THE WESTERN FRONT

THE (SECOND) BATTLE OF ARRAS:  APRIL - JUNE 1917  

THE BATTLE OF VIMY RIDGE  and THE BATTLE OF THE HILLS:  APRIL 1917

    It was to give support to a massive French operation that was about to take place at this time – the Nivelle Offensive – that British forces, including Australians and Canadians, launched an attack in an area north of the new Hindenburg Line. Known as the Battle of Arras, it opened up with a 2,800 artillery bombardment, and guns also provided a creeping barrage when the infantry went over the top on the 9th April. There were heavy casualties in some areas (one battalion lost over half its men), but the attack proved extremely successful in the opening phase. It not only gained ground north and south of the town of Arras itself (over two miles), but also succeeded in capturing Vimy Ridge, that high stretch of land that dominated the entire region and, as a consequence, was of real strategic value from the military point of view. As we have seen, all earlier attempts to take this commanding position had failed.

     This was, indeed, a triumph for the British, limited though it might be, but, after this initial success, the German defences – despite earlier fears as to the capability of the German army – proved far too strong for any possibility of a break through. The village of Monch-Le Preux, for example, could not be captured despite repeated attacks, and the battles fought to take or bypass the village of Bullecourt, assisted by tanks (10-11 April and 3-17 May), ended in failure and involved heavy casualties. The Australians took part in both attacks, and their losses (put at 10,000), were the worst they suffered throughout their service on the Western Front. By the end of the month, following the Germans’ brief seizure of Lagnicourt, it was clear that this prelude to the Nivelle Offensive had been a complete failure. As we shall see, this put in doubt the plan (see map above) that aimed to break-through the enemy lines at the Chemin des Dames within the space of 48 hours and then – movement restored – drive the German army back to Germany! However, the British commander, General Haig, felt obliged to fight on in support of the French, despite an overall loss of 130,000 men, killed or wounded.

     ThexCanadian Corps provided the infantry for the attack on Vimy Ridge (see map), and gained a well-earned reputation for the courage and determination they showed, especially in the taking of the two highest and most strongly defended points, Hill 145 and The Pimple. In addition to the opening bombardment and the creeping barrage – both well executed – eleven tunnels were built across no-man’s land (a total of 3.6 miles in length), so that large numbers of the infantry could avoid long stretches of open ground and the heavy casualties that went with it . And in the attack itself – learning from the lessons of the Battle of the Somme and Verdun – some infantry were trained machine gunners and grenade throwers to give valuable close support, and sappers (engineers) advanced alongside the infantry to clear barbed wire which was still in place.

Acknowledgements

Nivelle Offensive: historica.fandom.com/wiki Battle of Arras: en.wikipedia.org Vimy Ridge: en.wikipedia.org. by the Canadian war artist Richard Jack Victory: reddit.com Canadian War Museum Memorial: The Toronto Star, 100th Anniversay Battle of the Hills: Michelin Illustrated Guide. Clermont-Ferrand 1921. Battle Too Far (detail): helion.co.uk

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    Incidentally, an imposing memorial to the Canadian war dead was unveiled on Vimy Ridge in July 1936. The work of the Canadian sculptor and designer Walter Allward, and made in Seget limestone (from Croatia), it was in memory of the 60,000 Canadians who gave their lives in France, and bore the names of the 11,285 who have no known grave. It was built on Hill 145, the highest point on Vimy Ridge, the site of the battle in which the Canadians lost 3,598 men, and some 7,004 were wounded. For many in Canada and elsewhere this victory is seen as the birth of a nation.

    But thexfailure of the British to break through the German defences at Arras – virtually a prerequisite of the Nivelle Offensive – was accompanied by a serious setback for the Royal Flying Corps. By the beginning of this particular battle, the Allies had once again lost air supremacy. With the appearance in September 1916 of Germany’s Albatros D.I, with its superior speed and its twin machine-guns, the Allies faced a formidable opponent. Working as part of the new “hunting squadrons” (called “Jastas”), this aircraft cost the British dearly. The RFC played a vital and successful role in the battle, flying nearly 20,000 reconnaissance missions throughout the fighting, but in a period which came to be known as “Bloody April”, it lost 245 aircraft and 316 aircrew, killed, missing or taken prisoner. By comparison, the Germans lost a total of 66 aircraft and 114 men. Fortunately for the Allies, better times lay ahead.

    Also inxsupport of the major French attack in Aisne, was a subsidiary, diversionary attack in Champagne (east of Reims – see map above) known, as The Battle of the Hills or the Third Battle of Champagne. Launched on the 17th April over a seven mile front, three French Corps made good ground, despite frequent snow showers, and captured a number of hills, including Mont Cornillet, Mont Blond and Mont sans Nom (by the Moroccan Division). However, in many cases only the southern slopes were taken, and the strong German fortifications on the northern sides prevented the French from advancing further. General Ludendorff called the loss of the heights a “severe blow”, but sixteen counter attacks over ten days did not get them back. As a result the fighting came to an end in early May. During the battle, over 3,500 Germans were captured, together with 27 guns, but French casualties were over 20,000.

    As we shall see, the attack to take the Chemin des Dames in the south – the opening stratagem of the Nivelle Offensive – was also going to be remembered for its cost in dead and wounded. Indeed, the cost was so excessive that there were signs of mutiny among the French rank and file, and a number of junior officers. On the 3rd May, for example, the men of the 2nd Division refused to attack. They had lost their faith in a leadership that promised victory and led them to defeat. The French army was in danger of disintegration. The offensive was abandoned two weeks later, but the disquiet was to linger on for many months. In the meantime the U-boats were increasing their kill.