German Lys Offensive

The German Lys offensive, Operation GEORGETTE, was a continuation of the German Spring Offensive, with its objective as the capture of Ypres and forcing the British back to the channel ports and out of the war. The German Fourth and the Eighth Army plan was to break through the British First Army, push the Second Army aside to the north, and then advance west to the English Channel, cutting off British forces in France from their supply line from through the Channel ports of Calais, Dunkirk and Boulogne.

During the period of the offensive from 9 April to 29 April 1918 the following battles were fought:

09-11 Apr: Battle of Estaires
10-11 Apr: Battle of Messines
12-15 Apr: Battle of Hazebrouck
13-15 Apr: Battle of Bailleul
17-19 Apr: Battle of Kemmel (First)
18 April: Battle of Béthune
25-26 Apr: Battle of Kemmel (Second)
29 April: Battle of Scherpenberg