The Second Battle of Arras, also known as the 'Arras Offensive', was fought in northern France.
The Allied plan for 1917 was for a major French offensive on the Aisne river, 120 km south-east of Arras, to begin in mid-April. The British agreed to launch an attack at Arras a week earlier to draw German reserves away from the French attack.
The Battle of Arras began on an 18 km front from Vimy ridge in the north to Neuville-Vitasse in the south. When it ended on 17 May, the British had advanced up to 10 km eastwards, but the larger French offensive was a failure.
Twice during the Battle of Arras, Australian forces attacked near the town of Bullecourt, on the southern flank of the main advance and 12 km south-east of the city of Arras.
First Battle of Bullecourt on 11 April 1917
This attack followed a rapid Allied advance after the German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line earlier that year. The 4th and 12th Australian Brigades were sent against the Hindenburg Line at Bullecourt. British tanks supported the infantry rather than the usual artillery barrage.
Only one tank reached the first German trench line, but the Australians broke into the Hindenburg Line. Without artillery support, they were quickly cut-off and faced strong counterattacks. The survivors were compelled to retreat to their own lines.
Over 1,100 Australians were taken prisoner, the highest number of Australians captured in a single action during the war. More than 3,000 Australians were killed or wounded at Bullecourt in less than 24 hours.
Second Battle of Bullecourt 3 to 17 May 1917
British and Australian troops assaulted the Hindenburg Line around Bullecourt for a second time. The fighting involved the 1st, 2nd and 5th Australian Divisions and lasted 2 weeks.
Australians once again broke into the German trenches, as did the British. The fighting involved desperate German counterattacks. The fighting was considered by many to have involved some of the most intense trench fighting experienced by Australians on the Western Front.
Throughout the period, the Australians were able to consolidate and expand their gains in the face of repeated German attacks, the last of which came on 15 May. Although the Germans yielded Bullecourt, the overall Arras offensive proved unsuccessful.
More than 7,000 Australians were killed or wounded at 2nd Bullecourt.
A shell crater in a street at Arras in September 1917, with the damaged 'Metaux' building in the background. AWM E02050
Archival footage of the ruined town of Arras in 1917, Australian infantry soldiers at Bullecourt and Australian artillery observers watching the bombardment of the German's Hindenburg Line.