On 21 March 1918, for the first time since August 1914, Germany launched Operation Michael, a major attack against the combined Anglo-French armies on the Western Front. For both the adversaries the offensive proved a watershed moment in their fortunes and in the outcome of the First World War. For the Germans, the cumulative effect of consecutive attacks, and excessive casualties, crippled their capacity to withstand the Allied counterattack of August. For the British, the offensive constituted a period of extreme crisis, as the BEF came perilously close to collapse. In terms of scale, the retreat of the British armies dwarfed that of the First Army’s retreat from Mons in 1914. Equally, the number of casualties on both sides testified to the ferocity of the fighting.

However, notwithstanding its losses and the withdrawal of eight army corps, the British army remained remarkably resolute and eventually, having stabilised the situation with the assistance of su ffcient reserves, was able to wrest the initiative back from the enemy.

A Great Storm Arising first addresses the broad context in which the offensive took place in terms of political, economic, diplomatic and military considerations. The issues of manpower and defence in depth that served to shape Britain’s response to the attack are examined in detail. One chapter is devoted to the morale of the British armies during the retreat, whilst the book also considers the means by which news of the offensive was conveyed to the British public.