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The Deadliest Battles of World War 1

The Deadliest Battles of World War 1

Updated: January 28, 2025 by David Beren

The Deadliest Battles of World War 1

© Everett Collection/Shutterstock.com

10. Battle of Tannenberg

© Ray Mentzer / Public Domain

9. Meuse-Argonne Offensive

© Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer / Public Domain

8. Battle of Gallipoli

© Ernest Brooks / Public Domain

7. First Battle of the Marne

© Agence Rol / Public Domain

6. Serbian Campaign

© Lord Eru / Public Domain

5. The Battle of Passchendaele

© "Commanding officers of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, Battle of Passchendaele, November 1917 / Officiers commandant du Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry à la bataille de Passchendaele, novembre 1917" by BiblioArchives / LibraryArchives is licensed under BY 2.0.

4. Battle of Verdun

© Collection DocAnciens/docpix.fr / Public domain

3. Battle of the Somme

© "First day of the Battle of the Somme" by Cassowary Colorizations is licensed under BY 2.0.

2. The Spring Offensive

© Jacques Ridel / Public Domain

1. Hundred Days Offensive

© John Warwick Brooke / Public Domain

The Deadliest Battles of World War 1

10. Battle of Tannenberg

9. Meuse-Argonne Offensive

8. Battle of Gallipoli

7. First Battle of the Marne

6. Serbian Campaign

5. The Battle of Passchendaele

4. Battle of Verdun

3. Battle of the Somme

2. The Spring Offensive

1. Hundred Days Offensive

The Deadliest Battles of World War 1

As one of the deadliest wars in history, World War I was marked by the death of nearly 9 to 10 million soldiers. At this number, it means roughly 15% of the soldiers who fought in the war did not make it back home. When you add in another 10-13 million civilian deaths, the brutal nature of this war becomes crystal clear. With this in mind, we can look at the deadliest battles of World War I and see where these numbers start to add up.