1 / 40

MH-11: Year of Desperation 1917

MH-11: Year of Desperation 1917. 1917- Year of Desperation & Anticipation Strategic Overview. 1917 was a critical year for both sides: Central powers – great domestic unrest & discontent: Food shortages => health problems escalate; Allies – French Army unraveling:

odessa
Download Presentation

MH-11: Year of Desperation 1917

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. MH-11: Year of Desperation 1917

  2. 1917- Year of Desperation & AnticipationStrategic Overview • 1917 was a critical year for both sides: • Central powers – great domestic unrest & discontent: • Food shortages => health problems escalate; • Allies – French Army unraveling: • 1917 Neville Offensive & its negative impact; • Morale plummets & mutinies soar; • Great Britain (Haig)assumes greater role as result: • 3rd Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele –Sum/Fall 1917) • High casualties to little effect

  3. Strategic Overview- The Eastern Front • Russia suffered even worse: • High losses & incompetent generalship; • Deprivation => domestic unrest => Revolution: • Spontaneous uprising in Petrograd only beginning; • Tsar advocates & soon Provisional Gov. fails; • Bolsheviks take over & make separate peace: • Breste Litovsk - Impact on allies? • West must now face more German troops – why? • Tactical, Operational, & Strategic situation is?_____________________ -Why?*

  4. Tactical, Operational, & Strategic SituationWestern Front • 1917 offensives& tactical assaults all mostly ?______________: • Horrendous casualties for very little gain • Allies must now face German’s without Russian Front: • German Army now can concentrate forces on West- and they do!

  5. Tactical Limitations Realized • Impact: Tactical reality of the war finally realized: • Sweeping breakthrough now considered too costly & impractical • More finite & limited tactical objectives are identified instead • Also prompted determined search for tactical innovation • Artillery objectives are now map surveyed (w/o long prep- why?) • Preserve tactical ?______________ • Better combined ground, arty, armor, & air coordination: • i.e. British Tank operations in Cambrai Offensive • Air recon & CAS now played akey role supporting attacks • Allies will end 1917 barely holding on until US arrives: • What prompts the Americans to enter the war?

  6. ?______________ Submarine Warfare • May 1915-Lusitania sunk: • Over 100 Americans lost • American reaction => temporary suspension of GermanSS ops • German military position? • Impact anticipated by German Army on British resolve? • ?____________ miscalculation – (But operational success) • British “stiff upper lip” • US re-supply to Britain • Negative attitude twd Germany • Why did Germany resume unrestricted SS warfare?

  7. British Blockade of Germany & Its Impact • British blockade’s impact on Germany was significant: • Food & military material running very low • Rising pressure on German leadership to act decisively: • High causalities suffered at Verdun, Somme, Brusilov offensive • Result: stalemate no longer option- something + had to be done • Hindenburg’s & Ludendorffplayed key role on SSrestart • Kaiser’s decision based in part on poor intelligence analysis: • i.e.MOE: 600K tons/month sunk => surrender in 5 months • Was above operationalMOEmet? • Britain’s response to German SS sinking of Brit shipping? • Impact on American attitude toward Germany & war? • What additional issue further inflamed US feelings? • ?______________ telegram • Tactical SS success => Op. letdown=> strategic disaster

  8. Allied Offensives of 1917- Command • Leadership changes of late 1916: • LloydGeorgebecomes British Prime Minister • Gen Haig replaces FM French • Gen Nivelle replaces FMJoffreat Western Front • Most obvious but difficult problem for allies to solve: • Lack of unified command & control: • Strong British military resistance (Haig) • Current situation: only loose operational coordination between the allies

  9. Allied Offensives of 1917- Coordination • Lloyd George’s role in resolving lack of unified Command? • Haig overruled & BEF placed at ?______________disposal • Result: Haig & Nivelle agree on plan for French breakthrough: • French Objective: • Chemin des Dames(Map) • BEF’s key support role? • Take Arras • Operational Purpose & objective? • Fix German ?_________ __________ in North • Allow French to attack without being pushed back by strategic ?__________

  10. Allied Offensives of 1917- Haig’s Plan • Haig’s follow-on plans following diversion for Nivelle? • High ground at ?______________ Ridge(Just south of Ypres) • Must be executed within tight timeframe – why? • Above only prelude to what Battle? • 3rd Battle of ?___________ • What is Haig’s main Operational objective?*

  11. Operational & Strategic Objectives • Haig’s Operational & Strategic Objectives: • Operational: German?_____ pensat Ostend & Zeebrugge • Strategic aim: Eliminate ?____ threat to British Merchant Ships

  12. British Operational Strategy & Tactical Objectives • Operational Strategy? • Conduct series of attacks in sequence along the ?____ front • Drive German RF back along Belgium coast • Capture ?_______ bases & end threat to Allied shipping; • Tactical Objectives: • Sequential attacks on: • Arras, Heights of Chemin des Dames, Messiness' Ridge, & • Then finally –Ypres (for 3rd time)

  13. German Response & preparations • In anticipation of Allied 1917 offensive: • Germans retire to Hindenburg Line(Map) – why? • (Impact of shorter ?_______s on available reserves?) • Force deployment & tactical preparations: • Reverse slope & elastic defense (?): • Fewer forward w/mutual mg/arty support points throughout • Shorten defense lines- impact? • Better able to ?______-________ to pre-emptallied attempt to reinforce initial gains • First Battle of campaign begins at Arrason 9 April’17: • What happens?

  14. Arras (April 1917) • Brits commence assault following 5 days of arty prep: • 1st & 3rd Army gain initial tactical objective as planned: • Canadian Corps heroically re-captured Vimy Ridge • (major tactical success) • Brit 3rd Cavalryunable to exploit & consolidate gains: • Make several repeated attacks without success; • NTL – Arras is considered an operational success – why? • Impact of attack on German strategic reserves in NW? • ?___________ as planned • Effect on French effort to South?

  15. Nivelle Offensive of 1917 • Nivelle’s recent success & reputation as innovative artillery officer: • “Invented” Rolling barrage& tightly controlled inf. advances; • Instrumental in recapture of Fort Douaumontat Verdun; • Douaumont advance supported by heavy arty to infantry’s front • Dec 1916–Nivelleassigned as commander of NW Front: • Starts immediate plans for breakthrough at Champagne: • Plans & Preparations: • Tactical objective: heights at Chemin des Dames; • Develops detailed plans with extensive time consuming arty prep • What is the major problem that emerges with French delay?

  16. German Response & preparations • Nivelle’s delay & poor OPSEC results in: • Loss of ?_________________and soon tactical ?___________! • Enables Germans to reorganize ?_______________ positions • Key German Changes in response: • Elastic defense – minimum # of troops forward • Reverse slope – German infantry at Chemin des Dames • Reinforced concentration at expected assault sector • Especially the Second Belt Trench line • Nivelle’s pre-execution failures: • Ignores intelligence indications of lost surprise • Ignores indications of German troop repositioning to Fr objectives • Overconfident of artillery’s impact for expected breakthrough

  17. Nivelle’s Plan- “Great Expectations” • Incorporated 4 armies: • 10th Army was to follow & exploit the gap made by the 6th & 5th Armies • Nivelle expected 10th Army to advance 15 miles by D+2 • Note: as a general rule… • Plans rarely survive the first shot • (Especially if you have poor OPSEC & the enemy has a copy of your plan) • Plans with unrealistic assumptionssuffer even more • How does Nivelle prepare for the assault’s actual execution? • 7 April: 9 days of ?_________________ preparation

  18. Nivelle Offensive- Execution • 16 April:1st wave advances – • Able to reach initial tactical objectives- why? • ?____ _______ ______in first belt- Why? • ?______________ defense • French reach geographic crest of their objective- • then what happens? • Germans concentrate ?________on troops • German preparations halt further Fr advance • Germans were not visible initially – why? • Withdrew to?____________ slope positions • German defense in depthhalts advance: • 3 days of failed attacks follow- • All preceded by arty • Heavy allied casualties result; • Nivellethen modifies plan: • Orders 5th to attack NE & 4th to attack NW: • Result?

  19. Nivelle Offensive- Results • Dismal failure at extremely high costs: • Tactical losses: 117K casualties (32K KIA); • Operational failure – • No change in tactical or operational situation at high cost • What is the Strategic Impact? • Strategic Impact ofNivelle Offensive’s failure: • Severe disappointment & despair (unfulfilled expectations) • French army begins to unravel – bad morale • Many French Units mutiny & refuse to return to the front • Nivellerelieved in disgrace by?______________ • What is ?__________’s main objective now?

  20. Petain’s main strategic objective • Stop mutinies & restore discipline & morale; • Finally able to restore confidence & morale in Army; • August: launches limited offensive with limited objectives • Conducts successful limited offensives at Verdun • Late Oct: Petain conducts offensive w/10th Army: • Tactical objective: Chemen des Dames; • Support: 14 tank companies & 1850 arty prep field for 3 days • Execution: Outflanks Germans & forces them to withdraw • Operational Result: No breakthrough – static front remains • Political fall out of Nivelle’s failed offensive: • Clemenceau takes firmer civilian control: • “War too important to be left to generals.” • Civilian leadership asserted & top down guidance on rise

  21. 3rd Battle of Ypres • Another result of Nivelle Offensives failure • British (under whose command?) assumed greater role on Western Front • Factor in decision to conduct 3rd Battle of Ypres • Also known to British as? • ?____________________: • Haig’s Strategic Objective: • Stop British ?_____ _______losses to German ?____ • Operational Objective: • Capture German ?___ bases at Ostend & Zeebrugge; • Tactical Objective: • ?_____________________ (Map p. 332) • 1st stage: break through German defenses on German LF • Where?

  22. Messiness' Ridge- Execution • Haig opens limited offensive on Messiness' Ridge: • Ridge dominated Ypres area from south • Therefore needed to be neutralized • Brits load 600 tons HE in tunnels dug under the ridge holding entrenched Germans • Assault: • 7 Jun: synchronized detonation after 17 day arty prep (all but 2 of 21 go off) • 10K Germans die in the explosion • Then 9 infantry divisions of General Plumer’s2nd Army advance to most planned tactical objectives- • Plumer urged Haig to exploit breakthrough • Haig stuck to his plan and prepared for next tactical objective to NE… which is…? • ?___________________

  23. Passchendaele • Battle Field preparation: • Conducts 2 week arty bombardment: • 3000 guns fire 65K Tons of arty shells • Little impact on German defense in depth • Few German Troops forward to impact • Attack- “Over the top” • 31 July: Brits capture initial objectives: • Next prep for main tactical objective: • Passchendaele • Friction & complications: • Heavy rain => mud=> shell holes=> delay: • Brits suspend assault to lay planks for advance • Brits resume operations: • 16 Aug: attack resumed w/little fwd progress • Series of limited attacks launched: • 20, 26 Sept & 4 Oct • How do Germans respond ? • Germans use ?__________ ________

  24. German Response & British Reply • German Response: • Germans also useElastic defenseto great effect at assault’s start • Elastic defenseinitially used then Germans revert to earlier tactics • Army HQ sends more troops forward to front tocounter-attack • British response: • Conduct massive artillery barrages against German counter-attack • Effect close coordination with Aircraft, infantry, & artillery • Bombardment seriously disrupts German counter-attacks • High casualties on both sides • 6 Nov: 2 British divisions finally occupy Passchendaele: • Able to expand hold by 10 Nov – then Haigcalls halt to offensive • Results & significance? • At a cost of 240K casualties, what was actually gained ? • What about the Strategic & Operational Objectives? • Haig is criticized for not stopping offensive much earlier • Many think he should have waited arrival of whom?

  25. American Expeditionary Force (AEF) • AEF iscommanded by whom? • General John ?______________ • US inherent advantages? • ?______________ (100M), $$$ & industry, & ?___________ • Disadvantages: • Small army (time to mobilize combat ready troops): • Must grow from 217K to 3.68M by wars end • Must recruit, equip, train, & transport to France • Transportation, logistics, & weapons shortfalls • Therefore, main challenge for US to participate in war? • ?________________________

  26. AEF Main Challenge: Mobilization • Mobilize 2 million men & transport them to France: • Clothes, train, equip, & train (coveralls & sticks) • Establish required mobilization boards & commissions: • War Industries Board • Food & Fuel Administrations • Rail Administration & Shipping Board • Purpose of above boards & commissions? • Effectively manage all of the above • How well did they do?

  27. Mobilization- Weapons & Equipment • Heavy weapons: machine guns, mortars, aircraft • Manufacture and provided by whom? • ?______________ & ?______________ • Combat loaded logistics support & distribution: • Major inefficiencies and screw ups- examples: spittoons arrive early • Transportation shortfalls & major losses fromSS attacks • Half of AEF deployed to Europe via British merchants

  28. Amalgamation • Once AEF arrived, how did allies want to use them • Assigned to more experienced Brit & Fr veteran units- Why? • Desperately needed ?______________ at the front ASAP! • Pershing’s response & objectives: ?________! • American troops should maintain ?__________ cohesion under ?_____ commanders & fight as a unit (still maintained that way) • Lloyd George’s diplomatic pressure on Wilson - Result? • 4 ?_______ _______ regiments sent to French for WWI’s duration • What area of NW front did Pershing deploy to? • Why? (strategic significance & logistic advantage?)*

  29. AEF Combat Deployment & Employment • AEF disposition: • ?____________near St. Mihiel salient • Strategic significance: • German rail LOCthru Metz for Front’s re-supply • Potential offered for capture of iron & coal mines; • Logistic advantage: • More direct logistics & re-supply route for AEF • Avoided ports used by Brits & Paris bottlenecks • Main focus of AEF until German Offensive of 1918? • US innovation to support troops? • Service to supply system • 670K troops for everything but shoot ?___________!

  30. AEF Air Service • Who does Pershing appoint to command AEF air service? • What was ?_____________’s major challenge? • US had 55 obsolete A/C to start with – so required to use whose A/C? • Also American pilots 3 years behind Europe in combat air experience • Main problem hindering Air Service’s full potential? • Shortages & lack of priority ?_____________, & ?_____________ • Who gets top priority? ?_____________ • Finally - 1st Air Squadron formed April 1918: • What was the 1st Air Squadron’sprimary Mission & capability & why? • 1st Air Squadron’s primary mission & capability: • ?_____________ & ?_____ to ?______ combat – (not strategic bombing) • Reason: • Low priority => slow progress & limited assets • (650 A/C at peak) • Nonetheless – Mitchell would exploit to fullest

  31. Cambrai – The Final Offensive of 1917 • The Blood bath continues – only with better tactics • Biggest concern of Allies during Fall of 1917? • Why does it turn out to be a legitimate concern? • ?_________take power – significance? • End of the ?__________ Front- so…? • More German troops to fight where? • Made worse by Italian defeat at Caporetto, and… • Worse: SS success against allied shipping • Result? British Operational objective? • Operational & tactical objectives: • Capture German ?_________ bases (again) • Tactical focus: • Breakthrough?_________________ Line • Concentrate attack in vicinity of Cambrai Russiawill make ?_______ _____!

  32. Tactics Serving Intelligence • Intel:What does an analysis of the terrain conclude? • Terrain viewed as ideal for what recent tactical innovation? • As a result, LTC JFC Fuller developed plan for a limited raid employing ?__________ as primary assault force • What happened as higher HQ reviews his plan? • They (Byng- 3rd Army & Haig) ?________________________! • What happened as a result? • Fuller’s limited tank raid grew to a full scale ?________ Plan aimed at breaking through ?__________ ________ • Now in addition to ?______, employs infantry, arty, air recon • All aimed at a major ?______________________

  33. Battle Plan & Preparations • Force Disposition & assigned mission tasks: • British 3rd Army (on 6 mile front) • 4 divisions on line • 1 division to follow with 4 divisions in reserve • To the rear: • 5 Cavalry divisions to exploit gap made by infantry • Haig’s romantic use of old for new situation? • (Old ways of war die hard for old generals) • Royal Flying Corps: provide air support: • Reconnaissance, combat air support, dogfights • Artillery Support: precision pre-registered targets: • What tactic allowed pre-registered targets? • Artillery Support: precision pre-?____________ of targets: • Prior “flash-bang” (?) recordings of azimuth on Battle Maps • Anything else?

  34. Royal Tank Corps • Supports 3rd Army with 3 Tank Brigades: • 476 total tanks (374 combat & Mark IVs); • Aligned w/3 tanks & infantry companies following each tank: • Tanks could cross total of 3 trenches- why/how? • ?________________________ :::::::: []- ::::::::: []- ::::::: []-

  35. Cambrai – Execution • Watch word for battle- precision & surprise: • Tactical surprise: • Key factor making it possible? • No prolonged ?____ preparation • Why & how possible? • ?___________fire (survey Maps) enhances surprise • Ludendorff’s subsequent comments on attack supported above tactic • Initial success: • By close of D-Day:Brits had punched a hole 3 miles deep; • German main defense & support line had been penetrated: • Deepest penetration since start of trench warfare!

  36. Friction & German Recovery • Brits had lost 179 tanks (of 374) by D+2 • Some cmdrs ignored Tank/infantrycoordinated tactics • MG Harper of 51st Division at Flesquieres in particular • Sent infantry forward in waves • Tanks forced to advance alone & unsupported by infantry • Hit by German machine guns & arty=> high casualties of both • Germansgraduallyrecovered from initial surprise & shock: • German resistance stiffens by reserves sent to line & counterattack • By D+3: British advance slowed

  37. British Offensive Stalled • By 30 Nov: 3rd Army cramped into 7X8 mile salient: • Germans (now reinforced) counter-attack British Left Front &Right Flank • Push Allies back to initial D-Day position • As advance stalls, old conventions & tactics resurface: • Half measures again employed • Germans exploit & attack as Allies withdraw • Result: high casualties with no operational gain • Almost 70% attrition of tanks engaged • Last major battle fought on NW front in 1917 • Alliesnow settle in to await American forces

  38. Assessment • Cambrai spurs mass production of improved tanks; • French & British suffered massive causalities by 1917: • especially at Chemin des Dames & Passchendaele • Allies learned some hard & bitter lessons: • Defense likely to prevail over offense (all else constant) • Limited offensives have better chance than breakthrough- why? • Tactical Innovationsincorporated by Allies: • Coordinated ?___________ & infantry assaults a must! • Tank & air support offer great potential support • Surprise & precision ?______ fire offer good initial advantage • Mask intentions & timing of attack by pre-registered arty bombardment

  39. Assessment- 2 • Central Powers won victories & devised new tactics: • Battle of Caporettocrippled Italian front • Battle of Rigaover Russians had major impact: • Eastern Front ceased to exist • Bolsheviks take Russia out of war (Brest-Litovsk) • Germans reinforce NW Front for 1918 ?________ Offensive • German Tactical Innovations: • Defense in depth & ?______________ defense; • Hurricane Fires(future WWII Blitzkrieg Offense)

  40. WW1 CASUALTIES • Country Dead Wounded Prisoner • Great Britain 947,000 2,122,000 192,000 • France1,385,000 3,044,000 446,000 • Russia1,700,000 4,950,000 2,500.000 • Italy 460,000 947.000 530,000 • United States 115,000 206,000 4.500 • Germany1,808,000 4,247,000 618,000 • Austria- Hungary1,200,000 3,620,000 2,200,000 • Turkey 325,000 400,000 NA

More Related