What happened in the Battle of Cambrai?
Battle of Cambrai, British offensive (November–December 1917) on the Western Front during World War I that marked the first large-scale, effective use of tanks in warfare.
Table of Contents
What happened in the Battle of Cambrai?
Battle of Cambrai, British offensive (November–December 1917) on the Western Front during World War I that marked the first large-scale, effective use of tanks in warfare.
Who was the Battle of Cambrai between?
The Battle of Cambrai, 1918 (also known as the Second Battle of Cambrai) was a battle between troops of the British First, Third and Fourth Armies and German Empire forces during the Hundred Days Offensive of the First World War.
Which country won the Battle of Cambrai?
British
Battle of Cambrai (1917)
| Date | 20 November – 7 December 1917 |
|---|---|
| Location | Cambrai, France 50°10′36″N 03°14′08″ECoordinates: 50°10′36″N 03°14′08″E |
| Result | See Aftermath section |
| Territorial changes | British capture Havrincourt, Flesquières, Ribécourt-Dreslincourt Germans capture Gonnelieu |
Was the Battle of Cambrai successful?
Cambrai as a battle is significant for two main reasons. It saw the first mass use of the tank and their first use as a concentrated, powerful force. Their success on the battlefield was combined with the significant, positive impact they continued to have on public opinion.
How did the Germans win the Battle of Cambrai?
The Germans were surprised by an intense artillery attack directly on the Hindenburg Line. 350 British tanks advanced across the ground supported by infantry – both were assisted by an artillery rolling barrage that gave them cover from a German counter-attack. The bulk of the initial attack went well.
How many British soldiers died in the Battle of Cambrai?
The British casualties amounted to 44,000 killed, wounded and lost in action (including 6,000 prisoners) and the Germans 45,000 (including 10,000 prisoners).
How long was the Battle of Cambrai?
six-day
More than 13,600 Canadians were killed or wounded during the six-day fight for the canal and the heights around Cambrai—making it one of the bloodiest Canadian operations of the war.
What secret weapon did the British use during the Battle of Cambrai?
Mark IV tanks
In November 1917, during the Battle of Cambrai, the massive use of new-generation Mark IV tanks enabled the British Army to make significant advances into the enemy’s lines and this episode marked a real turning point in the war.
What was the Battle of Cambrai?
The Battle of Cambrai is renowned for being an example of the first large scale use of tanks in warfare. Taking place in France during World War One, the Battle resulted in over 12,000 British and Commonwealth casualties whose lives are commemorated by the CWGC. Learn more about the Battle by reading our Battle of Cambrai 1917 facts…
What happened to the Mark IV at the Battle of Cambrai?
Battle of Cambrai (1917) After a big British success on the first day, mechanical unreliability, German artillery and infantry defences exposed the frailties of the Mark IV tank. On the second day, only about half of the tanks were operational and British progress was limited. In the History of the Great War, the British official historian,…
What was the name of the tank in the Battle of Cambrai?
A Mark IV (Male) tank of ‘H’ Battalion, ‘Hyacinth’, ditched in a German trench while supporting 1st Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment near Ribecourt during the Battle of Cambrai, 20 November 1917. 1917: a British tank destroyed by the Germans on the Western Front during World War I. (Battle of Cambrai).
Is there a German war cemetery in Cambrai?
^ “German War Cemetery at La Route de Solesmes and Cambrai East Military Cemetery”. OFFICE DE TOURISME DU CAMBRÉSIS. Hammond, B. (2009). Cambrai 1917: The Myth of the First Great Tank Battle. London: Orion. ISBN 978-0-7538-2605-8. Harris, J. P. (1995). Men, Ideas and Tanks: British Military Thought and Armoured Forces, 1903–1939.
