100 years ago today

[Wilhelm]

Great stuff guys!!

[soldon]

23th April 1918 - St. George's Day - Hundred years ago today - British Raid on Zeebrugge, an attempt to block the habour and its use to U-boats. In fact the habour was blocked for a short period, but U-boats were soon operating normally. However the attack was a moral booster at the time to the British.

[Erickn]

That is really interesting Soldon! Now, I must research the Zeebrugge Raid.
Just a small rewind to yesterday, here is an image of MvR first grave site at Sailly le Sec Somme. A broken R.E.8 Propeller with a center medallion designed by Harold Edwards was used as the marker.
IWM

[soldon]

24th April 1918 - After over two weeks hard fighting the German troops were tired and had lost momentum. Nothing much of value had been taken, one prize attraction remained - Mount Kemmel a height which overlooked the ground south of Ypres and west of Lille. The French occupied the mount with 28th Division, the Germans massed 7 divisions and under the cover of fog, attacked on the 24th April. On this day, one of the causalities was "Franz Welz" a Gefreiter in Infanterie-Leib- Regiment, Maschinen Gewehr Kompanie, recipient of EK 2 & Military Verdienst Kreuz Klass 3 with Swords. His remains were not found.

[Wilhelm]

My God, he looks like he's 15. At this point in time very few people realize what the conditions were like then. A slaughter. Verdun was called the meat grinder. A lot of those killed were never found. R.I.P. all of them.

[soldon]

Hundred Years Ago Today - 29th April 1918 thirteen German Divisions attacked the whole line from Meteren to Zillebeke in the day's early hours and also struck at the Belgians north of Ypres.

[soldon]

30th April 1918 - The gains made by the thirteen attacking German Divisions were trivial, today hundred years ago Ludendorff ended Operation Georgette.

Operation Georgette Outcome
The Allies had a nasty fright, the British still controlled the railway. The German army had causalities of over 109,000 - British Army had over 76000 causalities, the French figures were 35000 men. In manpower damage the figures were roughly equal, although the German army couldn't long term sustain such losses, especially with America starting to make it presence felt.

[Erickn]

Causalities counts were staggering after bitter fighting during the Spring Offensive this past month to name a few battles;
24-25 March, 1^st Battle of Bapaume
25 March, Battle of Noyon
26-27 March, Battle of Rosie’res
4 April, Battle of Avre
5 April, Battle of the Ancre
17 April, Battle of Le Hamel
24 April, Actions at Villers-Bretonneux

(61) Orden Pour le Me’rite were granted in the month of April 1918. (54) to the Army, (4) to the Navy, (3) to Air Service. For extraordinary achievements (6) Oakleaves to the PLM were granted to the Army.
Compared to March, (18) total PLM were granted. (8) granted to the Army, (7) to the Navy, (1) to Air Service and (2) Foreign. In March a total of (9) Oakleaves were granted to the Army.

[Erickn]

100 years ago today, JG1 received the honorary title of JG 1 ‘Richthofen’ after claiming its 300^thvictory on 10 May. Hauptmann Wilhelm Reinhard succeeded MvR as CO. JG 1 would now move to the 7^th Army front in support of the Third Battle of Aisne to begin on 27 May.

[soldon]

Hundred years ago today - 27th May 1918 Ludendorff started the 2nd Battle of the Aisne : Operation Blücher-Yorck.

Early in May Ludendorff had withdrawn thirty-two divisions to be rested and retrained for Operation Blücher-Yorck: The German Aisne Offensive began at 1:00 am all possible targets had a ten minute bombardment of gas followed with heavy shelling of gas and explosives for a hour on artillery positions. The shelling was very effective, the centre of the line was broken, Germans poured across the Chemin des Dames down to River Aisne. By evening most had crossed to Aisne and had advanced as far as the Vesle river. The following map shows the course of the battle over the next few days.

[Erickn]

Yes, the Third Battle of the Aisne was a large scale German offensive launched 100 years ago today 27 May to win the war before the Americans arrived. The main focus was the Chemin des Dames Ridge.
Couple of images of the German Infantry. Second image of a Trench position at Chemin des Dames that was over run by the Germans searching for anything of use.
google images

[soldon]

Fighting continued 28th May 1918, not everything went the German army's way in the 3rd Battle of Aisne, some small but notable, points of resistance were met, at Pinon on the Canal de L'Oise a I'Aisne, three French Battalions in fortified pillboxes held out for two days. The press photo shows reserve German troops on the canal awaiting the order to go forwards against the French front.

[soldon]

Hundred years ago today 29th May 1918 - The British 19th Division came into the line. The battle developed into a struggle for the heights South of Reims, a forested area that had to be held if Reims wasn't be abandoned. Press photo shows a burned down French depot near Fismes with German soldiers foraging through the ashes.

[soldon]

31st May 1918 - Hundred years ago today

The intoxicating success of the assault had taken Ludendorrf's troops in five days across the Aisne and Vesle to the Marne river. Ludendorff turned his eyes to Paris less than hundred kilometres away - who would stop him ?

Press photo - during the retreat, the French were forced to leave behind provision trains, the German soldiers are putting their bounty to good use.

[Wilhelm]

Look at all that vin! I bet the lads were on cloud nine. Great photo.