Which 1st World War battle of 1914 occured as opposing German and allied armies raced each other to gain access to the North Sea? Later the British had to hold out against German sieges.
Race to the Sea The First Battle of Ypres (part of the First Battle of Flanders) began on 19 October, with attacks by the German 6th and 4th armies, as the BEF attacked towards Menin and Roulers. On 21 October, the 4th Army was repulsed in mutually costly fighting and from the Germans attacked on the Yser with the 4th Army and with the 6th Army to the south. French attacks by a new Eighth Army were made towards Roulers and Thourout, which diverted German troops from British and Belgian positions. A new German attack was planned where the 4th and 6th armies would
Race to the Sea Race to the Sea The Race to the Sea (; , ) took place from about 1914, after the Battle of the Frontiers () and the German advance into France, which had been stopped at the First Battle of the Marne and was followed by the First Battle of the Aisne a Franco-British counter-offensive. The term describes reciprocal attempts by the Franco-British and German armies to envelop the northern flank of the opposing army through the provinces of Picardy, Artois and Flanders, rather than an attempt to advance northwards to the sea. The "race" ended on the North Sea coast