100 Years Ago Today

[Sailor Steve]

November 22, 1918


In the city of Lwów, Galicia, anti-Jewish violence grows as some 500 businesses, homes, and synagogues are looted, vandalized and burned. Czesław Mączyński, Commander of the Army of the Second Polish Republic orders martial law.

French forces re-occupy the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine for the first time since they were captured by Germany in 1871.

The Deutschnationale Volksparte (German National People's Party), commonly known by its initials DNVP, is established.

The American Japan Glass Sheet Company was established in Osaka. In 1931 its name will be changed to the Nippon Sheet Glass Company, under which name it still operates today.

Died Today: Rose Cleveland, American social leader. She acted as First Lady of the United States during the first fourteen months of the presidency of her brother Grover Cleveland, from March 1885 to June 1886, when the bachelor president married Frances Folsom.

[Jimbuna]

23rd November 1918

Political, etc.

Assembly of southern Slavs at Agram proclaim union of all southern Slav districts of Austria-Hungary with Serbia and Montenegro and of all Yugo-Slav military forces with the Serbian Army.

[Sailor Steve]

November 23, 1918

Prince Günther Victor of Schwarzburg abdicates the throne of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen, creating the Free State of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, which will then merge with Thuringia in 1920. He is the last German monarch to abdicate.

The British military governance of Palestine begins.

In Lwów, Galicia, more than one thousand rioters and looters are arrested, ending the anti-Jewish violence there. Somewhere between 50 and 150 Jewish residents have been murdered and 440 more injured. To prevent further violence the West Ukrainian People's Republic creates a 1,000-man regiment composed entirely of Ukrainian Jews.

Died today:

Fritz von Below, commander of German forces during the Second Battle of the Masurian Lakes, Battle of the Somme and Second Battle of the Aisne, recipient of Pour le Mérite (born 1853).

Michael Verdon, English-New Zealand clergy, second bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Dunedin (born 1838).

Harald Kidde, Danish writer, author of Helten (born 1878).

[Jimbuna]

24th November 1918

Western Front

British and American troops reach German frontier.

Naval and Overseas Operations

28 German submarines surrender at Harwich.

Political, etc.

Publiucation of despatches of Count Lerchenfeld (Bavarian Minister in Berlin, 1914).

Soldiers' and Workers' Council in Oldenburg, East Friesland, Bremen, Harburg-on-Elbe, Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein decide to form Republic with Hamburg as capital.

Bukovina desires union with Romania.

Frederick II, Grand Duke of Baden and Günther Victor, Prince of Schwarzburg abdicate, becoming the last of the German monarchs to give up their titles. Duke Frederick II


Ship Losses:

Cerisoles (French Navy) The Navarin-class minesweeper foundered with all hands in a storm on Lake Superior.
Inkerman (French Navy) The Navarin-class minesweeper foundered with all hands in a storm on Lake Superior.
Uranienborg (Denmark) The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in Aalbeck Bay with the loss of a crew member.

[Sailor Steve]

November 24, 1918


The Podgorica Assembly is established as the legislative governing body of the Kingdom of Montenegro with the goal to determine whether to join the Kingdom of Serbia. This will finally lead to the creation of Yugoslavia.

The Hungarian Communist Party is established by wartime partisan hero Béla Kun.

The Estonian oil company Esimene Eesti Põlevkivitööstus is established in Kohtla-Järve, Estonia.

The comic strip Gasoline Alley, by Frank King, makes its debut in the Chicago Tribune, becoming the second longest-running comic strip after The Katzenjammer Kids.

Died Today:

Annie Hall Cudlip, English writer, noted pioneer of the modern romance novel including Theo Leigh, A Passion in Tatters, He Cometh Not, She Said, and Allerton Towers, wife of theologian Pender Hodge Cudlip (born 1838).

[Jimbuna]

25th November 1918

Western Front

Marshal Foch enters Strasbourg.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Five German battleships leave Firth of Forth for internment at Scapa Flow (Orkney Isles).

General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck and his troops surrender to the Allies at Abercorn, Norther Rhodesia (Zambia), becoming the last German forces to surrender.

Political, etc.

British Parliament dissolves.

Conference of German States at Berlin to consider future Government of Germany; opened by Herr Ebert.

Montenegrin Skupshtina votes for union with Serbia.

[Sailor Steve]

November 25, 1918


General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck, German commander in German East Africa, surrenders to the British at Abercorn, Northern Rhodesia. He has successfully waged a guerrilla war against a force more that thirty times the size of his own. The British army numbers roughly 130,000 men. When von Lettow-Vorbeck surrenders he has 175 Germans and around 3,000 native askaris under his command.

The Constitution of Uruguay of 1830 is replaced by a new one.

The German-backed Crimean Regional Government is overthrown by The Crimean Karaites (a group of Turkish-speaking Jews). They create The Crimean Frontier Government and Solomon Krym becomes their leader.

[Jimbuna]

26th November 1918

Western Front

Last German troops withdraw from Belgium.

French troops cross German frontier.

Eastern Front

Bolshevik troops take Pskov and Dvinsk and bombard Narva (Gulf of Finland).

Southern Front

American troops enter Fiume.

Under the threat of Serbian force, the Podgorica (Montenegro) Assembly votes to depose Montenegrin King Nicholas I and join Montenegro with Serbia.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Entente squadrons arrive at Odessa and Sevastopol; surrender of German submarines and Russian ships in German hands.

Russian civilians come out in small boats to greet British and Australian warships arriving at Sevastopol to take control over German warships.


Political, etc.

Bavaria threatens to break off relations with Berlin.

Ship Losses:

USS Bonita (United States Navy) The patrol vessel collided with the fishing schooner Russell ( United States) in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Massachusetts and sank.
Nanset (Norway) The ship ran aground in Oxwich Bay in foggy weather. Her crew survived. She subsequently capsized and was a total loss.

[Sailor Steve]

November 26, 1918


The Spanish flu pandemic (and epidemic that reaches world-wide proportions) reaches the Pacific island of Tonga, killing eight percent of the population. one of those lost is the island's Queen Takipō.

The United States Marine Corps establishes the 15th Marine Regiment.

The Soviet Red Army establishes the 18th Rifle Division.

Born Today:

Patricio Aylwin, 32nd President of Chile, in Viña del Mar, Chile (died 2016).

Bill DeCorrevont, American football player, defensive back for Northwestern University from 1938 to 1942 and running back for the Washington Redskins, Detroit Lions, and Chicago Bears from 1945 to 1949, in Chicago (died 1995).

Huber Matos, Cuban activist, member of the 26th of July Movement, opponent to Fidel Castro and political prisoner for 20 years, in Yara, Cuba (died 2014).

[Jimbuna]

27th November 1918

Naval and Overseas Operations

27 German submarines surrender at Harwich.

Political, etc.

Visit of King George to Paris.

Labour Election Manifesto.

German Army begins the process of demobilization with only the classes of 1898 and 1899 remaining in service.

Ship Losses:

City of Lahore (United Kingdom) The cargo ship caught fire and sank at New York, United States.

"In Honour of the British Navy. To Commemorate the Surrender of the German Fleet."

[Sailor Steve]

November 27, 1918


The National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine is established.

Born today:

Royal N. Baker, who will command various U.S. Air Force squadrons during World War Two, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Baker will be awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, four Distinguished Flying Crosses, three Air Force Distinguished Service Medals, four Legion of Merits, the Silver Star, and 43 Air Medals during the course of his career. (died 1976).

[Jimbuna]

28th November 1918

Western Front

Patrols of 2nd Cavalry Division reach German frontier near Beho (just north of northern point of Luxemburg).

Eastern Front

Narva captured by Bolsheviks.

Political, etc.

Bavaria breaks off relations with Berlin.

Speech of Mr. Asquith at Huddersfield attacking Coalition.

Kaiser signs formal deed of abdication.

[Sailor Steve]

November 28, 1918


Amerongen, Netherlands: Kaiser Wilhelm II formally abdicates. "I herewith renounce for all time claims to the throne of Prussia and to the German Imperial throne connected therewith." He will live in exile until his death in 1941.

Russia invades Estonia. The 6th Rifle Division of the Red Army attacks the border town of Narva.

The Kingdom of Montenegro is formally absorbed into the Kingdom of Serbia.

The General Congress of Bukovina votes to dissolve the Duchy of Bukovina, formerly of Austria-Hungary, and unites with Romania.

The Saint-Petersburg State University of Culture and Arts is established in Petrograd (now Saint Petersburg).

Born Today:

Jack H. Harris, American film producer, best known for B movies including The Blob, 4D Man, and Equinox, in Philadelphia (died 2017).

Billy McLean, British special forces officer and politician, member of the Special Operations Executive during World War Two, Member of Parliament for Inverness from 1954 to 1964, recipient of the Distinguished Service Order, in Sutherland, Scotland (died 1986).

Died Today:

Margaret Cruickshank, New Zealand physician, first women to practice medicine in New Zealand (born 1873).

[Jimbuna]

29th November 1918

Political, etc.

Speeches of Mr. Lloyd George at Newcastle.

King George V makes an official visit to France. King George V reviewing British troops in Paris.


Ship Losses:

Merida (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was wrecked in the English Channel off Le Touquet, Pas-de-Calais, France.

[Sailor Steve]

November 29, 1918


The Perm Operation begins as the 1st Corp of the Siberian White Army, under the command of Anatoly Pepelyayev, advances to the north-west toward the Northern Russia Front.

The Eesti Töörahwa Kommuuna (Commune of the Working People of Estonia) is formed in Narva under the Chairmanship of Jaan Anvelt.

The Association of Port Authorities is established in Norway. I will operate until it is superseded by the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities in 1972.

Born Today:
Madeleine L'Engle, American young adult writer, author of the A Wrinkle in Time series, in New York City (died 2007).