Operation ERZENGEL

[wiking85]

Does anyone have any information about this operation? I was launched in early-mid April 1918 with 6 divisions by the German 7th army and cleared the East bank of the Ailette river in two days and cost just under 2k casualties. This is all I know other than it was a scaled down operation proposed as an alternative to MARS.

[BPJermyn]

Everything I'm finding is in German - google translate anyone

http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-42842940.html

[truthergw]

Everything I'm finding is in German - google translate anyone

http://www.spiegel.d...d-42842940.html

This link took me to Der Spiegel, a German magazine and an article about the French government's raids on Libya.

[wiking85]

http://wintersonnenwende.com/scriptorium/deutsch/archiv/weltkampf/wer0355.html

I found this, which helps, but google translate is pretty bad.

[Robert Dunlop]

I have information on this too. Will dig it out over the weekend.

Robert

[Robert Dunlop]

Here is the map of how Erzengel (Archangel) played out on 6-9 April 1918:

Robert

[wiking85]

Here is the map of how Erzengel (Archangel) played out on 6-9 April 1918:

Robert

Thanks! Any idea about the infantry divisions that took part or the amount of artillery involved? I'm curious to see if the divisions were organic to the 7th army or were brought in special for the operation. Also how much did the 18th army participate? It looks like from the map that the offensive was launched from the north and east and ran south.

[Robert Dunlop]

The divisions are set out on the German map 'Der "Erzengel"-Angriff der 7. Armee gegen die Ailette am 6. April 1918. 1 : 150000.'. This is map 11 in the separately published appendix to Der Weltkrieg Band 14. There were two corps involved: VIII; and VIIIR (from the German right to left respectively). Both corps were under the command of the German 7th Army during the battle. There was no way that the German 18th Army could have supported the attack directly, given that the right flank of the VIIIth Corps extended beyond the right flank of the attack. It is doubtful that 18th Army heavy and super-heavy artillery could have offered indirect support. VIIIth Corps had been transferred from the 18th Army towards the end of March. This was partly because 18th Army's span of control had become too great.

VIII Corps divisions comprised: 223, 211, and 75R. Only the latter was directly involved in advancing into French territory. The axis of 75R's advance was north to south.

VIII Reserve Corps attacked with: 5R, 14R, 241, 222, and 223 Divisions. Their axis of advance was east to west. The divisions were involved at different times, given the way that the attack unfolded over the three days. It appears that 223rd took up the attack on the southern flank, so that 222nd was not involved in crossing the French front line.

I haven't come across information about the levels of artillery support yet.

Robert

[Robert Dunlop]

Having reviewed the German and French accounts of the operation, it would not be surprising if little or no additional artillery was brought in for the attack. The operation could have been executed with the organic assets of the 7th Army. This guess has to be confirmed though.

Robert