From the Hindenburg to the Hermann: British Third and Fourth Armies’ Operations; 27 September to 16 October 1918

From the Hindenburg to the Hermann is an analytical narrative of the British Third and Fourth Armies’ autumn operations between the Escaut and Selle rivers during the closing months of the First World War.

Beyond the Hindenburg System lay several less formidable, yet still substantial, German defensive positions extending to a depth of almost five miles. Protected by extensive belts of barbed wire, carefully registered artillery, and well-prepared trenches and strongpoints, these defences had to be systematically assaulted and overcome before the Allies could reach the open countryside beyond. Once these positions had fallen, British, American, and Australian forces were able to advance several miles through largely undamaged villages and across gently rolling terrain. Their progress, however, was eventually halted by the trenches and wire of the formidable Hermann Line on the River Selle.

Despite facing an increasingly sophisticated Allied system of all-arms warfare, supported by overwhelming artillery firepower and growing mechanisation, the withdrawing German forces continued to offer determined and skilful resistance. Although the Allies maintained the operational tempo and retained the initiative, the Germans’ resilience inflicted heavy casualties on the advancing infantry. By the time the Allied armies reached the Selle, mounting losses, unit fatigue, and the growing challenges of sustaining the advance made an operational pause unavoidable. Time was required to regroup, replenish, and prepare for the next set-piece offensive.

Illustrated throughout with maps and contemporary photographs, From the Hindenburg to the Hermann examines these operations in a single, accessible volume. It serves both as a detailed reference work and as a practical battlefield guide to a series of important but often overlooked engagements. Situated only a short drive from Cambrai and Saint-Quentin, the area is easily accessible to anyone exploring the battlefields of the Somme or Arras.