Western Front: key battles Flashcards
When did the First Battle of Ypres take place?
October-November 1914
What was the outcome of the First Battle of Ypres?
Stalemates - both armies were exhausted and ‘dug in’ (built trenches)
What was the name of the hill captured by the Germans in the First Battle of Ypres?
Hill 60
How did Britain win back control of Hill 60 in April 1915?
They tunneled into and under the hill, placing five mines in the tunnels which blew the top off the hill
When did the Second Battle of Ypres take place?
April-May 1915
What was used for the first time at the Second Battle of Ypres?
Chlorine gas
How many British losses were there at the Second Battle of Ypres?
59,000
When was the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele)?
July-November 1917
What were the conditions like at the Third Battle of Ypres?
Muddy and waterlogged ground
How many British casualties were there at the Third Battle of Ypres?
245,000
When did the Battle of the Somme take place?
1 July-November 1916
How many British casualties (and deaths) were there on the first day of the Battle of the Somme?
57,000 casualties (20,000 deaths)
What two strategies did the British use for the first time at the Battle of the Somme?
The creeping barrage
Tanks
Why was the British use of tanks at the Battle of the Somme unsuccessful?
The tanks were slow and had many technical problems
How many miles of tunnels did New Zealand and English soldiers dig underneath Arras in five months in 1916?
2.5 miles
How far was the underground hospital at Arras from the front line?
Around 800 yards (less than half a mile)
How many spaces were there for stretchers at the underground hospital at Arras?
700 spaces
What three things were included in the underground hospital at Arras that were advanced?
Electric lighting, piped water, an operating theatre
How many soldiers could live and sleep in the underground tunnels in Arras?
Up to 25,000
In what month and year did the Battle of Arras begin?
April 1917
How many Allied men emerged from tunnels near the German trenches at the start of the Battle of Arras?
24,000 men
On what date did the Battle of Cambrai begin?
20 October 1917
How many tanks were used at the Battle of Cambrai?
Nearly 500
