The Centre Cannot Hold: Arras 1918 & the Failure of German Counterattack Doctrine
In this presentation, which was delivered 'live' to an online audience Dr Bill Stewart, talks about the German defensive doctrine in 1917-1918.
The centrepiece of this doctrine was that of the counterattack allied with a flexible defence-in-depth to frustrate Allied attacks. The Germans 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.
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