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Primary Documents - 1916

Principals of the Easter Rising of 1916 This page of the Primary Documents section of the website collects together archive source documents originating in 1916, the year of titanic Allied struggles at both Verdun and along the Somme.

Included among the following documents is the text of the proclamation by Irish nationalists of an Irish Republic during Easter 1916.  Both of British Western Front Commander-in-Chief Sir Douglas Haig's 1916 military despatches are also available.

The list presented below - with each entry accompanied by a brief summary of its significance -  is sorted by date, with earlier documents listed first.

Document Description
ArticleLazare Muskovitch on Montenegro's War January - Montenegro Prime Minister's account
ArticleCharles Townshend's 1st Kut Communiqué January - British siege commander's January statement
ArticleNikolai Yudenich on the Capture of Erzerum February - Russian commander's report
ArticleBritish Report on the Capture of Erzerum February - British military observer's official report
ArticleFalkenhayn on the Battle of Verdun February - Germany Army Chief of Staff's justification
ArticleLudendorff on the Battle of Verdun February - Ludendorff's dismissive view
ArticlePrince Wilhelm on the Battle of Verdun February - Crown Prince's defensive summary
ArticleHouse-Grey Memorandum February - Colonel House's plan for drawing U.S. into war
ArticleLord Northcliffe on the Battle of Verdun March - Newspaper baron's despatch from the field
ArticleCharles Townshend's 2nd Kut Communiqué January - British siege commander's March statement
ArticleGeneral Pershing on Operations in Mexico March - Pershing's report on expedition to crush Villa
ArticleGeneral Funston on Operations in Mexico April - Funston's report on expedition to crush Villa
ArticleU.S. Ultimatum Regarding U-Boat War April - President Wilson's written warning to Germany
ArticleWilson's Speech Regarding U-Boat War April - President Wilson's address to Congress
ArticleProclamation of the Irish Republic April - Britain guaranteed Belgian neutrality
ArticleGeneral Maxwell on the Easter Rising April - British General's official military report
ArticleGerman Proclamation of Deportations from Lille April - General Graevenitz's official proclamation
ArticleJames W. Gerard on Deportations from Lille April - U.S. Ambassador's concerns
ArticleAristide Briand on Deportations from Lille April - French Prime Minister's official statement
ArticleCharles Townshend's 3rd Kut Communiqué May - British siege commander's final statement
ArticleAustrian Report on the Turkish Siege of Kut May - Official Austrian investigation
ArticleGermany Retreats Policy on U-Boat War May - Defence Minister's written assurance to Wilson
ArticleSykes-Picot Agreement May - Britain and France agree Middle East strategy
ArticleDouglas Haig's Despatches 1916-19 May - British Commander-in-Chief's wartime despatches
ArticleDouglas Haig's St Eloi Despatch May - British Commander-in-Chief's report
ArticlePresident Carranza on Operations in Mexico May - Mexican President's formal protest to U.S.
ArticleItalian Statement on the Asiago Offensive June - Official Italian summary of the failed offensive
ArticleGerman Report on the Asiago Offensive June - Official German military observer's summary
ArticleU.S. Ambassador on the Asiago Offensive June - Summary from Ambassador's memoirs
Article1st German Report on Battle of Jutland June - Initial reaction by German government on 1 June
Article1st British Report on Battle of Jutland June - First response by British government on 2 June
ArticleNewton Baker on Operations in Mexico June - Secretary of War's calling up of National Guard
ArticleRobert Lansing on Operations in Mexico June - U.S. Secretary of State's reply to Pres. Carranza
ArticleBritish Report on Battle of Jutland June - Sir John Jellicoe's official report
ArticleEmir's Declaration of Arab Independence June - Sharif Hussein bin Ali's proclamation
ArticleGerman Report on Battle of Jutland June - German naval minister's full report
ArticleSir Roger Casement's Conviction Speech June - Casement's speech following conviction for treason
ArticleBritish Reaction to Casement's Conviction June - Official British government reaction
ArticleAlexei Brusilov on the Brusilov Offensive June - Russian commander's official statement
ArticleGerman Report on the Brusilov Offensive June - Official German military observer's summary
ArticlePhilip Gibbs on Somme Offensive July - Official British journalist's account
ArticlePrince Rupprecht on Somme Offensive July - Local German commander's report
ArticleOfficial German Report of Somme Offensive July - General von Steinacker's official account
ArticleSubmarine Deutschland's Atlantic Crossing July - Captain Koenig's statement upon arrival in U.S.
ArticleAllied Protest to U.S. Re: Submarine Status July - Allies' argument that submarines were warships
Article1st German Statement on Captain Fryatt July - Statement issued following Fryatt's execution
ArticleArthur Balfour on Captain Fryatt August - Former British Prime Minister's summary
ArticleBritish Government on Captain Fryatt August - British government's official statement
ArticleJoseph Joffre on the Battle of Verdun August - French Army C-in-C's upbeat summary
Article2nd German Statement on Captain Fryatt August - Reply to British government's statement
ArticleRomanian Declaration of War with Austria August - Prime Minister Ion Bratianu's Official Statement
ArticleKing Ferdinand's Proclamation August - The King's reasons for war against Austria
ArticleKing Ferdinand's Proclamation to the Army August - The King's instructions for victory
ArticleJonescu on Romania's Entry into the War August - Former Prime Minister's support for war
ArticleBethmann on Romania's Entry into the War August - German Chancellor's accusations of betrayal
ArticleU.S. Reply to Allied Protest Re: Submarines August - Robert Lansing's statement supporting Germany
ArticlePrince Wilhelm on the End of of Verdun September - Crown Prince's account of the battle's end
Articlevon Hindenburg on the End of of Verdun September - Army Chief of Staff's summary
Articlevon Zwehl on the Battle of Verdun October - German General's view of key Verdun forts
ArticleGeneral Dubois on the Battle of Verdun October - General's condemnation of German approach
ArticleCardinal Mercier on German Rule in Belgium November - Cardinal Mercier's protest to neutral nations
ArticleBelgian Women on German Rule in Belgium November - Protest of Belgian women's societies
ArticleBissing on German Rule in Belgium November - German military Governor's policy defence
ArticleCardinal Mercier on German Rule in Belgium November - Cardinal Mercier's reply to Bissing's defence
ArticleLabour Unions on German Rule in Belgium November - Labour unions' protest at German policy
ArticleBrand Whitlock on German Rule in Belgium November - U.S. Ambassador to Belgium's report
ArticleLudendorff on the Loss of Forts at Verdun November - Ludendorff's official statement
ArticleDouglas Haig's Somme Despatch December - British Commander-in-Chief's report
ArticleLuigi Cadorna on the Battle of Gorizia December - Italian Commander-in-Chief's report
ArticleThe Assassination of Rasputin December - Stanislaus de Lazovert's account
ArticleColonel Frobenius on the Battle of Verdun December - Semi-official German historian's summary

Bulgaria mobilised a quarter of its male population during WW1, 650,000 troops in total.

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