Battle of the Lys

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Lys
partof=the Western Front of World War I
date=9 April - 29 April 1918
place=Ypres, Belgium
result=Eventual Allied Victory
combatant1=flag|United Kingdom
flag|Portugal
flagicon|Canada|1868 Canada
flag|France
flagicon|Australia Australia
combatant2=flag|German Empire
commander1=flagicon|UK Julian Byng
flagicon|Portugal Gomes da Costa
flagicon|Canada|1868 Arthur Currie
flagicon|France Philippe Pétain
commander2=flagicon|German Empire Ludwig von Falkenhausen

The Battle of the Lys (also known as the Lys Offensive, the Battle of Estaires and the Batalha de La Lys in Portugal) was part of the 1918 German offensive in Flanders during the World War I (also know as the Spring Offensive), originally planned by General Ludendorff as Operation George but scaled back to become Operation Georgette, with the objective of capturing Ypres. Starting on April 9, 1918, the battle lasted until April 29.The attack was similar in planning, execution and effects, although with smaller dimensions, to the earlier Michael operation, also from the Spring Offensive

The front line was defended by two Portuguese divisions, with lack of men and without near half of its officers, had very low morale and were set to be replaced the day of the German attack.

The German attack was able to smash through those Portuguese divisions and emergency British troops, the 1st battalion, King Edward's Horse and the 11th Cyclist Battalion. Although they captured some land, German forces were ultimately brought to a halt by Australian, French and British divisions. By April 29 Ludendorff ceased Georgette operations.

Initial Attack

In one of the greatest defeats in the military history of Portugal, the 2nd Portuguese Division, approximately 20,000 men commanded by General Gomes da Costa (later President of Portugal), lost about 300 officers and 7,000 men, killed, wounded and prisoners, resisting the attack of four German divisions, with 50,000 men of 6th German Army, commanded by General Ferdinand von Quast, in the first day of the German offensive. Emergency British troops deployed to help the Portuguese defenses were also captured or forced to retreat.

On the flanks of the Portuguese, the British 55th Division (south of the Portuguese) were able to refuse their northern brigade, and despite numerous further attacks formed a firm defensive line which limited the effectiveness of the German attack. However, on the Portuguese northern flank, the British 40th Division were outflanked and attacked from the rear, and as a result allowed the attacking German units to extend the breakthrough of the front line further north.

Battle of Hazebrouck

Further German attacks towards the critical logistics centre of Hazebrouck were slowed by the defending British troops, before being stopped by the Australian 1st Division occupying a defensive position 5 miles (8 kilometers) from the town on 13 April.

Battle of Mount Kemmel

Reinforced by French units (who occupied the critical position of Mount Kemmel), the Germans continued their attacks on 17 April, and while they were rebuffed in front of Hazebrouck, they were able to seize Mont Kemmel from the French defending division on April 25. Further reinforcing French units and the failure of the attacks in front of Hazebrouck meant that the chance of any further attacks were unlikely to succeed meant that the German High Command called off the offensive soon after.

References

*"La Lys, 1918", Mendo Castro Henriques and António Rosas Leitão, Lisboa, Prefácio («Batalhas de Portugal»), 2001, ISBN 972-8563-49-3

ee also

*List of Canadian battles during World War I

External links

* [http://www.webmatters.net/belgium/ww1_lys_2.htm Operation Georgette]
* [http://www.worldwar1.com/france/portugal.htm Portugal on the WW1]