Nivelle Offensive (Caronne)

The Nivelle Offensive of 1917 was a Franco-British offensive on the Western Front. Robert Nivelle, recently appointed supreme French commander, hoped that the first Schneider CA tank units could be of some use in his planned offensive. The Germans, however, …

1917-04-16

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The Nivelle Offensive of 1917 was a Franco-British offensive on the Western Front. Robert Nivelle, recently appointed supreme French commander, hoped that the first Schneider CA tank units could be of some use in his planned offensive. The Germans, however, had learned of the French offensive and were aware of the French armor units. On 16 April, waves of French infantry moved against the German trenches. Tank support arrived in the late afternoon.

Berry-au-Bac, France

The Nivelle Offensive, was a Franco-British operation on the Western Front in the First World War. The French part of the offensive was intended to be strategically decisive by breaking through the German defences on the Aisne front within 48 hours, with casualties expected to be around 10,000 men. A preliminary attack was to be made by the French Third Army at St. Quentin and the British First, Third and Fifth armies at Arras, to capture high ground and divert German reserves from the French fronts on the Aisne and in Champagne. The main offensive was to be delivered by the French on the Chemin des Dames ridge, with a subsidiary attack by the Fourth Army. The final stage of the offensive was to follow the meeting of the British and French armies, having broken through the German lines, then the pursuit of the defeated German armies towards the German frontier.

Wikipedia: Nivelle Offensive

German

French