The Canadian Corps prepared themselves for the assault on Cambrai.
The 1st Canadian Division shifted to the north, temporarily falling under the command of the British 22nd Corps. By now, the Canadians had essentially encircled Cambrai, save for a brief gap on the eastern edge of the city.
Read MoreThe bookends of the Canadian Corps (the 1st and 4th Divisions) continued to rest and refit in anticipation of the forthcoming Cambrai campaign.
Unfortunately, the 2nd and 3rd Canadian Divisions wouldn’t receive their expected relief. 2 days’ time would see them attack Cambrai, in conjunction with the 11th British Division.
Read MoreQuiet persisted on the Canadian front.
Although the Canadian Offensive had petered out, the joint Franco-British assault on the St. Quentin Canal had succeeded in penetrating the Hindenburg Line along a (roughly) 12 KM front.
During the Amiens campaign, Canadian troops had captured defence plans for St. Quentin. In a similar fashion to the Canal du Nord, German engineers had integrated the Canal into their defence system itself - but to a much greater extent. Barbed wire was laid on the edges of the 3 metre high walls, and in the canal itself. Mud, water, and broken concrete made it impossible for tanks and guns to cross, unless a stable bridge was captured.
The Canadian capture of these plans allowed for in-depth planning by the assaulting forces on St. Quentin, and undoubtedly saved hundreds of lives.
The capture of St. Quentin allowed for a safe and stable crossing for guns, tanks, and other war materiel, in an effort to finish the fight against Germany. While the Americans were held up in the Argonne, the Canadian Corps licked their wounds and anticipated the assault on Cambrai.
Between the 3rd and 8th of October, little activity occurred in the Canadian sector outside of Cambrai.
The 1st and 4th Divisions continued their moves into the reserve areas of the Allied lines. Throughout the campaign at the Canal du Nord, both divisions had incurred heavy casualties. The regular process of “rest and refitment” was essential at this point in the war, especially for the dogged Colonial forces - the Australian and Canadian Corps had served as spearheads for campaigns since August 8th.
However, the sacrifices made by the Allies had worn the Central Powers. Bulgaria had already surrendered, and Allied forces moved through their territory uninhibited. The Turks had been soundly defeated in the Middle East, and Edmund Allenby’s Egyptian Expeditionary Force had captured Damascus.
Time was short for Germany and Austria- Hungary. The Austrians has been beaten back in Vryana and Albania, and were in a constant retreat for the remainder of the war. The Germans were not faring much better, both on the front lines and at home.
The British blockade of Germany had been resoundingly successful. Deprived of foreign imports, Germans had turned to making meatless sausages and low-grade black bread for its citizenry and soldiers. By late 1918, the daily allotment for German citizens was 800 calories a day - the same nutritional needs as a 3 year old.
October 4th saw the appointment of Prince Maximillian of Baden as Chancellor of Germany. His predecessor, Georg von Hertling, had resigned with his cabinet, as it became clear they were unable to handle the crisis. Back channeling through Switzerland, Max sent a note suggesting an armistice to President Woodrow Wilson of the United States.
Though it was clear the war was unwinnable, the German Army continued to fight with dogged resistance. As the infantry regrouped, Allied High Command finalized plans for an assault on Cambrai.
A decisive victory had been won in Arras.
In 6 days of battle, the Corps had defeated 12 German Divisions supported by 13 independent machine gun companies. The difficulty of the operation was not lost on the men, nor on High Command - roughly speaking, the Canadians had incurred around 10,000 killed, wounded, or missing throughout the battle.
Read MoreWith a few exceptions, the Canadians had captured all objectives assigned to them following their crossing of the Canal du Nord. Despite this, the ultimate prize of Cambrai still lay just beyond their grasp. The capture of the city was contingent on support from British forces just to the north and south of the city - and while the Canadians waited for them to catch up, battle weary troops took advantage of the welcome rest.
Read MoreThe Canadian Corps had licked their wounds overnight, and prepared to carry out the day’s operations.
At 5:10 AM, the 43rd and 52nd Battalions launched a head-on assault on German positions west of Cambrai. In spite of heavy machine gun fire from the German defenders, the Corps managed to clear out a number of trenches, and captured a number of prisoners.
Read MoreHeavy rain preceded the Canadian assaults on September 30th. On the front lines, the 1st, 3rd, and 4th Canadian Divisions endured the miserable conditions, ready to move on their objectives.
Read MoreA monumental day for the Allies, both on the Western Front and around the world.
After 4 years, Bulgaria surrendered to the Allies. Weeks of bitter fighting had drained Bulgarian Forces, and on September 29th, they signed the Treaty of Salonica. Treaty terms dictated the size of Bulgaria’s military, their borders, and ordered the immediate evacuation of Bulgarian occupied Greek and Serbian territories.
Read MoreBy all measures, the Canadian assault on the Canal du Nord had been shockingly successful. From a plan initially denied by British High Command, Corps Commander Arthur Currie had seized the imposing Bourlon Wood, the Marquion Line, and the Canal du Nord itself.
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