Battle of the Hills

Part of the Western Front of the First World War

The front line at various stages in the battle, with the Battle of the Hills on the right of the image.

Date	17–20 April 1917
Location	Champagne Province, France 49°00′N 04°00′E / 49.000°N 4.000°E / 49.000; 4.000Coordinates: 49°00′N 04°00′E / 49.000°N 4.000°E / 49.000; 4.000
Result	Inconclusive

Belligerents

France

German Empire

Commanders and leaders

Robert Nivelle
Philippe Pétain
François Anthoine

Erich Ludendorff
Crown Prince Wilhelm
Karl von Einem

Strength

13 divisions

17 divisions

Casualties and losses

21,697

6,120 prisoners

The Battle of the Hills (French: Bataille des Monts) also known as the Battle of the Hills of Champagne and the Third Battle of Champagne, was a battle of the First World War that was fought from April–May 1917. The French Fourth Army offensive against the German 4th Army was intended to be auxiliary to that of the Groupe d'armées du Nord (GAN, Northern Army Group) along the Chemin des Dames, in the Second Battle of the Aisne. General Anthoine, commander of the Fourth Army planned a supporting attack but this was rejected by Nivelle and Anthoine planned a frontal attack by two corps on an 11-kilometre (6.8 mi) front, to break through the German defences on the first day and commence exploitation the following day. The battle took place east of Reims, between Prunay and Aubérive, in the province of Champagne, along the Moronvilliers Hills.

On the left of XII Corps to the east of the Suippes, the 24th Division established a flank guard by attacking through Bois des Abattis towards Germains and Baden-Baden trenches. On the left flank of the division, Aubérive east of the river was rapidly captured. On the west bank of the Suippes, the 75th Territorial Regiment of the Moroccan Division, made progress round the main part of Aubérive. The Moroccan Division was repulsed on its extreme right but the Régiment de marche de la Légion étrangère (RMLE, March Regiment of the Foreign Legion) gained a foothold at Le Golfe. To the north-east of Mont Haut, the advance reached a depth of 1.5 miles (2.4 km) and next day the advance was pressed further. To the west, the French 34th Division took Mont Cornillet and Mont Blond and the 16th Division was repulsed at Bois de la Grille.

The French spent 18 April consolidating but the 45th Division pushed up to the southern edge of Mont Haut. The "Monts" were held against a German counter-attack on 19 April, between Nauroy and Moronvilliers, by the 5th Division and 6th Division, which had been trained as Eingreif divisions, supported by the 23rd Division plus one regiment. Next day, the French 33rd Division captured Le Téton and the capture of Aubérive was completed by the 24th Division and the Territorial battalions. On 20 April, French troops got onto the summit of Le Casque and on 22 April, the eastern and lower summit of Mont Haut was secured by the 45th Division.

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