Battles of Broodseinde and Passchendaele map

Battles of Broodseinde and Passchendaele map

You can also download a hi-res copy as a pdf (1.5 mbs).

The New Zealand Division won a comprehensive victory and then suffered its single costliest assault in two successive battles in early October 1917.

In late August 1917 General Herbert Plumer was given command of an offensive to capture high ground east of the Belgian town of Ypres using his Second Army (positioned south of the red broken line on the map). Under the command of the Army’s II ANZAC Corps was the New Zealand Division (just above the centre of the map).

The New Zealand Division took part in the Battle of Broodseinde on 4 October 1917, tasked with seizing part of the Broodseinde Ridge called Gravenstafel Spur. On that day the New Zealand soldiers overwhelmed German forward positions, captured 1100 prisoners and helped to extend the front line eastwards, as indicated by the thick purple broken line. This was achieved at a cost of 1700 casualties, including 350 deaths.

The British high command mistakenly concluded that the relative ease with which the Broodseinde Ridge had been won meant enemy resistance was faltering. It resolved to make a further push for Passchendaele Ridge on 12 October. However, by this time heavy rain had turned the terrain of Flanders into a muddy bog, rendering artillery support ineffective.

New Zealand soldiers advanced up the ridge only to find the enemy’s concrete pillboxes and lines of barbed wire still largely intact. 843 New Zealanders lost their lives in the Battle of Passchendaele, and another 2700 were wounded. This futile attack was the New Zealand Division’s greatest disaster.

The survivors of the New Zealand Division were withdrawn over the following weeks and replaced by members of the Canadian Corps. At a cost of 16,000 casualties, the Canadians managed to capture Passchendaele Ridge on 10 November, extending the front line to the thin purple broken line on the map.

Community contributions

1 comment has been posted about Battles of Broodseinde and Passchendaele map

What do you know?

Dale Hartle

Posted: 29 Jul 2014

See the following web pages:
http://www.webgirl.co.nz/SharpHealy/thomashealy.html
and
http://www.webgirl.co.nz/SharpHealy/denishealy.html
for details of my two great uncles who fought at the Battle of Broodseinde Ridge.
Thomas survived, Denis was wounded and died on 16 October 1917 and was buried in Bolougne.