The Battle of Amiens

Overview

• Notorious for strong, morale-crushing advance by the Allies, especially Australian, Canadian, and British troops.
• The battle showcased modernized land warfare.
• Aim: Push Germans back and flatten the St. Mihiel salient.
• Marked the beginning of the Allies' 100 Days Offensive, responding to the earlier German Spring Offensive in March 1918.
• The battle took place in Picardy, France, and is also known as the Third Battle of Picardy.

Historical Context

• Previous battles in the area:
  • First Battle of Picardy (1914)
  • Second Battle of Picardy (Operation Michael, German Spring Offensive, early 1918)
• Allied counter-offensive led to victory at the Second Battle of the Marne.

Tactical Shifts

• Change from static trench warfare to mobile warfare, reducing battle time from months to days.
• Use of tanks (approximately 580) in the battle.
• Advanced tactics included firing artillery at the moment infantry charged, surprising German defenses.

Allied Forces Composition

• British Fourth Army: Australian Corps, 33rd U.S. Division, British Third Corps, Canadian Corps, RAF air support.
• French First Army: Multiple corps and air support.
• French Third Army: Engaged in coordinated attacks.
• First time Australian and Canadian Corps fought together.
• British Fourth Army had a significant artillery presence: 1,386 field guns and howitzers.

German Forces

• German Second Army: Multiple corps and air support.
• German Eighteenth Army: Various reserve corps and Luftstreitkräfte air support.
• Germans were unaware of the Allies' plans to attack at Amiens.

Planning and Execution

• Plans finalized by Rawlinson, Butler, Monash, Curry, and Cavanaugh.
• German withdrawal prior to the advance allowed for minor adjustments to the Allied plan.
• Allies utilized deception; Canadian troops staged a diversion to mislead German defenses.

Key Events of the Battle (August 8, 1918)

• 4:20 AM: Allied forces attacked, supported by 900 guns.
• Tanks played a crucial role in the assault.
• German defenses were caught off-guard due to the early morning mist and the element of surprise.
• Australian forces achieved objectives ahead of schedule, capturing significant territory.
• By 11 AM, the Allies secured a 24-kilometer gap in German lines.
• German morale severely impacted; losses estimated at 30,000 on the first day.

Outcomes

• Allies captured 29,144 prisoners and numerous guns.
• Eric Ludendorff referred to August 8 as "Schwarzer Tag" (Black Day) for the German Army.
• Sir John Monash recognized for his leadership.

Subsequent Developments

• Continued advances in the following days, with further successes for the Allies.
• August 10: German withdrawal from the St. Mihiel salient began.
• British advances halted not by failure, but by strategic decisions from leadership.
• By August 27, 50,000 German soldiers captured, along with significant artillery.

Significance

• The Battle of Amiens marked a turning point in modern warfare, with a shift towards mobility and combined arms tactics.