Third Battle of Artois

Third Battle of Artois
Part of the Western Front of the First World War
Franco-British offensive, September 1915
Date 25 September – 4 November 1915 Location Artois, France 50°30′N 2°45′E / 50.500°N 2.750°E / 50.500; 2.750 Result See Analysis section Territorial changes Advance of the Entente front line in Artois by 1.2–1.9 mi (2–3 km)
Belligerents
France  United Kingdom	German Empire
Commanders and leaders
Victor d'Urbal John French	Crown Prince Rupprecht
Strength
French Tenth Army: 10 divisions British First Army: 8 divisions	6th Army: 9 divisions
Casualties and losses
French: 48,230 British: 61,713	c. 51,100 (2,000 POW)

The Third Battle of Artois (25 September – 4 November 1915, also the Loos–Artois Offensive) was fought by the French Tenth Army against the German 6th Army on the Western Front of the First World War. The battle included the Battle of Loos by the British First Army. The offensive, meant to complement the Second Battle of Champagne, was the last attempt that year by Joseph Joffre, the French commander-in-chief, to exploit an Allied numerical advantage over Germany. Simultaneous attacks were planned in Champagne-Ardenne to capture the railway at Attigny and in Artois to take the railway line through Douai, to force a German withdrawal from the Noyon salient.