The Drocourt-Quéant Line ([dʁɔ.kuʁke.ɑ̃]; German: Wotan Stellung) was a set of mutually supporting defensive lines constructed by Germany between the French towns of Drocourt and Quéant during World War I. This defensive system was part of the northernmost section of the Hindenburg Line, a vast German defensive system that ran through northeastern France.
It was attacked and captured by Canadian and British troops in the closing months of the war as part of Canada's Hundred Days of successful offensive campaigning that helped end the war.
The Drocourt–Quéant Line (also referred to as the Drocourt–Quéant Switch) ran between the French cities of Drocourt and Quéant and was part of a defensive system that ran from a point within the Hindenburg Line, eleven miles west of Cambrai, northward to within seven miles west of Douai and terminated along the front east of Armentières.[1] The Drocourt–Quéant Line was a system in depth and incorporated a number of mutually supporting lines of defence. The system consisted of a front line system and a support line system, each consisting of two lines of trenches. The system incorporated numerous fortifications including concrete bunkers, machine gun posts and heavy belts of barbed wire.[2]
Captureedit
At 5:00 a.m. on 2 September 1918, Canadian and British forces attacked the Drocourt–Quéant Line supported by tanks and aircraft. In twilight, the Canadian 1st Division attacked the line south-eastwards, on the extreme right, south of the Arras–Cambrai road, The Canadian 4th Division attacked in the centre between Dury and the main road and the British 4th Division attacked south of the River Sensee.
The next day the Germans retreated to the Hindenburg Line with the Allies taking many prisoners. The Canadian and British troops then moved on to their next battle, the Battle of the Canal du Nord.
History of the Corps of Royal Engineers. Vol. V. Chatham: The Institution of Royal Engineers. 1952. ISBN0-90353-010-4.
Edmonds, J. E. (1947). Military Operations France and Belgium 1918: 8th August – 26th September The Franco-British Offensive. History of the Great War Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Historical Section of the Committee of Imperial Defence. Vol. IV (IWM and Battery Press 1993 ed.). London: HMSO. ISBN0-89839-191-1.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Battle of Drocourt-Queant Line.
This World War I article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
battle, drocourt, quéant, line, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, 2021, learn, when, remove, this, message, batt. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations May 2021 Learn how and when to remove this message Battle of the Drocourt Queant LineGerman wire at Queant 4 October 1918Date2 3 September 1918LocationEast of Lens south to Queant near Bullecourt on the Siegfriedstellung Hindenburg Line North end 50 23 31 N 02 55 39 E 50 39194 N 2 92750 E 50 39194 2 92750 South end 50 10 48 N 02 59 03 E 50 18000 N 2 98417 E 50 18000 2 98417ResultCanadian and British victoryTerritorialchangesGerman army withdrew 40 miles 64 km to the Hindenburg Line February March 1917Belligerents Canada United Kingdom German EmpireCommanders and leadersHenry Horne Arthur CurrieOtto von Below The Drocourt Queant Line dʁɔ kuʁ ke ɑ German Wotan Stellung was a set of mutually supporting defensive lines constructed by Germany between the French towns of Drocourt and Queant during World War I This defensive system was part of the northernmost section of the Hindenburg Line a vast German defensive system that ran through northeastern France It was attacked and captured by Canadian and British troops in the closing months of the war as part of Canada s Hundred Days of successful offensive campaigning that helped end the war Contents 1 Description 2 Capture 3 Memorials 4 Footnotes 5 References 6 External linksDescription edit nbsp Western front 1917 The Drocourt Queant Line also referred to as the Drocourt Queant Switch ran between the French cities of Drocourt and Queant and was part of a defensive system that ran from a point within the Hindenburg Line eleven miles west of Cambrai northward to within seven miles west of Douai and terminated along the front east of Armentieres 1 The Drocourt Queant Line was a system in depth and incorporated a number of mutually supporting lines of defence The system consisted of a front line system and a support line system each consisting of two lines of trenches The system incorporated numerous fortifications including concrete bunkers machine gun posts and heavy belts of barbed wire 2 Capture editAt 5 00 a m on 2 September 1918 Canadian and British forces attacked the Drocourt Queant Line supported by tanks and aircraft In twilight the Canadian 1st Division attacked the line south eastwards on the extreme right south of the Arras Cambrai road The Canadian 4th Division attacked in the centre between Dury and the main road and the British 4th Division attacked south of the River Sensee Seven Canadians were awarded VCs individually that day Bellenden Hutcheson Arthur George Knight William Henry Metcalf Claude Nunney Cyrus Wesley Peck Walter Leigh Rayfield and John Francis Young The next day the Germans retreated to the Hindenburg Line with the Allies taking many prisoners The Canadian and British troops then moved on to their next battle the Battle of the Canal du Nord Memorials editThe Canadian Dury Memorial commemorates the Canadian Corps attack on the Drocourt Queant Line in 1918 Footnotes edit Chatham 1952 p 416 Edmonds 1947 p 396 References editHistory of the Corps of Royal Engineers Vol V Chatham The Institution of Royal Engineers 1952 ISBN 0 90353 010 4 Edmonds J E 1947 Military Operations France and Belgium 1918 8th August 26th September The Franco British Offensive History of the Great War Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Historical Section of the Committee of Imperial Defence Vol IV IWM and Battery Press 1993 ed London HMSO ISBN 0 89839 191 1 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Battle of Drocourt Queant Line nbsp This World War I article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Drocourt Queant Line amp oldid 1192713491, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
