20 August 1914
The German cruiser MAGDEBURG was captured by the Russian Navy, after running aground in a fog in the Gulf of Finland. Code books recovered from the cruiser were rushed to London, where intelligence experts matched them with merchant service code books seized by the RAN on 11 August, from the German ship HOBART, in Port Phillip, VIC. By November 1914 all German naval wireless traffic was being intercepted and decoded orders passed to the British Fleet.
The Battle of Gumbinnen, initiated by forces of the German Empire on August 20, 1914, was the first major German offensive on the Eastern Front during the First World War. Because of the hastiness of the German attack, however, the Russian army emerged victorious.
Brussels evacuated by Belgians and occupied by Germans. General von Lüttwitz appointed Military Commandant of the city of Brussels.
Namur bombarded.
Powerful German counter-attack near Saarburg and Morhange drives French back. French evacuated Saarburg, and after heavy fighting before Mörchingen. General Foch's 20th Corps fell back with remainder of Second Army.
British concentration Avesnes-Le Cateau completed.
Disorderly flight of Austrians towards the Serbian frontier
Taveta occupied by the Germans: Uganda Railway attacked.
Death of Pope Pius X.
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