MH-12: Breaking Hold of the Trenches 1918

1. MH-12: Breaking Hold of the Trenches1918

2. Breaking the Hold of the Trenches – 1918Strategic Overview Nov –Dec 1917: prospects looked bad for Allies: Russia soon collapsed after Battle of Riga Italian Army routed at Battle of Caporetto Unrestricted SS warfare taking severe toll on Brits Germans also developing improved infiltration tactics: Confirmed effective at Caporetto & Eastern Front Potential for application on Western Front Impact on Battlefield if proved correct? Mobility and possible breakthrough But window of opportunity was closing rapidly: Time to exploit this opportunity was running out – why?

3. Unfulfilled Expectations & Domestic Discontent • Impact of growing German domestic discontent & unrest: • Food shortages, Naval mutinies, & political strikes; • Motivation for German military leaders to end war: • Search for strategy & tactics to achieve victory • Impact of German success on Eastern Front: • What treaty resulted & what was its initial impact?* • Heightened expectations of ?________ ________Treaty: • Hopes for relief – increased foodstuffs & raw materials • Unfortunately for Germans – + fall significantly short • Result? Impact on German people? • ?___________________ => increased pressure to end war

4. Ludendorff’s Strategic Aim • Ludendorff’s growing power, agenda, & strategy: • By late 1917 – Ludendorffdominates German Gov. • (Doctrines of von Clausewitz are stood on their head): • Now Political officials are subordinated to Military • Mons Strategy meeting (Nov’17) – • Ludendorff presides: • Sets agenda - Goal: strategy for major military victory • Strategic aim: prove to allies US can’t help them: • Assumption: US arrival will be too late & won’t matter • Take action to convince allies military success unlikely • Persuade the allies to this conclusion & decide: • Stop the war & negotiate a peace settlement

5. 1918 Spring Offensive Objectives • Tactical &operationalmotives? Overall strategic aim? • Ludendorff convinced major offensive needed: • Reverse German despair & restore fighting spirit • Drives decision for major offensive in spring 1918: • Packaged as series of assaultsat various times & points • Ludendorff’s tactical & operational motives: • 1. Restore battlefield ?_____________ • 2. End static trench stalemate on Western Front • Germany’s Operational strategy & overall strategic aim: • 1. ?_____________ the French & British allies • 2. Drive ?_____________ from the war • 3. Force ?_____________ to give up & negotiate a settlement

6. Initial Operational Objectives • Initial Operational Objectives (focused in ?_____________): • Aim: Sever BEFfrom their LOC to Channel with Britain • Impact of tacticalconcerns force Operational changes: • Weather, terrain, & enemy force dispositions; • Flanders: rains soak terrain – must delay attack until May • Arras: too well defended to penetrate; • Above concerns drive search for more vulnerable pointfor assault: • Somme (to South) appears most vulnerable- why? • BEF (5th Army)looks ?___________ & unprepared with weak defense lines

7. Adjusted Operational Strategy • Operational Strategy modified: • Drive wedge between Brits & French • In and around St. Quenton & Cambrai • Divert attention away from prime AOobjective: Flanders • Operational and Strategic Objectives: • Push Brits to English Channel (Operational) • Force them out of War (Strategic) • Tactical considerations & logistic requirements: • Adequate assault forces & equipment a must in order to prevail: • Requires Force build up: from 150 to 192 divisionson Western front • Also requires necessary arms, equipment, & supplies for support • Observation - for Ludendorff: • Tactical considerations drive military strategy • Just as – Military Strategy drove Germany’s policies • The very reverse of von Clausewitz’s assertion=> • i.e. war is an extension of politics by other means…

8. New Infiltration Tactics • To accomplish the desired breakthrough: • New innovative assault tactics were essential • Military’s extensive review: • Focus: innovative assault methods • Goal: breakthrough=> restore mobility to the battlefield • Result: “Attack in Position Warfare” – ground breaking tactical study • What was the new tactic used for infiltration? • New German tactical assault innovations: • Small ?___________ unitswith extensive C2 latitude (SOF) • By pass strong resistance points of enemy • Push forward as far as possible • Tactical objective? • Mission of follow-on units? –clean up strong points left behind by SOF • Mission of Reserve units– exploit ?____________- how? • Fire support: mobile mortars &followin-depth artillery fire w/rolling barrage • Pulkowski method: Predicted fires w/improved maps: • Major emphasis onSurprise • Hurricanes of fire? Enemy’s ?__________ ?______ ______ _________ bombardment

9. New Infiltration Tactics - C2 • Leading from the front: • New location of Division Commanders? ?_____________ • Exacting training, exercise, live fire rehearsals: • 56 division specially trained • Doctrine as guide for aggressive initiative • Rehearse & exercise as you would fight: • No simulation – what you see you’ve got • Live fire exercise a must • Beginning of special ops tactics for May 1940 • These new tactics to be employed in Spring 1918: • Beginning at the Somme when 3 German armies strike

10. 1st Battle Offensive -1918: The Somme • 3 German Armies attack into Somme area • British 3rd & 5th -spread out: • German 17th on right, 2nd in Center, 18th on left; • 21 March 1918: 0440=> Arty Prep starts: Arty, gas, smoke, HE shells • 0940=> rolling barrage begins • 32 infantry divisions follow in wake • Additional 28 infantry divisions follow • Tactical Objective: • Brit artillery 5 miles to rear; • 18th reaches most objectives by dusk; • 17th meets stiff resistance from Brit 3rd Army

11. 1st Battle Offensive: results • Ludendorff decides to reinforce which Army? • 18th advances fwd 35 miles/captures Montdidier by D+6 • Then Ludendorff halts offensive - why? • 18th overextended, out of supplies, exhausted; • Transportation problems (trains & Arty) • Reserves & support can’t keep up • Lack of troop discipline (like at Shiloh - troops pillage supplies) • Allies rapidly reinforce defenders by rail LOCs • Result: Germans fail to breakthrough– significance? • Tactical success (35 miles), but Operational failure • NTL – allies severely shaken – impact on Allies? • Allies meet in late March to strengthen their ?______________ • Especially at the operational level=> objective?*

12. Allied Unity of Command • Improved C2 unity made after Russia’s collapse & Caporetto’s rout • Allies commit to formal C2 system: • Coordinate strategy • Form Supreme War Council: • Comprised of national & military leaders • Also form board of military reps: • Task: “watch” day to day ops – but its effectiveness was mixed • Furthermore Allies fail to form needed Allied general reserve • Following shock of Somme=> Foch given more authority: • Charged w/coordination of allied action on Western Front • 3 April: Foch authority even further extended: • Assigned strategic direction of military Ops: • But with a limiting caveat – what is this caveat? • Allied commanders can ?______ __ ______National leadership authority

13. Spring Offensive continues 9-29 April • April 9: Germans attackNorth of Somme: • Battle Offensive #2 => ?_____ river • German attack realizes significant gains by 12 Apr • Foch sends only token reinforcements to Haig: • Foch concerned about further attacks in French sector • Haig orders: backs to wall defense • Hard fighting & gallantry delivered by British troops • German’s 2nd offensive then stalls on 29 April– why? • 2nd offense stalls due to lack of ?_______________: • Brit supply dumps attract troops’ focus • What serious problem is indicated?

14. Battle Offensive #3 => ?________ des Dames • May 27: Germans attackvicinity of Champagne: • Enjoy significant penetration: • Operational Objective: Diversion: • Divert Allied reserves from Flanders • Then resume attack in North on British • French Cmdr Duchene unprepared for assault: • No defense in depth – Germans overrun on D-day • Relieved of command as a result • The AEF would play a key defensive role during this period

15. US Actions & German Results • US actions at Chateau Thierry & Belleau Wood key: • Help halt German advance by 4 June; • Germans establish salient near Marne & halt; • German progress to date: 3 large salients (see previous map): • Somme, Lys, & the Marneare tactical victories only • Operational & strategic impact? • No ?______ _______or ?____________ gain • But does deplete German troops & their logistics support

16. Battle Offensive #4 => ?___________ & Marne • June 8 Germans attack between Somme & Marne • Another attempted diversion • Operational Aim? • Draw Allied Reserves away for where? • ?___________________ • Tactical Objective: • Expand salient into 1 large one • Problem for Germans? • Allies ?________ German attack preparations • Establish defense in depth: • French preempt w/counter-arty & attack w/tanks & surprise Germans • Result: • German advance halted w/only limited gains

17. Battle Offensive #5 (15-17 July) • Final attack #5 made along Marne east of Chateau Thierry: • Problem: Alliesaware of German plans inadvance received from German deserters • Enables allies to prepare defense in depth; • Also preempts German arty prep w/counter battery; • US 3rd Division holds • US 38th regiment on Left Flank remains solid • Withstands assaults by 2 German divisions • Earns title of “Rock of the Marne” for 3rd Division • Results of Ludendorff’s Offensive: • Desperate gamble fails: Tactical gains only • Cost in German casualties very high: • Depleted army’s reserves, supplies, & morale; • No Strategic or operational gain to show for it • Resumption of attack in the North cancelled • Foch now prepares for a counter-offensive

18. Allied Offensives - 1918 • Foch’s initial Operational objectives: • Reduce the 3 German salients resulting from the gains made by German Spring Offensive • Marne, Somme, St. Mihiel (Map) • 2nd Battle of the Marne(18 July): • 1st Battle in a series of allied drives to push Germans back • French 10th main attack into west side of salient: • While 6th, 9th, & 5th attacked east side • US role in 2nd Battle of Marne: • 9 US divisions participate as part of 3 Fr. armies • 1st & 2nd US divisions play key role at 2nd Battle of the Marne: • Attack Soissons • Threaten German main supply line • Germans forced to withdraw • Operational impact: • Initiative now shifts to ?_______________

19. Reduction of Somme Salient (August 1918) • Battle of Amiens (Map p. 359)=> turning point: • Open warfare & maneuver resumes since war’s start; • Ludendorff: Black Day for German army • Execution: • Brit 4th (Rawlinson)hits salient North side: • 1 Corps consisting of 4 Canadian & 5 Ausie Divisions • Supported by 12 tank battalions (414 combat) • OPSEC: no prep arty or pre-registration to alert Ger. • Canadians advance 10 miles & capture 16K POWs • French begin 45 minute prep at H-Hour: • 1st Fr Army attacks remaining part of salient: • Makes slow but steady progress • Haig continues to press & force Germans back as they conduct an orderly withdrawal: • By late Aug, Germans fall back to Hindenburg line • Significance of German Army’s forced withdrawal? • Apparent to both sides that ?___________________

20. Reduction of St. Mihiel Salient (Sept 1918) • Events rapidly unfolding dictate an acceleration of the allied timeline to 1918: • Dramatic allied gains push major offenses ahead from 1919 to Fall of 1918- why? • German army’s rapid ?_____________ • Potential impact of orderly withdrawal: • German army & logistics in tact; • Destruction of bridges, roads & rail • Establish defense line close to border • Foch’sOperational Plan (Map): • 2 major simultaneous ?_____________ • (giant pinchers from North & South): • 1st: employs combined Fr-Brit force advance: • Tactical objectives: • Cambrai, Le Cateau, & Aulnoye Rail junction • 2nd: employs combined Fr-American force advance: • Tactical objectives: • Mezieres Rail junction • Between Meuse & Argonne

21. Pershing’s Counter Proposal • Pershing resisted Foch’s Plan – why? • US 1st Army only recently ?_____________ in July • Foch wants to split American forces to use in above • Pershing to keep unit cohesion –compromises - how? • Pershing agrees to conduct ?_____________ operations • i.e. Attack St. Mihiel, disengage & redeploy to NE: • To Meuse-Argonne for major offensive • Complex operational & logistic challenge during combat • Effectively planned & executed by who? • Col. George ?_____________

22. St. Mihiel Execution • Pershing executed “as planned” in 2 days (Map): • 0500 12 Sept: assault follows 4 hour arty preparation • 4 corps (4 Fr & 8 1/2 American divisions); • Fire support: 3010 Arty & 267 tanks; • 1481 A/C (Fr) effectively commanded by Billy Mitchell • Results: Americans capture 450 guns & 16K POWs • Tactical success – Pershing halts at base of salient • Continue logistics planning & prep to redeploy to NW

23. Meuse- Argonne Offensive • As promised, Pershing redeploys to relieve Fr 2nd: • Foch tasks American 1st & Fr 4th to attack NW (Map): • Tactical Objective: • Cut/interdict E-W rail thru Sedan & Mezieves • Operational Objective: • Prevent Ger lateral reinforce. & supply to front • Preclude orderly withdrawal of German supplies • Meanwhile- Marshall’s simultaneous logistics op is BZ

24. Meuse-Argonne Offensive- Execution • Germans expect assault & reorganize & reinforce: • Prepared defense line to receive attack • Allied assault follows 6 hour arty prep: • 26 Sept: troops move out at 0500=> • Overwhelm German forward defenses; • Some units advance 4 miles • Then American Cmdrs lose C2: • Units become confused & disorganized; • Inexperienced officers lose control of troops; • No infantry-arty coordination; • Troops bunch up & die altogether – arty; • Traffic control problem emerges; • March discipline declines/units mixed up

25. Friction & more of the same • 27 Sept: offense continues but suffers heavy casualties • 4 & 8 Oct: attack again with little effect – more casualties • 12 Oct: Pershing splits American Army in two: • Appoints himself as army group commander • 1st Armycommanded by Hunter Leggett: • Focus: Meuse-Argonne • 2nd Army commanded by R.L. Bullard • Focus: St. Mihiel Salient

26. Crisis in the AEF? • 14-19Oct: 1st Army attacks & then halts • Suffers high casualties • 55K casualties & possible C2 problems • Clemenceau complains of AEF crisis • Foch defends Pershing – • Asserts problem at lower command levels • 1 Nov: 0530 1st Army attacks w/7 vet divisions: • 2 hour artillery prep & supported by 18 tanks • This time attacks goes smoothly • Most units reach tactical objectives • As Germans withdraw, Americans pick up pace: • 3-5 Nov: 5th Div fight across to Meuse east bank • Beat Germans to east bank & cut them off; • By 11 Nov Armistice: • 850K Americans participated in WWI • 1st Army captured 26K POWs • 875 arty, 3K MGs • Suffer 117K casualties & inflict 100K

27. Final Allied Offensives • Meanwhile=> other allied offensives press Germans • North: Flanders • (Belgium, French, Brits) siege Ypres • Somme: (key operation) along West Front=> by early Oct=> • 1 Fr & 2 Brit Armies breakthrough Hindenburg line: • Force Germans to withdraw • Maintain pressure • South:French continue to press all along front • German Crisis: morale rapidly plummets • Hindenburg & Ludendorff tell Kaiser: • It’s all over => must seek armistice • Urge establish new democratic government • Ger/Austria-Hung request Wilson grant armistice • Based on what? • Wilson’s ?_____________ Points • Austria-Hung then seeks separate Peace

28. Germany Collapses • 26 Oct:Kaiser relieves Ludendorff • (Had proposed continuing the war) • 8 Nov: German Armistice commission meet with Foch: • Foch has authority to conclude conditional armistice: • Not based on President Wilson’s 14 Points – why? • Allies too heavily invested in ?____________ and ?___________ to forget • Germany complains – but Foch stays tough: • Hostilities will resume unless harsh terms offered are accepted • Meanwhile- German people revolt=> • Kaiser then advocated • Provisional Government granted permission to accept terms • Delegates sign under protest- significance? • German people feel ?________ & don’t think they ?_______ WWI (Hitler)

29. Assessment • WWI: 8.5 million soldiers killed & 20 million wounded • Total War: unlimited resources expended or dedicated: • New technology => advanced weapons => • Endless cycle of violence & attrition ensues; • Draft provided millions of troops to fight; • Both men & women worked in factories, agro, etc. • Vast majority of $$$ resources dedicated to war • Massive logistical systems established • WWI was a “turning point” in history => why? • Central & Eastern European Empires ?_____________ • Euro state system fundamentally ?_____________ forever • Former colonies & rest of world ?_____________ : • Close gap with former European industrial masters • Women worked in previously closed jobs: • Changed society’s view of women’s role in society

30. Assessment- Major Changes • Although Central Governments remain dominate following War • And a major factor in peoples lives from then on- other things changed: • WWI changed the nature of land warfare: • Tactics & strategy, & Logistics & supply systems; • Reorganized Army & developed new methods: • organize, equip, supply, & deploy massive armies; • New tech. innovations & weapons systems developed: • Tank, flamethrower, light machine gun, plane; • Naval warfare: CV & naval air (initial), SS • Conceptual & Tactical changes introduced: • Close coordination of combined arms: • Infantry, arty, tank, aircraft (all integrated into Blitzkrieg of WWII) • Also Rolling barrage, predicted fire, hurricane fire • New Infiltration tactics • Limited offensives & tactical objectives • French would continue to maintain tight control of their advancing forces • Germans would draw opposite lesson (Local C2 as per their 1918 offensive) • Defense in depth & elastic defense became the main defense model by 1918

31. Assessment- Tactical Lessons Learned? • Big difference between 1914 soldier & that of ?_________ & the tactics he employed • Still questions remained unanswered: • i.e. How best to break through well prepared defense • Germany especially would learn war’s tactical lessons: • Effectively apply these lessons, concepts, weapons, & tactics to next the war • The French would not & fight the last war in the next • This time: the Defense over Offense & the Maginot Line