<– Part 171 – October 28, 1917  | Part 172 – November 4, 1917 |  Part 173 – November 11, 1917 –>

At Passchendaele, part of the Third Battle of Ypres, the Allied second stage was launched October 30. While the southern and center divisions reached their objectives, stiff German resistance in the northern sectors prevented the Canadians there from doing more than consolidating what gains they had later that evening. A small attack the evening of November 1 was successful in closing up the lines and preparing for the final stage.

At Caporetto, the 25km German breakthrough area at the Twelfth Battle of Isonzo, Italian forces were ordered October 30 to withdraw across the Tagliamento river. They completed their withdrawal after 4 days, with the Germans having established a beachhead just behind the retreating forces, prompting another retreat order for the Italians. Only a heroic defense on October 29-30 at Pozzuolo by two Italian brigades – one infantry, the other cavalry – prevented the German army from cutting off the Italian army’s retreat. With the German supply lines stretched nearly to breaking, German junior officer, Erwin Rommel, who received the Prussian Pour le Mérite for his heroism in the battle, lamented that his “poorly fed troops” would have been much more successful had the supply lines kept up.