100 Years Ago Today

[August]

April 1st 1917.

Replacing the Saxon 24th Reserve Division, my great grandfather Augusts unit, the 14th Bavarian Infantry Division begins occupying a sector of the front opposite Roclincourt south to the River Scarpe on the southern flank of Vimy Ridge. His regiment (8th Bav. Inf Reg. 8th Bav. Inf Bde) is assigned to the Hapsburg sector of the divisions area of responsibility.

Although officially returning from a rest the regiment had actually spent the last month in backbreaking labor making essential improvements to the Sigfried-Stellung (Hindenburg Line). As they move into position they find that little or no preparations had been made for the coming British offensive. Neither maps, nor defensive fire plans were available, not even sketch maps of battery positions.

[Jimbuna]

2nd April 1917

Western Front

British advance west and north of St. Quentin; to west, capturing three villages; to north between Arras and Bapaume-Cambrai road, taking Croisselles and five other villages; and to north-west, at Templeux.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

British and Russians in touch at Kizil-Robat.

Aviation

Bloody April refers to April 1917, and is the name given to the (largely successful) British air support operations during the Battle of Arras, during which particularly heavy casualties were suffered by the Royal Flying Corps at the hands of the German Luftstreitkräfte.

The tactical, technological and training differences between the two sides ensured the British suffered a casualty rate nearly four times as great as their opponents. The losses were so disastrous that it threatened to undermine the morale of entire squadrons. Nevertheless, the RFC contributed to the success, limited as it finally proved, of the British Army during the five-week campaign.

Political, etc.

President Wilson asks Congress to declare "a state of war" with Germany.

British Government give Barrow strikers 24 hours to resume work.

Ship Losses:

Britannia (United Kingdom) The cargo ship torpedoed and was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 22 nautical miles (41 km) west north west of Pantelleria, Italy (36°35′N 11°28′E) by SM U-65 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived, but two of them were taken as prisoners of war.
HMT Commandant (Royal Navy) The naval trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off the Sunk Lightship ( United Kingdom) (51°33′N 1°36′E) with the loss of five of her crew.
Filicudi (Regia Marina) The naval tug struck a mine laid by UC 38 (Alfred Klatt) and sank in the Mediterranean Sea off Trapani, Sicily.
Havlyst (Norway) The coaster was sunk in the North Sea off Lindesnes, Vest-Agder (57°30′N 6°50′E) by SM U-54 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Lord Scarborough (United Kingdom) The trawler was sunk in the North Sea 100 nautical miles (190 km) east of the Isle of May, Fife by SM UB-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Saggita (Norway) The barque was sunk in the North Sea (60°00′N 2°00′W) by SM U-78 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Snespurven (Norway) The barque was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 25 nautical miles (46 km) south south west of the Tuskar Rock, Ireland (50°55′N 7°03′W) by SM U-59 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Zealandia (United States) The ship ran aground off Southport, Lancashire, United Kingdom.

[Sailor Steve]

April 2, 1917

President Woodrow Wilson makes a speech before Congress stating that Germany has been waging war against the United States in everything but name, and asks Congress for a formal Declaration of War against the German Government, firmly stating that the quarrel is not with the German people, but the Government only.
https://wwi.lib.byu.edu/index.php/Wi...ge_to_Congress



Air War:
0800 English RFC pilot Oliver Manners Sutton, flying Sopwith Pup A637, shoots down a two-seater for victory number 1.

0830 German ace Otto Bernert, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down Nieuport 23 A6763 for victory number 11. 2nd Lt F. Williams is killed.

0830 German ace Edmund Nathanael, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down FE.2b 6953 for victory number 6. 2nd Lt P.A. Russell and Lt H. Loveland are both killed.

0835 German ace Manfred von Richthofen, in Albatros D.III 2253/17, shoots down BE.2d 5841 for victory number 32. Lt Patrick John Gordon Powell and AM1 Percy Bonner are both killed.

"I attacked an enemy artillery flyer. After a long figt I managed to force adversary nearly to the ground, but without putting him ut of action. The strong and gusy wind had driven the enemy plane over our lines. My adversary tried to escape by jumping over trees and other objects. Then I forced him to land in the village of arbus where the machine was smashed against a house. the observer kept shooting until the machine hit the ground."
-Manfred von Richthofen

0850 English pilot Stanley Cockerell, in DH.2 A2581, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 5. This may be Ltn Hans Wortmann, who was killed at this time, but the locations don't match.

0850 English pilot Kelvin Crawford, flying DH.2 5925, shares a kill with Cpt C.R. Cox and L.C. Wellford (4855), shooting down an Albatros D.II for victory number 4.

0950 German pilot Konstantin Krefft, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down FE.2d A5151 for victory number 2. Cpt H. Tomlinson is killed; Lt N.C. Denison is wounded and captured. This is Krefft's last victory. His main service was as a technical officer. He survived the war and died sometime in the 1920s. Nothing else seems to be known about him.

1000 German pilot Sebastian Festner, in and Albatros D.III, shoots down FE.2d A1944 for victory number 3. Lt H.P. Sworder and 2nd Lt A.H. Margoliouth are both killed.

1035 German ace Karl Allmenröder, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down BE.2c 2510 for victory number 6. 2nd Lt C.F. Fox and AM2 J.H. Bolton land safely.

1120 Manfred von Richthofen scores his second victory of the day, shooting down Sopqith 1½ Strutter A2401 for number 34. 2nd Lt Algernon Peter Warren is captured; Sgt Reuel Dunn is killed.

Together with Leutnants Voss and Lothar von Richthofen, I attacked an enemy squadron of eight Sopwiths above the closed cloud cover on the enemy's side. The plane I had singled out was driven away from its squad and gradually came over to our side. The enemy plane tried to escape and hide in the clouds after I had holed its benzene tank. Below the clouds I immediately attacked him again, thereby forcing him to land 300 metres east of Givenchy.

But as yet my adversary would not surrender and even as his machine was on the ground, he kept shooting at me, thereby hitting my machine very severely at an altitude of five metres. I once more attacked him, while on the ground, and killed one of the Occupants.
-Manfred von Richthofen

1435 English pilot Harold Balfour, flying Sopwith 1½ Strutter A970 with 2nd Lt A. Roberts as observer, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 2.



Celtic Sea:
Wilhelm von Fircks, commanding U-59, uses his deck gun to sink Norwegian freighter SS Snespurven, 1,409 tons, bound from New York to Dublin with a load of refined oil off southern Ireland. His score is now 10 ships and 15,869 tons.



North Sea:
Volkhard von Bothmer, in U-54, sinks Norwegian freighter SS Havlyst, 532 tons, travelling in ballast from Sandefjord to Hull; south of Lindesnes. His score is now 9 ships and 23,605 tons.

Otto Dröscher, in U-78, scuttles British barque Sagitta, 1,981 tons, carrying a load of Cotton and oilcake from Savannah, Georgia, USA to Kalundborg. His score is now 10 ships and 16,802 tons.
His Majesty's Armed Boarding Steamer Tithonus, 3,463 tons, hits a mine laid by U-78 on the west side of Scotland, between Mull and Coll Island, on February 12. The ship is only damaged, and is later prepared.

Rudolf Gebeschus, in UB-35, stops and scuttles British trawler Lord Scarborough, 158 tons, off the Firth of Forth. His score is now 4 ships and 4,662 tons.



Tyrhennian Sea:
Italian navy tug Filicudi, 257 tons, hits a mine laid off Trapani, Sicily, by Alfred Klatt in UC-39. His score is now 18 vessels and 20,347 tons.



Mediterranean Sea:
Hermann von Fischel, in U-65, sinks British freighter SS Britannia, 3,129 tons, carrying a general cargo from Alexandria to Liverpool; off Patelleria Island in the Straight of Sicily. His score is now 11 ships and 29,451 tons.

[Jimbuna]

3rd April 1917

Western Front

British capture Henin-sur-Cojeul (south-east of Arras), and Maissemy (St. Quentin), and occupy Ronssoy Wood (north of Templeux).

German night attack west of St. Quentin fails.

South-west and south of St. Quentin French take four villages.

Eastern Front

German success on the Stokhod (Volhynia).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Russian cavalry occupy Kasr-i-Shirin and Khanikin.

Political, etc.

Barrow strike over.

Former President Theodore Roosevelt praises President Wilson’s war message and states he hopes to lead troops again.

Russian Provisional Government forms War Committee, and repeals anti-Jewish legislation.

Kaiser and Emperor Charles meet at Homburg.

Leon Trotsky is detained by Canadian authorities at the Amherst Internment Camp, as he was deemed dangerous to the Allies.

Ship Losses:

Annunziata A. (Italy) The brigantine was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea east of Sardinia (39°52′N 10°04′E) by SM UC-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Ardgask (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 15 nautical miles (28 km) south west of Cape Rosello, Sicily by SM U-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Caterina R. (Italy) The barquentine was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea east of Sicily (39°27′N 9°46′E) by SM UC-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Domenico (Italy) The sailing vessel was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea east of Sardinia (39°24′N 9°55′E) by SM UC-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Ellen James (United Kingdom) The schooner was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west of Ouessant, Finistère, France by SM UC-71 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of five of her crew.
Ernest Simons (France) The passenger ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea north east of Cap Sera, Algeria (37°08′N 8°28′E) by SM UC-37 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Hesperus (Russia) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 72 nautical miles (133 km) off the Bishop Rock, Isles of Scilly, United Kingdom (48°50′N 7°20′W) by SM U-46 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Maria Ferrara (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea west of Sicily by SM U-65 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Nuova Maria di Porto Salvo (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea east of Sicily by SM UC-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Saint Simon (France) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 20 nautical miles (37 km) north west of La Galite, Tunisia (37°36′N 8°38′E) by SM UC-37 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Vasilefs Constantinos (Greece) The cargo ship was sunk in the Aegean Sea 45 nautical miles (83 km) south west of Akra Akritas by SM UB-43 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

[Sailor Steve]

April 3, 1917

Air War:
1450 German pilot Gustav Nernst, flying Albatros D.III 2147/16, shoots down Nieuport 17 A6674 for victory number 3. Lt S.A. Sharpe is taken prisoner.

1615 German ace Manfred von Richthofen, in Albatros D.III 2253/17, shoots down FE.2d A6382 for victory number 34. 2nd Lt Donald Peter McDonald is taken prisoner, 2nd Lt John Ingram Mullaniffe O'Beirne is killed.

Together with Leutnant Schäfer and Leutnant Lothar von Richthofen, I attacked three enemy planes. The plane I myself attalcked was forced to land near Lieven. After a short fight the motor began to smoke and the observr ceased shooting. I followed adversary to the ground."
-Manfred von Richthofen

1620 German ace Karl Schäfer, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down FE.2d 6371 for victory number 9. Lt L. Dodson and 2nd Lt H.S. Richards are both taken prisoner.

1635 German ace Edmund Nathanael, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down DH.2 A2536 for victory number 7. Lt E.L. Hayworth is wounded and taken prisoner.

1710 German pilot Adolf Schulte, in an Albatros D.II, shoots down FE.2b 4897 for victory number 5. Sgt J.A. Cunniffe crashes unharmed on his own side of the lines. AM2 M.J. Mackie is killed.

1910 German ace Otto Bernert, in an albatros D.III, shoots down a British observation balloon for victory number 12. Maj Geddes and Lt F. Mears parachute safely.

1912 Otto Bernert shoots down a second balloon for victory number 13. Lts D. Kershaw and J. Morgan parachute safely.



Celtic Sea:
Leo Hillebrand, commanding U-46, sinks Russian freighter SS Hesperus 2,231 tons, bound from Barry for Marseille with a load of coal. His score is now 22 ships and 40,308 tons.

Hans Valentiner, in UC-71, uses his deck gun to sink British schooner Ellen James, 165 tons, en route from Huelva to Pewnyn with a load of pyrites. His score is now 35 ships and 18,413 tons.



Tyrhennian Sea:
Alfred Klatt, in UC-38, stops and scuttles four Italian sailing vessels off the east coast of Sardinia:
Brigantine Annunziata A, 206 tons, carrying a load of phosphate from Tunis to Livorno.
Barkentine Caterina R, 214 tons, also carrying phosphate from Tunis to Livorno.
Domenico, 260 tons, also from Tunis to Livorno with a load of phosphate.
Nuova Maria di Porto Salvo, 48 tons, laden with roofing tiles.
Klatt's score is now 22 vessels and 21,075 tons.



Ionian Sea:
Hans von Mellenthin, in UB-43, sinks Greek freighter SS Vasilefs Constatinos, 4,070 tons, bringing his score to 19 ships and 40,847 tons.



Mediterranean Sea:
Otto Launburg, in UC-37, sinks two French ships off Cap Sera, Algeria:
Passenger liner SS Ernest Simons, 5,555 tons, travelling from Marseille to Madagascar.
Freighter SS Saint Simon, 3,419 tons, bound from Bizerta for Huelva.
Launburg's score is now 16 ships and 34,893 tons.



Strait of Sicily:
Lothar von Arnauld de la Perière, in U-35, sinks British freighter SS Ardgask, 4,542 tons, en route from Bombay to Hull. His score is now 154 ships and 313,344 tons, putting him back at the lead of the U-boat aces again.

Hermann von Fischel, in U-65, sinks Italian sailing vessel Maria Ferrara, 106 tons, raising his score to 12 vessels and 29,557 tons.

British freighters SS Cloughton, 4,221 tons, and SS Oberon, 5,142 tons, travelling in ballast from Toulon to Port Said, both hit mines laid by Heino von Heimburg near Cape Bon, Tunisia. Both ships are damaged, and both make port safely.

[Jimbuna]

4th April 1917

Western Front

British capture Metz-en-Couture (towards Cambrai).

French (south of St. Quentin) capture three villages and advance to south-west suburb of St. Quentin.

Eastern Front

German troops use 13 waves of chlorine gas against Russian troops and force them to retreat across the Stokhid River.

Aviation

First flight of the SPAD S.XIII.

Naval and Overseas Operations

British liner "City of Paris" is sunk by German submarine UC-35, resulting in the deaths of 122 people.

Belgian relief ship, "Trevier", torpedoed off Scheveningen.

Brazilian steamer, "Parana", torpedoed by German submarine in Channel.

Political, etc.

Speeches of General Robertson and Admiral Jellicoe to Trade Unions re: sacrifice required from nation.

British government announces that starting on April 15, hotels, restaurants, boarding houses, & clubs must have one meatless day per week.

Ship Losses:

City of Paris (United Kingdom) The passenger ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 46 nautical miles (85 km) south by east of Cap d'Antibes, Alpes-Maritimes, France (42°54′N 7°38′E) by SM UC-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 122 lives.
Domingo (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off Queenstown, County Cork, United Kingdom by SM U-60 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Gibraltar (United Kingdom) The trawler was scuttled in the North Sea 20 nautical miles (37 km) east north east of Rattray Head, Aberdeenshire by SM UB-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Hundvaagø (Norway) The cargo ship was torpedoed and damaged in the Atlantic Ocean south west of Ireland. She was beached at Castletownbere, County Cork. Subsequently repaired and returned to service.
Hunstanton (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 36 nautical miles (67 km) west of the Isles of Scilly (49°50′N 7°40′W) by SM UC-30 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Maggie Ross (United Kingdom) The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 60 nautical miles (110 km) north east of Girdle Ness, Aberdeenshire by SM UB-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Margit (United Kingdom) The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 80 nautical miles (150 km) south west of Cape Matapan, Greece (35°28′N 21°24′E) by SM U-63 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Marguerite (United States) The four-masted schooner was damaged in the Mediterranean Sea 35 nautical miles (65 km) south west of Sardinia by SM U-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine). She sank the next day; her crew survived.
Missourian (United States) The cargo ship was sunk in the Tyrrhenian Sea off Porto Maurizio, Liguria, Italy by SM U-52 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Monte Protedigo (Argentina) The barquentine was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off the Isles of Scilly (49°27′N 6°44′W) by SM UC-30 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Parana (Brazil) The cargo ship was sunk in the English Channel off Barfleur, Manche, France by SM UB-32 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Parkgate (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea 80 nautical miles (150 km) north east of the Cap de Fer, Algeria (38°12′N 8°10′E) by SM U-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of sixteen crew. Her captain was taken as a prisoner of war.
Penseiro (Italy) The cargo ship was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 40 nautical miles (74 km) west of the Isles of Scilly by SM UC-71 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Ravenna (Italy) The passenger ship was sunk in the Tyrrhenian Sea 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) off Cape Mele, Liguria (44°00′N 8°28′E) by SM U-52 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
San Giovanni Battiste (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea by SM UC-37 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Trevier (Belgium) The cargo ship was torpedoed, shelled and sunk in the North Sea off Scheveningen, South Holland, Netherlands (52°15′N 3°49′E) by SM UB-23 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Vladimir Reitz (Denmark) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 40 nautical miles (74 km) north west by north of Foula, Shetland Islands, United Kingdom by SM U-78 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two crew.

[August]

On the southern shoulder of Vimy Ridge April 3rd 1917

British artillery fire which had been gaining momentum for days increased yet again in intensity. Heavy bombardment from guns of all calibers was brought against German trenches and rear areas concentrating on built up areas including, batteries, observation posts and the railway depression which housed the Hapsburg artillery command post.

All my Great Grandfather and his comrades could do in Oberleutnant Bickel's 6th Company (8th BID) could do is to keep their heads down and attempt to keep a grip on their sanity while the world exploded around them.

[Sailor Steve]

April 4, 1917

Air War:
The first SPAD XIII takes to the air, flown by French ace René Dorme. The plane, S.392, is one of an initial batch of 20, there being no prototype as such.

0810 German pilot Hans Klein, flying an Albatros, shoots down BE.2c 2563 for victory number 1. 2nd Lts K.C. Horner and A.E. Emmerson are both wounded, and both die later.

1415 English RFC pilot Edwin Cole, in Nieuport 17 A6619, shoots down an LVG two-seater for victory number 2.



Ireland:
Norwegian freighter SS Hundvaagø, 1,901 tons, is torpedoed off southwest Irland. The damaged ship is towed to Castletownbere and beached. There is no corresponding German record indicating which U-boat made the attack.

Wilhelm Werner, commanding U-55, uses his deck gun to attack Danish schooner H.B. Linnemann, 444 tons, bound from Gothenburg for Casablanca with a load of timber; off Achill Island. The damaged ships is towed into Galway for repairs.

Karlgeorg Schuster, in U-60, sinks Italian freighter SS Domingo, 2,131 tons, carrying an unspecified cargo from Naples to Partington; off Queenstown. His score is now 10 ships and 25,888 tons.



Celtic Sea:
Heinrich Stenzler, in UC-30, sinks two ships west of the Scilly Isles:
British freighter SS Hunstanton, 4,504 tons, travelling from Geelong to London with a load of wheat; torpedoed.
Argentinian barquentine Monte Protegido, 281 tons, carrying a load of linseed from Pernambuco to Rotterdam.
Stenzler's score is now 5 ships and 5,867 tons.

Hans Valentiner, in UC-71, scuttles Italian freighter SS Pensiero, 2,632 tons, bound from Genoa to Barry with an unspecified cargo. His score is now 36 ships and 21,045 tons.



English Channel:
Max Viebeg, in UB-32, sinks Brazilian freighter SS Paraná, 4,461 tons. en route from Rio de Janeiro to Le Havre with an unlisted cargo. His score is now 11 ships and 6,456 tons.

Norwegian freighter SS Spero, 711 tons, is wrecked off Fécamp.

British coaster SS Express, 217 tons, travelling in ballast from France to Southampton, sinks following a collision.



North Sea:
Otto Dröscher, in U-78, sinks Danish freighter SS Vladimir Reitz, 2,128 tons, travelling from Galveston to Aarhus with a load of oilcake. His score is now 11 ships and 18,930 tons.

Hans Niemer, in UB-23, sinks Belgian freighter SS Trevier, 3,006 tons, travelling from New York to Rotterdam with a load of grain; off The Hague. His score is now 3 ships and 5,586 tons.

Rudolf Gebeschus, in UB-35, scuttles two British trawlers off Rattray Head:
Gibraltar, 188 tons.
Maggie Ross, 183 tons.
Gebeshus' score is now 6 vessels and 5,033 tons.

Otto von Schrader, in UC-31, stops and scuttles Danish freighter SS Helga, 839 tons, carrying a load of coal from Hull to Copenhagen; off Coquet Island, Northumberland. His score is now 19 ships and 15,246 tons.



Ligurian Sea:
Hans Walther, in U-52, sinks two ships off Porto Maurizio, Italy:
American freighter SS Missourian, 7,924 tons, en route from Genoa to Boston with an unspecified cargo.
Italian passenger liner SS Ravenna, 4,101 tons, heading from Buenos Aires to Genoa.
Walther's score is now 21 ships and 51,960 tons.



Ernst von Voigt, in UC-35, sinks British passenger liner SS City of Paris, 9,191 tons, travelling from Karach to Marseille and Liverpool with passevgers and a general cargo; south of Monaco. 122 lives lost. Von Voigt now has sunk 7 ships for 34,178 tons.



Mediterranean Sea:
Lothar von Arnauld de la Perière, in U-35, sinks two ships southwest of Sardinia:
American schooner Marguerite, 1,553 tons, en route from Cagliari to Mobile with an unspecified cargo. The crippled ship sinks the following morning.
British freighter SS Parkgate, 3,232 tons, travelling in ballast from Alexandria to Hull. U-boat.net speaks of an "hour and 15 minute exchange", while Wrecksite.eu mentions a "running battle lasting six hours". Parkgate was finally sunk by gunfire and demolition charges. Von Arnauld's score is now 156 ships and 318,129 tons.

Pictures of Parkgate taken from U-35.







[edit] Just found out U-35 had a film crew on board for this patrol.



Otto Schultze, in U-63, sinks British freighter SS Margit, 2,490 tons, carrying a general cargo from Malta to an unlisted destination; off Cape Matalpan. His score is now 23 ships and 61,784 tons.

Otto Launburg, in UC-37, sinks Italian sailing vessel San Giovanni Battiste, 46 tons, raising his score to 17 vessels and 34,939 tons.

[Jimbuna]

5th April 1917

Western Front

British capture three villages between Cambrai and St. Quentin.

Germans bombard French north of Urvillers.

Great air battle begins, lasting two days.

Aeroplane raid on Kent and Ramsgate, no casualties.

Eastern Front

Manifesto of M. Guchkov (Russian War Minister) to soldiers to do their duty.

Political, etc.

Britain issues the “food hoarding order,” which prohibits anyone form hoarding food beyond what is needed for individual consumption.

The United States Senate votes 82 to 6 to declare war on the Imperial German Government.

U.S. government states it will not sever relations or declare war on Germany’s allies for the time being unless they act first.

A military budget of $3.5 billion (about $66 billion today) is introduced in Congress as the U.S. prepares for war.

In Petrograd (St. Petersburg), the victims of the February Revolution are buried in the Field of Mars.

Ship Losses:

Amiral L'Hermite (France) The schooner was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 60 nautical miles (110 km) west north west of the Blasket Islands, County Kerry, United Kingdom by SM U-59 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Angel Marina (Italy) The sailing vessel was scuttled in the Ligurian Sea (43°16′N 7°10′E) by SM U-52 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Benheather (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 110 nautical miles (200 km) west north west of the Fastnet Rock (51°20′N 12°30′W) by SM U-46 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Bris (Denmark) The schooner was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 20 nautical miles (37 km) north of the Butt of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, United Kingdom by SM U-78 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two of her crew.
Calliope (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Tyrrhenian Sea 35 nautical miles (65 km) south west of Ustica, Italy (38°22′N 11°25′E) by SM U-65 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of six lives. Three survivors were taken as prisoners of war.
Canadian (United Kingdom) The passenger ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 47 nautical miles (87 km) north west of the Fastnet Rock (51°36′N 10°48′W) by SM U-59 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Dicto (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean south east of the Armen Rock by SM UB-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Dunkerquois (France) The schooner was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 45 nautical miles (83 km) off the Blasket Islands by SM U-86 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Ebenezer (Denmark) The three-masted schooner was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 10 nautical miles (19 km) south west of St. Kilda, United Kingdom (57°58′N 8°20′W) by SM U-57 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Ernest Legouve (France) The barque was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) west by south of St. Catherine's Point, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom (50°30′N 1°26′W) by SM UB-32 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of twenty of her 24 crew.
Gower Coast (United Kingdom) The coaster struck a mine laid by UC 71 (Hans Valentiner) and sank in the English Channel off Le Tréport, Seine-Maritime, France with the loss of all fifteen crew.
Marie Celine (France) The schooner was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean south west of Ireland by SM U-86 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
N. J. Fjord (Denmark) The cargo ship was stopped and scuttled by UC 31 (Otto von Schrader) in the North Sea 40 nautical miles (74 km) east north east of Coquet Island, Northumberland, United Kingdom. Her crew survived.
Roland (France) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 80 nautical miles (150 km) west north west of the Blasket Islands by SM U-59 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
San Fulgencio (Spain) The cargo ship was sunk in the Bay of Biscay off Sables d'Olonne, Vendée, France by SM UC-71 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Siberier (Belgium) The cargo ship was torpedoed and damaged in the Atlantic Ocean 40 nautical miles (74 km) west of the Fastnet Rock (52°18′N 11°40′W) by SM U-86 ( Kaiserliche Marine). She was taken in tow but sank the next day.
Solstad (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Ionian Sea north west of Cythera, Greece (36°02′N 20°50′E) by SM U-63 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Vilja (Norway) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic OCean 135 nautical miles (250 km) west of the Fastnet Rock (52°12′N 13°07′W) by SM U-55 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.

[Rhodes]

5th April 1917

Western Front:

Soldado (private) Curado dies in battle, the first portuguese casualty of war, in Flandres. Private in the 28th Infantry ofFigueira da Foz Regiment, of what is called CEP, the Expeditionary Portuguese Corp.

[Sailor Steve]

Good info. Thanks!

[Sailor Steve]

April 5, 1917

Air War:
No. 56 Squadron RFC recieves its 12th SE.5 and prepares for combat.

No. 100 Squadron RFC performs their first mission, bombing Douai airfield and von Richthofen's squadron, dropping 128 20-lb and four 40-lb bombs.

1000 Canadian RFC Observer Hugh Bradford Griffith, riding in Bristol F.2a A3325 with pilot Lt P. Pike, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 1.

1100 German pilot Sebastian Festner, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down Nieuport 17 A6693 for victory number 4. Lt E.J.D. Townsend is killed.

1100 English RFC pilot Henry Winslow Woollett, in DH.2 6008, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 1.

1110 German pilot Otto Slitgerber, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down an FE.2b for victory number 2.

1115 German ace Manfred von Richthofen, in Albatros D.III 2253/17, shoots down Bristol F.2a A3340 for victory number 35. 2nd Lt Arthur Norman Lechler is wounded and taken prisoner. Despite his wounds Lechler pulls his observer, 2nd Lt Herbert Duncan King George from the wreck and sets it on fire. George will die six days later in a German hospital.

It was foggy and altogether very bad weather when I attacked an enemy squad flying between Douai and Valenciennes. Up to this point it had managed to advance without being fired upon.

I attacked with four planes of my Staffel. I personally singled out the last machine which I forced to land after a short fight near Lewarde. The occupants burnt their machine.

It was a new type of plane which we had not seen as yet; it apears to be quick and rather handy. A powerful motor, V-shaped, 12-cylinder; its name could not be recognised.

The D.III, both in speed and in ability to climb, is undoubtedly superior. Of the enemy squad which consisted of six planes, four were forced to land on our side by my Staffel.
-Manfred von Richthofen

1130 Manfred von Richthofen scores his second victory of the day, bringing down Bristol F.2a A3343 for number 36. Lts Alfred Terence Adams and Donald James Stewart land on the German side and are taken prisoner.

After having put the first adversary near Lewarde out of action, I pursued the remaining part of the enemy squadron and overtook the last plane above Douai. I forced him to land near Cuincy. The occupants burned their machine to ashes."
-Manfred von Richthofen

1145 English RFC pilot Hugh Granville White, flying FE.2d A6385 with Pvt T. Allum as observer, shoots down Albatros D.III 1942/16 for victory number 1. Ltn Josef Flink is wounded in the hand, forced to land and taken prisoner.

1200 Australian RNAS ace Roderic Dallas, in Sopwith Triplane N5436, shoots down an Albatros D.II for victory number 8.

1200 Canadian RFC observer James Smith, riding in FE.2b A5464 with Cpt R.H. Hood as pilot, shoots down an Albatros D.II for victory number 4.

1200 Irish RFC crew of Victor Huston and Giles Blennerhasset, in FE.2b 4969, bring down two Albatros D.IIs. Victory numbers 2 and 3 for both.

1200 German ace Georg Schlenker, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down FE.2b A805. Lt L. Elsley is killed, Lt F. Higginbottom is wounded, and dies later.

1200 English RFC ace Alan Wilkinson and observer Lawrence Wilfred Allen, in a Bristol F.2a, shoot down an Albatros D.III. Number 11 for Wilkinson, number 1 for Allen.

1205 German pilot Gustav Nernst, in Albatros D.III 2147/16, shoots down Sopwith 1½ Strutter A1073. 2nd Lt C.P. Norton is taken prisoner. 2nd Lt H.D. Blackburn is killed. Jasta War Chronology lists this as victory number 2 for Nernst, but has his previous kill on April 3 as number 3. I can find no other sources on this pilot at all.

1245 English RNAS pilot Robert Compston, in Sopwith Triplane N5471, shoots down a Halberstadt D.II for victory number 2.

1700 Welsh RNAS pilot Ernest Norton, flying Nieuport 17 N3187, is credited with shooting down two Albatros D.IIs for victoris number 3 and 4.

1806 German pilot Hans Auer, in an Albatros D.III, claims a Nieuport for victory number 1. Two SPAD VIIs were downed in the right area. Cpl Jacques Herubel died of his wounds, and Cpl Alfred Guyot was wounded, apparently by an Albatros. Different sources speculate on which was the likely victim, but no one knows for sure.

1830 Sebastian Festner scores his second victory of the day, shooting down Bristol F.2a A3337 for number 5. Cpt W.L. Robinson and 2nd Lt E.D. Warburton are both taken prisoner.

1845 English RFC pilot Geoffrey Arthur Henzell Pidcock, in Nieuport 23 A6770, shares a victory over an Albatros D.III with five other pilots. Pidcock is the only one of the group who will go on to any distinction in the air.

1950 German pilot Karl Menckhoff, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down Nieuport 23 A6791 for victory number 1. Lt Norman A. Birks is wounded and taken prisoner.

French ace Jean Chaput, flying a SPAD VII, shoots down two "Enemy Aircraft" for victories 9 and 10.

German ace Albert Dossenbach, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a Caudron G.IV for victory number 10. Lt d'Hericourt and Sgt Mathieu are both killed.

German pilot Ernst Voss (no direct relation to Werner), in an unknown fighter, shoots down a Nieuport for victory number 1 (possibly his only win). He apparently survived the war, moved to the United States and ran an air taxi service until he died in an accident in 1930.
http://dmairfield.com/people/voss_er/index.html



North Atlantic Ocean, far west of Ireland:
Leo Hillebrand, commanding U-46, torpedoes British freighter SS Benheather, 4,701 tons, bound from Halifax to Cherbourg with a load of timber. His score is now 23 ships and 45,009 tons.

Wilhelm Werner, in U-55, torpedoes Norwegian freighter SS Vilja, 1,049 tons, carrying a load of groundnuts from Bathurst, Gambia to Liverpool. His score is now 27 ships and 34,760 tons.



Ireland:
Wilhelm von Fircks, in U-59, torpedoes British passenger liner SS Canadian, 9,309 tons, travelling from Boston to Liverpool with a load of horses, grain, and general cargo. It takes four torpedoes to sink the ship. Her captain, William Henry Bullock, stays aboard to make sure everyone else is off safely, and goes down with his ship. Von Fircks now has 11 ships and 25,205 tons to his credit.

Friedrich Crüsemann, in U-86, sinks three vessels off the west coast of Ireland:
Belgian freighter SS Siberier, 2,968 tons, en route from Gulfport to Calais with a load of timeber; torpedoed.
French schooner Dunkerquois, 127 tons, travelling in balles from Dunkerque to Iceland; scuttled.
French schooner Marie Celine, 142 tons; scuttled.
Crüsemann's score is now 4 vessels and 19,031 tons.



Hebrides:
Carl-Siegfried von Georg, in U-57, uses his deck gun to sink Danish sailing vessel Ebenezer, 181 tons, en route from Savannah to Nørresundby with a load of seed cake. His score is now 36 ships and 34,196 tons.

Otto Dröscher, in U-78, sinks Danish sailing vessel Bris, 101 tons, carrying rice husk meal from Livorno to Vejle. His score is now 12 ships and 19,031 tons.



English Channel:
Max Viebeg, in UB-32, torpedoes French barque Ernest Legouve, 2,246 tons, carrying 3,000 tons of cement from London to Buenos Aires. The ship is under tow out of the Channel when the attack comes. The cement cargo drags the ship under in just two minutes, taking the captain and 9 crewmen with her. Only 4 are rescued. His score is now 12 ships and 8,702 tons.

British freighter SS Gower Coast departs Boulogne with a load of coal for Tréport on April 4th, but was not seen again. Believed to have hit a mine laid by Hans Valentiner in UC-71.
Meanwhile Valentiner sinks Spanish freighter SS San Fulgencio, 1,558 tons, travelling from Newastle to Barcelona, off Sables d'Olonne.
His score is now 38 ships and 23,407 tons.



Celtic Sea:
Heinrich Küstner, in UB-39, sinks Norwgeian freighter SS Dicto, 2,363 tons, en route from Aguilas to Maryport with a load of iron ore; off Ar Men, near the coast of Brittany. His score is now 48 ships and 51,424 tons.



North Sea:
Otto von Schrader, in UC-31, scuttles Danish freighter SS N.J. Ford, 1,425 tons carrying a load of coal plus general cargo from Blyth to Odense, east of Coquet Island. His score is now 20 ships and 16,671 tons.

Max Schmitz, in UC-62, attacks British Q-Ship MMS Result with his deck gun, off the Noord Hinder lightship. The ship is only damaged.



Ligurian Sea:
Hans Walther, in U-52, stops and scuttles Italian sailing vessel Angel Marina, 275 tons, south of Cannes. His score is now 22 ships and 52,217 tons.



Tyrhennian Sea:
Hermann von Fischel, in U-65, torpedoes British freighter SS Calliope, 3,829 tons bound from Cardiff for Malta with a load of coal. His score is now 13 ships and 33,386 tons.



Ionian Sea:
Otto Schultze, in U-63, sinks Norwegian freighter SS Solstad, 4,147 tons, en route from Melbourne to Livorno with a load of wheat; off Cerigo Island. His score is now 24 ships and 65,931 tons.
Schultze also shells British freighter MV Kangaroo, 4,348 tons, but the diesel-powered ship is only hit once and manages to run away.



North Africa:
Heino von Heimburg, in UC-22, sinks three small Greek sailboats off the North African coast:
Agia, 20 tons.
Evangelistria, 29 tons.
Kyriotis, 19 tons.
Von Heimburg's score is now 17 vessels and 46,703 tons.



German East Africa:
HMFM Trent departs Dar-Es-Salaam for Durban.

[Onkel Neal]

[Jimbuna]

6th April 1917

Western Front

Beginning of French bombardment of German positions east of Vauxaillon (north-east of Soissons) to north of Reims.

Heavy German artillery hit British and French troops as they continue their slow advance around St. Quentin, France.

Naval and Overseas Operations

U.S.A. seize German ships in U.S.A. ports.

Political, etc.

Simon N. Patten, economics professor at the University of Pennsylvania, is dismissed by the university due to his pacifist activism.

Decree of Russian Provisional Government abolishing legal, religious, etc., restrictions.

Ship Losses:

Cybele (France) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea of Cabo de Gata, Almeria, Spain by SM UC-25 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Kongshaug (Norway) The coaster was captured and scuttled in the North Sea 45 nautical miles (83 km) north of Kinnaird Head, Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom by SM UB-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew were rescued by a Scottish fishing vessel.
La Tour d'Auvergne (France) The brig was shelled and set on fire in the Atlantic Ocean 15 nautical miles (28 km) south south east of the Longships Lighthouse by SM UB-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine). She was towed to Mullion, Cornwall, United Kingdom but was declared a constructive total loss. Her crew survived.
Lord Kitchener (United Kingdom) The trawler was scuttled in the North Sea 45 nautical miles (83 km) north by east of Kinnaird Head by SM UB-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Marion (Norway) The barque was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean (52°10′N 13°46′W) by SM U-60 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Narberth Castle (United Kingdom) The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) north north west of Dennis Head Old Beacon, North Ronaldsay, Orkney Islands by SM UC-27 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Nestor (United Kingdom) The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 20 nautical miles (37 km) north west by north of North Ronaldsay by SM UC-27 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Perce Neige (France) The schooner was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off Lands End, Cornwall, United Kingdom by SM UB-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Powhatan (United Kingdom) The tanker was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 25 nautical miles (46 km) north by west of North Rona (59°32′N 6°30′W) by SM U-66 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 36 crew. Her captain was taken as a prisoner of war.
Presto (United Kingdom) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 40 (Gustav Deuerlich) and sank in the North Sea 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) east of Roker Point, Sunderland, County Durham (54°57′N 1°16′W) with the loss of six of her crew.
Rahmanich (Egypt) The ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Egypt by SM UC-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Recto (United Kingdom) The trawler was scuttled in the North Sea 45 nautical miles (83 km) north by east of Kinnaird Head by SM UB-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Rosalind (United Kingdom) The tanker was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 180 nautical miles (330 km) west north west of the Fastnet Rock (51°39′N 14°20′W) by SM U-86 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two of her crew.
Spithead (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 12 nautical miles (22 km) north by west of the Damietta Lighthouse, Egypt (31°44′N 31°46′E) by SM UC-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
HMT Strathrannoch (Royal Navy) The naval trawler struck a mine laid by UC 31 (Otto von Schrader) and sank in the North Sea off St. Abb's Head, Berwickshire (55°55′N 2°07′W) with the loss of all thirteen crew.
Thelma (Norway) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 65 (Otto Steinbrinck) and sank in the English Channel 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) south by west of the Owers Lightship ( United Kingdom) by SM UC-65 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Vine Branch (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean south west of Ireland (49°45′N 14°08′W) by SM U-55 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of all 44 crew.

[August]

April 6th 1917

6th Company, 8th Bavarian Infantry Regiment on the German Front lines north of the Scarpe River.

It has become impossible to maintain telephone contact with Regimental headquarters due to the weight of the continuing British artillery barrage. Even runners rarely make it through the maelstrom and when they did only after several hours.

The following excerpts are from the book "The German Army in the Spring Offensives 1917: Arras, Aisne, & Champagne" – by Jack Sheldon

Some of the practical difficulties caused by the combination of high explosive and gas were described later by an officer of the divisional mortal company.

Leutnant F Henigst Bavarian Mortar Company 14
"There was no longer any doubt; we were facing a serious situation. During the night of 5/6 April the unpleasant harassing fire was suddenly accompanied by heavy enemy gas shoots, the effects of which were enhanced by an almost complete absence of wind. Very soon the entire area reaching back well beyond the gun lines was cloaked in a thick fog. Both men and animals could only move masked up, which made the supply of rations and other stores extremely difficult. In some parts of the position it was necessary to make use of the iron rations, because nothing could be got forward. In the front line there was an increased number of direct hits on trenches and dugouts and we were shocked to discover how well the enemy had unobtrusively ranged in. Our mortars fired as best they could during these days, receiving the "thanks" of the enemy in return. In consequence, as was frequently the case elsewhere, the neighboring infantry asked us to cease fire"


Manning the remnants of the wrecked front line and support trenches in the critical Habsburg sector from north to south were Oberleutnant Brickel's 6th Company as well as 8th, 7th and 5th Companies commanded by Leutnants Telhorster, Brockner and Heikaus respectively. Back in the third line were elements of the 12th company under Reserve Leutnant Behn (north) and 11th Company, commanded by Oberleutnant Schwemmer (south). The KTK was Hauptmann Schmidt, commanding officer 2nd Battalion, whose command post was located immediately north of St. Laurent Blangy. During the bombardment the regimental commander, Oberst von Rucker had had to be medially evacuated so command on that fateful day of 9 April devolved to Major Felser, commanding officer of 3rd Battalion. The importance of resisting strongly just north of the Scare was fully appreciated so the defensive plane envisaged holding firm, exploiting to the full the potential of the available strong points, bunkers and pill boxes. Order were issued directing the troops to resist at all cost and ignoring potential enemy thrusts on their flanks to hold on until relieved by immediate counter-stroke action.