Second Battle of the Somme (1918)
During World War I the Second Battle of the Somme was fought on the Western Front from August 21 to September 2, 1918.
Photo above found on: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--YC63zmQXuE/TaZRPbfsE4I/AAAAAAAAALo/EHBstUusT9Q/s1600/SommeMap%255B1%255D.jpg
On the 15th of August, 1918 Field Marshal Douglas Haig did not follow orders from Marshal FerdinanFoch to continue the Amiens offensive. That attack was losing strength as the troops outran their supplies and artillery, and German reserves were being relocated to the sector. Instead, Haig started to plan an offensive at Albert, which began on the 21st of August. The main attack was started by the British Third Army, with the United States II Corps.
Picture above found on: http://www.1914-1918.net/maps/spring18/kschlacht3.jpg
The German's responded with a counterattack on the 22nd, which was quickly taken down. On the 23rd, Haig oerdered a gerneral advance by the Third Army and part of the Fourth, on a 33 mile front. On the 26th the right wing of the First Army joined in, making the front to 40 miles.
The German line ran along the Somme south of Peronne, then over open country to Noyon. Ludendorff had ordered a retreat from the Lys salient and what was left of the Amiens salient, with the hopes of creating a new line on the Somme.
I think; The planning and strategy of where to send troops must have been VERY stressful on generals and other leading forces.
Information found on: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_the_Somme_(1918)
And also: http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_bapaumeII.html
Comments
A bit brief overall, but good.