Battle of the Hindenburg Line

Battle of St Quentin Canal
Part of the Hundred Days Offensive of World War I
Breaking the Hindenburg Line by William Longstaff.
Date 29 September – 10 October 1918 Location Hindenburg Line, France Result Allied victory
Belligerents
British Empire  Australia  United Kingdom  United States	German Empire
Commanders and leaders
John Monash Hunter Liggett	Adolph von Carlowitz
Strength
14 divisions (including 2 from the AEF)	At least 13 divisions
Casualties and losses
? 13,182	?

 British Empire

The Battle of St Quentin Canal was a pivotal battle of World War I that began on 29 September 1918 and involved British, Australian and American forces in the spearhead attack and as a single combined force against the German Siegfried Stellung of the Hindenburg Line. Under the command of Australian general Sir John Monash, the assault achieved all its objectives, resulting in the first full breach of the Hindenburg Line, in the face of heavy German resistance and, in concert with other attacks of the Great Offensive along the length of the line, convinced the German high command that there was little hope of an ultimate German victory.

After the German Spring Offensive, British, Commonwealth, French and American counterattacks during the Hundred Days Offensive brought the Allies back up against the outposts of the Hindenburg Line close to the village of Bellicourt by the Autumn of 1918 where the Battle of Épehy was fought on 18 September 1918.

American forces were ordered to attack on 27 September, to finish clearing German forces from outposts in front of the line. However, due to a shortage of American officers (there were only 18 officers in the 12 attacking companies – the remainder were absent receiving further training), the attack was unsuccessful. As a consequence 200 Australian Officers were then assigned to the US troops to provide both experience and leadership. As a result of the confusion created by this attack (with the corps command being unsure of where the American troops were), the attack on 29 September had to be started without the customary (and highly effective) artillery support – this was to have a large negative effect on the initial operations of the battle.

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