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It is true that Cambrai was a decisive victory for the British
and did involve mass tanks, however, that was only on day
one.
After that the Germans had a really red-hot go at seizing
back the territory they had lost and managed their own one-day
victory.
Pretty much, Cambrai was yet another draw.
The whole picture of the battle and its importance in military
affairs is covered by Cromwell Productions in another of its
excellent Line of Fire series, Cambrai 1917 The Trial of Tanks.
In the 49-minute episode Cromwell's experts examine the tanks
of the day, their strengths and weaknesses and how they affected
the hitherto static nature of warfare in WWI.
The British objectives in trying to break through the Hindenburg
Line are detailed, along with the errors that hamstrung the
attack when it was on the verge of a significant victory.
Almost 500 British tanks launched the attack and they helped
punch a large hole into the German defences, proving there
was a big future for the armoured monsters on battlefields.
However, mixed infantry support left them exposed and if
artillery didn't get them then mechanical failure did.
One thing that absolutely gobsmacked me was that the Germans
organized patrols to actually stalk these tanks and cripple
them with bags of grenades exploded under their tracks.
If you are into the history of tank warfare, Great War history
or just military history in general then Cambrai 1917 The
Trial of Tanks is a terrific and informative title.
Conclusion: Movie 85%
Continued:
DVD details at a glance >
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