The Battle of Amiens, which began on August 8, 1918, proved to be the most decisive battle against the Germans on the Western Front.
The battle was the beginning of the end of the First World War, heralding the start of the period known as the Hundred Days offensive.
From the day the battle started exactly 100 years ago today – August 8, 1918 – successive military victories eventually led to the surrender of German forces and the end of the conflict on Armistice Day on November 11 that year.
Canadian soldiers in the Battle of Amiens during the First World War in August 1918
The location of Amiens as a major rail hub was deeply important to the Allies because it was used to receive supplies for the front line and move them out.
General Sir Henry Rawlinson, commander of the Fourth Army, combined air and land forces, from Australia, Canada, France, America and Britain, to great effect during the conflict.
He had learnt the lessons of the bloody Somme offensive – where he played a prominent role – employing improved tactics and new technology, utilised alongside subterfuge, from concealing troop numbers to ending the practice of firing range-finding shells so there was no warning of the attack.
The battle saw more than 500 tanks from the UK’s Tank Corps deployed, more than 1,900 British and French aircraft used, tens of thousands of troops present, with the Australians and Canadians prominent in the attack, and all supported by more than 2,000 guns from the Royal Artillery.
Allied soldiers with captured prisoners of war after the Battle of Amiens in 1918
Over the following days the gains made by Allied troops were huge, with many miles claimed from German forces – but its real impact was on the morale of many in the German high command, convincing them the war could not be won.
German forces suffered a shattering blow, with 27,000 casualties, including 16,000 prisoners. The Germans acknowledged this spectacular reverse.
General Erich Ludendorff famously described it as ‘the black day of the German army in this war’. The official German history described it as their greatest defeat since the start of the war.