The Battle of Amiens in August 1918 is one of the lesser-known battles of WWI; although there was fierce fighting and heavy losses on both sides, the death toll was much lower than the Somme, Vimy Ridge, or Verdun, for example. Yet this battle signalled the end for Germany, and may have shortened the war by many months German morale crumbled and the German Commander-in-Chief, General Erich Ludendorff, declared it to be the Black Day of the War for Germany.

Ludendorffs quote reflected his concern at the morale of his troops and their readiness to capitulate, rather than at the numbers of men or guns lost. The gains made by the Allies on the first day of the battle were spectacular, and owed much to the outstanding bravery and determination of the Canadian divisions, and the competence not a word you normally associate with WWI leaders of their commander, General Arthur W Currie.

The period following the battle became known as the Hundred Days. Trench warfare was abandoned and the war became mobile once again, with the Allies pushing the Germans further and further back. Morale in Germany fell ever faster, with mutinies and revolts breaking out in the German Army and Navy. With the spectre of revolution looming across Germany (as it had in Russia in 1917), and to prevent the mutinies spreading to the front-line troops, the German High Command insisted that the government seek an armistice. The Armistice was signed by Ludendorff and the French commander, Marshal Foch, at 05:00 on the 11th November 1918, and the guns fell silent at 11.00 that same morning. Germanys surrender was ratified in the Treaty of Versailles in May 1919.