The Nivelle Offensive was a 1917 Allied attack on the Western Front in World War I. The offensive was a costly failure. For most of World War I, Allied and German Forces were stalled at trenches on the Western Front. ... World War I was primarily a European conflict with many facets: immense human sacrifice, stalemate trench warfare, and the use of new, devastating weapons - tanks, aircraft, machineguns, and poison gas. ...

When Robert Nivelle took over from Joseph Joffre as French Commander-in-Chief in December 1916, he argued that a massive onslaught on German lines would bring French victory in 48 hours. The plan was put into action on 16 April 1917 after support from France's Prime Minister, despite strong disapproval of Nivelle's plan from other high-ranking officials. Robert Georges Nivelle (October 15, 1857 - March 22, 1924) was a French military commander during World War I. Born in Tulle, France, to a French father and English mother, Nivelle graduated from the École Polytechnique in 1878 and served in Indochina, Algeria, and China as an artillery officer. ... Joseph Jacques Césaire Joffre (January 12, 1852 - January 3, 1931) was a Catalan French general who became prominent in the battles of World War I. Joffre was born in Rivesaltes, Roussillon. ... 1916 is a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar) // Events January-February January 1 -The first successful blood transfusion using blood that had been stored and cooled. ... April 16 is the 106th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (107th in leap years). ... 1917 was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. ...

The Nivelle Offensive was a very costly attack, involving around 1.2 million troops and 7,000 guns on a broad front between Royle and Reims. The main plank of the operation included a massive assault on the German positions along the Aisne river, in the Second Battle of the Aisne. The plan, which had been discussed since December 1916, was plagued by delays and information leaks. By the time the Nivelle Offensive was put into action in April 1917, the plans were well known to the German army, who took appropriate defensive measures as a result. Location within France Reims (English traditionally Rheims) (pronounced in French) is a city of northern France, 144 km (89 miles) east-northeast of Paris. ... Aisne is a département in the northern part of France named after the Aisne River. ... 1916 is a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar) // Events January-February January 1 -The first successful blood transfusion using blood that had been stored and cooled. ... 1917 was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. ...

The operation achieved very little in the way of territorial gain, no where near the 48-hour breakthrough envisaged. After the abandonment of the offensive on 9 May 1917, Nivelle was sacked, his career over. There were over 187,000 French casualties alone, sparking widespread mutiny in the French army. May 9 is the 129th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (130th in leap years). ... 1917 was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. ...