Marching for Honour Recognition and Adventure

LOCATION OF THE WORLD WAR 1 BATTLES

The Map of the European Battlefields demonstrates the confined areas of

Northern France and Belgium that comprised the Western Front and

shows the locations of Australia’s major battles of World War I. It also is

an indication of the pointless and ineffective progress made by both sides

during the majority of the war. Only in 1918 did Britain and her allies

gain any ascendancy.

The Germans only real gain in territory occurred in 1918 in their major

offensive against Amiens and the Australians at Villers Bretonneux.

While they were initially successful, the soldiers at the Front were

hampered by lack of supplies and were driven back to their starting

points.

Researchers can be aware of some of the following geographical

influences on the conduct of the war:

1. The closeness of the English Channel, England and the major port

of Calais to the northern battlefields.

2. The importance of the Ypres salients and their possible capture;

3. The importance of the Australian victory at Villers Bretonneux in

stopping the German advance towards Amiens;

4. The significance of the Hindenburg Line in the mentality of its

possible capture to Germany’s tactical approach; and

5. The close proximity of Paris and possible defeat if German forces

had broken through and captured the railway junction at Amiens.

Reference: ANZAC Day Commemoration Committee of Queensland

Further Research

Take a good look at the map: If you were the German

commander how would you have attempted to win the war at its

beginning?