The Battle of Loos
September 25th-October 14th, 1915
The battle of Loos was apart of the bigger Artois-Loos Offensive runned by the British and the French in the Fall of 1915 and is sometimes refered to the 2nd battle of Artois. This offensive was the major Allied offensive on the Western Front during 1915.
The Loos Offensive started on September 25th with a four day artillery bombardment where 250,000 shells were fired but was stopped on Sept. 28th as a failure. Commanded by British General Douglas Heig, the British sent six divisions to fight in the attack. Heig was convinced to launch the offensive even though he had serious doubts. The doubts he had concerned the condition of his already fatigued soldiers,shortage of shells and the difficult landscape that would need to be crossed. But with the odds pointing against the Germans with the British outnumbering them 7 to 1 gave the British assurence that they would win the battle.
After the artillery strike was ended on the 28th of Sept., Heig's plannes called for the despersal of 5,100 cylinders of Chlorine Gas from British lines. This amount of gas was intended to overcome the early German gas masks. But unfortunatly the gas was blown back to the British trenches causing 2,632 gas casualities killing only seven men.
Heig's plan then involved the I and IV Corps to be sent between the gap at Loos and the La Bassee Canal while the II and III Corps would serve a diversion fighting diversionary attacks. Once the Germans first line fell, reserves from the IX Corps supported by some cavalry were sent through the gap to try and take the German second line.
In the southern section of Heig's plan, the IV Corps made great advancements on the first day of battle. They successful captured Loos and then making their way to capture Lens too. But, due to the need from reserves caused the advance to stop by the end of the first day.
An argument sprung up between the commander of the British Expeditionary Forces (BEF) Sir John French and Heig where Heig want Sir French to make available the IX Corps to be used for reserves the first day. While Sir French thought that they would be need more the next morning. The IX Corps would be released that afternoon but due to delays while travelling caused them to arrive at night.
While the IV Corps were making good progress, the I Corps to the north of the Hulloch-Vermelles road made less progress. But the 7th and 9th divisions did manage to take ground on the Hohenzollern Redoubt.
On the second day of battle, the Germans were able to strengthen their defences more then they were the previous day of battle. So while advancing towards the Germans line without cover in the afternoon of the second say, the British were being mowed down by constant German machine gun fire. After a couple days of parielous fighting, the British were forced in called a retreat. The British renewed their assult on Loos on Oct. 13th, but due to more heavy losses and bad weather, the offensive was called off.
During the battle of Loos, the Germans lost an estimated 25,000 casualities while the British suffered the most with over 50,000 casualities thus making the battle a German victory. It was after this battle that Sir John French commander of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was stricken of his title and replaced by General Douglas Heig. Douglas Heig would then remained the commander of the BEF for the rest of the war.
The Loos Offensive started on September 25th with a four day artillery bombardment where 250,000 shells were fired but was stopped on Sept. 28th as a failure. Commanded by British General Douglas Heig, the British sent six divisions to fight in the attack. Heig was convinced to launch the offensive even though he had serious doubts. The doubts he had concerned the condition of his already fatigued soldiers,shortage of shells and the difficult landscape that would need to be crossed. But with the odds pointing against the Germans with the British outnumbering them 7 to 1 gave the British assurence that they would win the battle.
After the artillery strike was ended on the 28th of Sept., Heig's plannes called for the despersal of 5,100 cylinders of Chlorine Gas from British lines. This amount of gas was intended to overcome the early German gas masks. But unfortunatly the gas was blown back to the British trenches causing 2,632 gas casualities killing only seven men.
Heig's plan then involved the I and IV Corps to be sent between the gap at Loos and the La Bassee Canal while the II and III Corps would serve a diversion fighting diversionary attacks. Once the Germans first line fell, reserves from the IX Corps supported by some cavalry were sent through the gap to try and take the German second line.
In the southern section of Heig's plan, the IV Corps made great advancements on the first day of battle. They successful captured Loos and then making their way to capture Lens too. But, due to the need from reserves caused the advance to stop by the end of the first day.
An argument sprung up between the commander of the British Expeditionary Forces (BEF) Sir John French and Heig where Heig want Sir French to make available the IX Corps to be used for reserves the first day. While Sir French thought that they would be need more the next morning. The IX Corps would be released that afternoon but due to delays while travelling caused them to arrive at night.
While the IV Corps were making good progress, the I Corps to the north of the Hulloch-Vermelles road made less progress. But the 7th and 9th divisions did manage to take ground on the Hohenzollern Redoubt.
On the second day of battle, the Germans were able to strengthen their defences more then they were the previous day of battle. So while advancing towards the Germans line without cover in the afternoon of the second say, the British were being mowed down by constant German machine gun fire. After a couple days of parielous fighting, the British were forced in called a retreat. The British renewed their assult on Loos on Oct. 13th, but due to more heavy losses and bad weather, the offensive was called off.
During the battle of Loos, the Germans lost an estimated 25,000 casualities while the British suffered the most with over 50,000 casualities thus making the battle a German victory. It was after this battle that Sir John French commander of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was stricken of his title and replaced by General Douglas Heig. Douglas Heig would then remained the commander of the BEF for the rest of the war.