BATTLE FOR AMIENS

Matt Walsh

Table of content

Topic Page

Preamble Why was Amiens so important? The German Offensive General Ludendorff Nerves of the Army What proceeded the Battle The Combatants

- German - British - Australian - Canadian

Setting the Scene The Battle

- Phase I - Phase II - Phase III

Casualties Quotes

- General Ludendorff - A British Staff Officer - Captain Duke (an Australian)

Victoria Crosses Cemeteries

1 1 1 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 6

This booklet is a initiative of the defence Reserves Association (NSW) Inc and the Military Police Association of Australia Inc as part of their Schools Military History Program. Written and compiled by Matt Walsh JP MLO ALGA (MCAE) Dip Bus & Corp Law (CPS) © 2008 Matt Walsh Preamble

The Battle for Amiens commenced on the 8th August 1918. Whilst Amiens never fell into German hands it was subject to heavy bombardment and damage. Rue de Beauvails 1918 Amiens 1918 Whilst Amiens suffered severe damage fortunately the Cathedral suffered little damage. Amiens Cathedral sandbagged to prevent damage. Why was Amiens so important? Amiens was the centre of vital road and railway junctions and therefore could have an impact on any offensive and ultimately the result of the war. Therefore who ever controlled this city had a major advantage. The Germans came within 8 miles of taking control of Amiens. The German Offensive The German Offensive of 1918 was concentrated on capturing the city of Amiens, which would have given the German Army a clear run to the Channel Ports and Paris. The city of Amiens was the main nerve centre on that part of the Western Front – it was the terminus of the main railway line (Calais- Amiens- Paris –Verdun- Belfort) and close to the French and British Battle Lines. If they could capture Amiens this would give the German Army a straight ‘run through’ to the Channel Ports, thus also being able to capture Paris and 150 miles of the French Coast fronting the south of England.

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The Allied Armies would then be trapped without supplies and that utter defeat would only be a matter of weeks away. The German Commander General Ludendorff’s plan was to attack Amiens with 15 Divisions on a front of 21 miles with two thirds of effort against the French and the balance against the British. If he was successful in capturing Amiens and its railway line his next offensive was to be the Somme and Arras. He planned to use the same tactics as he had used against the Italians in 1917- the ’flying wedge’ . General Ludendorff Nerves of the Army A German dugout near Amiens where wireless operators were kept busy during the German offensive At this time of rapid troop movement wireless played an especially valuable co-ordinating part of any offensive.

- 2 - What preceded the Battle?

Monash’s success at the Battle of Le Hamel on 4th July 1918 was a deciding factor in putting into effect the Battle for Amiens. Monash had established that a well planned and organised offensive using an all arms attack which used the complementary concept of Infantry, Artillery, Tanks and Aviation would work. It could be said that Le-Hamel (a Divisional level attack) would be seen as a dress rehearsal for the major British offensive on Amiens (this was to be an Army level offensive) Monash’s success with Tanks at Le-Hamel encouraged the use of 432 tanks in support of the Infantry using the same plan as used at Le-Hamel. Tanks supported each of the Divisions in the Australian Corps again it was the Mk V Tank.

The Combatants The Germans • XI Corps of 2nd Army • Divisions

- 108th Division (the Somme River) - 13th Division (facing 3rd Australian Division) - 41st Division ( facing 2nd Australian Division)

• Reserve Divisions - 43rd Reserve Division (vicinity of Proyart) - 107th Reserve Division (vicinity of Peronne)

Allied Troops Australian, British & Canadian

• Northern Flank ( North of River Somme) - British III Corps

• Phase I

- 11th & 9th Brigades (3rd Australian Division) - 5th & 7th Brigades (2nd Australian Division)

• Phases 2 & 3

- 4th & 12th Brigades (4th Australian Division) - 8th & 15th Brigades (5th Australian Division)

• South Flank (South of Railway)

- Canadian Troops - 3 -

For a short period of time the Army’s entire front line was held by the Australian Corps with the 3rd Division in the line and one division in reserve. Setting the scene On the morning of the 8th August 1918 approximately 3km from Villers-Bretonneux was the front line a further 5km was the ‘ Green Line’ the “1st objective” and at what is now ‘Heath Cemetery’ was the ‘Red Line’ the “2nd objective” and a further 2km on was the ‘Blue Line’ the “3rd objective” which was the line secured by the Australians. This would be the fist time in the history of the Australian Corps that all 5 Divisions would fight together. The Battle At 4.20 am on the 8th August 1918 Phase I was to commence. The artillery open fire with a ‘creeping barrage’ on this occasion there had been no preliminary bombardment as had been the case at similar offensives. The battle area was covered in sense fog which was enhanced by the use of smoke shells. The sound of the movement of the tanks was hidden by the bombing of the German forward areas by the use of aircraft. By 7.00am the Australians had reached their 1st objective and by 10.30 am. their 2nd objective. It appeared that by 7.30 am the German front line was broken this allowed the Australians to capture the enemy artillery. Phase II Phase II began at 8.20am with the artillery moving to a new position. The fog was lifting and the sun was beginning to shine. Both the 4th Division (on the left) and the 5th Division (on the right) continued with their attack. The German artillery took on the tanks, but the Infantry continued to advance and overran the guns. Phase III In Phase III the Infantry continued on unaided by either the artillery or tanks and managed to reach and take their objectives. Over the next three (3) days the 1st division and the 2nd Division continued with their advance and took the Lihons Heights. The 4th Division succeeded in taking Etineham and the 3rd Division Proyart. By the 12th August 1918 the German Army had been broken, although much fighting was still to continue the Hindenberg Line still had to be taken. The Australians capture large amounts of equipment (engineering; horses; railway trains; trucks; ammunition and field kitchens) which they use until the end of the war. 29th Bn awaiting the order to attack Amiens

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Casualties The Australians initially captured 183 Officers and 7,742 other ranks. Unfortunately in 5 days the Australians suffered 5,991 casualties. A German Machine Gun Post completely wipe out during the battle. The Allies took 13,000 prisoners and captured 200 guns. Quotes General Ludendorff said “that the 8th August was the Black Day of the German Army in this war…it put the decline of the German fighting power beyond all doubt… the war must be ended”. A British Staff Officer:- “The Australian Corps had gained a mastery over the enemy such as has probably not been gained by our troops in any previous period of the war”. Captain Duke (Australian) “ the 8/9th August were easily the best two days the Australians have ever in France, and it did’em more good than six weeks in a rest area. I wouldn’t have missed it for anything and only hope that they give us another show, like it every three months. Our chaps are as happy as Larry and singing at the top of their voices”. Victoria Crosses Lt. Alfred Gaby VC (Card Corpse 8th August 1918) 28th Bn Lt. Gaby was killed by sniper fire at Frameville. He is buried in Heath Cemetery. Pte Robert Beatham VC (Rosieres 9th August & Lihons 11th August) 8th Bn Pte Beatham is buried in Heath Cemetery. Sgt Percy Statton VC MM (Proyart 12th August) 40th Bn Sgt Statton had been previously awarded an MM at Messines (7th /9th June1917) He was to receive his VC for his actions at Proyart. He survived the war and returned to Australia. He died in Hobart in 1959.

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Heath Cemetery Harbonniers so named for the wide expanse of open country on which it stands. The other Military Cemetery in the Amiens area is Daours. Daours Military Cemetery

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