The Second Battle of Aisne
April 16th-May 15th, 1917
The 2nd battle of Aisne was a part of the Nivelle Offensive launched in the spring of 1917 in an effort to win the war on the Western Front. The offensive was divised by new French commander-in-cheif Robert Nivelle who replaced Joseph Joffre and took position in December of 1916. Nivelle believed that with this offensive, he could win the war on the Western Front in two days which proved to be very unrealistic and eventually cost him his position. Many officials opposed his plan like British commander and chief Sir Douglas Heig along with Nivelle's successor Henri-Philippe Petain.
The 2n battle of Aisne would be fought on a estimated 129 mile front (from Soissons to Reims) with 19 divisions of the French 5th and 6th armies under the command of Generals Mazel and Mangin and French Char Schneider tanks commencing the assult. Unfortunetly for the French, the Germans found out about the Nivelle Offensive and its implication so they strengthened their defences in the areas planned for attack. On April 16th, the French launched the attack against the heavy German defences and fortifications which were located on high ground. As a result the French suffered 40,000 casualties on the first day,(similar to the British on the first day at the battle of Somme 1916) along with the destruction of 150 Char Schneider tanks, whom brought little success to the French.
On the second day of battle the French 4th army under General Anthoine launched an assult on the Germans east of Reims towards Moronvilliers. However, the German first army commanded by Karl von Below in that area managed to repel the attack. Also on the first two days of battle, French artillery was was launched incorrectly so French troops who went into battle were unprotected, resulting in futher French casualities.
Despite these results, Robert Nivelle still believed that his offensive in the end would succeed, so French troops continued in the fight till April 20th. In the meantime, the French under General Mangin managed to have some gains west of Soissons but for the next two weeks the offensive would be scaled back. By May 5th a 6 mile stretch of the Chemin des Dames Ridge managed to be captured by the French.
The offensive was then called off on May 9th ending the battle. At the end, there were 187,000 French casualties and 168,000 losses making this battle a German victory and a French loss. Due to the extreme fail of the Nivelle Offensive, Robert Nivelle was removed from his position and replaced by Henri-Philippe Petain as French commander-in-chief.
The 2n battle of Aisne would be fought on a estimated 129 mile front (from Soissons to Reims) with 19 divisions of the French 5th and 6th armies under the command of Generals Mazel and Mangin and French Char Schneider tanks commencing the assult. Unfortunetly for the French, the Germans found out about the Nivelle Offensive and its implication so they strengthened their defences in the areas planned for attack. On April 16th, the French launched the attack against the heavy German defences and fortifications which were located on high ground. As a result the French suffered 40,000 casualties on the first day,(similar to the British on the first day at the battle of Somme 1916) along with the destruction of 150 Char Schneider tanks, whom brought little success to the French.
On the second day of battle the French 4th army under General Anthoine launched an assult on the Germans east of Reims towards Moronvilliers. However, the German first army commanded by Karl von Below in that area managed to repel the attack. Also on the first two days of battle, French artillery was was launched incorrectly so French troops who went into battle were unprotected, resulting in futher French casualities.
Despite these results, Robert Nivelle still believed that his offensive in the end would succeed, so French troops continued in the fight till April 20th. In the meantime, the French under General Mangin managed to have some gains west of Soissons but for the next two weeks the offensive would be scaled back. By May 5th a 6 mile stretch of the Chemin des Dames Ridge managed to be captured by the French.
The offensive was then called off on May 9th ending the battle. At the end, there were 187,000 French casualties and 168,000 losses making this battle a German victory and a French loss. Due to the extreme fail of the Nivelle Offensive, Robert Nivelle was removed from his position and replaced by Henri-Philippe Petain as French commander-in-chief.