by Lloyd, Nick
43rd Reserve 39, 46
54th Infantry 175
79th Reserve 57
111th 245
117th 46
221st 57
Jäger 74, 171, 173, 175
REGIMENTS
3rd Westphalian 247–8
13/Hussars 192–3
16/Reserve Infantry 213
55th Infantry 88
84th Infantry 175
152nd 50–52
153rd 146
157th 46
188th 170
208th Artillery 194–5
280th Field Artillery 249
German Medical History 19
German Spring Offensive (March 1918) 118, 127
German Supreme Command (OHL)
and the Armistice decision 196–7, 207, 276
could only shuffle exhausted divisions around 193
disintegration becomes noticeable 246
Foch concerned about sanction of pre-emptive withdrawal 63
forbidden any retirement due to negotiations 242
greatly overestimating army’s capacity for resistance 70
a hive of activity 141
HQ at Spa in Belgium 67–8, 109
knew that victory a long way off 7
laziness/complacency among 40
mood becoming progressively worse 113
morale slumped again after Saint-Mihiel 131
ordered Seventeenth Army’s retreat to Hindenburg Line 97, 114
pamphlets issued discouraging capture 147
proposed Amiens attack 36–7
sanctions withdrawal of Eighteenth/Ninth Armies 99
and serious decline in Germany’s fighting power 69
sought confirmation that Allies would keep to Fourteen Points 202
US confirms OHL must go to gain peace 224
wanted new defensive areas behind the line 112
see also Germany; German Army
Germany
aircraft production 36
became clear that must do whatever it took to secure armistice 223
collapse of Empire 271
complete collapse of resistance in 1918 unlikely 277
a country on the verge of revolution 274
dream of German victory ended near Saint-Quentin 188
dwindling reserves of manpower 14
effects of naval blockade 16
fatal amnesia regarding the Americans 151
front-line position 155
had played her last card by 1918 91, 114
Haig feared that would not accept an armistice 227
and influenza pandemic 18–19
last offensive of 1–3, 5
loyalty beginning to fracture in October 214
nation/army starving by 1918 10
Operation Marneschutz-Reims 2
Ottoman Empire staunch/dependable ally 142
peace with Russia at Brest-Litovsk 16–17
position deteriorating, allies falling away 177
questionable 1918
defeat xxxiii
retreat from the Marne 17, 24
revolution spreads on 6 November 254–5
sailors mutiny at Kiel on 4 November 254
Spring Offensive xxxi–xxxii, 28–9, 294n.10
and the ‘turnip winter’ (1916–17) 15
US warns that could only deal with real rulers of Germany 224
and Wilson’s demands 179, 201–2, 216–18, 222
see also German Army; German Supreme Command (OHL)
Gillemont Farm 183
Goodmurphy, Arthur 267–8
Gouraud, Henri 154–6, 191, 241
Gouzeaucourt
and 15/Royal Warwickshire Regiment 190
death of Private Cotterill xxxiii
fought over repeatedly xxv–xxvi, 171
gaining an infamous reputation 171
gas shelling of 173
German evacuation of 175
Grady, Captain T. F. 120, 123, 158–9, 266
Graincourt 171
Grandpré 155
Grant, General Ulysses S. 152
Grasset, Colonel 42, 47
Great Britain see United Kingdom
grenades 85
Grenadier Guards (Britain) 80
Grévillers 81
Groener, General Wilhelm 237–8, 252, 257–61
Groover, First-Lieutenant 156–7, 164–5, 269
Groves, Frank 268
Guinness, Walter 262–3
Guise 250, 253
guns see artillery
Haeften, Colonel Hans von 71, 196
Hagen (operation) 15
Haig, Field Marshal Sir Douglas
agrees Amiens attack 30
Allied contingent commanders’ meeting 24–7
asks Byng to speak to Currie 168
character of 23–4
concerns in London about his command 101–2
confident that Germans breaking 139–40
convinced of the need to desist 66–7
and Debeney 79
delighted with achievements of Canadians 101
devastating firepower now available to 181
and Foch 6, 22, 63, 191, 207, 226–7
furious attacks slowing down by 1 October 188
keen to achieve tactical success on battlefield 36
and Lloyd George 23, 241
looked favourably on what had been achieved 94
lunch with Alfred Milner 138–40
meeting with battery commander Foot 82
meeting in Cambrai on 11 November 269
meetings with Rawlinson/Elles 32, 66
and Pershing 127–8, 131
petitioned for earlier date of attack 41
problems of retreating German Army 262
refuses an attack on the Chaulnes–Roye front 67
responsible for breaching Hindenburg Line 138
seven Victoria Crosses won on 27 September 1918 171
Wilson’s warnings to about sustaining heavy losses 191
working with Pétain 22
Hallu 60
Ham 63, 95
Hamel, Battle of 31
Hattencourt 58
Hatzfeld, Hauptmann 50–52
Helldorf, Captain 254, 265
Hellé, Joseph 23
Helm, Captain Malcolm 5
Hermann, Guido 110–11
Hermann Line 112–13, 193–4, 214, 224
Hertling, Count von 70, 195
Heydebreck, Hauptmann von 93
Heye, Colonel Wilhelm 141, 257, 260, 328n.17
Hindenburg, Field Marshal Paul von
at Spa on 9 November 257, 259–61
breach falls to Haig’s armies 138
chaired meeting at Hôtel Britannique 70–71
character of 11–15
Crown Prince disapproves of Groener appointment 237
furious telegram to Gallwitz 131–2
gives thanks to Dr Hochheimer 140
Hindenburg Line plans in 1916 143–5
his usual stoical, uninterested self 68
increasingly frustrated by indecision/incompetence 148
lost touch with the war by 1918 13
Ludendorff calls for armistice offer 177, 179–80
petitioned by von Hintze 113
reaction to collapse of two Bulgarian divisions 142
resignation on 26 October not accepted 234–5
Hindenburg Line
Allies’ 1918 attack plans 80
Army Groups no option but to pull back forces 214
and British forces 95, 108, 170, 207
broken by 46th (North Midland) Division 133, 185–8
concerns as to whether Allies could cross 180
Debeney confident of breaking 79
‘end of the world’ 135
fast becoming anvil to break German armies 181
fighting still continued after crossing of 210
Foch haunted by the retreat to the 63
German units move into 114, 192
last German card rema
ining 97–9, 101
Lossberg advice to occupy and extend 70
main German defensive position xxvi, 11
in need of thorough refurbishment 114
question on whether it would hold 143
Saint-Quentin canal heavily protected 183
von Boehn reported on poor state of 112
Hindenburg reserve line see Beaurevoir-Fonsomme Line
Hindenburg Support Line 171
Hintze, Admiral Paul von
appeal to Wilson to be followed by political reform 179
appointment as Foreign Secretary 17
at Spa on 9 November 257
fourth part of Foch’s offensives began on 26 September 181
Ludendorff withheld information from 113
meeting at Hôtel Britannique 70, 72–3
recognized need for new government 195
telegram from Ludendorff 143
Hirson railway junction 110
Hitler, Adolf 213–14, 221, 245, 274–5
Hochheimer, Dr 73, 140–41, 178
Holden, Second-Lieutenant Frank 20, 104–5, 121, 123, 202–3
Holmes, T. H. 84–5, 103–4, 134, 230–31
Hornaing 230
House, Colonel 216, 228, 278
Houthulst Forest 176
Hunding line 143, 214
Hundred Days xxx–xxxii, 294n.7
Hunter Liggett, Major-General 155–6, 165
Hutier, General Oskar von 50, 211
hysterical symptoms see shell-shock
Impey, Arthur 173
influenza pandemic xxxii, 10–11
influenza pandemic (first strain) 18–19
influenza pandemic (second strain)
death toll growing in the autumn 222
French army ravaged in August 1918 78
killer disease 19
stalked the German Army at War’s end 245
Inspector-General of First Army’s report 166
Irles 81
Iron Cross 13
Italian Army xxvii
Italy
Battle of Vittorio Veneto 226
final days xxxiii
front line xxviii, xxix
the ‘mousetrap’ 2
Jackson, Lance Corporal Thomas 171
Jagdstaffel 89, 93–4, 98, 176
John Summer’s steel mill xxvii
Johnson, Brigadier-General Evan 161
Johnston, Clifford 106–7
Joliffe, Lieutenant-Colonel J. W. H. 169–70
Joncourt 189
Jones, Sergeant T. J. 172
Jones (Wilfred Owen’s servant) 190
Kaiser Alexander Regiment 87
Karl, Cyrus 111
Kaufman Method 112
Kielmayer, Ernst 174–5, 194, 213, 222
Kirk, Second-Lieutenant James 250
Kretschmann, Major von 260
Krieghoff, Leutnant Hans 170
Kuhl, Major-General von 68–9, 224, 235–7, 245
Kühlmann, Richard von 16–17, 196
La Boisselle 84
La Capelle 247
La Harazée 155
Lansing, Robert 223–4
Lawrence, Second-Lieutenant Joseph 206–7
Le Cateau 109
Le Quesnel 52, 55–6
League of Nations 199
Lee, General Robert E. 152
Lejeune, Major-General John A. 126
Lewis guns 51
Liège 14
Liggett, Hunter 241–2, 277–8
Lille 220
Little Gibraltar see Montfaucon
Lloyd George, David
and ‘a Christmas present for the empire’ 142
clear that the end now in sight 226
conference on 16 October 216
and Haig 23, 241
personality 20
and Wilson’s Fourteen Points 200
Löffler, Major-General 257–8
Lomme airfield 93–4
looting 9–10, 109
Lossberg, Major-General Friedrich Karl ‘Fritz’ von
advice at conference at Avesnes 112–13
estimates 400,000 dead at Antwerp–Meuse Line 244
formation of a new Army Group 69–70
glad to leave Spa on 1 November 246–7
great respect for Ludendorff 236
position on Marne should be given up immediately 11
‘resilience/fighting spirit on the wane’ 90
went to the front every day 88
‘lost battalion’ see 308th Infantry Regiment (US)
Luce River 30
Ludendorff, General Erich von
agreed no counter-attack at Saint-Mihiel 128
and the Allied counter-attack 7, 54
Amiens one of worst experiences of war 68–9
attended conference at Avesnes 112–13
call for Allied armistice offer 177–80, 197–8, 316n.29
changed Chief of Staff of Ninth Army three times 113–14
character of 11–15
in comparison to Groener 257
could only hold centre on Western Front 175–7
Council of War on 17 October 218
devastating peace offensive on 21 March 118
and Dr Hochheimer 140–41
dreams and illusions of 260
headed back to OHL on 24 October 225
the Hindenburg Line, last card remaining 97
increasingly frustrated by indecision/incompetence 148
lost confidence in the morale of his troops 71–3
meeting with Prince Max on 9 October 201
never captured Amiens 29
no reasons for any panic 90
ordered formation of new Army Group 69–70
peace offensive a failure 110
Prince Max loses confidence in him 224
Proclamation on 24 October 225–6
reaction to collapse of two Bulgarian divisions 142–3
refused to contemplate further withdrawals 70
resigns on 26 October 234–7
strain continued to mount 75
Ludendorff, Margarethe von 13, 178, 235
Ludwig, Paul 161–2
Lynch, Edward 58
Lys 99
MacArthur, Douglas 120, 130
Macdonell, Major-General Archibald 101
MacGowan, Keith 232
McHenry, Herbert L. 121, 242
Machine-Gun Corps (British) 231
machine-guns 146, 161
Lewis guns 51, 85
Mackin, Elton 4–5, 115–16, 203, 240
McNaughton, Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew 35, 168–9, 242–3
Mahncke, Alfred 246
Manancourt 105
Manchester Regiment xxix
Mangin, General Charles
army deployed north of the Ourcq River 6
new offensive by Tenth Army 74–7
Operation Marneschutz-Reims 3
prepared to move forward on Aisne 63
shook with anger at state of Saint-Quentin 208–9
warnings about fighting power of French Army 191
Marigny Château 115
Marne, Second Battle of
Allied counter-stroke on 40
Allies let slip priceless advantage 278
American troops at 116
beginnings xxxii, 1–2, 15
enormous strain on German Army 7
German retreat from 9, 14, 17–18, 25, 30
plans for attack 34
saving of Paris 20
Maroilles 251
Marquion Line 167
Marshall, George 153–4, 165
Marshall, Major H. J. C. 133–4, 185, 188
Marwitz, General der Kavallerie Georg von der 38
Chief of Staff blamed for failures 69
commanders recommended immediate retreat 57
complained his men endured unspeakably hard conditions 92–3
ensured no bridges left standing 86
favoured pulling back beyond Meuse in late October
242
holding on at Romagne Heights 204–5
idea of an Allied counter-attack 40
loss of Mont Saint-Quentin a heavy blow 87–8
removed from command of Second Army on 22 September 148–9
underestimated value of armoured vehicles 50
visit to the Argonne front 163–4
went to see Gallwitz on 10 November 264
wondered at stupidity of Europe 148
‘masses of manoeuvre’ 30
Massey-Beresford, Jack 82
Max, Prince
announces abdication of the Kaiser 261
clear that Kaiser must go 224
cobbles together an Armistice Commission 252
furious at Ludendorff’s political stunt 224–5
introduces Kaiser to new Cabinet 223
letter from Crown Prince Rupprecht 276
loath to press the Emperor to resign 238–40
replaced von Hertling 195–7
telegram to White House on 6 October 200–202, 320n.7
tries to hold country together on 8 November 254–5
and Wilson’s note 217–18
Maxim machine-guns 115
Maze, Paul 41, 52–3, 55, 60, 135, 184
Meehan, Sergeant James 157
Megiddo, Battle of 226
Melun 23
Mende, Major 46
Metz 136
Meuse–Argonne front 120, 136, 151–4, 158, 203, 203–4
Mézières 49, 95, 136–7, 153–5
Michel Line 112, 129, 143
Middle East 142, 226
Military Cross xxix, 189–90
Military Medal 100, 172
Miller, Lieutenant-Colonel G. S. xxix, 81, 190
Mills bombs 85
Milner, Alfred 138–9
Minenwerfer mortar shells 263
Mohan, T. G. 42, 84
Molleville Farm 207
Moltke, Helmuth von 236
Monash, Sir John
conference at Villers-Bretonneux 65
description of last ten minutes before Amiens 42–3
‘feverish activity’ in Australian Corps noted 34–5
and the Hindenburg Line 144–5, 184, 186
increasingly unhappy about situation on front 61
most promising commander 31–2
move towards Lihons delayed 56
no costly attack from the west 86
orchestration of military power compared to music 299n.22
reluctant to leave château at Bertangles 108
told that railway bridge at Péronne could be rebuilt 107
troops pushing the enemy on 26 August 86
Mons 247, 266, 272
Mont Houy 242–3
Mont Saint-Quentin 85–7, 95
Montdidier 30, 49, 59, 65
Montfaucon 152–3, 156–7, 164, 166, 269
Montgomery, Major-General Sir Archibald 29–30, 87
Montmédy 150
Morgen, General-Leutnant Curt von 147
Morlancourt 30, 39
Mormal Forest 232
Moroccan tirailleurs 49
Mount Kemmel sector 37
Mouse Post 171
‘mouse trap’ 2–3, 5–6