Battle of Mont Saint-Quentin

Part of the Western Front of World War I
Hundred Days Offensive : Second Battle of the Somme (1918)

Mount St Quentin painting by Arthur Streeton (1918)

Date	31 August – 3 September 1918
Location	Mont Saint-Quentin, near Péronne Picardy, France
Result	Australian victory

Belligerents

Australia

German Empire

Commanders and leaders

John Monash

Max von Boehn

Casualties and losses

3,000

The Battle of Mont Saint-Quentin was a battle on the Western Front during World War I. As part of the Allied counteroffensives on the Western Front in the late summer of 1918, the Australian Corps crossed the Somme River on the night of August 31, and broke the German lines at Mont Saint-Quentin and Péronne. The British Fourth Army's commander, General Henry Rawlinson, described the Australian advances of August 31 – September 4 as the greatest military achievement of the war. During the battle Australian troops stormed, seized and held the key height of Mont Saint-Quentin (overlooking Péronne), a pivotal German defensive position on the line of the Somme.

The Allies were pursuing the Germans, and the greatest obstacle to crossing the Somme River in pursuit was Mont Saint-Quentin which, situated in a bend of the river, dominated the whole position. The Mont was only 100 metres high but was a key to the German defence of the Somme line, and the last German stronghold. It overlooked the Somme River approximately 1.5 kilometres north of Péronne. Its location made it an ideal observation point, and strategically, the hill's defences guarded the north and western approaches to the town.

Australian forces faced the German 51. Korps, part of 2. Armee, under General Max von Boehn. According to Australian official historian Charles Bean, "German archives show that the 51st Corps anticipated the offensive... The line divisions were ordered to increase their depth and the counter-attack divisions to 'stand to.'" Bean states that 51. Korps controlled the 5th Royal Bavarian Division, 1st Reserve Division and 119th Division. The German 94th Infantry Regiment (part of 4. Reserve-Korps) was also involved in the battle.

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