First Battle of Picardy

First Battle of Picardy
Part of the Race to the Sea, First World War

Franco-German northward flanking moves, 15 September – 8 October 1914
Date22–26 September 1914
Location
Picardy, France
49°30′N 2°50′E / 49.500°N 2.833°E / 49.500; 2.833
Result Inconclusive
Belligerents
 France  Germany
Commanders and leaders
Joseph Joffre
Michel-Joseph Maunoury
Noel de Castelnau		 Erich von Falkenhayn
Alexander von Kluck
Rupprecht of Bavaria
Strength
Sixth Army
Second Army		 1st Army
6th Army
Casualties and losses
Unknown Unknown
Picardy is located in France
Picardy
Picardy
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Picardy, a historical territory and former administrative region of France, now part of the Hauts-de-France region

The First Battle of Picardy (22–26 September 1914) took place during the Race to the Sea (17 September – 19 October) and the First Battle of the Aisne (13–28 September). The "race" was a Franco-British counter-offensive, which followed the Battle of the Frontiers (7 August – 13 September) and the German advance into France during the Great Retreat, which ended at the First Battle of the Marne (5–12 September).[a] The term describes reciprocal attempts by the Franco-British and German armies to envelop the northern flank of the opposing army, through Picardy, Artois and Flanders.

The first outflanking attempt resulted in an encounter battle in Picardy. The French Sixth Army attacked up the Oise river valley towards Noyon, as the Second Army assembled further north, ready to attempt to advance round the northern flank of the German 1st Army. Both French armies managed to advance successively on a line from Roye to Chaulnes, until the German 6th Army and other reinforcements arrived from Lorraine and halted the French advance. Both sides then attempted another flanking move to the north, which merged into the Battle of Albert (25–29 September).[b]

  1. ^ Edmonds 1925, pp. 27–100.
  2. ^ Edmonds 1926, pp. 400–408.
  3. ^ Mertz von Quirnheim 1929, p. 14.
  4. ^ Strachan 2001, pp. 266–273.
  5. ^ Clayton 2003, p. 59.
  6. ^ Doughty 2005, p. 98.
  7. ^ Foley 2007, pp. 101–102.
  8. ^ Sheldon 2010, p. x.


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