Battle of the Lys (1918)

Battle of the Lys
Part of the Western Front of the First World War
German Lys offensive, 1918
Date 7–29 April 1918 (1918-04-07 – 1918-04-29) Location Flanders, Belgium to northeast France 50°42′20″N 2°54′00″E / 50.70556°N 2.90000°E / 50.70556; 2.90000 Result See Analysis section Territorial changes Germans penetrate British lines up to 9.3 mi (15 km)
Belligerents
United Kingdom     Australia     Canada     Newfoundland     New Zealand     South Africa  France  Portugal Belgium  United States [1]	Germany
Commanders and leaders
Douglas Haig Herbert Plumer Henry Horne Philippe Pétain Tamagnini de Abreu Gomes da Costa King Albert I Cyriaque Gillain Arthur Currie	Ludwig von Falkenhausen Ferdinand von Quast Friedrich Sixt von Armin
Strength
Unknown	35 divisions (~612,500)
Casualties and losses
118,300–119,040   118 guns 60 aircraft	86,000–109,300   8 aircraft including the Red Baron

The Battle of the Lys, also known as the Fourth Battle of Ypres, was fought from 7 to 29 April 1918 and was part of the German spring offensive in Flanders during the First World War. It was originally planned by General Erich Ludendorff as Operation George but was reduced to Operation Georgette, with the objective of capturing Ypres, forcing the British forces back to the Channel ports and out of the war. In planning, execution and effects, Georgette was similar to (although smaller than) Operation Michael, earlier in the Spring Offensive.