The Battle of Passchendaele begins. It was a major WWI campaign lasting four months in the Ypres Salient in Belgium; a brutal and costly offensive with the goal of capturing Passchendaele Ridge and advancing towards the Belgian coast. It was primarily launched by the British including Canadian and Australian troops and the French army, against the German army. The battle was fought under horrific conditions, including heavy rain, mud, and shell-churned terrain, which significantly hampered troop movements and contributed to the estimated 300,000 to 500,000 casualties on both sides.
