Erich Ludendorff

Ludendorf commands the 14th Infantry Brigade in Liege & accepts its surrender. Ludendorf calls up the zeppelins to drop bombs into the city and citadel, and personally leads 14th Brigade in between the forts into the city, forcing the Belgian garrison there to surrender

The last of the forts surrounding Liege surrenders to Ludendorfs forces. The forts around Liege are finally taken

The German Second Army, together with First and 3rd Armies, began to implement the next stage of the Schlieffen Plan, embarking upon a wide sweeping wheel movement through Belgium, forcing the Belgian army back to Antwerp

The German Second Army, together with First and 3rd Armies, began to implement the next stage of the Schlieffen Plan, embarking upon a wide sweeping wheel movement through Belgium, forcing the Belgian army back to Antwerp

Brussels is captured without resistance by General von Kluck of the First Army

The Russians lose 92,000 compared to 13,000 Germans. Ludendorf & Hindenberg outflank & defeat the Russian Second Army

Victory enables the German March offensive on the Western Front. Bombards Caporetto & crosses the River Isonzo. 300,000 Italians are taken prisoner

Bombards Caporetto & crosses the River Isonzo

A surprise British tank attack.

During the battle casualties were high, the Germans suffered losses of approximately 50,000 and the British 45,000.

Orders an immediate counter-attack only to discover that reserves could not be brought forward for a further two days, at one stage he even contemplates a general withdrawal from the Cambrai front.

Within hours the lightly defended Germans are forced back 6 km to Cambrai, the three trench systems of the Hindenburg Line pierced for the first time in the war.

A German counter-offensive wipes out British gains

1st day of the Battle of Lys, part of Operation Georgette

Ludendorf orders the Aisne attack to divert the French reserves so that the BEF can be struck again in Flanders

1st day of 3rd Ludendorf offensive, Battle of the Aisne

Final day of 3rd Ludendorf offensive, Battle of the Aisne

Americans attack German positions

If the Germans could make progress in the centre sector here, the indented Front Line of the bulge between these two salients could be straightened out. 1st day of 4th Ludendorf offensive, Battle of Matz

The German plan was to push the German Front Line westwards in the sector between two salients; the northern salient had been formed from the fighting towards Amiens and the southern one at the end of the previous German offensive in the Aisne sector.

The Noyon-Montdidier Offensive known in the German plan by its code-name of Operation Gneisenau (9th - Thirteenth June 1918). Also known as the Battle of Matz it was the fourth German offensive launched in 1918.

Although the Germans made progress on the first day, the French organized a counter-attack on 11th June

The last German position is taken

The Germans halt their offensive

Final day of 4th Ludendorf offensive, Battle of Matz

The German advance on Paris is turned back, Bellau Wood is secured by the Allies

The German advance on Paris is stopped

The Marne Offensive (15th July - 5th August 1918) became the last German offensive of the war. It was intended as a diversionary attack either side of Reims to cross the river Marne and draw the Allied reserves away from Flanders, where Ludendorff was planning to make another offensive to break through the Allied line once and for all

Ludendorff throws 35 Divisions across the Marne to encircle Reims. Final thrust of the Spring Offensive. 1st day of 5th Ludendorf offensive, Battle of the Marne

Final day of 5th Ludendorf offensive, Battle of the Marne

The Allies counter-attack capturing 12,000 PoWs, 250 guns & 14 German divisions. German forces south of the River Marne are forced to rereat

The British 9th Division recaptures Meteren

The Germans retreat 5 miles as the French reach the Lassery-Chateau-Thierry Road

The Allies cross the Marne near Dormans. Ludendorf orders the southern salient to be abandoned

The British recapture Marfaux

A French & British force advances 2 miles toward the Avre Valley

Directs the German forces during the Battle of Bapaume

The Allies drive the Germans back & capture the Arras-Bapaume Road

The 2nd Australian Div captures Mont St Quentin & removes a central German strongpoint

The 2nd Australian Div captures Peronne