Battle of Flirey

The Battle of Flirey (French: 1re Bataille de Flirey) was a First World War battle fought from 19 September – 11 October 1914. It resulted in a German victory against the French Army. The battle cut most of the roads and railways to the strategically important Fortified Region of Verdun (Région Fortifiée de Verdun [RFV]) and was to have a large effect on the course of the war.

Background

The Woëvre Plain stretches from the city of Luxemburg, south to the French city of Toul and has been a common route of attack between Germany and France. The plain is flanked on the eastern side by a series of mountain ranges (the "Hauts de Meuse") alongside the Meuse River, and along the western side by the a series of mountain ranges alongside the Moselle River.

A series of German fortifications were built before the war, along the Moselle River (especially around the city of Metz), while across the border, a matching set of French fortifications was established along the Meuse around Verdun and Toul.

In the first months of the First World War, the German High Command were the first ones to realise the increased effectiveness that artillery and machine-guns gave to the defence and seized various terrain features that would be easy to defend. Recognising that it is easier to defend the heights alongside the Meuse River (as opposed to the plain between the Moselle and Meuse rivers), a German attack was planned to seize these heights, to deny access to the Woëvre Plain to the Allies, isolate Verdun and reduce the ability of the French to attack German territory.

Battle

The attack commenced on 19 September, with German cavalry from Metz skirmishing with the French defenders in the Dieulouard–Martincourt area. Flirey, the woods around the village and Seicheprey were quickly captured. French reinforcements arrived on 22 September but could not stop the Germans from advancing. The German advance then changed direction, moving from a southerly to a south-westerly direction.

By 24 September, the village of Saint-Mihiel was captured, despite the French villages of Flirey, Seicheprey and Xivray being recaptured. More French reinforcements arrived on the 27 September but as the Germans were now firmly entrenched, French counter-attacks (between Flirey and Apremont) resulted in little change in the front line. French counter-attacks continued until 11 October.

Aftermath

File:Map commune FR insee code 55463.png

Map of St. Mihiel and vicinity (commune FR insee code 55463)

The battle created a salient projecting into the French lines south of Verdun. Of the two roads and one railway that led to Verdun, all bar one minor road were closed, which imposed severe supply difficulties on the French troops in the RFV. The city was enveloped on three sides and neutralised as a base for French offensives. The area was to see much fighting over the rest of the war. Despite attempts by the French to reduce the salient in the First Battle of Woëvre in early 1915, the First Offensive Battle of Verdun in late 1916 and the Second Offensive Battle of Verdun in 1917, the salient was not reduced until the Battle of Saint-Mihiel in September 1918.

External links

• Michelin Guide
• French site with pages on all French battles of the war
• (French) Flirey