The Year 1915

On 22 April, on the Southwest Front, the Austro-Hungarian 2nd Army repulsed Russian attacks on both sides of the Uzsok Pass in the Carpathians. The German Südarmee failed in an attack towards Stryj.

Italy responded to Austria-Hungary's latest reply by stating the need for the immediate transfer of the territories to be ceded.

On 23 April, in the Baltic Sea, German submarine U.26 sank the Russian steamer Frack.

The Tsar inspected the captured fortress of Przemysl, then briefly visited Brody. Prior to his arrival at the fortress, the Tsar visited Sambor, headquarters of the 8th Army. His visit was described by General Denikin, who led the Iron Division, “The Sovereign was timid and did not know how to speak with the troops. The company returned with decorations, but with little to tell their comrades. There were no memorable words.”

On 24 April, on the Northwest Front, a Russian Il'ya Muromets (IM) four-engine bomber carried out an attack on Neidenburg. These giant four-engine bombers took part in many bombing, reconnaissance, leaflet dropping and photographic missions during the course of the war.

On the Southwest Front, the Austro-Hungarians captured heights near Ostaij, southeast of Kosziowa.

The head of the Armenian Church unsuccessfully appealed to American President Wilson for aid. It was declared the “Armenian Day of Mourning.”

On 25 April, on the Northwest Front, the German Niemen Army was being formed under General Otto von Below. A Russian four-engine IM bomber hit the German airfield at Sanniki.

On the Southwest Front, there was heavy fighting near Stryj in Galicia.

In the Black Sea, elements of the Russian fleet successfully bombarded Turkish forts at the entrance to the Bosporus. Russian seaplanes safely performed gunfire spotting without loss.

On the Turkish Front, Allied troops landed on the Gallipoli peninsula. The Turks were able to hold their positions until reinforcements arrived. In August, the Turks repelled a new attack at Sulva Bay. The Allies were finally forced to evacuate in January 1916 after having sustained very heavy casualties.

The Year 1915

On 26 April, the Treaty of London was secretly signed between Italy, Russia, Great Britain and France. It ratified the conditions under which Italy would join the Allies. Italy was to receive territorial concessions, ceded the Trentino, Istria with Trieste, Dalmatia, Cisalpine Tirol, Valona, Albania; the twelve Dodecanese Islands; and Adalia, with the hinterland. Negotiations had begun in February, but dragged on because of Russian Foreign Minister Sazonov's unwillingness to cede the Dalamtian coast to Italy rather than to Serbia.

In the Baltic Sea, German seaplane carrier Answald, with two to six Friedrichshafen FF-type floatplanes, began operations from Memel. She carried out coastal reconnaissance until 9 July, then was sent to Swindmünde.

On the Southwest Front, German heavy bombing squadron BAO (Brieftauben Abteilung Ostende) began operations from an airfield at Czyzyny, near Krakau.

On the Caucasian Front, the Russians were advancing on Olti.

The German High Command promulgated an order which extended the new Air Chief's authority to include inspections at aviation plants and schools. The Bavarian Aviation Service was not under the new command, nor were the Saxon and Württemberg aviation units.

On 27 April, on the Northwest Front, von Eichhorn's German 10th Army, along with Armee Abteilung Lauenstein, opened a drive north from the line Jurborg to Memel. Within 24 hours they had advanced 75 km. German warships shelled Russian coastal defenses. The Tsar was visiting Odessa, then went to Nikolaev and Sevastopol.

On 28 April, on the Northwest Front, a German airship carried out a bombing attack on the railway station and military compounds at Bialystok.

Berlin instructed the German vice-consul in Erzerum to intervene to stop the “massacres,” but to do so without interfering with activities of the Turkish authorities.

On 29 April, on the Northwest Front, German troops approached Shavli and Kurschani. German warships bombarded the port of Libau. The Germans reached the Libau-Dvinsk railway line.

The Empress and Rasputin requested the Tsar not appoint A.D. Samarin as Over-Procuratorof the Holy Synod. However, in July the Tsar went ahead and replaced V.K. Sabler with Samarin in this position.