The Great War - BBC TV 1964

January 1917 was one of the coldest winters in living memory. So far the French Army had lost 1,300,000 casualties, "nearly one life for every minute of the war" and was demoralised. General Robert Nivelle promised a breakthrough to win the war within 48 hours by a return to the offensive doctrines of 1914. British generals and French politicians doubted that the plan would work; while both the French Army and people were worn out from the war. Nivelle prepared a great offensive along the Chemin des Dames, even employing Senegalese and Russian troops.
The Germans also suffered from the winter cold. During the Somme battles of 1916 Ludendorff had ordered the building of a major defensive position up to thirty miles behind the German lines. In February 1917 the Germans fell back on this line, called the "Hindenburg Line" by the British, through fear of the coming French attack, leaving behind them a devastated area. British and French generals feared that the withdrawal would weaken the effect of the forthcoming attack, but Nivelle disagreed. First the British attacked on 9th April at Arras to set a hard shoulder for the French offensive, the Canadians capturing Vimy Ridge.
Then the French attacked on 16th April. The Germans knew the time of the attack to the hour, and counter-attacked at once. The French lost 90,000 men in the first day and altogether 180,000 over three weeks. The Germans lost about 160,000 including 40,000 prisoners and were pushed back a few miles. The real blow was to French expectations. Rumours in Paris exaggerated the French loss, while in fifty four French divisions men announced that they were prepared to hold their own trenches but would not attack again.
These mutinies continued into May and June. Nivelle was dismissed and replaced by General Philippe Pétain, who set about to re-establish morale. Pétain improved rest camps for the troops and increased the amount of leave; but he also made examples of some mutineers: 400 were condemned to death and at least fifty five - the official figure - shot. The French managed to keep these mutinies secret both from their allies and enemies, and all the time the line was held. But the French Army was incapable of further offensive effort - of all the Allies only the British were still capable of that. However, on 6th April the USA had declared war against Germany, providing fresh troops - "there was hope again".