The Battle of Ypres, a month-long conflict in Flanders, Belgium, concluded the “Race to the Sea.” Following the First Battle of Marne, both the German and Allied forces pursued the sea, attempting to flank each other’s positions. Neither side achieved a decisive victory.

The Battle of Ypres comprises several distinct battles that transpired between October 19 and November 22, 1914. The initial engagement was the Battle of Langemarck, which lasted from October 21 to 24. This battle involved a series of attacks and retreats by both the British and French forces, as well as the Germans, around the town of Langemarck. Despite the three-day duration, the town remained largely unchanged.

On October 29, a newly formed German reserve corps launched an attack at the boundary between the French 4th and 6th armies, with the objective of capturing Ypres. The Germans managed to advance within two miles of the town before being repulsed by British and fresh French troops. Once again, the battle concluded in a stalemate, with both sides returning to their initial positions.

The final phase of the battle was the Battle of Nieuwpoort. Commencing on November 1, a French attack aimed to breach the German flanks. While the attack was successful, it resulted in heavy casualties. Subsequently, the Germans countered by attacking French and British lines, advancing within a mile of Ypres to the east. Despite this progress, the German forces were unable to sustain the losses and were soon forced to retreat. Fighting persisted until November 13, when both exhausted armies ceased hostilities, at least temporarily.

These series of battles marked the final attempt at offensive maneuvers on the Western Front. Both sides were unable to replenish their depleted ranks, and ammunition supplies expanded rapidly, prolonging the conflict. By the conclusion of the battle, the British had suffered over 58,000 casualties, the French had lost more than 86,000, and the German losses were approximately 80,000. Two key conclusions emerged from this battle: the war would likely be protracted, and the level of casualties sustained during this conflict was not viable for either side.