THE HISTORY OF THE BATTLE OF ARRAS, 9 APRIL 1917
The largest surprise attack of World War One!
On April 9th, 6:30 a.m, the Britsh troops leave their trenches and the underground quarries to launch an attack on the ennemy's positions.
After 6 months of intensive preparation in the trenches between Vimy and Bullecourt and the creation of an underground network under the city of Arras realised by the British Empire's forces, time has come to attack.
Discover the story of the Battle of Arras thanks to The Wellington Tunnels and also other sites of remembrance linked to this story, and experience again the commemoration of the centenary of April 9th 2017.
THE BATTLE OF ARRAS IN FIGURES
Opening of the battle: 9 April 1917
Duration : 39 days
Length of the front: around 20 km, from Vimy in the north to Bullecourt in the south, passing through Arras at the centre of the action
Number of British infantry division deployed: 33 divisions, including 4 Canadian divisions and 4 Australian divisions
Artillery: one gun every 10 metres, the highest artillery concentration ever seen up to that point.
British losses: 150.000 casualties (dead, missing and wounded) - Approximately 4.000 casualties per day
German losses: 120,000 casualties (dead, missing and wounded)
The new weapons :
Tested at the Battle of the Somme, new weapons were deployed and incorporated into the strategy of the Battle of Arras.
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Tanks deployed: 48
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Livens gas projectors invented by Captain Livens.

THE CHANTILLY CONFERENCE - 16 NOVEMBER 1916
At this conference, the Allied high commands set the major military orientations for the spring of 1917.General Nivelle planned a major offensive on the French front in the Chemin des Dames sector, preceded by a diversionary attack on the front line occupied by British troops. The British high command immediately opted for the Arras sector.
THE OBJECTIVES OF THE BATTLE OF ARRAS
In addition to the diversionary battle, the objective was to reach the Belgian border via the towns of Douai and Cambrai.
PREPARATIONS FOR THE BATTLE OF ARRAS
Reconnoitering the enemy's defensive system
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Numerous raids on the German trenches with the purpose of assessing the quality of the units present there and to capture prisoners in order to gain information.
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Aerial flyovers to photograph the enemy defences. These preparations entailed the loss of many English air crews, earning this episode its name, "bloody April". The toll was 150 aircraft shot down and more than 300 crewmen killed.
Training zone layout
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Creation of models faithfully replicating enemy territory as a means of training troops in reconnoitring the various sites.
Logistics at the heart of the strategy
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Creation of munitions and supplies depots, efficient organisation of the evacuation chain for the wounded, development of the 60 cm track network, establishment of a communication network between the commands and the forward troops. The experience of the Somme had demonstrated the need for reliable logistics capable of following advancing troops without breaking communications.
The distinctive feature of the plan for the Battle of Arras
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The development of an entire network of underground quarries in the Vimy and Arras sectors, as an encampment and also a means of moving forward right up to the enemy front line.
THE COMBATANT TROOPS DEPLOYED
To the north, the Canadians in the Vimy Ridge sector,
To the east, the British (the Scottish, English, Welsh, Irish, Newfoundlanders, South-Africans etc.) in the Arras sector,
To the south, the Australians and British outside Bullecourt.
THE OFFENSIVE

During the Battle of Arras from 9 April to 16 May:
The terrain gained had the effect of pushing the battle zone back by some ten kilometres and opened up of the town of Arras, but the battle is responsible for heavy losses:
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20.000 German prisoners
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Seizure of a significant haul of enemy weapons
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German losses: 120.000 casualties (dead, missing and wounded)
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British losses: 150.000 casualties (dead, missing and wounded) - Approximately 4.000 casualties per day

MIXED RESULTS