Second Battle of the Aisne

1917 battle on the Western Front of World War I

The Second Battle of the Aisne was a French offensive on the Western Front of World War I. The battle was part of the 1917 Nivelle Offensive. The goal of the battle was to end the war in 48 hours, but it failed with many deaths. The failure of the battle caused French morale to collapse, and started the French Army mutinies.

Second Battle of the Aisne
Part of the Western Front of the First World War

Chemin des Dames and Champagne, 1917
Date16 April – 9 May, 24–26 October 1917
Location
Between Soissons and Reims, France

49°24′N 3°36′E / 49.400°N 3.600°E / 49.400; 3.600
Result Inconclusive
Belligerents
 France  German Empire
Commanders and leaders
French Third Republic Robert Nivelle
French Third Republic Franchet d'Espèrey
French Third Republic Alfred Micheler
French Third Republic Philippe Pétain
French Third Republic Charles Mangin
French Third Republic François Anthoine
French Third Republic Olivier Mazel
French Third Republic Denis Duchêne
French Third Republic Georges Humbert
German Empire Erich Ludendorff
German Empire Crown Prince Wilhelm
German Empire Max von Boehn
German Empire Fritz von Below
German Empire Karl von Einem
Strength
French Third Republic 53 divisions German Empire 38 divisions
Casualties and losses
French Third Republic c.  187,000 German Empire c.  163,000