Cloze Exercise

The War on the Western Front in 1917

SPRING

Second Battle of Arras (9 Apr-16 May 1917)

Background

• Fr., Br. & Russ. planned a joint attack, but Russ. withdrew & Ger. pulled back to Hindenburg Line, ruining plans.

• Despite talk of 'war of attrition', commanders still sought a breakthrough.

• Fr. Gen. believed he could break through on River Aisne, persuaded Britain to launch a diversion at Arras.

Events

• Br. made longest advance since trench warfare began, incl. Canadian victory at (9-12 Apr).

• Helped by:

1. Army Improvements: better tactics ( barrage, 'leap ', 'bite & ', mining, aerial recon). Canadian cmdrs studied Verdun & Somme.

2. Ger. mistakes: struggling to org. new defences & saw Vimy Ridge as less imp., so did not try to recapture.

Results

• Cost 160k Br. casualties. Battle bogged down into costly, pointless attacks. Haig called it off.

FLANDERS

Two main causes:

1. Nivelle's Aisne Offensive (Apr-May) failed → (nearly 50% of Fr. infantry divs refused to attack). Allies looked to Britain to divert Ger. forces.

2. Ger. campaign caused shortages in Britain. Success along the coast could deny them Ostend & Zeebrugge. Haig also hoped for a breakthrough.

Battle of Messines (7-14 Jun 1917)

• Attack launched at as it could be organised quickly & was a key vantage point.

• Success due to Army Improvements: detailed maps, better , mining, tanks & overhead barrage.

• Ger. losses: c.25k (7k POWs, 3k missing). Allied losses: 25k (notably at ).

Battle of Passchendaele (Jul-Nov 1917)

Background

• Third Battle of Ypres (‘’).

• v. dangerous – surrounded on 3 sides by Ger. artillery. Ger. trenches () v. strong.

• Lloyd George & Foch opposed attack, preferring to wait for US forces (declared war in Apr). Haig pushed ahead.

• Haste may be due to Russ. defeat (1917) → battle-hardened Ger. troops could soon arrive from Eastern Front.

Events

• Series of battles (Pilckem Ridge, Langemarck, Menin Rd, Polygon Wood) – some success, but all v. costly.

• Fighting infamous for deep mud (as in 2008 film).

Results

• Casualty figures debated, but both sides lost at least 250k men.

• Regarded as Allied success as Ger. could not afford such losses.

• Though planned as a breakthrough, it became a war of attrition, wearing down the Ger. army.

Battle of Cambrai (20 Nov–3 Dec 1917)

Background

• Cambrai = key Ger. supply/comm. hub. Attack later criticised but was logical.

• Surprise attack w. 476 tanks smuggled in (labelled '').

• Used latest ‘’ tactics (all combat branches co-ordinated).

Events

• 1st day = major success, 5-mile advance. Some Ger. troops fled.

• Tanks slow & vulnerable – 280 destroyed or broke down. Over half lost by day’s end.

• Ger. counterattack used new ‘’ tactics. Br. badly defeated. Haig ordered withdrawal.

Results

• Br. casualties: 75k. Ger.: just over 50k.

• However, Cambrai marks end of static warfare (1915–17) w. new tactics on both sides.

SPRING

Second Battle of Arras (9 Apr-16 May 1917)

Background

• Fr., Br. & Russ. planned a joint attack, but Russ. withdrew & Ger. pulled back to Hindenburg Line, ruining plans.

• Despite talk of 'war of attrition', commanders still sought a breakthrough.

• Fr. Gen. NIVELLE believed he could break through on River Aisne, persuaded Britain to launch a diversion at Arras.

Events

• Br. made longest advance since trench warfare began, incl. Canadian victory at VIMY RIDGE (9-12 Apr).

• Helped by:

1. Army Improvements: better tactics (CREEPING barrage, 'leap FROG', 'bite & HOLD', mining, aerial recon). Canadian cmdrs studied Verdun & Somme.

2. Ger. mistakes: struggling to org. new defences & saw Vimy Ridge as less imp., so did not try to recapture.

Results

• Cost 160k Br. casualties. Battle bogged down into costly, pointless attacks. Haig called it off.

FLANDERS

Two main causes:

1. Nivelle's Aisne Offensive (Apr-May) failed → MUTINY (nearly 50% of Fr. infantry divs refused to attack). Allies looked to Britain to divert Ger. forces.

2. Ger. U-BOAT campaign caused shortages in Britain. Success along the coast could deny them Ostend & Zeebrugge. Haig also hoped for a breakthrough.

Battle of Messines (7-14 Jun 1917)

• Attack launched at MESSINES RIDGE as it could be organised quickly & was a key vantage point.

• Success due to Army Improvements: detailed maps, better SPOTTING, mining, tanks & overhead barrage.

• Ger. losses: c.25k (7k POWs, 3k missing). Allied losses: 25k (notably at HILL 60).

Battle of Passchendaele (Jul-Nov 1917)

Background

• Third Battle of Ypres (‘PASSCHENDAELE’).

• v. dangerous – surrounded on 3 sides by Ger. artillery. Ger. trenches (FLANDERNSTELLUNG) v. strong.

• Lloyd George & Foch opposed attack, preferring to wait for US forces (declared war in Apr). Haig pushed ahead.

• Haste may be due to Russ. defeat (1917) → battle-hardened Ger. troops could soon arrive from Eastern Front.

Events

• Series of battles (Pilckem Ridge, Langemarck, Menin Rd, Polygon Wood) – some success, but all v. costly.

• Fighting infamous for deep mud (as in 2008 film).

Results

• Casualty figures debated, but both sides lost at least 250k men.

• Regarded as Allied success as Ger. could not afford such losses.

• Though planned as a breakthrough, it became a war of attrition, wearing down the Ger. army.

Battle of Cambrai (20 Nov–3 Dec 1917)

Background

• Cambrai = key Ger. supply/comm. hub. Attack later criticised but was logical.

• Surprise attack w. 476 tanks smuggled in (labelled 'WATER TANKS').

• Used latest ‘COMBINED ARMS’ tactics (all combat branches co-ordinated).

Events

• 1st day = major success, 5-mile advance. Some Ger. troops fled.

• Tanks slow & vulnerable – 280 destroyed or broke down. Over half lost by day’s end.

• Ger. counterattack used new ‘STORMTROOPER’ tactics. Br. badly defeated. Haig ordered withdrawal.

Results

• Br. casualties: 75k. Ger.: just over 50k.

• However, Cambrai marks end of static warfare (1915–17) w. new tactics on both sides.