The German Army had undergone a battering in 1917: in the spring of 1918 it was time to get their own back. This talk looks at the “Georgette” offensive of April 1918 from the viewpoint of the Saxons of 32 Infanterie Division, and particularly that of the men of 103 Infanterie Regiment. It examines training and morale and covers the first few days of the offensive which broke through the heavily fortified British lines south of the Lys.
The image depicts Leutnant d. Reserve Karl Döring of III/103 I.R. being awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Military Order of St. Heinrich by the King of Saxony, Friedrich August on 17th May 1918. Döring, aged 25, was from Meissen and was a medical student pre-war. He commanded 10 Kompagnie and on 10th April led an attack on the British lines at Delpierre Farm, personally capturing 3 machine guns and 21 men. He was killed in action on 15th October 1918, north of Verdun.
Our speaker, Alistair is very well-known in this branch for his regular and always popular lectures, perhaps it is less known that he has recently retired from Durham University Library. A rare book specialist by profession, he has a degree in history from Newcastle University. He has worked for the Public Record Office and the British Library.