Operation Gneisenau, 9 - 12 June 1918

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Operation Gneisenau, 9 - 12 June 1918.  The third campaign of Kaiserschlacht, Operation GNEISENAU was intended to draw Allied reserves south, widen the German salient and link it with the salient at Amiens.  There were four German offensives (The German Spring Offensive), codenamed Michael, Georgette, Gneisenau, and Blücher-Yorck.  On 9 June 1918, the Germans advanced 21 divisions nine miles on a 23 mile front along the Matz River against fierce French and American resistance.  But the French had intelligence warning of the impending attack and following a surprise counterattack at Compiègne on 11 June 1918 halted the German advance. Operation GNEISENAU was ended on 12 June 1918 at a cost of 35,000 Allied and 30,000 German casualties.