On This Day - 20 December 1916
Theatre definitions:
Western Front comprises the Franco-German-Belgian front and any
military action in Great Britain, Switzerland, Scandinavia and Holland.
Eastern Front comprises the German-Russian, Austro-Russian and
Austro-Romanian fronts. Southern Front comprises the
Austro-Italian and Balkan (including Bulgaro-Romanian) fronts, and
Dardanelles. Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres comprises
Egypt, Tripoli, the Sudan, Asia Minor (including Transcaucasia), Arabia,
Mesopotamia, Syria, Persia, Afghanistan, Turkestan, China, India, etc.
Naval and Overseas Operations comprises operations on the seas
(except where carried out in combination with troops on land) and in
Colonial and Overseas theatres, America, etc. Political, etc.
comprises political and internal events in all countries, including Notes,
speeches, diplomatic, financial, economic and domestic matters.
Source: Chronology of the War (1914-18, London; copyright expired)
Eastern Front
Severe fighting west of Brody (Galicia).
German advance on Braila.
Southern Front
Fierce local encounters Cherna bend (Monastir).
Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres
Turks evacuate El Arish (northern Sinai) and fall back 20 miles south-east of Magdhaba.
Naval and Overseas Operations
Germans retire from Nangadi (East Africa).
Political, etc.
German War Loan �535,000,000.
President Wilson's Peace Conference Note handed to Belligerents.
