<– Part 125 – December 10, 1916  | Part 126 – December 17, 1916 |  Part 127 – December 24, 1916 –>

With the Bulgarian lines holding for nearly a month, the Monastir offensive was ended December 11 by French general Joffre. 61,000 out of nearly 250,000 Central Powers soldiers are casualties, most of those lost being Bulgarian. The Allied forces, 300,000 strong, lost 50,000 to battle, plus another 80,000 to disease and illness, for a total of 130,000. Besides taking Monastir, the Allied achieved only minor gains. Two days later, Robert Nivelle replaced Joseph Joffre as Commander in chief of the French army.

Final French offensive at Verdun

The following day, the German government indicated it would accept a compromised peace, while the French government underwent further shuffling.

On the Italo-Austrian border, 10,000 soldiers were killed in avalanches December 13 in what is being called “White Friday.” In Mesopotamia, British commander Maude launched an offensive to early successes. The German sub SM U-29 was depth-charged by HMS Landrail off the coast of Kent, England.

The final offensive at Verdun was launched by French troops December 15 and captured nearly five miles through today. At Kibata, in German East Africa, a British thrust captured several German positions.

Tuareg rebels, in the French colony of northern Niger, have captured several villages and placed a French garrison under siege. In Persia, Russian general Baratov is capturing Qoms and Hamadan.