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.
10. Battle of Tannenberg
- Date: August 23 – 30, 1914
- Location: Tannenberg, East Prussia
- Participants: Russian Empire vs. German Empire
- Result: German victory
- Casualties: 182,000
9. Meuse-Argonne Offensive
- Date: September 26, 1918 – November 11, 1918
- Location: Montfaucon, France
- Participants: France, United States, Siam vs. Germany
- Result: Allied victory, end of World War I
- Casualties: 318,000
8. Battle of Gallipoli
- Date: February 19, 1915 – January 9, 1916
- Location: Gallipoli Peninsula
- Participants: United Kingdom, France, Russian Empire vs. Ottoman Empire, Germany, Austria
- Result: Ottoman victory
- Casualties: ~500,000
7. First Battle of the Marne
- Date: September 7, 1914
- Location: Marne River, France
- Participants: France, United Kingdom vs. Germany
- Result: Allied victory
- Casualties: 480,000 – 510,000
6. Serbian Campaign
- Date: July 28, 1914 – November 24, 1915
- Location: Serbia, Montenegro, Albania
- Participants: Serbia, Montenegro vs. Austria, Bulgaria, and Germany
- Result: German, Bulgarian, Austrian victory
- Casualties: 745,000 soldiers; up to 842,000 civilians
5. The Battle of Passchendaele
- Date: July 31, 1917 – November 10, 1917
- Location: Ypres, Belgium
- Participants: British Empire, France vs. Germany
- Result: Inconclusive, though Allies gained ground
- Casualties: ~850,000
4. Battle of Verdun
- Date: February 21, 1916 – December 18, 1916
- Location: Verdun-sur-Meuse, France
- Participants: France vs. Germany
- Result: French victory
- Casualties: 755,000 – 976,000
3. Battle of the Somme
- Date: July 1, 1916 – November 18, 1916
- Location: Somme River, France
- Participants: British Empire, France vs. Germany
- Result: Inconclusive
- Casualties: 1,120,000 – 1,215,000
2. The Spring Offensive
- Date: March 21, 1918 – July 18, 1918
- Location: Northern France; West Flanders, Belgium
- Participants: France, British Empire, United States, Portugal, Italy, Belgium vs. Germany
- Result: Germany gains on the Western Front
- Casualties: 1,539,715
1. Hundred Days Offensive
- Date: August 8, 1918 to August 1918
- Location: Amiens, France to Mons, Belgium
- Participants: France, Britain, United States, Belgium vs. Germany, Austria-Hungary
- Resulted: German surrender, ending the war
- Casualties: 1,855,369
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