The Western Front in 1917

Nivelle (French Commander) believed he could break the German lines in France.

His plan was to find the weakest spot in the German line and smash it with a massive attack.

A French officer was captured with the plans in his pocket.

The Germans simply retreated to the new line of trenches they had built. The Hindenburg Line.

On April 9th the British attack the town of Arras to draw attention away from Nivelle’s offensive.

At first it worked, the Canadians captured Vimy Ridge.

Nivelle finds the German Trenches empty.Moving the forward they get caught in a trap.The Germans used machine guns from all

sides. After 10 days, 34,000 men were dead and

another 90,000 wounded

After this big failure a mutiny began in the French army.

Thousands of deserted and set off for home. Discipline collapsed.

General Petain (Verdun), replaced Nivelle.Petain used ruthless methods to restore

discipline.

Thousands of soldiers were court-martialled and hundreds sentenced to death.

Petain gained control of his men.

The British had to draw attention away from the French army.

They attacked a hill at Messines. (140 meters high)

The British dug tunnels underneath the hill and filled them with TNT.

June 7th, Boom. The hill is gone

General Haig decided to attack Ypres (3rd time) better know as Passhendale.

Nothing but Mud.400,000 British

killed.