Nicholson Map 10: The German Offensives March-July 1918
Map Upgraded October 15, 2007

This is also described in Nicholson Chapter XII.
Nicholson Chapter XII: The German Offensives of 1918

The start of 1918 brought concern with the impending crisis of the war in Europe and elsewhere. General Allenby had success in Gaza and General Maude had captured Baghdad. In Russia the Bolsheviks had taken power during the October 1917 revolution. Italy had crumbled. Success on the Eastern Front allowed the Germans to move troops to the Western Front, closely matching the Allies total battalion strength.

In March 1918 the German war machine started to roll again. Despite deliberate attempts by the Allies to consolidate defences, the Germans continued to advance. The First Battle of the Somme of 1918 resulted in 163,500 British casualties; 77,000 French casualties and 239,000 German casualties.

Canada played an important role in the control of the German advances, primarily with the utilization of the mobile forces of cavalry and motor machine gun units. In May and June 1918 the Germans advanced to the Marne, always with thoughts to return to the offensive in Flanders. The Canadians were still holding the area behind Lens and Vimy Ridge, with time to rebuild and consolidate defences. During that period the Canadians were holding a 10 mile front with just 2 Divisions, with strong support from the Cavalry, Cyclist Battalions and the machine-gun companies - now used as tactical units.

In July 1918 the Canadians began to assemble and move in great secrecy to the area of Amiens - and the start of the end of the war in what has come to be known as "Canada's Hundred Days".