First Battle of Artois

See also: First Battle of Champagne

The First Battle of Artois (17 December 1914 – 13 January 1915) was fought during the First World War between the French and German armies on the Western Front. The battle was the first offensive move on the Western Front by either side after the end of the First Battle of Ypres in November 1914. The French attack failed to break the stalemate.

First Battle of Artois
Part of the Western Front of the First World War
Area of operations, 1914
Date 17 December 1914 – 13 January 1915 Location Artois, France 50°30′N 02°30′E Result Indecisive
Belligerents
France  United Kingdom	German Empire
Commanders and leaders
Joseph Joffre	Erich von Falkenhayn Rupprecht of Bavaria
Artois Artois, a region of northern France of around 4,000 km2 (1,500 sq mi) around Arras, Saint-Omer, Lens and Béthune.

Background

During what became known as the Race to the Sea the Battle of Arras (1–4 October) had been fought, after which local operations, particularly on the Lorette Spur, continued during the First Battle of Flanders to the north.

Subsequent operations

In May 1915, the Tenth Army conducted an offensive known as the Second Battle of Artois. The Third Battle of Artois, sometimes called the Artois–Loos Offensive, took place from 25 September to 15 October 1915.^[1]