The presentation will be live and online.
This presentation by Dr Bill Stewart, is about the German defensive doctrine in 1917-1918. This centrepiece of this doctrine was that of the counterattack allied with a flexible defence-in-depth to frustrate Allied attacks. They could deliver punishing counter blows that violently overthrew Allied advances. This presentation examines four case studies of German multi-battalion counterattacks in 1917 and 1918 at Arras based on Canadian and German records. The presentation will explain why, despite favourable circumstances, these counterattack in 1918 failed unlike 1917.
After a thirty-year career in high-tech, Stewart (PhD 2012 University of Birmingham) studies the administration, tactics, and operations of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. He has written The Embattled General: Sir Richard Turner and the First World War, Canadians on the Somme 1916: The Neglected Campaign and 12 journal articles.
Members wishing to participate will need to register: details of how to register will be circulated via the WFA's newsletter 'Trench Lines'. If you are not a subscriber to 'Trench Lines' please subscribe now.
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It is also possible to register by clicking this link: The Centre Cannot Hold
The talk will be undertaken using the 'zoom' software which is freely available. It may not be necessary to load the software to your PC / iPad etc: but we would recommend doing so if you wish to participate in this event.