Hundred Days Offensive

The Hundred Days Offensive was a series of massive Allied military operations. It took place from 8 August to 11 November 1918. This period took place on the Western Front during the First World War. It was not one single planned campaign. Instead, it was a rapid series of victories by the Allied powers. These forces included the British, French, American, Australian, and Canadian armies. The offensive pushed the Imperial German Army back and led to an Allied victory.

To understand this period, we must look at what happened before. In the spring of 1918, the German Army launched a large attack. This was known as Operation Michael. It began on 21 March and lasted until July. The German forces advanced as far as the River Marne. However, they failed to achieve a decisive victory. In July, the Allied supreme commander, Ferdinand Foch, ordered a counter-offensive. This became the Second Battle of the Marne. The Germans were forced to withdraw from the Marne to the north. This success led to Foch receiving the title of Marshal of France.

After the German momentum slowed, the Allies prepared to strike. General Pershing wanted to use the American Expeditionary Force, or AEF, as an independent force. Meanwhile, the British Expeditionary Force, or BEF, received many new troops. These soldiers came from the Italian front and the Sinai and Palestine campaign. British Prime Minister David Lloyd George also sent replacements from Britain. Military planners then looked for the best place to attack. Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig suggested striking near the River Somme. This location was east of Amiens. Attacking here would force the Germans away from the vital Amiens–Paris railway.

The Somme was a strategic choice for several reasons. It served as the boundary between the British and French armies. This allowed the two groups to cooperate along the Amiens–Roye road. The terrain in Picardy was also helpful. It provided a good surface for tanks to move. Additionally, the German 2nd Army defenses were relatively weak. They had been weakened by Australian raids called peaceful penetration. The first major blow came at the Battle of Amiens on 8 August. Australian Lieutenant General John Monash was the mastermind of this plan. The Allies used more than 500 tanks in the attack.

The Battle of Amiens achieved a massive surprise. The British Fourth Army led the charge through German lines. Tanks attacked German rear positions, which caused panic and confusion. By the end of the first day, a wide gap existed in the German line. The Allies captured 17,000 prisoners and 339 guns. German losses were estimated at 30,000 men. The Allies suffered about 6,500 killed, wounded, or missing. German leader Erich Ludendorff called this "the Black Day of the German Army." While the advance slowed later due to supply issues, the German morale had collapsed.

The Allies then focused on the Hindenburg Line. This was a massive series of German defensive fortifications. The line stretched from Cerny on the Aisne river to Arras. Foch planned a series of concentric attacks called the Grand Offensive. These attacks were designed to cut German communications. The Allies fought many battles to reach the line. They fought at the Battle of St Quentin Canal on 29 September. They also fought in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive starting 26 September. By 5 October, the Allies had broken through the entire depth of the Hindenburg defenses.

The breaking of the Hindenburg Line forced a German surrender. General Rawlinson noted that the line would have been impregnable two years earlier. By October, the German armies were retreating through territory they had gained in 1914. They were pushed toward a railway line between Metz and Bruges. As they retreated, the Germans had to abandon heavy equipment and supplies. This further reduced their ability to resist. Fighting continued through many battles, such as the Battle of the Selle. The conflict finally ended with an armistice. This agreement took effect at 11:00 on 11 November 1918. The last soldier to die was Henry Gunther, just one minute before the end.