
  • 04 Mar 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic Begins: The first documented case of the Spanish flu occurs, marking the start of one of the most devastating global pandemics in human history. This highly infectious influenza strain would go on to kill millions worldwide between 1918 and 1920, causing unprecedented mortality and social disruption.
  • 05 Mar 1918 Bolshevik Capital Relocation: The Bolshevik government officially moves the national capital from Petrograd (now St. Petersburg) to Moscow, marking a significant political and strategic shift during the Russian Revolution. This move was intended to distance the new revolutionary government from the former imperial capital and establish a more centralized seat of power.
  • 06 Mar 1918 USS Cyclops Vanishes in Mysterious Circumstances: The US naval collier USS Cyclops, a massive cargo ship, mysteriously disappeared in the Bermuda Triangle without a trace, becoming one of the most famous maritime mysteries in naval history. The vessel was last known to be sailing from Barbados to Baltimore, but no distress signals were ever received, and no wreckage was ever found. The disappearance remains one of the greatest unsolved maritime enigmas, with speculation ranging from structural failure to paranormal events.
  • 07 Mar 1918 German Bombing Raid on England: Five German Riesenflugzeug bombers conducted a devastating raid on England, with one bomber dropping a massive 1,000-kg bomb near London Paddington station. Tragically, this raid claimed the lives of Lena Guilbert Ford, a notable wartime lyricist, and her son Walter, marking the first U.S. citizens killed in a German bombing raid.
  • 08 Mar 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic Begins: The first documented case of the Spanish flu emerges, marking the start of one of the most devastating global pandemics in human history. This highly infectious influenza strain would go on to kill millions worldwide between 1918 and 1920, causing unprecedented mortality across multiple continents.
  • 09 Mar 1918 Bolshevik Party Transforms into Communist Party: In a pivotal moment of political transformation, the Russian Bolshevik Party officially renamed itself the Communist Party, signaling a critical stage in the Russian Revolution and the emergence of communist ideology.
  • 10 Mar 1918 British Hospital Ship Survives German Submarine Attack in Bristol Channel: During World War I, the British hospital ship 'Guildford Castle' narrowly escaped an attack by a German submarine in the Bristol Channel. This incident highlights the dangerous maritime conditions during the conflict, where even medical vessels were targeted, violating international humanitarian conventions of the time. Hospital ships were supposed to be protected under international law, but German U-boats often disregarded these agreements during unrestricted submarine warfare.
  • 11 Mar 1918 First Documented Military Case of Spanish Flu: Private Albert Gitchell, a mess cook at Fort Riley, Kansas, became the first documented military case of the Spanish flu. This event marked the beginning of a devastating global pandemic that would ultimately claim between 50-100 million lives worldwide, making it one of the deadliest pandemics in human history.
  • 12 Mar 1918 Moscow Restored as Russian Capital: On March 12, 1918, Moscow was reinstated as the capital of Russia, ending Saint Petersburg's long-standing status as the capital city that had been maintained since 1713. This significant political shift occurred in the context of the dramatic changes brought about by the Russian Revolution.
  • 13 Mar 1918 German Occupation of Odessa: During World War I, German forces occupied the strategic Black Sea port city of Odessa, expanding their territorial control in the region and demonstrating the ongoing military campaigns of the conflict.
  • 14 Mar 1918 Failed Peace Negotiations in Trebizond: A diplomatic peace conference was convened in Trebizond, Turkey, between representatives of the Ottoman Empire and the Transcaucasian Commissariat. Despite hopes for resolution, the negotiations ultimately failed to achieve their intended objectives, reflecting the complex geopolitical tensions in the region during the final stages of World War I. The unsuccessful talks highlighted the significant challenges in negotiating peace amid regional conflicts and shifting political landscapes.
  • 15 Mar 1918 Battle of Tampere in Finnish Civil War: A critical military engagement during the Finnish Civil War, the Battle of Tampere was a significant conflict between the Finnish Red Guards and the Finnish White Guards. This urban battle, fought in the industrial city of Tampere, represented a pivotal moment in Finland's internal struggle that would ultimately shape the country's political future. The battle involved intense urban warfare, with both sides engaging in street-to-street combat that would prove strategically and symbolically important for the war's outcome.
  • 16 Mar 1918 Battle of Tampere in Finnish Civil War: A critical engagement of the Finnish Civil War occurred at Länkipohja, where White Guards engaged in intense combat against Red Guards. This battle was a pivotal moment in Finland's internal conflict, representing the fierce ideological and political divisions of the time.
  • 17 Mar 1918 German Forces Capture Nicolayev: During World War I, German military forces successfully capture the strategic city of Nicolayev (now Mykolaiv) in South Russia, expanding their territorial control in the region.
  • 18 Mar 1918 Socialist Youth Organization Established in Amsterdam: The Amsterdam branch of the Socialist Youth organization (AJC) was formally established, marking an important moment in the Dutch socialist youth movement. This organization likely aimed to engage young people in socialist political ideologies and social activism during the tumultuous period of World War I.
  • 19 Mar 1918 US Congress Establishes Time Zones and Daylight Saving Time: The United States Congress passes legislation establishing standardized time zones across the country and approves daylight saving time, which would go into effect on March 31, 1918. This landmark decision aimed to improve efficiency and energy conservation.
  • 20 Mar 1918 Birth of Marian McPartland, Jazz Pianist and Broadcaster: Marian McPartland was a renowned British-born jazz pianist, composer, and radio host who became a significant figure in the American jazz scene. Known for her innovative piano style and her long-running NPR program 'Piano Jazz', she was a pioneering woman in the male-dominated jazz world of the mid-20th century.
  • 21 Mar 1918 German Spring Offensive Begins on Western Front: During World War I, Germany launched a massive offensive on the Western Front, marking a critical turning point in the conflict. The operation, known as the Spring Offensive or Operation Michael, represented Germany's last major strategic push to break the Allied lines before American troops could significantly reinforce the battlefield.
  • 22 Mar 1918 German Spring Offensive Continues: During World War I, the German Spring Offensive (Operation Michael) continued its intense military campaign along the Western Front. German forces were making a strategic push to break through Allied defensive lines, employing significant military resources and experiencing substantial casualties in their attempt to gain territorial advantage.
  • 23 Mar 1918 Annihilation of the 10th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment: On the third day of the German Spring Offensive during World War I, the 10th Battalion of the Royal West Kent Regiment suffered catastrophic losses, with many soldiers killed or captured, highlighting the brutal nature of the conflict.
  • 24 Mar 1918 German Capture of Montdidier: As part of the Spring Offensive (Kaiserschlacht) in World War I, German forces successfully captured the French town of Montdidier. This was a significant moment in the German's last major attempt to break through Allied lines before American forces fully entered the war.
  • 25 Mar 1918 German Spring Offensive Begins: A critical moment in World War I, the German Spring Offensive (Operation Michael) was launched with a massive artillery bombardment. The assault began with an intense 5-hour bombardment of 3.5 million shells, covering a 40-mile front. The attack was characterized by innovative tactics including artificial fog and gas shelling, creating significant confusion among Allied forces, particularly at the junction between British and French armies.
  • 26 Mar 1918 Allies Appoint General Foch as Supreme Commander During World War I: In a strategic decision during World War I, the Allied powers formally appointed General Ferdinand Foch as the Supreme Allied Commander. This unprecedented move unified the command structure of Allied armies in France, allowing for more coordinated military operations against German forces during the critical final stages of the conflict.
  • 27 Mar 1918 Bessarabia Unites with Romania: The National Council of Bessarabia officially proclaimed the union of the region with the Kingdom of Romania, marking a significant territorial and political transformation in Eastern Europe during the tumultuous period of World War I.
  • 28 Mar 1918 Bloody Maundy Thursday of Tampere - Finnish Civil War: A pivotal and brutal day in the Finnish Civil War, where intense urban warfare erupted in Tampere. The Whites strategically forced the Reds to attack the city center, resulting in extremely fierce fighting, particularly in the Kalevankangas area. The battle was characterized by substantial casualties on both sides. Additionally, a devastating explosion at the Red headquarters killed several key commanders, further destabilizing their leadership.
  • 29 Mar 1918 German Forces Capture Poltava During World War I: During the complex military operations of World War I, German forces successfully captured the strategic city of Poltava in South Russia on March 29, 1918, as part of their expansionist campaign in Eastern Europe.
  • 30 Mar 1918 March Days: Baku Revolt Suppression: Bolshevik and Armenian Revolutionary Federation forces brutally suppressed a Muslim revolt in Baku, Azerbaijan, resulting in an estimated 30,000 fatalities, highlighting the extreme violence of the period.
  • 31 Mar 1918 Baku Massacre of Azerbaijani Muslims: A tragic ethnic massacre occurs in Baku, Azerbaijan, where allied armed groups of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation and Bolsheviks systematically kill approximately 12,000 Azerbaijani Muslims, marking a dark moment of inter-ethnic violence during the tumultuous period of World War I and the Russian Revolution.