Third Battle of Artois
Encyclopedia
The Third Battle of Artois was on the Western Front
of World War I
, is also known as the Loos-Artois Offensive, including the major British offensive, known as the Battle of Loos
.
The offensive, meant to complement the Champagne offensive
, was the last attempt by French commander-in-chief Joseph Joffre
to exploit the Allies' numerical advantage over Germany. Joffre's plan was for simultaneous attacks in Champagne-Ardenne
and Artois
, with the goal being to capture German railborne supply centers at Attigny
and Douai
thus forcing a German withdrawal.
attacking across the Isonzo River and the British Expeditionary Force launching an attack near Loos
. At first, Field Marshal John French
and General Sir Douglas Haig were against such an operation, citing a lack of heavy artillery, ammunition, and troop reserves. However, pressure from the British minister of war, Lord Horatio Kitchener
, prompted French and Haig to agree to the military operation.
, but the III and XII Corps had made little progress southeast of Neuville-St Vaast. The French failed to breach the German second line of defense, and a breakthrough could not be achieved.
In an attempt to rejuvenate the stalled offensive, Joffre sent the French IX Corps to assist the British in an attack on Loos, but this action also yielded little of strategic value.
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, is also known as the Loos-Artois Offensive, including the major British offensive, known as the Battle of Loos
Battle of Loos
The Battle of Loos was one of the major British offensives mounted on the Western Front in 1915 during World War I. It marked the first time the British used poison gas during the war, and is also famous for the fact that it witnessed the first large-scale use of 'new' or Kitchener's Army...
.
The offensive, meant to complement the Champagne offensive
Second Battle of Champagne
The Second Battle of Champagne was a French offensive against the invading German army beginning on 25 September 1915, part of World War I.-September 25 - October 6:...
, was the last attempt by French commander-in-chief Joseph Joffre
Joseph Joffre
Joseph Jacques Césaire Joffre OM was a French general during World War I. He is most known for regrouping the retreating allied armies to defeat the Germans at the strategically decisive First Battle of the Marne in 1914. His popularity led to his nickname Papa Joffre.-Biography:Joffre was born in...
to exploit the Allies' numerical advantage over Germany. Joffre's plan was for simultaneous attacks in Champagne-Ardenne
Champagne-Ardenne
Champagne-Ardenne is one of the 27 regions of France. It is located in the northeast of the country, bordering Belgium, and consists of four departments: Aube, Ardennes, Haute-Marne, and Marne. The region is famous for its sparkling white wine . Its rivers, most of which flow west, include the...
and Artois
Artois
Artois is a former province of northern France. Its territory has an area of around 4000 km² and a population of about one million. Its principal cities are Arras , Saint-Omer, Lens and Béthune.-Location:...
, with the goal being to capture German railborne supply centers at Attigny
Attigny, Ardennes
Attigny is a commune on the river Aisne in the arrondissement of Vouziers in the département of Ardennes in the Champagne-Ardenne region in northern France.-Councils of Attigny:In 765, St...
and Douai
Douai
-Main sights:Douai's ornate Gothic style belfry was begun in 1380, on the site of an earlier tower. The 80 m high structure includes an impressive carillon, consisting of 62 bells spanning 5 octaves. The originals, some dating from 1391 were removed in 1917 during World War I by the occupying...
thus forcing a German withdrawal.
Prelude
Joffre's plan was a series of attacks along the Western Front, with the ItaliansKingdom of Italy (1861–1946)
The Kingdom of Italy was a state forged in 1861 by the unification of Italy under the influence of the Kingdom of Sardinia, which was its legal predecessor state...
attacking across the Isonzo River and the British Expeditionary Force launching an attack near Loos
Loos
Loos may refer to:Places* Loos, Nord, France* Loos-en-Gohelle, France* Loos Islands, also known as Îles de Los, Guinea* Loos, British Columbia, Canada* Los, SwedenPeople*Loos Other...
. At first, Field Marshal John French
John French, 1st Earl of Ypres
Field Marshal John Denton Pinkstone French, 1st Earl of Ypres, KP, GCB, OM, GCVO, KCMG, ADC, PC , known as The Viscount French between 1916 and 1922, was a British and Anglo-Irish officer...
and General Sir Douglas Haig were against such an operation, citing a lack of heavy artillery, ammunition, and troop reserves. However, pressure from the British minister of war, Lord Horatio Kitchener
Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener
Field Marshal Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener KG, KP, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, ADC, PC , was an Irish-born British Field Marshal and proconsul who won fame for his imperial campaigns and later played a central role in the early part of the First World War, although he died halfway...
, prompted French and Haig to agree to the military operation.
The battle
Following a four day artillery bombardment starting on 21 September, the French Tenth Army initiated their advance. By the 26th, the XXXIII and XXI Corps had taken the town of SouchezSouchez
Souchez is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:Souchez lies north of Arras, at the junction of the D937, D57 and D58 roads. The small river Souchez, a tributary of the Deûle, flows through the town.-Population:-Places of interest:* The...
, but the III and XII Corps had made little progress southeast of Neuville-St Vaast. The French failed to breach the German second line of defense, and a breakthrough could not be achieved.
In an attempt to rejuvenate the stalled offensive, Joffre sent the French IX Corps to assist the British in an attack on Loos, but this action also yielded little of strategic value.