Battle of Hamel

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Battle of Hamel
Part of World War I
American and Australian troops dug in together during the Battle of Hamel
Date 4 July 1918 Location Hamel, France Result Allied victory
Combatants
Australia, United States	German Empire
Commanders
John Monash
Casualties
976 KIA, 338 WIA	2000 KIA, 1600 POW

The Battle of Hamel (4 July 1918) was a planned attack launched by the Australian Corps of the Australian Imperial Force against German positions in the town of Hamel in northern France during World War I.

The battle was planned and commanded by Lieutenant General John Monash (later knighted). It was significant not for its strategic value but rather because the tactics used drastically departed from the traditional tactics of massed frontal assaults being used at that time. The battle was a success taking only 92 minutes to complete, winning all the objectives, as compared to the many months of previous battles. There were 1062 Australian causualties (including 800 dead), as well as 176 American casualties (almost 100 dead), while there were probably 2000 Germans killed and 1,600 captured along with much enemy equipment.

Monash's detailed planning of the battle as well as the briefing of all troops on their objectives were instrumental in the battle's success. It also marked the novel use of a number of tactics such as aerial resupply (parachute drops) and advanced cooperation between infantry and armour. For example, the tanks were also used as a creeping barrage, where the artillery barrage moves slowly in front of the advancing troops, and they also supplied food, weapons and medicine to the advanced troops. Monash was adamant that infantry should not be sacrificed in an unprotected advance, hence his care to see that they were well covered.

While it was a small-scale battle, it was the first where the Allies went on the offensive against the Germans after the years trench warfare, and showed how the deadlock could be broken. The strategy was then devastatingly successful on a much larger scale in the Battle of Amiens, which marked the end of Germany's chances.

Two regiments--the 131st and 132nd of the 66th Infantry Brigade, 33rd Infantry Division--of American troops (2,000 men) also participated in the battle under the supervision of the Australian veterans.

[edit] References

• C.E.W. Bean Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-1918. Volume VI - The Australian Imperial Force in France during the Allied Offensive, 1918.
• The Battle of Hamel: History and Memory