Presented by Hee Soo Lee

The Battle at Moreuil Wood The Battle at Moreuil Wood

of March 30, 1918 of March 30, 1918

was for a commanding position was for a commanding position

on the riverbank on the riverbank

of the Avre River in France.of the Avre River in France.

The battlefieldThe battlefield

The Military Commander of the The Military Commander of the Allies:Allies:

General J.E.B. SeelyGeneral J.E.B. Seely

The Military Commander The Military Commander for the Germans:for the Germans:

General Erich LudendorffGeneral Erich Ludendorff

Background of the battleBackground of the battle

By January 1918, the First World War had By January 1918, the First World War had disintegrated from a mobile conflict into one of disintegrated from a mobile conflict into one of trench warfare. On the Western Front, three British trench warfare. On the Western Front, three British offensives, attempting to break the stalemate, had offensives, attempting to break the stalemate, had failed and resulted in 860,000 British and 590,000 failed and resulted in 860,000 British and 590,000 French casualties, with 850,000 German losses.French casualties, with 850,000 German losses.

The allies were in trouble. The allies were in trouble.

At one point, At one point,

only the British were available only the British were available

to oppose to oppose

any German offensives. any German offensives.

With new divisions freed up With new divisions freed up

by the closure of the Eastern Front by the closure of the Eastern Front

and victories in Italy, and victories in Italy,

the German high command the German high command

saw their chances of success saw their chances of success

with an offensive with an offensive

as favourable.as favourable.

The Stakes of the BattleThe Stakes of the Battle

In April 1918, both the Allies and the Central In April 1918, both the Allies and the Central Powers had entered a crucial period of reckoning. A Powers had entered a crucial period of reckoning. A major German victory on the Western Front would major German victory on the Western Front would mean the end of the war, in their favor. As British mean the end of the war, in their favor. As British Prime Minister David Lloyd George told the leaders of Prime Minister David Lloyd George told the leaders of the British Dominions in a speech on March 31: the British Dominions in a speech on March 31: ““The The last man may count.last man may count.”” The Allies, at least, could count The Allies, at least, could count on fresh infusions from the United States, which on fresh infusions from the United States, which increased its troops in France to more than 300,000 increased its troops in France to more than 300,000 by the end of that month. For their part, the Germans by the end of that month. For their part, the Germans were prepared to wager everything they had on this were prepared to wager everything they had on this spring offensivespring offensive——the last they would undertake in the last they would undertake in World War I. World War I.

The BattleThe Battle

At 08:30 on the 30th, General Seely and his At 08:30 on the 30th, General Seely and his aides travelled towards the Moreuil woods from aides travelled towards the Moreuil woods from where his forces were stationed on the other side of where his forces were stationed on the other side of the River Avre, with orders to cross the river and the River Avre, with orders to cross the river and delay the enemy advance as much as possible. At delay the enemy advance as much as possible. At 09:30, upon reaching the wood, having received fire 09:30, upon reaching the wood, having received fire from German forces that were occupying it, Seely from German forces that were occupying it, Seely ordered The Royal Canadian Dragoons to send ordered The Royal Canadian Dragoons to send sections to protect the village of Moreuil, while other sections to protect the village of Moreuil, while other sections were to seize the northeast corner of the sections were to seize the northeast corner of the wood itself. While this was being undertaken, Lord wood itself. While this was being undertaken, Lord Strathcona's Horse was ordered to occupy the Strathcona's Horse was ordered to occupy the southeast face of the wood and disperse any southeast face of the wood and disperse any German units found there.German units found there.

The Results of the BattleThe Results of the Battle

The German offence had come to The German offence had come to an end after the resistance of the an end after the resistance of the Allies. In the poor economic state of Allies. In the poor economic state of Germany by this time in the war, they Germany by this time in the war, they could never make up such losses; they could never make up such losses; they lost 250, 000 men. The Allies, in lost 250, 000 men. The Allies, in comparison, lost 240,000. comparison, lost 240,000.

The strength of Allied forces The strength of Allied forces

in defence and in defence and

in slowing down in slowing down

the German advance in engagements the German advance in engagements

such as those at Moreuil Wood such as those at Moreuil Wood

contributed to the ultimate defeat contributed to the ultimate defeat

of the German offensive.of the German offensive.

After the end of the German After the end of the German offensive, Lloyd George sent the offensive, Lloyd George sent the reinforcements to Haig. American reinforcements to Haig. American presence also increased from 162,000 presence also increased from 162,000 to 318,000. The allies launched their to 318,000. The allies launched their own counter-offensives starting at own counter-offensives starting at Amiens just north of Moreuil Wood, Amiens just north of Moreuil Wood, which proved to be a decisive victory which proved to be a decisive victory for the Allies. for the Allies.

Ludendorff commented after the Ludendorff commented after the first day of battle that it was a black first day of battle that it was a black day for the German army.day for the German army.