who was allied with germany during world war i apex
Western Front (World War I)
The same month , the French Commander - in - Chief , General Robert Nivelle , ordered a new offensive against the German trenches , promising that it would end the war within 48 hours . The 16 April attack , dubbed the Nivelle Offensive ( also known as the Second Battle of the Aisne , after the area where the offensive took place ) , would be 1.2 million men strong , preceded by a week - long artillery bombardment and accompanied by tanks . The offensive proceeded poorly as the French troops , with the help of two Russian brigades , had to negotiate rough , upward - sloping terrain in extremely bad weather . Planning had been dislocated by the voluntary German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line . Secrecy had been compromised and German aircraft gained air superiority , making reconnaissance difficult and in places , the creeping barrage moved too fast for the French troops . Within a week 120,000 French soldiers were casualties . Despite the casualties and his promise to halt the offensive if it did not produce a breakthrough , Nivelle ordered the attack to continue into May .
The same month , the French Commander - in - Chief , General Robert Nivelle , ordered a new offensive against the German trenches , promising that it would end the war within 48 hours . The 16 April attack , dubbed the Nivelle Offensive ( also known as the Second Battle of the Aisne , after the area where the offensive took place ) , would be 1.2 million men strong , preceded by a week - long artillery bombardment and accompanied by tanks . The offensive proceeded poorly as the French troops , with the help of two Russian brigades , had to negotiate rough , upward - sloping terrain in extremely bad weather . Planning had been dislocated by the voluntary German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line . Secrecy had been compromised and German aircraft gained air superiority , making reconnaissance difficult and in places , the creeping barrage moved too fast for the French troops . Within a week 120,000 French soldiers were casualties . Despite the casualties and his promise to halt the offensive if it did not produce a breakthrough , Nivelle ordered the attack to continue into May .