Passchendaele
Page 48
Passchendaele, Battle of (Third Battle of Ypres; July–November 1917)–Cont.
German defensive changes 168–9
preliminary bombardment 158, 172–3
Battle of Menin Road (20–21 September) 174–88, 237, 263, 295, 299, 345n2
German counter-attacks (22–25 September) 187, 194, 350n11
Allied preparation for next offensive 190–91
Battle of Polygon Wood (26 September) 191–9, 263, 295
German counter-attacks and defensive reorganization 199–203
Battle of Broodseinde (4 October) 203, 207, 208–19, 263, 295, 301
further German defensive changes 218–19
Allied decision to continue offensive after Broodseinde 219–25, 226
Battle of Poelcappelle (9 October 1917) 226–35, 263
First Battle of Passchendaele (12 October) 235–45
Allied decision to continue offensive after First Passchendaele 250–56, 263–4
German preparations for final assault on Passchendaele Ridge 256–65
Second Battle of Passchendaele (26 October–10 November) 253, 266–76, 278–86
Passchendaele Ridge 38, 121, 157, 204, 215, 221–2, 229–30, 253, 267–8, 288–9
see also Bellevue Spur
Passchendaele (film; 2008) 288–9
Paul, Harold 193
pay: for Allied troops 160
Peace Resolution, Reichstag (July 1917) 97–8
Pearkes, George Randolph 274–5, 366n12
Peckham Farm 319n11
Peeler, Walter 210, 353n10
Peistrup (German Lieutenant) 258
Pernet, Franz 170, 344n40
Péronne 288
Pétain, Philippe:
background and character 17
appointed Commander-in-Chief 17
‘active defensive’ strategy 17, 25, 26, 224, 300
and Haig’s ‘northern operation’ proposals 44–5, 68, 152, 251–2, 363n20
development of ‘Pétain tactics’ 51–2, 224, 300
delays French attack 68, 251–2
notified of first day of Passchendaele 121
awarded Légion d’honneur following success of Verdun counter-offensive 142
Battle of Malmaison 45, 251–2
post-war assessments of 294, 300
Peter Pan Farm 222
Petit Douve 319n11
Pfalz Scout (German aircraft) 163
photography, aerial 164, 165
Pierrefeu, Jean de 15–16, 17
pigeons, carrier 238, 242
Pilckem Ridge 38, 39, 40–41, 76, 107, 113
Pless, Silesia 28
Plumer, Herbert, 1st Viscount:
background, appearance and character 39, 54, 65, 237, 280
and Haig’s ‘northern operation’ proposals 39, 42
preparations for first assault 52–3
advocate of ‘bite-and-hold’ tactic 52, 78, 157, 292, 295–6, 372n22
Battle of Messines 42, 48, 54–9, 295, 318n42
first day of Passchendaele attack 105
takes over command of Gheluvelt Plateau operations 156
planning and preparation for resumed assault 156–8, 159, 165–6, 173
Battle of Menin Road 174–5, 176, 183–4, 185–6, 237, 295, 345n2
preparation for next offensive 190
Battle of Polygon Wood 191, 295
response to Polygon Wood and preparation for next assault 203–5
Battle of Broodseinde 213–15, 295, 301
and decision to continue advance on Passchendaele 219, 220–21, 226, 250, 253
Battle of Poelcappelle 226, 228
First Battle of Passchendaele 235, 236, 237–8, 360n38
Second Battle of Passchendaele 278
transferred to Italian Front 285
return to Western Front and withdrawal of forces from Passchendaele 288
post-war assessments of 185–6, 292, 295–6, 300–301
Poelcappelle (village) 130, 211, 212
Poelcappelle, Battle of (October 1917) 226–35, 263
Poelcappelle road 143–4
Poincaré, Raymond 30, 142, 313n29
Polderhoek 157, 182
Château 197, 275
Polish troops 34, 200
Polygon Wood 76, 126, 157, 165–6, 177, 179
Polygon Wood, Battle of (September 1917) 191–9, 263, 295
Pommern Redoubt 107
Poperinge 64, 161, 162, 265
Ten Elms Camp 250
Portuguese troops 60
Potijze Château 139
Potsdam House 144, 176
Princip, Gavrilo 73
Prior, Robin and Wilson, Trevor: Passchendaele 7, 8, 185–6, 213, 294, 298, 309n28, 327n6–7, 372n21
prisoners of war:
Nivelle Offensive 15
Messines 57
Verdun counter-offensive 142
Passchendaele 121, 184, 188, 212, 213, 217, 348–9n37
as source of intelligence 132, 135, 166–7, 252
Italian Front 265
psychological effects of battle 199, 246–7, 259, 261–2, 301
Quast, Ferdinand von 168
‘Race to the Sea’ (1914) 36
Rae, William 280
rainfall see weather
RAMC (Royal Army Medical Corps) 138–9
Rapallo: Allied conference (November 1917) 277–8
Rappolt, Walter 211, 261–2
Rau (German Lieutenant) 99–100
Ravebeek (stream) 215, 221, 231, 241, 267
Rawlence, George 146–7
Rawlinson, Henry, 1st Baron 40–41, 42, 52, 66, 74–5, 78, 285, 295, 340n33, 356n50
Red Line (Allied objective) 76, 157, 165, 177–8, 193, 212, 239, 267
Reichstag Peace Resolution (July 1917) 97–8
Reitinger, Eugen 57
RFA see Royal Field Artillery
RFC see Royal Flying Corps
Rhys Davids, Arthur 189–90, 274, 367n23
Ribot, Alexandre 13, 27
Rice, F. J. 235–6, 248–9
Richthofen, Baron Manfred von 50, 95, 132, 163
Riddell, Edward 115
rifle grenades 51
Riga, Battle of (September 1917) 170
road construction 190, 226–7
Roberts, A. H. 121
Roberts, Stanley 229, 247
Robertson, J. Peter 283–4, 366n12
Robertson, Sir William:
background and character 21–2
Chief of the Imperial General Staff 21–2
clashes with Lloyd George 4, 21–2, 24, 27, 224–5, 278
and Nivelle Offensive 23–4
Imperial War Cabinet and Paris alliance leaders meetings (May 1917) 26, 27, 72
and Haig’s ‘northern operation’ proposals 69–70, 72, 89, 96–7, 297–8
and Lloyd George’s support for unified Allied General Staff 133–4
response to early progress of operation 135, 136
and Lloyd George’s proposal to move focus to Italian Front 151–2
and Kühlmann peace note 189
and decision to continue advance on Passchendaele 222, 223, 224–5, 252–3, 278
advises on failures on Italian Front 276–7
Rapallo Conference (November 1917) 277–8
post-war assessments of 4, 297, 298
Romania: falls to Germans (1916) 28–9, 31
Roulers: railway junction 37, 61, 66, 124, 203, 234
Royal Air Force 335n20, 336n43
Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) 138–9
Royal Berkshire Regiment 126, 130
Royal Field Artillery (RFA) 93, 227
Royal Flying Corps (RFC) 49–50, 69
operations at Passchendaele 163–4, 189–90
preliminary bombardment 94–5, 103
first day of offensive 106, 116
Langemarck 131–2
Menin Road 179
Broodseinde 210
Second Passchendaele 273–4
Royal Flyi
ng Corps squadrons:
4 Squadron 116
29 Squadron 132
46 Squadron 154
48 Squadron 344n40
56 Squadron 50, 162–3, 190
Royal Navy 25
Royal Warwickshire Regiment 162, 207
Rupprecht, Crown Prince of Bavaria:
background and character 86, 325n32
Battle of Messines 58
preparations for Allied offensive on Ypres 59, 86–7, 88
during preliminary bombardment 101, 102
Battle of Langemarck 132
Kaiser’s visit to Front (August 1917) 141
assessment of first stage of battle 141–2
and counter-attacks against Allied ‘line-straightening’ operations 148–50
awaiting renewed Allied attack 168
response to Battle of Menin Road 186–7
on weather as ally 219
response to Battle of Poelcappelle 234–5
comparison of Passchendaele with Somme 262–3
preparations for final Allied assault on Passchendaele Ridge 263, 264
on loss of Passchendaele 284
assessment of Flanders campaign 289
see also Army Group Crown Prince Rupprecht
Russell, Sir Andrew Hamilton 244–5
Russia 25, 28, 121, 170
exit from war 32, 74, 223, 252, 287
Russian Army 9, 25, 121, 171, 265
casualties 170
Russian Revolution (1917) 16, 25, 32, 287
Rutherford, Tom 268, 269
St Leger, W. B. 106
Saint-Julien 76, 115, 130, 143, 182
Saint-Omer 162, 163
Saint-Quentin 45, 87
Salonika Campaign 21, 74
Sambrook, Arthur 95, 160
Sanctuary Wood 81, 111
Sassoon, Siegfried 3–4
Schaarschmidt, E. (German Lieutenant) 264
Schärdel, Johann 59–60, 85, 101–2, 105, 111–12, 172
Scheffer, Johannes 113
Schlieffen, Alfred von 29
Schlieffen Plan 265
Schmeichel (German Lieutenant) 113
Schuler Farm 128, 182, 183
Schwilden (German Captain) 172–3
Sclater, F. A. 94
SE5 (aircraft) 50, 189–90
Second Army (British) 39, 61, 65
Messines 42, 52–3
Passchendaele 91, 105–6, 119, 157–8, 164, 184–5, 191, 207, 212–13, 227, 278
Senegalese troops 13, 14
Serbia 21, 28, 29, 313n29
Shankland, Robert 269–71, 366n12
Sheldon, Jack: The German Army at Passchendaele 374n37
shell production 48–9, 91, 341n44
‘shell shock’ 199, 247–8, 259, 261
shells, numbers deployed 99, 132, 158, 216
Sheppard, H. L. 279
shipbuilding 26–7
shipping, sinking of 31, 32–3, 82–3
Shrewsbury Forest 81, 111, 159
Sixth Army (French) 13, 16
Sixth Army (German) 25, 36, 58, 86, 87
Sixtus Affair (March 1917) 313n29
Skelton, Godefroy 246–7
Smith, Geoffrey 238
Smuts, Jan 25–6, 42, 137, 336n43
Social Democratic Party (German) 84
soil (in Flanders) 63
see also mud
Somme, Battle of the (1916):
first day 3, 119
tactics 41, 49, 50, 78, 91, 121
outcome 9, 20–21, 30, 42, 45, 293
casualty totals 21, 30, 119, 262, 301
significance and symbolism of 3, 212, 260, 293
Sopwith Camel (aircraft) 50
Sorrell, Mount 39
sound ranging (artillery technique) 49, 267
Source Farm 275
South African troops 176, 184
South African War (1899–1902) 19, 254
Spain 188
Sparling, A. W. 281
Spears, Sir Edward, Prelude to Victory 14–15, 19
Spriet 220
Spring Offensive, German (1918) 287–8, 327n5, 371n3
Stapff (German Major) 58, 102
Steenbeek (stream) 80, 115, 117, 130, 143, 155
Steenstraat 106
Stein, Hermann Freiherr von 63, 117–18
Stevenson, Frances see Lloyd George, Frances
Stewart, Hugh 244, 353n2
Stokes mortars 51
strikes and industrial unrest 68–9
Stroombeek (stream) 211, 215, 222
submarine warfare 25, 31, 32–3, 37, 82–3, 141, 287, 322n55
Supreme Inter-Allied Council 277–8
‘swamp maps’ (of battleground terrain) 80, 324n14
Syria 168
tank production 17–18, 50–51, 317n38
tanks:
deployment in Flanders 79–80
at Passchendaele 108–9, 143–4, 157–8, 210–211, 228, 345n7
Tanner, Edward 198–9
Taylor, A. J. P. 3
Taylor, H. S. 47–8, 108–9, 247–8
telephone lines 85, 94
severance 100, 232, 258, 283
Terraine, John 6, 221, 293, 309n24, 320–21n33, 324n14
Thaer, Albrecht von:
Chief of Staff to XIX Saxon Corps 58
Battle of Messines 58
transferred to IX Reserve Corps 64
first day of Passchendaele 105, 120
counter-attacks against Allied ‘line-straightening’ operations 150
on prisoner interrogation 166–7
awaiting renewed Allied attack 167–8
response to Polygon Wood offensive 200–201
on responsibility of commanders 259
and preparations for final Allied assault on Passchendaele Ridge 263
Thielt 260
Third Army (British) 25, 90
Third Army (Italian) 277
Thourout 70, 168
Times, The 19, 184
‘An Officer’s Letter’ (Sassoon) 3
Todman, Dan 3, 307n4
Tokio Spur 351n32
Tower Hamlets Ridge 59, 157, 179, 183, 187, 194–5, 207
training: of troops 52–3, 143, 161, 165, 170, 184–5
trench construction 38, 61, 81, 125
trench warfare 48–9, 61–2, 123–4, 246–50, 256–9, 278–9
Trenchard, Hugh, 1st Viscount 5, 94–5, 103, 163–4
Turkey see Ottoman Empire
Turner, W. E. (Canadian Private) 281–2, 283
Tyne Cot Cemetery 301
U-boat campaign 25, 31, 32–3, 37, 82–3, 141, 287, 322n55
Uhlan Farm 107
Unionist Party 19, 22, 297
United States of America 17–18
entry into War 25, 31, 73, 83
Vampir Farm 144, 184
Vanity Farm 275
Vapour Farm 275
VC see Victoria Cross
Verdun 252
French counter-offensive (August 1917) 142
Verdun, Battle of (1916) 9, 11, 30, 212, 260
Verlorenhoek 76
Versailles Conference (1919) 364n28
Victoria Cross (medal): awarded for service at Passchendaele 108, 178, 194, 210, 241, 269, 271, 275, 284, 366n12
Vimy Ridge, Battle of (April 1917) 24–5, 33, 78, 82, 256
Vlamertinge 121, 362n13
Voss, Werner 189–90, 317n37
Wagner, Richard 325n32
Walcheren Expedition (1809) 1, 307n3
Walthew, J. S. 116
Walton Heath, Surrey 276
War Cabinet (British):
formation 20, 311n5
meetings:
March 1917 39
June 1917 66–7, 68, 69–71, 294
July 1917 96–7
August 1917 133–4, 136–7, 152
September 1917 189
October 1917 224–5
November 1917 277
see also Imperial War Cabinet
War Policy Committee (British)
71–2, 96, 224, 357n57
Waregem 141
Warneton 62
Waterfields Farm 222
Watson, N. F. 240
Watson, W. H. L. 80, 162, 240
Watts, Sir Herbert 81, 107, 128
see also British Army, XIX Corps
weather:
during Nivelle Offensive 13
July–August 1917 74, 104, 106, 118, 121–2, 123, 125–6, 153, 297, 333–4n62
September 1917 162, 174, 190, 191, 208, 213–15, 362n13
October 1917 219, 226, 238, 250–51, 257–8, 278, 362n13
November 1917 278
‘weeping staff officer’ legend 1–2, 6, 297, 300
see also Kiggell, Sir Launcelot
Westhoek (village) 76, 106, 124, 125, 159
Westhoek Ridge 111, 112–13, 117, 126–7, 162
Westroosebeke 114, 179, 204, 220
Wetzell, George 320n24
Whitehead, J. A. 227–8
Wieltje 107, 115, 227
Wiest, Andrew 322–3n55, 340n33
Wilcke (German Major) 292
Wilhelm II, Kaiser:
reaction to fall of Romania 28–9
and U-boat campaign 31, 32
and Bethmann Hollweg’s resignation as Chancellor 85
visits Front 141, 169
Wilhelm, Crown Prince 29, 170
Wilhelm Line (German defences) 61, 117, 126, 131, 153, 157, 165, 183
‘Pheasant Trench’ 176
Williams, W. H. T. 132
Williamson, Henry 47
Wilson, Sir Henry 224–5, 277
Wilson, Trevor see Prior, Robin and Wilson, Trevor
Wilson, Woodrow 32
Wohlenberg, Alfred 116–17
Wolf Copse 268, 269
Wolf Farm 268
Wolff, Leon: In Flanders Fields 6–7
Wood, P. R. 147–8
Woodland Plantation 274
Worcestershire Regiment 198
Wytschaete 55
see also Messines–Wytschaete Ridge
Ypres:
history and economy 36
strategic importance 36–7
symbolism of 36, 47–8
topography and climate 37–8, 47, 74
Ypres (buildings and landmarks):
Cathedral 206
Cloth Hall 36, 48, 74, 93, 205, 206
Grande Place 48, 206
Menin Gate 3, 93, 206, 301
Potijze Château 139
Ypres, First Battle of (1914) 36, 38, 45
Ypres, Second Battle of (1915) 36, 45
Ypres, Third Battle of (1917) see Passchendaele, Battle of
Ypres, John French, 1st Earl of 224–5
Yser Canal 167
Yser River: bridgehead 88–9, 340n33
Zandvoorde 61, 179, 195
Zeebrugge: submarine base 25–6, 37, 322n55
Zeppelins (airships) 69
Zillebeke 80
Zonnebeke (town) 61, 179
Zonnebeke (stream) 193
Zonnebeke Spur 38, 126, 131, 157, 191, 202, 209–210, 213, 274