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The Great War In Flanders - Ieper (Ypres) |
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Page 1 |
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The Battles of Ypres |
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The 1st Battle of Ypres: 19th October - 22nd November 1914 |
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After the German advance through Belgium and Northern France was halted in September 1914, the centre of gravity of the battle shifted to the Westhoek. The Belgian army stopped the German attacks by flooding the Yser plain (27-29th October 1914) whilst to the South, the British and French fought to stop the German attempt to break through the Allies' line at Ypres. This was the First Battle of Ypres, which raged from 22nd October to 22nd November 1914. After it, the armies dug in on the heights that made a half-circle around the city. The famous Ypres Salient was born. |
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The 2nd Battle of Ypres: 22nd April - 25th May 1915 |
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In the spring of 1915, the Germans tried again to break through at Ypres: this resulted in the Second Battle of Ypres. On 22nd April 1915, between Steenstraete and Langemark (Langemarck), they used gas for the first time. The allies had to withdraw a few kilometres but nowhere could the Germans break through the line. |
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The 3rd Battle of Ypres: 31st July - 10th November 1917 |
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The Third Battle of Ypres took place in the summer of 1917. This greatest British offensive was initially successful with the mine battle of the Messines Ridge (7th June 1917), but the battle for Passendale (Passchendaele) ended as a catastrophe. A minor advance of 8km was paid for with almost 400,000 British loses. The Hell of Passendale was a morass of mud and pain. |
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German Spring Offensive: April 1918 |
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In the spring of 1918, the land gains acquired had to be yielded immediately in the German spring offensive. During the battle around Kemmel Hill (25th April 1918), the Ypres lines almost collapsed. But the German resources were exhausted and the Americans got involved in the battle bringing vital resource and reinforcements to the Allies. |
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Liberation Offensive: 28th September - 11th November 1918 |
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In the liberation offensive, the Germans had to give way to the Allies, who pushed beyond the Scheldt. On 11th November 1918 the armistice was signed in a train wagon near Compiegne. |
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