Battle of Arras (1917)

1917 British offensive during the First World War

The Battle of Arras was a battle of the First World War. The battle was a British attack on the German defences near the French city of Arras on the Western Front. The battle started on 9 April 1917. The British Empire troops went quite far forward but they did not achieve a breakthrough. For the amount of ground gained, the British also lost many soldiers. The battle ended on 16 May 1917 and there was a stalemate.

Battle of Arras
Part of the Western Front of the First World War

The Battle of Arras, April 1917
Date9 April – 16 May 1917
Location
50°17′23″N 2°46′51″E / 50.28972°N 2.78083°E / 50.28972; 2.78083
Result See Analysis section
Belligerents

 British Empire

 German Empire
Commanders and leaders
United Kingdom Douglas Haig
British Empire Edmund Allenby
British Empire Hubert Gough
British Empire Henry Horne
German Empire Erich Ludendorff
German Empire Ludwig von Falkenhausen
Strength
first day:
14 divisions in the assault
9 divisions in reserve
first day:
12 divisions in the line
5 divisions in reserve
Casualties and losses
158,000 120,000–130,000