The 4G Blog

<– Part 118 – October 22, 1916  | Part 119 – October 29, 1916 |  Part 120 – November 5, 1916 –>

French counter-offensive at Verdun, including the capture of Fort Douaumont.

The French received a morale boost October 24 with the recapturing of Fort Douaumont near Verdun, with an additional 6,000 prisoners; however, an assault on Fort Vaux nearby has failed, although artillery continues to bombard it, and land around it has been captured.

Fighting at Cobadin ended the following day, with a sound victory by the Central Powers securing the Cernavoda-Constanta railway & port, with only 17,000 to heavy losses by the Russo-Romanian Army of the Dobrogea. In Transylvania, the Romanian Fourth Army has been forced back to its initial starting lines, although the German advance into Romania proper was halted at the Jiu Bridge by a heroic citizenry.

Fighting continues at the Crna bend, with heavy casualties for Bulgaria. At the Somme, fighting at Le Transloy has been a success for the defending Germans as the weather worsens. The nearby Ancre Heights continues to see marginal Allied advances.

<– Part 117 – October 15, 1916  | Part 118 – October 22, 1916 |  Part 119 – October 29, 1916 –>

The Romanians in Transylvania attacked the defending Austro-Hungarians October 17 at Brasov, but failed to gain ground, and the counter-attack has forced them to retreat from the area and continues to push them back to their starting lines.

On October 18, the fighting at Le Transloy wound down indecisively, due to weather bogging down further British attacks and the German defenders becoming accustomed to the Allied tactics.

Fighting erupted on the Eastern Front at Cobadin, with the Central Powers facing off against the combined Romanian-Russian Army of the Dobrega. The fighting is currently favoring the Germans and Austro-Hungarians, who threaten to capture a key railway and port despite being outnumbered 3:2.

At Verdun, French artillery has begun a bombardment, indicating a renewal of fighting there. At the Somme, the British continue their slow advance on the Ancre Heights.

<– Part 116 – October 8, 1916  | Part 117 – October 15, 1916 |  Part 117 – October 22, 1916 –>

Italy launched its eighth assault across the Isonzo on October 9, attempting to expand the bridgehead at Gorizia, but 25,000 casualties on each side led to the offensive being called off three days later.

At Monastir, in Macedonia, Serbian forces have kept up an intense offensive stance, with attacks and artillery shellings nearly constant, but the Bulgarian defenders are holding their position.

There are rumors that a British officer, one T.E. Lawrence, has been dispatched to Arabia to gather support from the rulers of Hejaz.

The Anglo-Egyptian Darfur Expedition captured more area from the Fur October 13, prompting another round of stalling negotiations by the Sultan.

Earlier today, Germany announced the resumption of U-boat attacks, using prize rules.

<– Part 115 – October 1, 1916  | Part 116 – October 8, 1916 |  Part 116 – October 15, 1916 –>

At Flamanda, the Austro-Hungarian Navy’s Danube flotilla dispatched patrol boats to oppose the Romanian bridgehead, which were shelled and forced to retreat. A set of river monitors returned, but they too were damaged and forced to retreat. However, with the Transylvania operations swinging against Romania, the Flamanda offensive was halted October 5 and the forced pulled back into defensive lines.

At Monastir, in Macedonia, Serbian forces attempted to force the bend of the river Crna October 5 but were pushed back across both there and at various nearby villages.

At Le Transloy, the British forces continue their offensive, although forces have withdrawn in a few zones, allowing the Germans to retake their lost trenches. At nearby Ancre Heights, also part of the Somme offensive, some advances have achieved their objectives, although German defenses in other areas have forced a halt until earlier today; however, today’s assault was blunted by well-entrenched German infantry and artillery.

<– Part 114 – September 24, 1916  | Part 115 – October 1, 1916 |  Part 116 – October 8, 1916 –>

Flamanda Offensive plans

The Allies forces at the Somme continue to make advances following their victory at Flers-Courcelette. Fighting from September 25-28  captured Morval, with only 5,000 casualties, while nearby fighting captured the Thiepval Ridge before advancing east to the Ancre Heights earlier today (although fighting has slowed there). Additionally, fighting at Le Transloy earlier today, following 6 hours of artillery, have seen the forward German trenches captured. The Germans seem unable to counter the manpower, supply, tanks, and aeroplane superiority the Allies enjoy, and September has been their costliest month to date in terms of casualties, having lost 135,000 men.

The Romanians launched an offensive across the Danube at Flamanda September 29, and have taken a 2.5 mile deep, 8.5 mile wide bridgehead earlier today.

The peak of Kaymakchalan, in Macedonia, was captured September 30 by the Serbian army after exchanging hands all week. The Serbs lost 4,600 to the Bulgarian 7,000+, and have lost 10,000 men so far, a costly victory for a smaller country.