Iron Ladies

Following extensive development tests, French tanks finally enter the battlefield. There are 128 Schneider tanks from the Groupement Bossut and Groupement Chaubes assigned to the Nivelle offensive on the Chemin des Damos. Hopes run high for a decisive breakthrough, using …

1917-04-16

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Following extensive development tests, French tanks finally enter the battlefield. There are 128 Schneider tanks from the Groupement Bossut and Groupement Chaubes assigned to the Nivelle offensive on the Chemin des Damos. Hopes run high for a decisive breakthrough, using tanks and rolling barrages. But trouble lies ahead. The ground is muddy and rough, the German HQ expects the attack, and defenses are in depth. Defending artillery quickly targets the slow tanks with both direct and indirect fire. The iconic French leader, commandant Louis Bossut, is soon killed with his crew in his flaming tank. The Groupe d'Artillerie d'Assaut AS 2 however manages to slip through to the third German line near Juvincourt, where it must evict rear-line enemy units to continue the breakthrough. Sadly, French infantry fails to keep pace and to adequately support the armor. Only German troops are in sight.

Berry-Au-Bac, France

The Second Battle of the Aisne was the main part of the Nivelle Offensive, a Franco-British attempt to inflict a decisive defeat on the German armies in France. The Entente strategy was to conduct offensives from north to south, beginning with an attack by the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) then the main attack by two French army groups on the Aisne. General Robert Nivelle planned the offensive in December 1916, after he replaced Joseph Joffre as Commander-in-Chief of the French Army.

Wikipedia: Second Battle of the Aisne

German

French