Second Battle of Cambrai

Overview

The Battle of Cambrai, 1918 was fought between troops of the British First, Third and Fourth Armies and German Empire forces during the Hundred Days Offensive of the First World War. The battle took place in and around the French city of Cambrai, between 8 and 10 October 1918. The battle incorporated many of the newer tactics of 1918, in particular tanks. The battle witnessed over 300 tanks taking part, gaining considerable ground in less than 36 hours, with about 2,000 more British casualties than German, which was light relative to earlier phases of the war.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Second Battle of Cambrai was fought as part of the Hundred Days Offensive, involving the British First, Third, and Fourth Armies against German Empire forces. The battle lasted less than 36 hours and resulted in considerable territorial gains around the French city of Cambrai. British casualties numbered approximately 12,000 against roughly 10,000 German, a differential that commanders of the period considered acceptable relative to the attritional losses of earlier phases of the war. The engagement reflected how far British operational method had advanced by October 1918, combining arms in ways that produced rapid results at costs that contrasted sharply with the grinding offensives of preceding years.

Tactics

Forces & casualties

Commanders (5)