| First Battle of Champagne | |
|---|---|
| Date 20 December 1914 – 17 March 1915 Location Champagne-Ardenne, France 49°11′04″N 04°32′39″E Result Inconclusive | |
| Belligerents | |
| France | German Empire |
| Commanders and leaders | |
Where was the First Battle of Champagne fought?
The First Battle of Champagne ( French: 1ère Bataille de Champagne) was fought from 20 December 1914 – 17 March 1915 in World War I in the Champagne region of France and was the second offensive by the Allies against the German Empire since mobile warfare had ended after the First Battle of Ypres in Flanders (19 October – 22 November 1914).
What was the First Battle of WW1 in France?
The First Battle of Champagne ( French: 1ère Bataille de Champagne) was fought from 20 December 1914 – 17 March 1915 in World War I in the Champagne region of France and was the second offensive by the Allies against the Germans since mobile warfare had ended after the First Battle of Ypres in Flanders...
What happened in the Second Battle of Champagne?
After extensive preparations that lasted for much of the summer, the Second Battle of Champagne began on 25 September. Its opening was timed to coincide with a secondary attack that French forces launched in Artois on the same day. The Champagne operation represented the French army’s greatest effort of the war thus far.
What happened to Champagne in WW1?
In the final weeks of the war, Champagne once again became the scene of severe fighting when the French Fourth Army, now commanded by General Henri Gouraud (1867-1946), finally succeeded in breaking through the German defenses and advancing toward Sedan as part of the war-winning Allied offensives of September-November 1918.
Who won the Second battle of Champagne?
German victorySecond Battle of ChampagneWestern front 1915–1916Date 25 September – 6 November 1915 Location Champagne, France 49°11′04″N 04°32′39″E Result German victoryBelligerentsFranceGerman Empire8 more rows
What was the outcome of the first battle of champagne?
The French gained little useful ground by the time the offensive was called off in March 1915, and are estimated to have sustained at least double the 40,000 total casualties of the Germans.
Where was the first battle of champagne?
FranceChampag...First Battle of Champagne/Locations
How long did the battle of champagne last?
First Battle of Champagne (20 December 1914 - 20 March 1915)↑ French forces in Champagne implemented Joffre's strategic design on 20 December 1914, when the French Fourth Army, commanded by General Fernand de Langle de Cary (1849-1927) attacked German positions on a thirty-kilometer front.
What was the final Battle of ww1?
The Battle of Amiens, also known as the Third Battle of Picardy (French: 3ème Bataille de Picardie), was the opening phase of the Allied offensive which began on 8 August 1918, later known as the Hundred Days Offensive, that ultimately led to the end of the First World War.
Why did the Schlieffen Plan fail?
The Schlieffen Plan, devised by Germany, was intended to force France into submission and then invade Russia. It didn't work because Russian troops attacked Germany while German troops were busy invading France.
When was the battle of Champagne?
December 20, 1914 – March 17, 1915First Battle of Champagne / Period
When was the Second battle of Champagne?
September 25, 1915 – November 6, 1915Second Battle of Champagne / Period
Who won the battle of Verdun?
French victoryBattle of VerdunDate21 February – 18 December 1916 (9 months, 3 weeks and 6 days)LocationRégion Fortifiée de Verdun (RFV) Verdun-sur-Meuse, France 49°12′29″N 5°25′19″EResultFrench victory
What was the longest battle in history?
The Battle of VerdunThe Battle of Verdun, 21 February-15 December 1916, became the longest battle in modern history. It was originally planned by the German Chief of General Staff, Erich von Falkenhayn to secure victory for Germany on the Western Front.
How was Germany able to defeat France so quickly?
How did the German Army move so quickly through France? Between the world wars, the German army developed the Blitzkrieg tactics. This strategy was based on high-speed and mobile attacks on the enemy's weak points, and it proved devastating in France.
What battle marked the final German offensive?
The Battle of the Bulge marked the last German offense on the Western Front. The catastrophic losses on the German side prevented Germany from resisting the advance of Allied forces following the Normandy Invasion. Less than four months after the end of the Battle of the Bulge, Germany surrendered to Allied forces.
When was the battle of Champagne?
December 20, 1914 – March 17, 1915First Battle of Champagne / Period
Who won the battle of Verdun?
French victoryBattle of VerdunDate21 February – 18 December 1916 (9 months, 3 weeks and 6 days)LocationRégion Fortifiée de Verdun (RFV) Verdun-sur-Meuse, France 49°12′29″N 5°25′19″EResultFrench victory
Where did the Second battle of Marne take place?
MarneSecond Battle of the Marne / LocationThe Marne is a river in France, an eastern tributary of the Seine in the area east and southeast of Paris. It is 514 kilometres long. The river gave its name to the departments of Haute-Marne, Marne, Seine-et-Marne, and Val-de-Marne. Wikipedia
What was the French offensive against the Noyon Salient?
The offensive was part of a French strategy to attack the Noyon Salient, a large bulge in the new Western Front, which ran from Switzerland to the North Sea. The First Battle of Artois began on the northern flank of the salient on 17 December and the offensive against the southern flank in Champagne began three days later.
What was the German attack on the French?
In mid-January a German attack began to the north of Soissons, on the route to Paris but the attack was made by small numbers of troops, to conserve reserves for operations on the Eastern Front and the French defenders repulsed the attack. In late January, a German attack was made against the Third Army, which was defending the heights of Aubréville close to the main railway to Verdun. Having been pushed back, the French counter-attacked six times and lost 2,400 casualties. The German attack failed to divert French troops from the flanks of the Noyon Salient.
What was the German offensive in Flanders?
By early November, the German offensive in Flanders had ended and the French began to consider large offensive operations. Attacks by the French would assist the Russian army by forcing the Germans to keep more troops in the west. After studying the possibilities for an offensive, the Operations Bureau of Grand Quartier Général (GQG, French army headquarters) reported on 15 November. The Bureau recommended to General Joseph Joffre a dual offensive, with attacks in Artois and Champagne, to crush the Noyon salient. The report noted that the German offensive in the west was over and four to six corps were being moved to the Eastern Front.
Why did the XII Corps fail to advance?
On 21 December, the XII Corps failed to advance, because most gaps in the German barbed wire were found to be covered by machine-guns. The attack by XII Corps was stopped and the infantry began mining as the artillery bombarded German defences.
When was the first Christmas truce?
1914 Christmas truce. The First Battle of Champagne ( French: 1ère Bataille de Champagne) was fought from 20 December 1914 – 17 March 1915 in World War I in the Champagne region of France and was the second offensive by the Allies against the German Empire since mobile warfare had ended after the First Battle of Ypres in Flanders ...
Which army supported the first battle of Artois?
Supporting attacks in Artois and Champagne by the Second Army, Eighth Army and the troops on the coast at Nieuport supported the Tenth Army at Arras in the First Battle of Artois (17 December 1914 –13 January 1915). The Fourth Army attacks were assisted by the Army Detachment of the Vosges, which had also had little success.
Where was the Battle of Champagne?
The First Battle of Champagne ( French: 1ère Bataille de Champagne) was fought from 20 December 1914 – 17 March 1915 in World War I in the Champagne region of France and was the second offensive by the Allies against the German Empire since mobile warfare had ...
What was the second battle of Champagne?
Second Battle of Champagne (25 September – 6 October 1915) Third Battle of Champagne (17 – 20 April 1917), or the Battle of the Hills (a diversionary attack for the better known Second Battle of the Aisne). Fourth Battle of Champagne (15 July 1918), part of the Second Battle of the Marne.
Where was the first battle of the Marne?
See also: First Battle of the Marne (5 – 12 September 1914), fought in Champagne.
Did Joffre get discouraged?
Despite all of this, Joffre did not get discouraged. He was still convinced that the German lines were “vulnerable to massed infantry assault” ( Source ). Therefore, he was determined to continue his wider assault along the Sayon salient. Champagne had not seen it’s last of war. Joffre would see to that.
When was the Battle of Champagne?
The first Battle of Champagne began on December 20, 1914. This was “effectively the first significant attack by the Allies against the Germans since the construction of trenches” ( Source ).
Who was the French commander who was determined to win a victory against the Germans?
French commander Joseph Joffre (it’s been awhile since we’ve heard from him!) was determined to win a victory against the Germans. Thus, he began planning a major offensive stretching all throughout the Artois and Champagne regions of France, stretching from Nieuport in the north to Verdun in the south.
Did the French gain territory in Champagne?
Throughout all of this, the French only made minor territorial gains The French Fourth made some gains in Champagne. Meanwhile, they suffered causalities into the 90,000s. The Germans lost just as many.
Did the French Fourth start out well enough?
Unfortunately, Joffre’s plan was a bit unrealistic. The French Fourth started out well enough, but quickly ran out of steam, especially as the German machine gun crews hurried to cover gaps in the French barbed wire ( Source ). As December wore on, de Cary attempted to probe the Germans’ weak spots, but wasn’t as lucky. The Germans continued to recapture land.
Overview
The First Battle of Champagne (French: 1ère Bataille de Champagne) was fought from 20 December 1914 – 17 March 1915 in World War I in the Champagne region of France and was the second offensive by the Allies against the German Empire since mobile warfare had ended after the First Battle of Ypres in Flanders (19 October – 22 November 1914). The battle was fought by the Fr…
Background
By early November, the German offensive in Flanders had ended and the French began to consider large offensive operations. Attacks by the French would assist the Russian army by forcing the Germans to keep more troops in the west. After studying the possibilities for an offensive, the Operations Bureau of Grand Quartier Général (GQG, French army headquarters) reported on 15 November. The Bureau recommended to General Joseph Joffre a dual offensive, with attacks in …
Battle
After skirmishes the battle began on 20 December 1914 when the XVII and I Colonial Corps attacked and made small gains. On 21 December, the XII Corps failed to advance, because most gaps in the German barbed wire were found to be covered by machine-guns. The attack by XII Corps was stopped and the infantry began mining as the artillery bombarded German defences. After seve…
Aftermath
De Langle wrote a report on the campaign, in which he asserted that the army had followed the principle of avoiding a mass offensive and instead, made a series of attacks against points of tactical significance. When such operations succeeded it had become necessary to make similar preparations for a new attack, by digging approach trenches and destroying German field defences with artillery-fire. Obtaining a breakthrough by "continuous battle" was impossible and …
Footnotes
1. ^ Doughty 2005, pp. 124–125.
2. ^ Doughty 2005, pp. 126–127.
3. ^ Doughty 2005, p. 132.
4. ^ Doughty 2005, pp. 132–133.
Further reading
• Clayton, A. (2003). Paths of Glory. London: Cassell. ISBN 978-0-304-35949-3.
External links
• First Battle of Champagne, accessed 03 Sep 2009