The Germans launched their Spring Offensive in March 1918 – it was their last-ditch effort to capture strategic objectives such as Amiens and Paris before the American army arrived on the Western Front in strength. Australian divisions were called down from Flanders in Belgium to plug gaps in the British lines and help stem the tide of the German advance. When this enemy thrust was defeated, it was time for the Allies to go back on the counter-offensive. Major battles fought by the Australian divisions during this time included Dernancourt in March and April; Morlancourt in March, May and June and at Villers-Bretonneux on two occasions in April 1918. The 1st Division had also made a significant contribution to the defence of Hazebrouck in Belgium in April during the Battle of the Lys. Lieutenant General Monash’s spectacular 93-minute combined arms victory at Hamel occurred on 4 July. In August came the breakout from the Amiens area in a carefully planned operation that left the Germans stunned and withdrawing. After a series of smaller victories in August at places such as Chuignes and Chipilly came the significant capture of Mont St Quentin, overlooking the major objective of Péronne from 30 August to 3 September. Historian Charles Bean described the battle at Mont St Quentin as one of the finest achievements of the AIF in the war. After these successes and now boosted with significant numbers of US troops, the Allies continued to push the Germans eastwards towards their final defensive positions in the Hindenburg Line.
