He did not, after all, have the formula.
May 3, 2017 10:37 AM Subscribe
One hundred years ago the Nivelle Offensive fails. In April 1917 the Allies launched an enormous attack on German forces designed to crack enemy lines in 48 hours and send them reeling back to the Rhine. General of French forces on the Western Front Robert Nivelle, a hero for his role in Verdun the previous year (previously), deployed a mix of tanks, artillery, air power, and multiple assaults across hundreds of miles. While some gained ground, the offensive, marred by leaks, a lack of leadership support, and bad tactical decisions, failed to break the Germans. Nivelle was fired and the offensive petered out. The human costs on both sides, including French, Germans, British, and Canadians, were very high.
Allied morale costs were also steep. Partly as a result, some French units determined not to go on any more attacks unless things changed; high command deemed them mutineers. The government appointed another Verdun hero to heal the Nivelle Offensive's wounds, a man who would go on to become notorious in the next world war, Henri-Philippe Pétain.
One good map.
The French minister of war reacts two months later.
Indiana Neidell's video account.
Video narrated by Kenneth Brannagh (1, 2, 3, 4).
The game Valiant Hearts has a level.
Petain's account.
One photograph.
The mutineers' sad song.
Allied morale costs were also steep. Partly as a result, some French units determined not to go on any more attacks unless things changed; high command deemed them mutineers. The government appointed another Verdun hero to heal the Nivelle Offensive's wounds, a man who would go on to become notorious in the next world war, Henri-Philippe Pétain.
One good map.
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The French minister of war reacts two months later.
Indiana Neidell's video account.
Video narrated by Kenneth Brannagh (1, 2, 3, 4).
The game Valiant Hearts has a level.
Petain's account.
One photograph.
The mutineers' sad song.
This is discussed and disected extensively in Leon Wolff's "In Flanders Fields", an excellent read...
posted by jim in austin at 1:05 PM on May 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by jim in austin at 1:05 PM on May 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
Thanks for reminding us of the lesser known, almost as equally futile slaughters of WWI. We Canadians just finished our Vimy Ridge annual Valour and Glory-fest. So much for 'lest we forget; never again'.
posted by anthill at 2:14 PM on May 3, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by anthill at 2:14 PM on May 3, 2017 [2 favorites]
I cannot imagine the horror of being alive for WWI.
posted by TrialByMedia at 7:20 PM on May 3, 2017
posted by TrialByMedia at 7:20 PM on May 3, 2017
I cannot imagine the horror of being alive for WWI.
posted by TrialByMedia at 9:20 PM on May 3
As I understand it, the typical soldier who spent any significant time fighting at the front was probably not alive for very long.
Still, your point stands. It must have been hell for all concerned, whether soldiers or civilians.
A relative of mine was killed in 1918 in France. Family lore has it that his relatives back here in the states never truly recovered. I visit his grave as often as I can.
posted by InsertNiftyNameHere at 9:40 PM on May 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by TrialByMedia at 9:20 PM on May 3
As I understand it, the typical soldier who spent any significant time fighting at the front was probably not alive for very long.
Still, your point stands. It must have been hell for all concerned, whether soldiers or civilians.
A relative of mine was killed in 1918 in France. Family lore has it that his relatives back here in the states never truly recovered. I visit his grave as often as I can.
posted by InsertNiftyNameHere at 9:40 PM on May 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
Since this is WWI we're talking about here, I feel I have to mention
Sgt. Stubby.
posted by InsertNiftyNameHere at 9:52 PM on May 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
Sgt. Stubby.
posted by InsertNiftyNameHere at 9:52 PM on May 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
The Nivelle offensive seems particularly idiotic given that the Americans had *just* entered the war, which provide a huge infusion of troops and arms once they had the chance to mobilize. Why not wait until they arrived?
posted by dry white toast at 7:48 AM on May 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by dry white toast at 7:48 AM on May 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
dry white toast, that's a good question.
One reason was French national pressure to do *something* to get the Germans out of a big chunk of France.
Another was some confidence in Nivelle, hero a Verdun, who seemed to have solved the deadlock (hence his "I have the formula" line, which I referenced in the title, referring to creeping barrages, basically).
Then there was the Russian revolution, which raised the possibility of that great Allied power exiting the war.
Meanwhile, German U-boats were still killing Atlantic shipping. (Around this time the Brits and Americans started experimenting with the convoy system, which ended up a solid success, but that wasn't guaranteed in April 1917)
posted by doctornemo at 12:28 PM on May 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
One reason was French national pressure to do *something* to get the Germans out of a big chunk of France.
Another was some confidence in Nivelle, hero a Verdun, who seemed to have solved the deadlock (hence his "I have the formula" line, which I referenced in the title, referring to creeping barrages, basically).
Then there was the Russian revolution, which raised the possibility of that great Allied power exiting the war.
Meanwhile, German U-boats were still killing Atlantic shipping. (Around this time the Brits and Americans started experimenting with the convoy system, which ended up a solid success, but that wasn't guaranteed in April 1917)
posted by doctornemo at 12:28 PM on May 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
I cannot imagine the horror of being alive for WWI.
As I understand it, the typical soldier who spent any significant time fighting at the front was probably not alive for very long.
Which makes the careers of people like Robert Graves or Ernst Junger, who spent 3+ years in WWI, almost inconceivable.
(I say almost, because they were each fine writers)
posted by doctornemo at 12:29 PM on May 4, 2017
As I understand it, the typical soldier who spent any significant time fighting at the front was probably not alive for very long.
Which makes the careers of people like Robert Graves or Ernst Junger, who spent 3+ years in WWI, almost inconceivable.
(I say almost, because they were each fine writers)
posted by doctornemo at 12:29 PM on May 4, 2017
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