University:
University of Cambridge
Course:
0470 IGCSE | History
Academic year:

2023
Views:

29

Pages:

3
Author:

anon

IGCSE History: World War I – Passchendaele Passchendaele: (July - November 1917) Also known as the Third Battle of Ypres or the Battle of Mud. Reasons for Haig to attack? Relieve German pressure off France to prevent their military collapse: Some French soldiers had mutinied (April and May 1917). Haig believed in attrition and was convinced that the Germans were on the verge of collapse after the offensives of 1916. He believed that a quick breakthrough could be achieved here: This would allow him to capture the German U-boat bases at the Belgian ports ofOstende and Zeebrugge. What happened? The Allies attacked on the 31st July, 1917. No breakthrough was achieved. The Allies lost 30 000 men in this week. Allied advance: October – The Germans had been forced back 11km towards the village of Passchendaele. November 6, 1917 – Canadian forces captured Passchendaele. They were called off as winter was near and the weather was worsening. In the End: No breakthrough was achieved because: Germans used mustard gas for the first time Caused skin to blister and could not be stopped by gas masks, only full body suits. The reason for this was because it was a nerve gas. The weather was bad: Rains continuing throughout August caused the ground to become swamp-like. No heavy guns, horses or tanks could be used. This dampened trooper morale. This was the main reason for the failure. Successes: The French were allowed to recover as German pressure had been relieved. Germans suffered 200 000 casualties. Germans were greatly weakened. This contributed to their overall surrender. Failures: No breakthrough was achieved. Attrition did not work: The Allies lost 250 000 men and the Germans only 200 000. British forces had only gained 11km of mud. End of 1917: Trench warfare had been going on for 3 years. No breakthrough had been achieved. Both sides had suffered huge numbers of casualties. German food supplies were running short, owing to the Allied naval blockade. The US was allying herself with the British. This would end all possibility of a German victory on the Western Front. This was what made Ludendorff and Hindenburg grow more and more desperate.