ApexNews
Return to Main
Book

The Battle That Won the War: Bellenglise: Breaching the Hindenburg Line, 1918

2018

Synopsis

It is no exaggeration to claim that 46th North Midland Division’s action on 29 September 1918 was the hammer blow that shattered the will of the German High Command.

Painting the strategic picture from early 1918 and the dark weeks following the German’s March offensive, the Author lays the ground for the Allied counter-strike. Ahead of them was the mighty Hindenburg Line, the Kaiser’s formidable defensive obstacle given added strength by the St Quentin Canal.

Undaunted the Allies attacked using American, Australian and British formations. Led by Major General Boyd, 46 Division stormed the Canal and, thanks to a combination of sound planning and determined courageous fighting, seized their Hindenburg Line objective by the end of the day.

The psychological damage to the German will, already weakened by the failure of the Spring offensive, is demonstrate by Ludendorff’s collapse and opening of negotiations that led five weeks later to the Armistice.

Suggested Reading

The End of the German Monarchy: The Decline and Fall of the Hohenzollerns

By the autumn of 1918 Germany was on the verge of starvation-the result of four years of war and blockade. Sailors led a revolt in Wilhelmshaven on 29 October 1918, followed by the Kiel mutiny in the first days of November cascading eventually to Germany's capitulation and the Kaiser's abdication. T...

View Details

Bullecourt 1917: Breaching the Hindenburg Line

In the spring of 1917 the Arras offensive was begun to break the stalemate of the Western Front by piercing the formidable German defenses of the Hindenburg Line. The village of Bullecourt lay at the southern end of the battle front, and the fighting there over a period of six weeks from 11 April un...

View Details

Latest News

July 31st, 2023

Battle of the Somme: A Sunlit Picture of Hell

We use cookies to improve your experience on our website. By continuing to browse, you accept our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.