The Allied Response to Ludendorff’s Spring Offensive

Allies Unite

A Change in Tactics

The Americans Arrive

Allies Unite• At the beginning of WWI the allied forces were under the commands of their respective war time leaders. Because every man has his own opinion, many of the Allied Generals had their own idea’s on how the war on the Western Front should be fought, resulting in rising tensions between the Allied Forces.

• Once the Spring Offensive began, the Allies were placed under extreme stress from the attack. The French General Pertain, wanted to fall back and protect Paris, while the British General Haig, wanted to keep the front line and have France help.

• After numerous disagreements the Allied forces decided upon having only one commander of the entire force. Marshal Ferdinand Foch was appointed leader of the Allied forces, solving any further disputes and eventually organising an Allied response to the Spring offensive.

A Change in Tactics• For the majority of the War, the main tactic used by the Allied forces, was a series of artillery shots( sometimes numbering in the millions) followed by a linear formation, troop strike on the enemy trenches.

• Marshal Foch, derived a more manageable tactic. Now with full command of the Allied forces, he was able to position troops in strategic locations so as to apply pressure equally along the Western Front and eventually with the use of tanks, Foch was able to take back the majority of France.

The Americans Arrive• Because of insults and attacks made by the Germans, against America. America officially became apart of WWI on 6th of April 1917.

•The arrival of the Americans influenced greatly on the Allied response to the Spring Offensive. British troops, exhausted from days of fighting could now be replaced with battle ready “doughboys” as the Americans were called.

•The arrival of the Americans also raised morale among the Allied forces meaning a stronger retaliation against the Germans, who were weakening due to the fact that the only reinforcements they received were battle weary troops from the Eastern Front.

“For a long time it had been obvious that unless a greater measure of unity in command, or at least in direction, of the operations of the Allied Armies could be established, the Allied countries were heading for disaster.”

The Biography of the late Marshal

Foch

Foch’s view towards Allied co-operation and the consequences if they didn’t.

• Demonstrated, is Foch’s personal view that if the Allied forces could not cooperate with one another, havoc and destruction would come to their home fronts.

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Allied Generals leaving Supreme Commander meeting.

Allied Perspective

• Joffre (left) and Haig (centre) leaving their Somme headquarters in 1916.

• Shown here is the Allied forces realiseing that working alone is not going to win them the war, resulting in the appointment of Supreme Commander, Marshal Foch. (right)

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“If the attack develops against the British front, the French army will send a strong army of five divisions of infantry, four divisions of cavalry, and three regiments of infantry. If it falls on the French group Marshal Haig will send to the support of General Pétain six to eight of his divisions with an equal number of groups of artillery.”

The Biography of the late Marshal Foch

Orders from Marshal Foch on the Cooperation of the British and French Forces.

• It is evident from the extract that, Marshal Foch believed that victory against the Germans could only be achieved if the British and French were able to support one another when the time came.

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Map indicating the united Allies attack under Marshal Foch

• This map represents Marshal Foch’s tactics during the Allied response to the Spring Offensive.

• The black arrows indicate the uniform attacking style of the Allies that Marshal Foch applied to the Spring Offensive Counter-strike.

• Through this tactic were the Allies able to halt the German advance.

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“This Brilliant plan, concerting the separate national thrusts into a grand strategy of offence, took full advantage of Germany’s lack of reserves as well as of her advanced front-line positions. Foch won tactical advantage by the use of tanks. All through September his blows fell according to plan.”

Thomson, D,

Europe Since Napoleon.

Extract from D Thomson's “Europe since Napoleon,” concerning Foch’s brilliant plan.

• From this extract is it seen how Foch’s use of tanks, was one of the major tactical reasons that ensured the allied counter-offensive was a success.

•Source also discusses the evenly distributed Allies and how through equal pressure they were able to force the Germans to a halt.

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Map indicating the Allied counter-offensive

• This map depicts the ground regained during the Allied response to the Spring offensive.

• It is obvious from this source and other that the ground regained was only achieved through a different tactic and also the use of immense number of tanks.

• A higher morale will have also have played a role in helping the Allies regain most of France.

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“Two factors above all were decisive: Tanks. The enemy is using tanks in large numbers. When they appeared unexpectedly, especially after our positions were blanketed by smoke screens, they often broke the morale of our troops. The large number of prisoners is due to the success of tanks. This has markedly reduced our strength and led to the quicker exhaustion of our reserves. We are not able to oppose the enemy with an equal number of German tanks. To produce them is beyond the capacity of an already extended industry.”

Extract from Ludendorff’s Speech.

Extract of a speech delivered to the Reichstag on Ludendorff’s behalf.

•From the source is it evident that tanks were a major part of Marshal Foch’s new tactics during the Spring Offensive.

•Because tanks played a major role and were used in great numbers, meant success for the Allied forces against the Germans.

•This is supported by statements and other sources.

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“8 August was the black day of the German army, the worst day I ever went through. We had to resign ourselves now to a continuation of the enemy’s offensive. Their success had been too easy. Their wireless was jubilant, announcing with truth that the morale of the German army was no longer what it had been.”

Laffin. J, British and Bunglers of World War I.

Quote from J Laffin from ‘British and Bunglers of World War I.

• This quote is an indication of the impact that the Allied counter offensive had on the Germans.

• It demonstrates that how through a combined force, under one leader (General Foch) that the Allies were able to push back the German advance.

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“Yet their victory was a portent of the future. The Americans were inexperienced. Their logistics were clumsy. Their commander (General Pershing) was not blown along by Foch’s enthusiasm. Still they had won one battle, and would win more. Henri de Pierrefeu coined a simile which many felt to be absolutely appropriate: the Americans were like a transfusion of blood arriving to reanimate the pallid body of France. The French Captain Desagneux’s heart lifted when he saw his first Americans, ‘twenty strapping great fellows, sappers, admirably turned out with brand new equipment.”

Holmes, R, The Western Front,

Extract from R Holmes’, The Western Front.

•This extract demonstrates the impact in which the American troops had on the Allied forces morale's, during the Allied response to the Spring Offensive.

•The extract also demonstrates the pressure that exhaustion that the British and French were under at the time of the Allied retaliation and of how Americans were a welcome relief.

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“….The losses of the currently raging battle are as stated, unexpectedly great, especially of officers. This is decisive… the enemy is in a position to make good his losses with American help. The American troops as such are not of special value, let alone superior to ours. Their importance lies in the fact that they are able to take over lengthy stretches of the front, thereby enabling the English to disengage their own battle-tried divisions and to provide almost inexhaustible reserves for themselves.”

To the Reichstag on Ludendorff’s behalf

Extract of a speech delivered to the Reichstag on Ludendorff’s behalf.

•This source is a depiction of how the Americans were able to provide both morale and physical support for the British and French troops during the counter-offensive.

•They could replace weary or injured men and be ready to fight from the word go.

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Image demonstrating how America aided in Counter Offensive

• The image exhibits an American medic, most likely going to the aid of a soldier, injured in ‘no man’s land’.

• This is just one of the many ways in which America helped relieve stresses on the Allied forces and help the Counter Offensive succeed.

An Image depicting American troops boarding trains for France.

•The image is a depiction of America’s support that is to come, for the Allied forces.

•These troops will be the first group of many that will alleviate some of the stress that the Allied forces are facing during the Spring Offensive.

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