Nivelle offensive

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The Nivelle offensive (16 April – 9 May 1917) was a Franco-British operation on the Western Front in the First World War that led to mutinies in the French Army. The offensive was named after General Robert Nivelle, the commander-in-chief of the French metropolitan armies. The French part of the offensive was intended to be decisive by breaking through the German defences on the Aisne front within 48 hours, with casualties expected to be around 10,000 men. A preliminary attack was to be made by the French Third Army at St Quentin and the British First, Third and Fifth armies at Arras, to capture high ground and divert German reserves from the French on the Aisne and in Champagne. The main offensive was to be delivered by the French on the Chemin des Dames ridge (the Second Battle of the Aisne). A subsidiary attack was to be made by the Fourth Army (the Third Battle of Champagne). The final stage of the offensive was to follow the meeting of the British and French armies, having broken through...

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