Battle of Amiens

The Battle of Amiens (8-11 August 1918) marked the start of the Hundred Days campaign, a four-month period in which the Allies triumphed. Following their survival of the German Spring Offensives, Allied forces launched their own counter-offensive, and from the summer of 1918 onwards, they were continuously on the move.

The Allies had developed advanced operating procedures that best utilized the material power at their disposal as a result of their previous hard experiences. The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was at the vanguard, combining scientific artillery systems with flexible infantry firepower, as well as the deployment of tanks and aircraft. These combined arms tactics were supposed to serve as a model for the future.

The Battle of Amiens began on August 8th, after the initial Allied counter-attacks began in July. Secret preparations insured surprise, and the BEF gained seven kilometers in one day, which German General Erich Ludendorff dubbed "the German Army's black day." But, unlike previous offensives, the Allies now knew when to call it a day. The battle at Amiens was halted after four days of fighting when its effects faded, and a new onslaught was launched elsewhere. This established a successful pattern. The German forces were driven back by a series of synchronized hammer attacks.

When necessary to penetrate German defenses, Allied attacks were adaptable, relying on surprise and mobility as well as the deliberate tactics of 1917. Although there were still many casualties, the advantages were decisive. The German Army was no longer capable of fighting by November. It had been relegated to the 1914 battlefields and was only travelling in one direction. The Hundred Days was a spectacular display of military might that resulted in Allied victory.

When; 1918