Response of the Australian Medical Services to restoration of mobile warfare on the Western Front in 1918 (part I)

Abstract

On 21 March 1918, after nearly 4\u2009years of static warfare on the Western Front, German forces launched a massive offensive from the Hindenburg Line against a depleted British Fifth Army. Elite storm troops smashed through British forward and battle zone positions and advanced more than 17\u2009miles in 2\u2009days. By 5 April, the Germans were outside the town of Villers‐Bretonneux, 40\u2009miles from their starting position and 15\u2009miles from the railway junction of Amiens. This paper examines the response of the Australian Medical Services to the restoration of mobile warfare and explains the measures that were put in place to deal with the evacuation of casualties.