August 8, 1918
Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2018 1:29 pm
Today is one of those days only history nerds can appreciate. On this date exactly 100 years ago, the British army launched an attack on German lines near the railway city of Amiens. It was a surprise attack with minimal bombardment. It was one of the first use of tanks en masse. The attack achieved a decisive breakthrough which was rare in WWI. Several thousand Germans were taken prisoner. More significant, it caused the loss of confidence in the German High Command. They were in constant retreat after this battle. The Battle of Amiens lead directly to the Armistice 3 months later on November 11, 1918 at 11 AM, thus ending the bloodiest war known to man up to that time. November 11 was (and in England still) known as Armistice Day. In America, it is Veterans Day.