© ATOM 2015 A STUDY GUIDE BY ROBERT LEWIS
http://www.metromagazine.com.au
ISBN: 978-1-74295-591-9 http://www.theeducationshop.com.au OVERVIEW CURRICULUM APPLICABILITY
ANZAC Battlefields (Serge Ou, 6 x 26 minutes, ANZAC Battlefields is suitable as a classroom resource for 2015) is a series that explores in a new and middle and upper secondary students, especially for: powerfully dynamic way what happened on the battlefields which have taken the heaviest toll in Australian History Year 9 Australian and New Zealand life, the First World • Depth Study: World War 1 — The places where War battlefields of the Western Front. Australians fought and the nature of warfare during World War I. The places have changed very little – the grass has grown back, trees have been planted, perhaps English Year 9 and 10 a road where before there was none but no cities • Analyse and evaluate how people, cultures, places, have been built on these landscapes. It is still events, objects and concepts are represented in texts, possible to stand and imagine what the Diggers including media texts, through language, structural went through. The tactics, the deployment, the and/or visual choices. plans of battle but also what actually happened, moment-by-moment, as battle unfolded, to Media Arts Year 9 and 10 individuals we can name and get to know. • Evaluate how genre and media conventions and techni- cal and symbolic elements are manipulated to make The combination of computer-generated effects, representations and meaning. explanation and illustration at the actual locations creates compelling programs. Twentieth Century History Year 11 • A study of World War 1
The six episodes in the series are:
1 BAPTISM — exploring Australia’s Western Front battles of 1916, especially the first major battle at Fromelles. 2 SACRIFICE — including the murderous battles at Pozières where the Australians lose 12,000 men, and at Flers, where the New Zealanders experience great success advancing 2.5 kilometres but for the high price of the loss of 2,000 casualties. 3 RESOLVE — the battles of 1917, including Bullecourt, Ypres, Messines, Menin Road and Bullecourt. 4 CATACLYSM — the killing fields of Passchendaele. 5 SPIRIT — the great final German offensive of 1918, leading to the defining moment in
Australia’s war, Villers-Bretonneux. SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015 6 VICTORY — the great Allied offensive of 1918 that broke the Hindenburg Line and led to the German surrender.
Each episode can help teachers explore the na- ture of the Australian experience of the Western Front with students. 2 click on USING THIS STUDY GUIDE arrows ANZAC Battlefields comprises six episodes tracing key Australian battles between 1916 Introductory Activities, page 4 and 1918.
The series can be viewed as a whole, or Key Activity Page, page 11 teachers may focus on one or several battles to help students explore the nature of warfare on the Western Front (different in 1916 to Background Information, page 12 1918).
Whether they are viewing one episode, or Episodes: several, or all of the six, students should complete the Introductory Activities, read Episode 1, page 16 Episode 2, page 16 or keep with them the Background Material, then complete the Comprehension and Episode 3, page 17 Episode 4, page 17 Analysis Questions for each episode watched. At the end of each episode they watch, whether one episode or several, Episode 5, page 18 Episode 6, page 19 students should complete the Key Activity
Page. Finally, they should look at the SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015 Conclusion Questions. Conclusions and Reflections This can be summarized diagrammatically in this way (see right)
Click on this arrow anytime to take you back to this Content Hyperlinks page 3 1.2 Describe who is in each one, and what is happening. INTRODUCTORY ACTIVITIES (Try to work each one out, but if you need to check go to the Australian War Memorial site https://www.awm.gov. Here are two activities that will help you au and key in the image reference number, e.g. E00766, in start thinking about some key concepts that the Search box at the top right of the page and check the are explored in ANZAC Battlefields caption.) 1.3 Which ones fit the image you recorded above? What is your image of the 1 Western Front? 1.4 Which ones challenge that image? How? Even if you do not know very much about the Western 1.5 Do any of these images surprise you? Explain why or Front you will have an image in your mind of what the war why not. was like for the soldiers there. 1.6 What questions do these images raise in your mind 1.1 Brainstorm and record your image and that of your about the nature of the war experience of Australians on classmates in the box below. the Western Front? Suggest at least two questions that each images raises. Now look at the 8 images on the next pages and answer these questions about them: After you have discussed these images look at Introductory Activity 2.
THE KEY ELEMENTS OF YOUR IMAGE OF THE NATURE OF WAR ON THE WESTERN FRONT ARE: SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015
4 A: FIG 1 AWM E00766 SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015
B: FIG 2 AWM E05988A
5 C: FIG 3 AWM EZ0032 SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015
D: FIG 4 AWM E01220
6 E: FIG 5 AWM EZ0009 SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015
F: FIG 6 AWM E03183
7 G: FIG 7 AWM EZ0120 SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015
H: FIG 8 AWM E00822
8 What is meant by ‘trench 2 warfare’? War on the Western front was ‘trench warfare’.
Look at Figs 9 & 10 this page and answer the questions.
2.1 What is the main purpose of a trench?
2.2 Do you think there would be problems with: cooking sleeping keeping cool water keeping hygiene washing warm boredom?
2.3 List the words that best describe life in the trenches to you. FIG 9 SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015
9 FIG 10 FIG 11
Look at this sketch (F11), showing the image or theory of boxes, and explain what is happening at each stage to trench warfare. make the attack fail.
2.4 Below are seven descriptions of what the Allied 2.6 Why did the defenders have such a great advantage soldiers are doing in the sketch. They are not in the correct against attackers in trench warfare? order. Number them in the correct order from 1-7 that tells the story of what is happening. One example has been Now look at the Key Activity Page to understand what done for you. you are going to be looking for in the episode or episodes of ANZAC Battlefields that you are about to watch. You will Now look at this second sketch (F12) also need to refer to the Background Information to help you understand the time and places in the episode/s, and 2.5 It compares the theory of trench warfare with what also some of the military terminology. it says is the reality. Write in number 1 to 6 in the empty
The Allied soldiers have an aeroplane above the area that tells them what is happening. Number The Allied soldiers destroy the enemy trenches and capture the Germans. these The Allied soldiers destroy the enemy village. descriptions 1 Allied soldiers are advancing. in the correct order from The Allied soldiers cut the enemy barbed wire. 1-7 The Allied soldiers destroy the German guns. The Germans run away. SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015
FIG 12 10 KEY ACTIVITY PAGE
Your task as you watch each episode is to work out what may discover that leadership was a key element in the key elements or features were of each of the main battles. Good leadership may help the soldiers battles that are presented. You need to note these down, to succeed, while bad leadership may help List each new and explain why each was so important. For example, you to cause them to fail in an attack. feature in this summary table as you identify it in FEATURE OF BATTLE WHY IT IS IMPORTANT OR SIGNIFICANT the episode/s you watch. SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015
11 BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The organization A of the AIF The Australians were organised in this way:
• A Company contained 4 Platoons. • A Battalion was about 1000 men and contained 4 rifle Companies • A Brigade contained 4 Battalions (3 in 1918). By 1918 each brigade also included a light trench mortar bat- tery, while each division included a pioneer battalion, a machine-gun battalion, two field artillery brigades, a divisional trench mortar brigade, four companies of en- gineers, a divisional signals company, a divisional train consisting of four service corps companies, a salvage company, three field ambulances, a sanitary section and a mobile veterinary section. • An Infantry Division contained 3 Infantry Brigades. Each division also included a range of combat sup- port and service units, including artillery, machine-gun, mortar, engineer, pioneer, signals, logistic, medical, veterinary and administrative units. • A Corps contained 3 Infantry Divisions
For most of the time on the Western front there were two Australian Corps:
I ANZAC CORPS II ANZAC CORPS
Australian 1st Division 4th Australian Division Australian 2nd Division 5th Australian Division Australian 3rd Division New Zealand Division
From November 1917 I and II Corps were combined to become the Australian Corps under general Monash, and the New Zealand Corps was transferred to the British XXII Corps.
DIVISION BRIGADE BATTALIONS
1 1-3 1-12
2 4-6 13-24 SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015
3 7-9 25-36
4 10-12 37-48
5 13-15 49-60
12 Where the Australians The battles in GREEN are hotlinked to B fought over time — http://www.ww1westernfront.gov.au/australian-remem- and the changing front line brance-trail/where-australians-fought.php where you will find much more detail. Note: See the maps on pages 14-15. Maps: The number refers to the location of this battle on the http://www.ww1westernfront.gov.au/australian-remem- maps. brance-trail/where-australians-fought.php
1916 1 PASSCHENDAELE October– 10 LE HAMEL July 1918 November 1917 Brigades from 2nd, 3rd and 6 FROMELLES July 1916 Failed Australian attack in the 4th Australian Divisions cap- The 5th Division suffers a final phase of 3rd Battle of ture Le Hamel. disastrous defeat in the first Ypres. 23 Etinehem August 1918 major Australian operation on 2 BROODSEINDE October– 13th Brigade (4th Division) the Western Front. November 1917 captures Etinehem. 8 POZIÈRES July–August 1916 Australian victory, the third in 24 Bray August 1918 1st Anzac Corps captures a series of successes after The Australians capture Pozières village and the the Battle of Menin Road. Bray as part of the general heights beyond. advance from 8 August. 9 MOUQUET FARM August– 1918 25 Proyart August 1918 September 1916 Several days after the com- Australian defeat – After 17 Hébuterne March–April 1918 mencement of the 8 August Pozières, 1st Anzac Corps 4th Australian Division defen- offensive, the Australian 10th fails to capture Mouquet sive victory. brigade (3rd Division) cap- Farm. 18 DERNANCOURT March–April tures Proyart. 15 GUEUDECOURT November 1918 26 Chuignes August 1918 1916 Australian defensive victory Australians capture Chuignes Rested after Pozières, 1st south of Albert. ridge overlooking the Somme Anzac Corps returns to the 19 Morlancourt March–June during the Second Battle of Somme, making limited 1918 Albert. gains. Between the Aisne and 27 Lihons August 1918 Somme rivers 2nd, 3rd and 1st Australian Division cap- 1917 5th Australian Divisions tures Lihons. in turn advance towards 28 Bellicourt September 1918 16 Lagnicourt April 1917 Morlancourt. The Australian Corps breaks The Australians repulse a 11 VILLERS-BRETONNEUX April through the Hindenburg Line. German counterattack be- 1918 12 MONT ST QUENTIN September tween the First and Second At the second battle of 1918 Battles of Bullecourt. Villers-Brettoneux the 2nd Australian Division cap- 7 BULLECOURT April–May 1917 Australians recapture the tures Mont St Quentin. During the Battle of Arras, village. 13 PÉRONNE September 1918 the first Australian attack on 20 Hazebrouck April 1918 South of Mont St Quentin, Bullecourt fails, the second 1st Australian Division holds Péronne is taken by 5th succeeds. Hazebrouck against the Australian Division. 5 MESSINES June 1917 German Sixth Army. 14 BELLENGLISE September Australian victory – 3rd 21 Hangard Wood April 1918 1918 Divisions first major battle. South of Villers-Bretonneux 4th Division captures the 3 POLYGON WOOD September the Australians failed to cap- Hindenburg Outpost Line in 1917 ture Hangard Wood. its last battle of the war. SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015 Australian victory at 3rd 22 Merris May–June 1918 29 MONTBREHAIN October 1918 Battle of Ypres. 1st Australian Division, in a The last phase of the 4 MENIN ROAD September 1917 series of small operations, Hindenburg Line break- Beginning of the Australian recovers ground lost in the through and the Australian participation in 3rd Battle of German offensive. infantry’s last battle. Ypres – Australian victory.
13 A FRONT LINE JUNE 1916. FIG 13
B FRONT LINE NOVEMBER 1917. FIG 14 SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015
14 C FRONT LINE AUGUST 1918 FIG 15
D FRONT LINE NOVEMBER 1918 FIG 16 SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015
15
EPISODES 2 Sacrifice Industrial warfare at its most terrifying—gas, tanks, machine guns, barbed wire—the 1 Baptism ANZACS find themselves fully acquainted with the texture of war on the Western Front in a Where is the Western Front? Why did series of murderous battles at Pozières where two vast armies dig in, extending lines of the Australians lose 12,000 men. At Flers in trenches from the Channel ports almost the battle of the Somme the New Zealanders to the Alps? All of this happened in the experience great success advancing 2.5 first weeks of the war so that by mid- kilometres but the price was high with the loss September the German attack had faltered of 2,000 casualties. on the Marne and the situation became stalemated. This is the battlefield that the ANZACS, withdrawn from Gallipoli, entered 2.1 How did the new tactic of ‘bite and hold’ work? at the beginning of 1916. 2.2 Why was Pozieres important?
1.1 Why were the Germans fighting on two fronts? 2.3 Describe the nature of the fighting for Pozieres.
1.2 Why were the British involved? 2.4 We learn of several men who were awarded the Victoria Cross for ‘valour’. Why do you think some sol- 1.3 Why did they occupy the part of the line closest diers were capable of extraordinary bravery in the face of to the sea? the enemy?
1.4 Why did the ‘Western Front develop? 2.5 How did better planning help with the taking of the Windmill? 1.5 Explain how a trench system worked. 2.6 The narrators explain that this was the first time the 1.6 The earliest Australian experience of the Western Australians had come up against ‘industrial warfare’. Front was with ‘trench raids’. Explain what a trench What does that mean? raid was. 2.7 What were the effects of a sustained artillery bom- 1.7 The Australians’ first battle was at Fromelles. bardment on the soldiers? Explain how each of these influenced the battle: 2.8 Why were the casualties so high in the attacks on • high ground Pozieres and Mouquet Farm? • artillery barrage • salient 2.9 The New Zealanders fought at Flers and Gudecourt. • concrete gun emplacements What was their experience of battle? • knowledge of the ground • enfilade fire and grazing fire 2.10 One of the key elements in some actions was the • barbed wire. fighting for high ground. Why would high ground be an advantage in a predominantly flat landscape? 1.8 What was the result of the battle? (Note: See Comparing two battles on the Western Front 2.11 What impact did the weather have on the Somme in the Conclusions section of this Study Guide for campaign? How did the nature of the terrain help make more information on Fromelles.) trench warfare even more challenging?
1.9 Add your ideas about what makes a battle suc- 2.12 Add any ideas about what makes a battle success- cessful or unsuccessful to the list you are creating on ful or unsuccessful to the list you are creating on the Key SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015 the Key Activity Page. Activity Page.
1.10 What has this episode added to your knowl- 2.13 What has this episode added to your knowledge edge and understanding of, and empathy with, the and understanding of, and empathy with, the experience experience of the Australian soldiers on the Western of the Australian soldiers on the Western Front? Front?
16
3 Resolve 4 Cataclysm It is 1917 and the ANZACS are involved in the One of the most notorious killing fields of seminal battles of Bullecourt, Ypres, Messines WWI — Passchendaele. We walk where and Menin Road. The year starts for the the battalions fought and where the artillery Australians with success but when the Germans sank in liquid mud. In the midst of the battle counter-attack the Australians are overwhelmed one of Australia’s greatest soldiers, then at a place called Bullecourt, a significant German Lieutenant Colonel Leslie Morshead, wrote: breakthrough seems imminent. But, as we will “things are bloody, very bloody”. The losses see as we walk the battlefield, 4,000 Australians were enormous — on October 12th the New rally and hold the line against 16,000 Zealand Division lost 2,800 men, the bloodiest VCs are awarded (Captain Percy Cherry’s story day in that country’s military history. is particularly inspiring). 4.1 The battle for Polygon Wood started with an artillery And then disaster – a renewed offensive at barrage. How did this help make control of the attack Bullecourt is a textbook example of things that difficult? can go wrong, including the failure of the early tanks. The Australians withstand counter-attacks 4.2 What effect did the fog have on the attack? and hold the line but the cost is 7,000 men. 4.3 How successful was the attack?
3.1 The Australians were involved in 1917 in the battle 4.4 Presenter Neil Pigot argues that it is a myth that for Bullecourt. It is described as a ‘fiasco’. Explain why — commanders did not learn lessons from their experience noting in particular the role of tanks, the weather, and the of trench warfare. How did the Third Battle of Ypres failure of the artillery barrage to cut the barbed wire. see a different approach to using massed troops to advance? 3.2 Both gas and flame throwers were used in the German defence of the Hindenburg Line. Explain how they worked. 4.5 What was the significance of the physical location Were they successful? of Broodseinde?
3.3 What new Allied tactic was used successfully at 4.6 How did the weather affect the battle? Messines? 4.7 One of the characteristics of the Australians was 3.4 Another innovation was the creeping barrage. Explain their robbing of prisoners, collecting souvenirs. Why did how this worked. they do this? Do you think it was appropriate?
3.5 The Hindenburg Line was also defended by concrete 4.8 How had new training helped make the Australians pill boxes. Explain how these worked. more effective soldiers?
3.6 How did rain affect the Battle of Menin Road? 4.9 How had the nature of Battalion commanders changed, and with what impacts? 3.7 The Germans learned to use the tactic of ‘elastic de- fence’. What does that mean and how did it work? 4.10 What were the physical conditions at the attack on Passchendaele? 3.8 We learn of several men who were awarded the Victoria Cross for ‘valour’. Why do you think some soldiers 4.11 How did this have an impact on the artillery bar- were capable of extraordinary bravery in the face of the rage, and on the advance of the troops across open enemy? ground?
3.9 Add any ideas about what makes a battle success- 4.12 Why was barbed wire such an important defence SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015 ful or unsuccessful to the list you are creating on the Key weapon? Activity Page. 4.13 How did the conditions affect the life of the men in 3.10 What has this episode added to your knowledge and the trenches? understanding of, and empathy with, the experience of the Australian soldiers on the Western Front? 4.14 How did inaccurate or misleading communications to the decision-makers affect the battle? 17 4.15 Dr Pedersen says that one measure of the cost ef- fectiveness of battles was the cost per casualty of each 5 Spirit metre gained. How did Passchendaele compare with Messeines and Broodseinde? The German’s launched the massive Operation Michael on an 80 kilometre front on March 21st 4.16 What was the result of the battle? 1918, the greatest offensive of the war. We hear
4.17 Historians generally criticise the British com- stories of desperate defence and the crumbling mander, Field Marshal Haig, for persisting in throwing of the Allied line, we meet great characters like huge numbers of men into battle, with consequent huge New Zealand’s most famous soldier Richard casualties. The narrators are more sympathetic to him. Travis, the unorthodox “king of no-man’s land”. What is their argument in support of the policy? And we reach what is, for many, the defining moment in Australia’s war: Villers-Bretonneux. 4.18 At the end of 1917 the battle at Cambrai showed a new development. What was it? Here, where Australia has built its memorial, the Australians stood their ground and turned back 4.19 What was the situation with the war at the end of the relentless German advance. 1917? 5.1 How did the Russian Revolution affect the situation on 4.20 We learn of several men who were awarded the the Western Front? Victoria Cross for ‘valour’. Why do you think some sol- diers were capable of extraordinary bravery in the face 5.2 What was the aim of Kaiserschlacht, or Operation of the enemy? Michael?
4.21 Add any ideas about what makes a battle suc- 5.3 What new tactic did the Germans apply? cessful or unsuccessful to the list you are creating on the Key Activity Page. 5.4 How successful was Operation Michael? SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015
4.22 What has this episode added to your knowledge 5.5 Why did it start to falter? and understanding of, and empathy with, the experi- ence of the Australian soldiers on the Western Front? 5.6 What was the importance of Villers-Bretonneux for the German offensive?
5.7 The five Australian divisions were now grouped 18 together into a single Australian Corps. What did this mean? What effect did it have on morale?
5.8 What was the significance of Hazebrouck in Operation Georgette?
5.9 What was the nature of the fighting for Villers-Bretonneux?
5.10 What was the outcome?
5.11 The Allies now planned their offensive. Why was the addition of American forces to the Allies significant?
5.12 The Australian Corps was led by general John Monash. What qualities did he have as a leader? 6.2 What was the significance of the battle for 5.13 What obstacles did he face? Baupaume for the New Zealanders?
5.14 What was significant about the Battle of Hamel? 6.3 What was different about the nature of the war- (Note: See Comparing two battles on the Western fare around Mont Saint-Quentin for the attacking Front in the Conclusions section of this Study Guide for Australians? more information on Hamel.) 6.4 Why was the capture of Mont Saint-Quentin, the 5.15 We learn of several men who were awarded the Victoria Bouchavesnes Ridge and Peronne so difficult? Cross for ‘valour’. Why do you think some soldiers were capable of extraordinary bravery in the face of the enemy? 6.5 What was the outcome?
5.16 Add any ideas about what makes a battle success- 6.6 The battle was now for the Hindenburg Line. Why ful or unsuccessful to the list you are creating on the Key was that a difficult task for the attackers? Activity Page. 6.7 What was the Australians’ last battle of the war? 5.17 What has this episode added to your knowledge and understanding of, and empathy with, the experience of the 6.8 What was the last battle for the New Zealanders? Australian soldiers on the Western Front? 6.9 While the end of the war brought relief, there was no rejoicing because it meant the breaking up of the AIF. Why would men feel great loyalty and affection for their 6 Victory battalions, and the AIF? As the Germans retreated towards the fortified 6.10 What proportion of men were casualties (suffered Hindenburg Line they attempted a “scorched death or wounding) during the war? earth” policy, cratering roads and destroying 6.11 We learn of several men who were awarded the bridges. Vigorous pursuit was necessary to Victoria Cross for ‘valour’. Why do you think some sol- prevent this. We follow the exploits of the diers were capable of extraordinary bravery in the face Australians as Monash takes up the challenge of the enemy? and, as part of the rolling offensive, follow the New Zealand 3rd Army. Launched at the town 6.12 What problems or difficulties could you expect of Bapaume, the fighting is intense, the enemy the men and nurses of the AIF to experience on coming home? cannot be dislodged. Then the firing stops and the New Zealanders find that the Germans have 6.13 Add any ideas about what makes a battle suc- SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015 abandoned the town. They press on – in one cessful or unsuccessful to the list you are creating on day advancing 10 kilometres and taking two and the Key Activity Page. a half thousand prisoners. One week to the day later the guns fall silent. The war is over. 6.14 What has this episode added to your knowledge and understanding of, and empathy with, the experience 6.1 How was the nature of fighting on the Western Front of the Australian soldiers on the Western Front? now different from 1916 and 1917? 19 • No Man’s Land between the lines varied from 100 me- CONCLUSIONS AND tres on left to 400 metres wide. REFLECTIONS • There were two German salients — areas where the enemy trenches protruded forward into No Man’s Land, which meant that attacking troops had to go past these Comparing two battles on the protrusions and were then subject to the enemy firing Western Front into their rear if the enemy defences were not de- stroyed. The two salients were known as the Wick and Were all battles on the Western front the same? Look at the Sugarloaf salients. this comparison of two battles involving the AIF. One is the • The Australian 5th Division was mainly recruits who had Australians’ first battle, at Fromelles in 1916. The other is trained in Egypt, and had no combat experience. at Le Hamel, early in the last great August 1918 offensive • The Australian artillery was not fully trained. that pushed the Germans to surrender. • The British 61st Division was a recently arrived second line territorial division, under strength. Read the details of each, and prepare the comparative • The Germans were well dug in, with strong defences, table on page 23. well protected from artillery. • The German troops had been there since 1915 and FROMELLES knew the area well, held the high ground, and had carefully measured out their artillery range and machine • It took place from the afternoon of 19 July 1916 to the gun arcs of fire into No Man’s Land and the forward morning of 20 July. British trenches. • Was intended as a diversion to stop German reinforce- • The British plan of attack at Fromelles was: ments from the Fromelles area being sent to the major - gather the attacking infantry in their own front battle of the Somme taking place 80 kilometres away. trench area, ready to advance in 4 waves; • The attack involved Australian artillery, and a joint at- - start a long and heavy artillery bombardment of the tack by the British 61st Division and the Australian 5th German front line to cut the wire in No Man’s Land Division - about 20 000 troops - along a 3200 metre and to destroy enemy machine-gun emplacements; front, against the German 6th Bavarian Reserve Division - stop the bombardment several times, to trick the
troops. enemy into coming out in expectation of an infantry SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015 • The land was flat and with a high water table, and attack, and then resume the bombardment and criss-crossed by drainage ditches and a drainage hopefully kill many of the defenders; channel. - while the bombardment is going on, have troops • Germans occupied the high ground in front of advance as far as possible into No Man’s Land Fromelles, and 600 metres behind the German front towards the forward German trenches; line, and with a good view (though only 30 metres high) - stop the bombardment at a set time and have of all activities in the British lines. the infantry attack and take the enemy front line 20 (including the vital Wick and Sugarloaf salients) came forward to help, but were also subject to enemy before the defenders can organise their resistance; fire. - hold this line while the next waves of attackers • Next morning the attackers had to get back to their about 100 yards apart bring supplies forward and own lines any way they could and under constant then advance and take the second line of enemy threat from Germans all around them. trenches about 100 yards forward. • Casualties were 572 British dead, 2057 Australians • All this was to be a surprise or secret attack. For it to dead and 470 captured, and 3146 wounded. succeed it needed: - accurate artillery fire on the enemy front line to Create your summary in the comparative table. destroy its defences; - perfect timing between the end of the bombard- HAMEL ment and the infantry attack; - the infantry to move as close to the enemy front line The war was entering a new phase – one of dry land not before the bombardment stopped; previously churned up by artillery shells and mud. The - sufficient numbers of troops attacking. new front was firm, dry, and mostly open farmland with • However: patches of treed forests not yet destroyed by artillery. The - the Germans knew the plan and could see the Australian force was led by General John Monash. preparations for the attack; - communications during the attack were difficult The available Australian force: once an attack started. Runners could be sent back, but were subject to snipers. Telephone wires • Soldiers — About 7000 Australian and 1000 American. were laid, but were cut by artillery and feet. Aerial The Australians were battle veterans, the Americans messages were not clear. By the time messages untried yet. were received could be out of date and therefore • Tanks – 60 new Mark V ones, untested in battle yet, inaccurate. but much better than the old ones that had let the • Most of the British troops were badly hit by German Australians down badly at Bullecourt, and were not artillery during the forming-up phase, and most did not trusted. get to attack. • Artillery —about 640 guns of various size. • Those that did were raked by German machine gun • Terrain — mostly flat and firm, gently sloping dry fields fire. and waist-high crops towards higher ground, with few • Only a few got close to the front line objective. existing shell holes, and no mud, but with some strong • Heavy German artillery shelling and machine gun fire trenches, a heavily defended village, Hamel, and dan- weakened the Australian force available to attack. gerous woods that could conceal enemy artillery and • Many of those that did attack were mown down by machine guns. German gunfire from the Sugarloaf salient. Aeroplanes – about 24 available. • Some attacked and took the German front line, then moved forward looking for the second line of trenches. The enemy: These did not exist, and with many officers killed, the troops were uncertain how far to advance, and many • Soldiers — many of them very good ones, though became trapped in ‘islands’ with Germans all around some were very young. them • Artillery — in a position to fire on the Australians. • The German positions had not been destroyed by • Machine guns — their key weapon, lots of them, well the artillery barrage, and they quickly organised a sited. Could cause great damage. counter-attack. • Defensive positions —trenches, barbed wire, obser- • There were not enough Australian troops to continue to vation posts. take the second line - many of the reserve troops had • High ground — the enemy had the high ground so been used to supplement the first waves devastated by could see any preparations for an attack. the German bombardment. • Aeroplanes — Germans had a number. • A new plan was made to attack Sugarloaf again by British and Australian troops - but the Australians were General: not told of its cancellation, and the 58th and 59th at- tacked alone and unsupported on the right, and were • The enemy front line of trenches was about 400 metres mown down. They did not get to within 100 metres of ahead of the Australian front line. SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015 the objective. • There was then a 1000 metre gap until the next line. • Those who had advanced in the first wave were now in • Resistance could be expected from five strong ar- isolated pockets, and were threatened on their flanks eas: The town of Hamel, Vaire Wood, Vaire Trench, and even in the rear. Hamel Wood, Pear Trench and Accroche Wood. The • A proposed truce to gather the wounded was vetoed Australians knew what forces were at each of these, by senior officers, so wounded men had to get back to except Accroche Wood. their own lines any way they could. Stretcher bearers • Monash organised for very noisy aeroplanes to fly in 21 the area as the tanks were assembling, so the enemy HQ would have almost ‘real time’ information on the only heard the aeroplanes and did not realise that the progress of the attackers. tanks were assembling. • The tanks were used to attack machine gun strong • Monash had ordered that artillery occasionally fire at points, as identified by the infantry leaders on the the enemy each day for two weeks before the attack. ground. This artillery barrage always included some gas shells • The tanks were in the advance, firing at the enemy, as well as explosives. The Germans learned to expect with the infantry following to ‘mop up’. As a machine the gas when artillery shells fell, so automatically put gun opened fire against attacking troops the soldiers on their masks — which gave then less vision and abil- dropped to the ground and pointed out the machine ity to respond to attacking troops. On the morning of gun position to the tanks (whose visibility was very the attack the artillery barrage included smoke, but not limited). The tanks attacked the machine guns. The gas. The Germans were therefore tricked into putting machine gun bullets could not damage the tanks, so on their masks, without the attacking troops also need- the machines rolled forward and literally crushed the ing them. Many Germans who were captured still had guns and the men firing them. their masks on. • The soldiers had white tape. If a soldier was wounded • The plan included some ‘feints’ or minor attacks in he or a mate would dig his rifle bayonet first into the other places that were designed to make it look like ground and tie white tape to the stock, which would they were part of a main attack. This meant that the then be above the crop height. No wounded man was Germans could not afford to move troops from one run over by tanks. place to another to support the solders under main • Three tanks that had been tasked to attack the strong attack. point of Pear Trench got lost in the dark and the smoke. • Monash sent all the troops to see and work with the This meant that the infantry had to attack without their tanks. They saw how they operated, palled up with the support. This was the scene of the greatest casualties crews, were given ‘joy rides’, were able to fire weapons of the attack. at the tanks to show how secure they were against • In other places the tanks advanced with the troops and enemy fire, were even able to drive them. The fear and were directed to other machine gun posts. The tanks mistrust was broken down, and the diggers adopted lumbered forward and fired at the emplacements, with the tanks and their crews as their own — even painting the machine gun bullets unable to harm the tanks. affectionate nicknames on the tanks. The tanks would then crush the machine gun posts by • General Monash spread his troops over a 6000 metre ‘pirouetting’ over them. front, to advance about 2000 metres. • At the same time there was a ‘feint’ attack north of • The troops from 7 battalions were supported by 48 the main attack. This was designed to make sure no assault tanks, which would advance with them, and 12 German reinforcements were sent to the real at- in reserve. There were also 4 tanks specifically to bring tack. These feints worked, and tied up large numbers forward supplies. of German troops, though the attackers suffered • He set a target line to be reached in 90 minutes, and casualties. then the troops were to stop and go no further, regard- • As expected, the Germans organised a counter-attack. less of the lack of opposition that might exist by then. Allied planes and tanks brought ammunition and de- • The attack started with an artillery barrage at 3:10 fensive equipment forward — the attack tanks carried am, followed by a stepped or ‘creeping barrage’ as rifle and machine gun ammunition, and the four supply the troops advanced. The heavy artillery barrage went tanks could bring forward as many supplies as 1200 forward in five big lifts, while the smaller field artillery men at a time, more quickly, and without these sup- moved in a series of nine smaller ones. These were ply troops being placed in danger. The Australians and timed and a set distance was covered, and troops Americans were able to hold off the counter-attack. moved forward a set distance for a set time to keep • Hamel and the enemy trench were taken in 93 minutes behind the falling shells. The barrage and the troops — Monash had planned it for a 90 minute outcome. rested for 10 minutes at a set spot about half-way • There were 1400 casualties among the 7000 attacking there, and then moved forward again. At the same time troops, including about 300 men killed. Only one tank heavy machine guns were also firing in advance of the was disabled by the enemy. The Germans suffered an attacking troops. estimated 2000 casualties, 1500 prisoners were taken, • The barrage included smoke shells to hide the ad- and a large amount of weapons taken. The Australian vance from the enemy. Planes circled and bombed and soldiers enjoyed ‘ratting’ the dead, wounded and strafed enemy troops, and dropped ammunition by captured — taking any possession from that that they SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015 parachute. wanted. • A plane flew over the advancing line and sounded a klaxon, and soldiers under cover would light matches Create your summary in the comparative table. or small flares to show where they had advanced. The navigator would mark this on a map, and fly back to What were the biggest differences between the disastrous the rear lines, drop the map, which would be rushed battle at Fromelles in 1916, and the successful one at to HQ by a motor cycle despatch rider. In this way the Hamel in 1918? Discuss your ideas. 22 COMPARATIVE TABLE
Fromelles 1916 Aspects of battle Hamel 1918
Environment
Leadership
Use of artillery
Use of infantry
Use of aeroplanes
Use of tanks
Role of allies
German opponents
Communications
Planning
Secrecy
Bravery
Add any others you think are important SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015
23 Drawing it together 10 One of the stated aims of the presenters is to help peo- ple realize that while the Anzac Spirit started at Gallipoli, Here are some final questions for you to discuss, using the more men experienced war on the Western front, and that knowledge, understanding and empathy you have devel- this experience was therefore more significant and perva- oped from ANZAC Battlefields. sive on Australian identity than Gallipoli was. Do you agree with this idea? Explain your reasons. 1 Did the Australians play a significant role on the Western Front? 11 Do you think ANZAC Battlefields helps you to bet- ter know about, understand and have empathy with the 2 Why is General John Monash considered to be one of Australian experience of war on the Western front? Explain the best generals of the war? your reasons.
3 What do you think were the worst elements of the sol- 12 Look back at your original ideas in the Introductory diers’ experience of war? Activities. Would you now change any of those answers and ideas? 4 What do you think they valued from the experience? 13 What do you think are the most important or significant 5 Why do you think men were able to face up to battle? things that you have learned about the Australian experi- Was it out of pride? Fear of letting down mates? Belief in ence on the Western Front? what they were doing? The threat of punishment for not attacking? Or some other reasons? Is ANZAC Battlefields a good 6 What effect did the war have on Australian identity? documentary film?
7 Why would that identity have also been accepted and A documentary film uses a variety of elements and strate- shared by the majority of Australians, who did not fight? gies to have an impact. SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015
8 What do you think would have been the mental legacy of 1 In Table 1, consider the way the following elements are the war on the soldiers? used in ANZAC Battlefields.
9 At one stage the filmmakers quote from a letter by Do you think ANZAC Battlefields an effective documentary journalist soldier John Raws, who asks ‘Why should film? Justify your view. Australians not know the horror of the war?’. Do you think that censorship is necessary in war? 24 TABLE 1
Aspect Comments
Structure of the episode/s
Information from the narrators
‘Choreography’ of the narrators
Music
Use of actual locations
Use of the ‘war room’
Use of historical film and stills
Use of documents and quotes
Use of veterans’ voices
Editing
Lighting
Sound
Cinematography
Maps and special effects SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015 Mentions of those awarded a VC
Any other features that you notice
25 This study guide was produced by ATOM. (© ATOM 2015) ISBN: 978-1-74295-591-9 [email protected] For information on SCREEN EDUCATION magazine, or to download other study guides for assessment, visit