Western Front
Battle of Cambrai 1917 begins (until December 3rd), world’s first massed tank attack. Reinforced British Third Army (Byng) with 19 divisions and entire Tank Corps led by Brigade-General Elles in tank Hilda launch surprise attack without prelim shelling on Siegfriedstellung (Hindenburg Line). 389 tanks (originally 486; the tanks of this era were notoriously subject to breakdowns) and and 1000 artillery guns in support. 179 tanks lost by the end of the first day, 65 by to gunfire; tanks debouch from assembly points at 0620 hours, flatten German wire, rout front line infantry and open breach nearly 6 miles wide and up to 4,000 yards deep. They capture 4,200 PoWs; 123 guns and 281 MGs for 4,000 casualties.
Tank Battle Drill with 4 of 5 infantry assault divisors works as trained, but 51st Highland Div halt before key central Flesquieres sector (39 tanks lost, Unteroffizier Krueger’s gun knocks out 7 of them) and cavalry fail to get up in time. German 107th Infantry Division (from Eastern Front) is detraining at Cambrai when British attack. Germans blow up St Quentin Canal crossings.
During the battle, Royal Flying Corps aircraft conduct low level attacks on anti-tank guns, troop concentrations and strongpoints, paving the way for advancing British tanks and infantry. The German Air Service also conducts low flying attacks against British troops. Royal Flying Corps concentrates 289 aircraft in 15 squadrons to support Third Army and first mass tank thrust against only 78 German planes. 4 Squadrons (13 aircraft lost or wrecked, 13 damaged by ground fire) fly ground attack 45 minutes after assault and 20 Sopwith Camels (4 lost) and Pups attack 4 of 6 targeted airfields. Air observers fail to report German batteries at Flesquieres, one pilot in error reports village captured before 1100 hours.
Britsih tanks advance during the beginning of the Battle of Cambrai. On the left is an overrun German field gun:
https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...mbrai.jpg?ssl=1
Men of the Royal Irish Rifles heading to the front near Cambrai:
https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...296188103143424
Lorraine: US 1st Division relieved from first trench stint (83 casualties total).
Germany: Kuhl memo to Ludendorff on an offensive in Flanders.
Southern Front
First Battle of the Piave (until December 30): Failure of Central Powers’ attacks along whole front, however Austrians take Mt Fontanasecca at start of weeklong fighting. Along the coast the Italian navy and British monitors co-operate with land forces.
Italy: The last two French divisions (23rd and 24th) arrive (until November 22). Foch leaves for Paris on November 23.
Naval and Overseas Operations
East Africa: Giffard’s 1/2nd KAR takes 127 PoWs at another camp. 900 Portuguese arrive at Ngomano. Lettow dismantles Newala radio station and begins march south to river Rovuma.
Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Battle of Nebi Samwil (until November 24): Turks stubbornly defend road to Jerusalem. 75th Division storms 3 ridges aided by mist, gets 5 miles north of Jerusalem on November 21, but Yeomanry Division expelled from Zeitun Ridge.
Political, etc
Russia: Bolsheviks declare Ukrainian People’s Republic.
France: M. Georges Clemenceau makes statement of policy.
United Kingdom: Conference between U.S. Mission, War Cabinet and Heads of Departments re: America's co-operation in War.
United States: Starting today, all German males over age 14 living in the US must register with the government. They are also barred around sites of military importance.