Since time immemorial, the people living in the south-west of what has historically been Russian land have called themselves Russians. It is an inalienable part of our own history, culture and spiritual space. Ukraine is not just a neighboring country for us. One prominent line of thinking is that Putin is looking to reclaim the territory lost after the dissolution of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), and the Russian leader’s own words appear to support this claim: The motivations of Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, are now the biggest unanswered question of this geopolitical event.

Vosges Mountains (Departments of Bas-Rhin & Haut-Rhin, Alsace, France)īattlefields of the Vosges Mountains, 1914 - 1915.The eyes of the world are now fixed on the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Meurthe & Moselle (Department of Meurthe-et-Moselle, Lorraine, France)īattlefields of the Moselle-Meurthe, August 1914.Mihiel Salient (Department of the Meuse, Lorraine, France)īattlefields of the St.

Verdun & Argonne Forest (Department of Meuse, Lorraine, France)īattlefields of Verdun (February - December 1916) and the Meuse-Argonne (September - October 1918).Champagne (Department of the Marne, Champagne, France).Marne (Departments of the Marne & Aisne, Champagne & Aisne, France)īattlefields of the Marne, September 1914 and July-August 1918.Aisne (Department of the Aisne, Picardy, France).Quentin and Maubeuge for August 1914 and August/September 1918. Quentin - Maubeuge (Departments of the Aisne & Nord, Picardy/French Flanders, France)īattlefields between St. Cambrai (Department of Nord, French Flanders, France).The Somme (Department of the Somme, Picardy, France).City of Arras (Department of Pas-de-Calais, Artois, France)Ĭity of Arras and battlefields east of the city (1914 & 1917).Loretto Heights and Vimy Ridge (Department of Pas-de-Calais, Artois, France)īattlefields of Loretto Heights and Vimy Ridge (1915 & 1917).La Bassée-Loos-Lens (Departments of Nord and Pas-de-Calais, Artois, France)īattlefields at La Bassée, Loos and Lens (1915 & 1917).Neuve Chapelle, Aubers Ridge, Festubert, Fromelles, & the Lys (Departments of Nord and Pas-de-Calais, French Flanders, France)īattlefields of Neuve Chapelle, Aubers Ridge and Festubert (1915), Fromelles (1916) and the Lys (1918).The Ypres Salient (West Flanders, Belgium)īattlefields of The Ypres Salient from October 1914 - October 1918.The reclaimed, low-lying land at was deliberately flooded by the Belgians to halt the German advance here. Yser (IJser) River & Canal (West Flanders, Belgium)īattlefield of the Yser, 16 October - 10 November 1914.It was liberated by Allied forces from 17 October 1918. The Belgian Coast was occupied and fortified by the Imperial German Army following the fall of Antwerp in mid October 1914. The Belgian Coast (West Flanders, Belgium).Antwerp was liberated by British forces on 19 November 1918. The city of Antwerp fell to the Imperial German Army on 10 October 1914. City of Antwerp, (Province of Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium).

The capital city of Belgium was occupied by Imperial German forces on 20 September 1914 and liberated by Allied forces on 18 November 1918. City of Brussels/Bruxelles (Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium).Mons was liberated by the British forces on 11 November 1918 and is the place where the last shots were reported to be fired on the Western Front on 11 November 1918. Mons (Hainaut Province, Wallonia, Belgium)įirst encounter between the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) and the Imperial German Army on 23 August 1914.It was liberated by British forces on 21 November 1918. The city of Namur fell to the Imperial German Army on 25 August 1914. Namur (Province of Namur, Wallonia, Belgium).The city was captured by the Imperial German Army on 16 August 1914.

The Battle and Siege of Liège was the first battle action on the Western Front from 4 August 1914.

Liège (Province of Liège, Wallonia, Belgium).

Map of the world after ww1