Battle of Arras
The Battle of Arras was a British led offensive on the German trenches near the city of Arras in France. The offensive started on 9th April 1917 and on 17th May 1917. The aim of the Arras offensive was part of the larger plan to break through the German defences. This would force them into the open ground when the numerical superiority of the Allies should prove victorious. The Arras offensive would embark at the same time as a French offensive about 50 miles to the south with the combined aim of ending the war within 48 hours.
First Phase
As in the Somme a year earlier, The Battle of Arras was preceded with a huge artillery bombardment on enemy lines. The difference was that this time, the attack front was limited to a 24 mile stretch in order to concentrate the attack which had not been the case on the Somme. The preliminary bombardments started on Vimy Ridge on 20th March 1917 and the first assaults took place on 9th April 1917 in the First Battle of Scarpe, Vimy Ridge and the First Battle of Bullecourt. Gains were made at the First Battle of Scarpe and Vimy Ridge but at Bullecourt, initial gains were by British and Australians were counter attacked by the Germans incurring heavy losses as they retreated. The first phase of the Battle Arras ended on 12th April 1917.
Second Phase
The second phase of the Battle of Arras saw the Allies move to consolidate the gains they had already made. The attack was to continue in the area to the east of Arras with the aim of breaking through along with the French. However, the French offensive was failing. The battles of the second phase were fought over a period of time as opposed to simultaneously as had happened during the first phase. From the 15th April 1917, the Battles of Lagnicourt, Second Battle of Scarpe, Battle of Arleux, Second Battle of Bullecourt and the Third Battle of Scarpe were fought.
Aftermath
The gains of the initial days of the first phase were nothing short of spectacular by Western Front standards but by the end of the Battle of Arras although the Allies had made significant advances, they had failed to make the breakthrough they craved. Casualties on both sides were heavy with both the Allies and the Germans suffering around 160,000 casualties on each side.
Tours for 2010
Escorted tours to Vimy Ridge and the surrounding area will operate throughout 2010. In 2008, a section of the tunnels dug by the New Zealanders was opened to the public and a visit here is included in the itinerary of some tours.
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