The beginning of the Great War’s end
Today marks 100 years since the Germans would start to see the tide turn against them in World War 1, writes David Broome.
The centennial of the German spring offensive today marks the beginning of the Great War’s end. But 1918 couldn’t have started worse for the Allies, with Russia quitting the war in December 1917, negating America’s earlier entry into the war.
It would get much worse. Freed from fighting on two fronts, Germany’s Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg and General Erich Ludendorff could focus on the west. They knew Germany had to win the war before America’s vast manpower tipped the balance, or the Royal Navy’s blockade collapsed Germany from within.
At 4.40am on March 21, 1918, Operation Michael was unleashed with over three million shells, one-third containing poison gas, falling between Arras and St Quentin. While each side would suffer similar casualties on the first day, most of the British would become prisoners whereas Germany would lose more than 38,000 killed or injured. It would be one of the bloodiest days of the war.
While some Germans would penetrate the front to 60 kilometres, it was no general advance but a bulge in the Allied line.
The Germans had also run into the British Empire’s shock troops; her Dominion soldiers. On March 26, the New Zealand Division went into action near the old Somme battlefield and with an Australian Division and British tanks, stabilised a key part of the line.
Two days later the Germans launched Operation Mars to clear the way for a German breakout towards the Channel Ports. It was a debacle. With poor artillery support and clear skies German stormtroopers were mowed down. Michael would continue until April 5, with the New Zealand Division, Canadians and Australians, all helping to deny the Germans the strategic prize of Amiens.
Cracks in German discipline also started to show. As the Germans entered Albert they came across a cornucopia of food and alcohol. In contrast to their meagre rations, this had a cancerous effect upon morale.
On April 9, Ludendorff and Hindenburg turned to Flanders with Operation Georgette, intending to take Ypres and force a British retreat to the Channel Ports.
The hapless Portuguese were smashed before the British 55th Division’s staunch defence saw Ludendorff write in his diary, ‘‘… we were held up. The result is not satisfactory’’.
Over the coming days the Germans would retake names etched on our memory; Passchendaele and Messines, but not Ypres. The vital railway junction at Hazebrouck also proved a bridge too far thanks to British and Australian units. It was a close-run thing and on April 11, Field Marshal Haig issued his famous ‘‘backs to the wall’’ order for troops to fight where they stood.
The German advance started to falter while New Zealand support troops fought with others from across the British Army. Over 200 men of the 2nd New Zealand Entrenching Battalion would be surrounded and captured on April 15. Yet vitally for the Allied cause, France’s General Ferdinand Foch had become supreme Allied commander a week before Georgette’s launch. French troops came to the aid of the British and Georgette started to lose momentum.
The Germans had created another bulge but no breakthrough. On April 21 over the Somme Valley then came disaster for German morale. The Red Baron, Germany’s aerial talisman, was shot down and killed.
By April 29 Ludendorff realised Georgette had failed and it was now time to try the French.
Operation Blucher was launched on May 27 and achieved remarkable success. France’s General Duchene had recklessly packed his frontlines, allowing German artillery to wreak terrible damage. With the line ruptured German assault divisions poured through and by June 3, some had reached the Marne, only 80 kilometres from Paris. It is here that Ludendorff fatally chased tactical success.
Instead of drawing French troops away from the north before another push there, his eyes were set on Paris. That’s when American divisions decisively intervened. After suggesting to US Marines that they should also retreat, one French officer received this immortal reply: ‘‘Retreat, Hell! We just got here’’. Blucher was called off on June 6 and was yet another bulge. Three days later came Operation Gneisenau. After early success it petered out due to a French and American counterattack supported by tanks and aircraft.
Then at 12.10am on July 15 came Operation Friedensturm, Germany’s last offensive of the war. Ironically called the peace offensive, it would fail due to German attackers being ground down by Allied defence in depth. On July 18 the Germans were then thrown by a massive French counterattack in the Marne. The tide had turned.
The Spring Offensive had cost Germany some 800,000 dead or injured. Just 235 days after trying to win the war, these failures and Allied victories to come would force Germany into Armistice, bringing World War I to an end at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. ❚