The Third Battle of Aisne
May 27th-June 6th, 1918
The 3rd battle of Aisne was a part of the last major offensive launched by the Germans during WWI in an attempt to end the war before U.S. troops arrived into France. The offensive's focus was the Chemin des Dames Ridge which was once held by the Germans in 1914 in their retreat after the '1st Battle of Marne'. The ridge was being currently held by the Allies due to the French capturing the ridge in the '2nd Battle of Aisne' in 1917. Erich Ludendorff of the German Third Supreme Command was in command of planning the offensive and it execution. He was dedicated to recapture the Chemin des Dames Ridge using a large strong surprise assult. With the execution with his assult, Ludendorff believed the French would divert troops from the Flanders up north to Aisne where he could renew his Lys Offensive in Flanders. He wanted to do this because he believe that the war could be won by an offensive in the Flanders.
Currently holding the Chemin des Dames Ridge frontline were four British division a part of the British IX Corps commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir Alexander Hamilton Gordon. Sir Alexander Hamilton Gordon was under the control of the French 6th army commander General Duchene (who was incharge of the sector's defences.) Duchene then ordered the British divisions to gather in the frontline trenches and Hamilton Gordon, even after seeing the fatigued and exposed condition of his men followed the order. Hamilton Gordon did suggest to Duchene that they should use a policy of defence in depth to prepare for an intamint attack, but Duchene shot down the idea believing in gathering all the troops of the frontlines.
The offensive was launched in the morning of May 27th with a bombardment of heavy artillery on a 64 mile front using 4,000 guns. Due to the British IX Corps being so pack together on the frontline and the concentration of heavy artillery, the IX Corps casualities were high almost leaving the divisions competely wiped out. Also followed by poison gas attacks, the Germans made a 64 mile gap in the Allied lines where 17 German infantry divisions(under Crown Prince Wilhelm) made their advance. With the Allies completely taken by surprised, and within six hours, the Germans managed to defeat eight other Allied divisions along with making it to the River Aisne. In the first day alone, the Germans gained 24 miles of territory reaching the River Vesle. By June 3th, the Germans came within 144 miles of Paris and has also been able to capture 50,000 Allied soldiers and 800 guns by the end of May.
Once again, Victory was in sight for Germany but due to supply problems, lack of reserves, fatigue, and Allied counter-attacks, by June 6th the German advance was halted at Marne. During the battle, the British suffered 29,000 casualties along with the French who suffered the most with 98,000 casualities. Also with the losses at Aisne, French Commander-in-Chief Henri-Philippe Petain, dismissed General Duchene.
Currently holding the Chemin des Dames Ridge frontline were four British division a part of the British IX Corps commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir Alexander Hamilton Gordon. Sir Alexander Hamilton Gordon was under the control of the French 6th army commander General Duchene (who was incharge of the sector's defences.) Duchene then ordered the British divisions to gather in the frontline trenches and Hamilton Gordon, even after seeing the fatigued and exposed condition of his men followed the order. Hamilton Gordon did suggest to Duchene that they should use a policy of defence in depth to prepare for an intamint attack, but Duchene shot down the idea believing in gathering all the troops of the frontlines.
The offensive was launched in the morning of May 27th with a bombardment of heavy artillery on a 64 mile front using 4,000 guns. Due to the British IX Corps being so pack together on the frontline and the concentration of heavy artillery, the IX Corps casualities were high almost leaving the divisions competely wiped out. Also followed by poison gas attacks, the Germans made a 64 mile gap in the Allied lines where 17 German infantry divisions(under Crown Prince Wilhelm) made their advance. With the Allies completely taken by surprised, and within six hours, the Germans managed to defeat eight other Allied divisions along with making it to the River Aisne. In the first day alone, the Germans gained 24 miles of territory reaching the River Vesle. By June 3th, the Germans came within 144 miles of Paris and has also been able to capture 50,000 Allied soldiers and 800 guns by the end of May.
Once again, Victory was in sight for Germany but due to supply problems, lack of reserves, fatigue, and Allied counter-attacks, by June 6th the German advance was halted at Marne. During the battle, the British suffered 29,000 casualties along with the French who suffered the most with 98,000 casualities. Also with the losses at Aisne, French Commander-in-Chief Henri-Philippe Petain, dismissed General Duchene.