Peaceful penetration
Peaceful penetration was an
The term came most directly [clarification needed] from the pre-war British press's description of the advancing penetration of German trade into the British Empire as "peaceful penetration".[2]
Description
Development
In mid-1918, with the ending of the
A similar tactic was used in Messines in 1917, referred to as "prospecting".[6] Likewise, an earlier trench raid was made near Messines on 16 November 1915 by the Canadians.[7]
Effect on German morale
The effect on German morale was quite pronounced, with the effect of peaceful penetration being noticed by both the
During the last few days the Australians have succeeded in penetrating, or taking prisoner, single posts or piquets. They have gradually—sometimes even in daylight—succeeded in getting possession of a majority of the forward zone of a whole division. Troops must fight. They must not give way at every opportunity and seek to avoid fighting... The best way to make the enemy more careful in his attempt to drive us bit by bit out of the outpost line and forward zone is to do active reconnaissance... If the enemy can succeed in scoring a success without any special support by artillery or assistance from special troops, we must be in a position to do the same.[8]
A captured German soldier is reported as saying:
You bloody Australians, when you are in the line you keep us on pins and needles; we never know when you are coming over.[9]
General
At the same time I would like to tell you that there is no division, certainly in my army, perhaps in the whole British Army, which has done more to destroy the morale of the enemy than the 1st Australian Division.[10]
Advancement of lines
As ground was continually being captured on an ongoing basis by the use of peaceful penetration, the front lines were constantly being advanced. After the Battle of Hamel, a second battle was ordered by Field Marshal Douglas Haig on 11 July to attack the Villers-Bretonneux Plateau. However, barely had the planning started, when it was realised that the area (a frontage of 4,500 yards (4,100 m), to a depth of 1,000 yards (910 m)) had already been captured by two brigades through peaceful penetration.[11] In addition, the 3rd Division forced the German front line back a mile at Morlancourt.[12]
Requirements
Peaceful penetration relied on the patrols infiltrating the German outposts, and approaching them from behind. As a result, one of the main requirements for successful peaceful penetration is that the terrain provide good cover (e.g. covered approaches such as ditches), or have enough ground cover (trees, grasses, etc.). As a result, it was only after the German Spring Offensive forced the Allies out of the previously fought over terrain into terrain that had not been damaged by artillery that peaceful penetration became feasible.[13]
As peaceful penetration worked best when the patrols approached the outposts from behind, a lack of continuous fortifications (trenches and wire emplacements) was also required for successful peaceful penetration. As a result, this tactic was limited to areas where there was a lack of well established defences. The last requirement for successful peaceful penetration is that the patrolling troops needed to have an aggressive "spirit", or elan, to display large amounts of initiative (as the patrols would often have fewer than a dozen members) and possess great daring (as it was not uncommon for single Australian soldiers to attack, successfully, outposts containing half a dozen German soldiers). Similarly, the tactic worked best when the German soldiers were more likely to surrender than fight when attacked.[12]
Example of peaceful penetration
An example of peaceful penetration is a series of patrols carried out on 11 July 1918 that were led by lieutenants CR Morley and GE Gaskell (each patrol totalling just four men). The patrol led by Lieutenant Gaskell captured 32 Germans and three machine guns. The patrol led by Lieutenant Morley captured 36 Germans and four machine guns. As a result of leading these patrols, both lieutenants Gaskell and Morley were awarded Military Crosses, and others on the patrols received Distinguished Conduct Medals. As noted in the 1st Battalion War Diary:[14][15]
The patrols continued to operate during the morning and succeeded in capturing practically the whole outpost garrison of the enemy.
At 2 pm the commanding officer decided to exploit the success of the enterprise with the result that our line was advanced... an average depth of 200 yards.
Our total captives amounted to two officers, 98 o/ranks and eight machine guns.
Notes
- ^ Bean 1942, pp. 32–60.
- ^ Bean 1942, Note, p. 42.
- ^ Bean 1942, Note p. 345.
- ^ Bean 1942, p. 47.
- ^ Laffin 1992, p. 93.
- ^ Bean 1942, p. 42.
- ^ Bean 1941, p. 244.
- ^ Evans 2002, p. 135.
- ^ McLachlan 2007, p. 193.
- ^ Bean 1942, p. 440.
- ^ Bean 1942, p. 376.
- ^ a b Carlyon 2006, p. 635.
- ^ Mallett 1999, p. 178.
- ^ Laffin 1992, p. 60.
- ^ 1st Battalion War Diary & July 1918, p. 7.
References
- Bean, C.E.W (1941). The Australian Imperial Force in France, 1916. Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918. Vol. III (12th ed.). Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Australian War Memorial.
- Bean, C.E.W (1942). The Australian Imperial Force in France during the Allied Offensive, 1918. Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918. Vol. VI (1st ed.). Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Australian War Memorial.
- Laffin, John (1992). Guide to Australian Battlefields of the Western Front 1916–1918. Kenthurst, New South Wales: Kangaroo Press. ISBN 0-7318-0855-X.
- Evans, Martin Marix (2002). 1918 The Year of Victories. London: Arcturus. ISBN 1-84193-114-4.
- ISBN 978-1-4050-3761-7.
- ISBN 978-0-7344-0907-2.
- Mallett, Ross (1999). The Interplay Between Technology, Tactics and Organisation in the First AIF (Thesis). Australian Defence Force Academy. Archived from the original on 10 January 2006.
- "1st Battalion Unit Diary" (PDF). Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Australian War Memorial. July 1918.
External links
- "Article describing the Australians in action, including Peaceful Penetration" (PDF). Times. London: AWM. 30 August 1918.
- "Peaceful Penetration". Digger History.
- "Narrative of Operations". 5th Australian Division. May 1918.
- "A captured German letter that mentions the Australians and their actions".