Thursday 17 October 1918.

Western Front. The Belgians reoccupy Ostend, the British enter Douai and Lille.

Macedonia. The Franco-Serbs take Ipek, Knyazhevats and Krushevats in Serbia, over half of the country has been cleared of Austrian troops.

The German C-in-C Ludendorff demands a fight to the finish in the hope that the onset of winter in four weeks will halt the Allied advance.  

In Prague the Czechs proclaim independence while in Agram the Yugo-Slavs do likewise, they are taking early advantage of the Emperor's proclamation of yesterday on self government for six nationalities within the Empire. 

Friday 18 October 1918.

Western Front. With the daily advances by the Allies Marshall Foch moves Allied HQ north to Senlis.

One of the German senior commanders, Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria, writes to the Chancellor that he must obtain peace before the Allies break into Germany itself.

Macedonia. The last German troops leave Bulgaria.

Russian Civil War. The Allied Intervention Force defeats the Reds at Seletsko 160 miles south of Archangel.  

Saturday 19 October 1918.

Western Front. The Belgians retake Zeebrugge and Bruges, thus the entire Channel coast has been cleared of Germans. The British enter Marchienne while the Canadians enter Denain.

Macedonia. The Serbs take Zayechar near the Austrian border.

Sunday 20 October 1918.

Western Front. The British break through the Hermann Line and take Solesmes.

Macedonia. The Serbs clash with the Austro-Germans who have made a stand at Paracin in Serbia.

With the entire coast cleared it would have made a big difference and easier to resupply the front and rear lines.

Monday 21 October 1918.

Western Front. Further Allied success as the Germans retreat, only around Verdun do the Germans put up serious resistance.

Alpine Front. After months of relative inactivity there are skirmishes along the Front as the Italians prepare for a huge offensive in a few days.

Tuesday 22 October 1918.

Western Front. The British enter Valenciennes. The Canadians clear Foret de Raismes.

Adriatic. Huge air raid by over 150 bombers on the Austrian naval base at Pola.

The German Admiralty approves a final huge attack by the Imperial Fleet against the Royal Navy for the end of the month.

Wednesday 23 October 1918.

Western Front. The British take Bruay, Bousies and Grand Champ Ridge.

RAF bombers desatroy the Griest munitions plant at Kaiserslautern.

Mesopotamia. Activity resumes with the British advance on Fatha.

Several months after women are granted the vote in UK General Elections Parliament votes to allow women to stand as candidates.

Thursday 24 October 1918.

Battle of Vittorio Veneto. The final Allied assault against the Austrians in the Alps. The Allied army is made up of Italian, British and French Divisions with US and Czech support. It begins in the time-honoured fashion with a huge artliiery barrage followed by the infantry assault in the Mt Grappa sector as heavy rain prevents the infantry from advancing elsewhere. On Day One progress is slow due to the weather and the unexpected resistance from the Austrians. Over 2100 prisoners are captured.

Western Front. Gains by the British and the French while the Belgians hold off a German counter-attack on the Derivation Canal.

Mesopotamia. The British near Kirkuk.

The new Turkish government withdraws four Divisions from Armenia and Azerbaijan for home defence abandoning its plan to control the newly independent nations of the former Russian Empire.     

Friday 25 October 1918.

Battle of Vittorio Veneto. Gains by the Italians taking Arditi and Mt Pertica, the British occupy Papadopoli Island in the river Piave.

Western Front. The French retake Villers-le-Sec. The Allies have penetrated the last effective defensive line prepared by the Germans.

Macedonia. The Serbs reach Kraguyevats and Chrupriya in Serbia.

Mesopotamia. The British enter Kirkuk.

Saturday 26 October 1918.

Battle of Vittorio Veneto. After an improvement in the weather the bulk of the British go on the attack crossing the Piave river. Elsewhere the Italians make limited progress. But three Hungarian Divisions demand to be sent home thus rendering the Austrian defences severely weakened. This will become a feature of the final days of Austria's war - mass defections and desertions.

Western Front. Heavy fighting along the line, German counter-attack on Maing repelled.

Gen. Ludendorff resigns as German C-in-C. He has suffered a mental breakdown in the preceeding weeks vacillating between asking for an immediate armistice and demading a fight to the last man. He is replaced by Gen. Wilhelm Groener to work alongside von Hindenburg.

Palestine. The British-Indians enter Aleppo and chase the retreating Turks as far as Haritan to the north.

Mesopotamia. The British-Indians cross the Tigris north of Sharqat.  

Is Britain doing anything special for the up coming centennial? I heard them mentions ringing of bells in Ottawa.

Keep us posted Mark.

Sunday 27 October 1918.

Battle of Vitttorio Veneto. The Allies have secured three bridgeheads across the river Piave two and a half miles deep. Some elements of the Austrian Army refuse to move to the Front.

The Austrian Emperor Karl formally asks the Allies for an Armistice. He telegraphs Emperor Wilhelm that "my people are neither capable nor willing to continue the war"

Western Front. The Americans take Bois Belleu and Grandpre. Advances in all sectors.

Palestine and Mesopotamia. British gains in both theatres.

Monday 28 October 1918.

Battle of Vittorio Veneto. Austrian resistance has all but collapsed, A general retreat ordered in the Montello sector. Mass desertions and surrender of the Slavic/Czech troops in the Austrian Army.

Western Front. The British capture Mont Huoy. Heavy fighting by the French and Americans.

Macedonia. The British land in the Bulgarian Aegean port of Dedeagach for a proposed invasion of Turkey just ten miles away.

Mesopotamia. The British defeat the Turks at Sharqat on the Tigris.

The German evacuate their U-boat crews from the Austrian post of Pola, six U-boats are scuttled there, the remainder relocate to other ports in the Adriatic.

De Facto independence for Czechoslovakia.   The Czech National Council takes over the administration in Prague.

Tuesday 29 October 1918.

Battle of Vittorio Veneto. The Allied armies advance five miles on a 30 mile front taking Susegana and Conegliano as Austrian resistance fails. Only heavy rain prevents a more dramatic advance. Emperor Karl telegraphs Berlin that over half his army has either deserted, surrendered or is refusing to fight and as a result he will formally request an armistice.

Declaration of Yugoslave independence at Agram.

Beginning of the German Revolution. Plans for a final battle at sea between the Germans and the British are suspended as many crew refuse to put to sea. The red flag is hoisted from at least two battleships

Wednesday 30 October 1918.

Mudros Armistice. On board the battleship HMS Agamemnon in Mudros harbour a Turkish delegation signed an Armistice with the British to end their involvement in the war. It was to take effect at midday 31 October.

Battle of Vittorio Veneto. The Italians take Vittorio Veneto.

In the port of Fiume Croats proclaim that the city has ceded from the Austrian Empire and desires union with Italy.

Macedonia. The Serbs occupy Pozharevats as the Austrians retreat beyond the Danube.

German Revolution. More ships' crews refuse orders to prepare to sail and with around 1000 arrests the ships are unable to function in a wartime capacity.

The Austrian Emperor Karl announces that his entire seagoing fleet sa to be handed over to the newly created State of Yugoslavia as he fears that under the imminent armistice Austria will be stripped of her sea ports.  

Thursday 31 October 1918.

The Armistice with Turkey takes effect.

Battle of Vittorio Veneto. The Italians occupy the abandoned Austrian defences at Grappa and Asiago. The British enter Sacile.

Macedonia. The Italians and Serbs capture Scutari in Albania.

Western Front. The British take Tieghem.

Revolution erupts in Vienna and Budapest. Count Istvan Tisza, former Prime Minister of Hungary, assassinated by Communists.

Emperor Karl appoints Mihaly Karolyi Prime Minister of Hungary after the resignation of Sandor Wekerle.

The Italians and Slovenes take over the port of Trieste.