THE GERMAN ADVANCE ON MAY 27 AND 28.
The Break-through.
The opposing Allied forces were much smaller. From Pinon to Craonnelle the front was held by the 30th and 11th French Corps (6th Army, General Duchesne) with head-quarters at Tartiers and Braine respectively. The sector from Craonnelle to the outskirts of Rheims was held by the Ninth British Corps which had been placed at the disposal of General Micheler, commanding the French 5th Army. Rheims was held by the 1st French Colonials, in liaison on the left with the French 45th Division forming the British right wing. Most of these troops had already been engaged in the big battles of March and April.
After a terrifically intense artillery preparation which began at midnight and included great quantities of gas-shells, the German infantry rushed forward between 3.30 and 4 a.m., preceded by a powerful creeping barrage and, in places, by tanks. The surprise was complete. The French stood the bombardment heroically and made a desperate resistance. Near Laffaux, the 21st (Territorial) Regiment fought to the last man rather than fall back. However, in spite of heroic resistance and heavy sacrifices, the German onrush bore down the Allies by sheer weight of numbers.
To the west, a German corps with a division of reserves outflanked Pinon Wood and converged towards Laffaux Plateau, but were unable to reach the Aisne, whilst another corps gained a footing on the Chemin-des-Dames and advanced slowly towards Vailly. In the centre, where the attack was more furious and powerful, the enemy advanced rapidly, reaching the Aisne before 11 a.m., between Chavonne and Concevreux. Another corps reached the river in the morning, between Concevreux and Berry-au-Bac. To the east, a third corps attacked from north to south and maintained its positions level with those of the neighbouring corps on the right.
In the afternoon, the advance continued south of the Aisne, being more rapid in the centre than on the wings. The River Vesle was reached towards 7.30 p.m. in the neighbourhood of Bazoches and Magneux, Fismes, and Braine fell into the hands of the enemy.