1917April–June 1917 · Chemin des Dames, Aisne
The Chemin des Dames offensive and the French army mutinies
On 16 April 1917 General Nivelle sent the French army against the Chemin des Dames ridge north-west of Reims, promising a breakthrough within days. It failed, with well over 100,000 casualties, among them thousands of West African tirailleurs. In May and June whole units refused to attack. Pétain halted the offensive, improved leave and food, and had a few dozen soldiers shot. The ridge is where France remembers the mutinies.
Sites
- Site 1: Caverne du Dragon (Chemin des Dames museum)An underground quarry fought over for months, now the battlefield's museum.Map ↗
- Site 2: Old village of CraonneThe destroyed village, now woodland and an arboretum, named in the mutineers' song.Map ↗
- Site 3: Berry-au-Bac tank memorialMemorial to the first French tank attack, on 16 April 1917.Map ↗
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Also in Reims and Champagne
More from the First World War
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