My son has asked me how long is the complete length of the front from the French coast to Italy? Anyone got a map? I think he wants to cycle the complete length, anyone achieved this?
Tony

Tony, there is a thread on here about someone thinking of doing and a reply to a group who have done it, I will give a quick search and see if I can find it for you

Kevin

http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/i...&hl=cycling

http://www.hellfire-corner.demon.co.uk/bikeride.htm

Thanks Kev, did not realise how long it is!! A serious task!
Tony

Unless someone pulled a fast (and very hush hush) one on the Swiss it didn't reach as far as Italy - ending at the Swiss border.

The question also should be asked - in what year? The WF was not completely static so one would need to decided which Western Front you are going to track - pre the German withdrawal to the Hindenberg Line, at the acme of the german adavance in Spring 1918, some time in between etc etc?

Considering Centurion's remarks about the changes in the front during the war, it is about roughly 750 km from Nieuport in Belgium until Pfefferhouse and Bonfol along the French-Swiss Border.
Have a nice biking trip.

Hello,

Just to add a little. I have a note from 'Sir Douglas Haig’s Despatches' (John Terraine)published by J.M. Dent. This shows the length of front held by the allies in Sep 1918.

Formation Frontage
Miles
Belgian Army 15
2nd Army BEF 12
5th Army BEF 11
1st Army BEF 20
3rd Army BEF 9
4th Army BEF 10
1st French 18
10th French 12
5th French 25
4th French 26
2nd US (+F) 26
1st US (+F) 30
8th French 42
7th French 55

A total of 311 miles

Old Tom

Old Tom

I love that extract presented in that way.

But do you think Sept 18 is a good time to select given the movement at that time. I am sure it was longer pre Feb 1917.

I was under the impression that the British Army was stretched to its greatest extent in February - March 1918.

A friend of mine did it two years ago and I drove the support car part of the way.

It was 542 miles - Pfetterhouse to Nieuwpoort

You can read the account here...

http://209.85.175.104/search?q=cache:Wv8Sp...;cd=1&gl=uk

So what was at the Swiss end of the Western Front? Would both lines curl along the border for a bit to ensure they were not attacked from the side or did both simply stop at a border post marker?

Sure would be tempting to send a few divisions into Switzerland and come up behind the enemy??

Mark

Covered in an earlier thread complete with photos of the end of the front and yes they just stopped at the border.

The Germans may have planned an incursion or it may have been a deception plan to cause the French to keep forces down that end. The Swiss had some entrenchments and forces to stop any incursion. They wouldn't have been sufficient to do so but would have delayed it long enough for one side or the other to move up sufficient forces to act as a block. Switzerland was useful to Germany both as a means of finance and of acquiring some scare high value strategic materials via some very dodgy French owned Swiss companies so they probably wouldn't want to upset the Swiss unless there was a cast iron chance of success.

Italy had fears of a German attack through Switzerland and built fortifications facing their Swiss border. See photo

Hello,

I did not chose September 1918, and I don't think the Field Marshal is available to comment. However at that time the Germans had retired to the line (often called the Hindenburg Line) which they had prepared having decided to shorten their line after the Somme campaign. It was the line from, I suppose, early 1917 to early 1918 and seems as good a date as any other.

Old Tom