Were any Second World War battles fought on First World War battlefields?

Question

As per the question,

thanks.

Answer 1

Pertinent to the 90th anniversary of the Vimy Ridge WW1 battle...

Yes! In fact, a memorial to the Vimy Ridge battle and the Canadians who served was erected in 1936. Hitler was a fan of this memorial, because (can you smell the BS?) it was a memorial to peace, the mothers of Canada grieving their dead, instead of a memorial to war with soldiers, guns, and cannonballs stacked. During WW2, a false news release was published which stated that the German soldiers while fighting in the area demolished the memorial. Hitler was so disturbed by this that he went to the memorial, had his photo taken and then posted his own Secret Service men to guard the memorial for the duration of the war. It worked. War memorials all over Europe were destroyed but not this one.

Answer 2

Hobilar hits a home run - - - actually quite a few fields were bloodied during both conflicts. Not so much France, though several towns involved in The Battle of the Bulge experienced tragic Deja-Vu - - - but especially Poland which was a battleground in World War One when it was part of Russia and again in World War Two - - - Tanneberg and Lvow come to mind (I'm too lazy to dig through books at the moment) - - - also Yugoslavia being a mountainous regions there are certain places determined by Nature to become the scene of conflicts and so fighting revististed several mountain passes.

My Cat is demanding my attention ----- Peace

Answer 3

The first world war was based on nutrition. Who could last the longest.

At the start of the second world war when Britain and France were beaten Hitler was said to have wept with joy when we allowed his smaller fighting force to encircle two entire army's. AKA Dunkirk.

The Generals left over from the first world war had dug in .

This was a totally different war. Fought around the world

How much was Lucas influenced by the secound world war? I will ask the question Thanks you for your question very refreshing

Answer 4

None to my knowledge.

WWI was fought mainly upon a fixed line that didn't move very much during the entire course of the war. The advent of air power and the mobility added by tanks made such entrenched warfare obsolete and the invasion of France by the Nazis and subsequent retaking by the Allies moved too fast to make any of the old lines strategically worthwhile.

In fact, the swift downfall of France was caused by France's failure to realize the importance of Germany's mobile armored divisions. France envisioned the next war would be fought like the previous one and put all its efforts into building and fortifying the Maginot Line. The German panzers went around the line surrounding the entire French Army in the process.

Answer 5

Quite obviously, several of them must have been, but the only one I know of for sure is the battle of Arras in 1940, when British Armour struck south and west to try to break the German encirclement and link up with a promised French thrust from the south. The British achieved an impressive penetration, but had to pull back because the French thrust never materialised. Interestingly, British and Germans were facing in opposite directions from 1914-18.
On the Eastern Front, there must have been several too, but the soviets didn't like the comparison.

Answer 6

In 1940 the BEF attacked Rommel's 7th Panzer Division on the Great War Battlefield at Arras.

Answer 7

The air and sea war mainly. Never forget that U-Boats were Germany's main hope in both World Wars to defeat Britain. Thus the Atlantic Ocean is the prime example of this. WWI was not won on land, but at sea.

Answer 8

Effectively yes, for the Allied troops in 1944 fought northwards through Flanders into Holland. There was a book written several years ago by an eminent military historian - the name of which I cannot for the moment recollect - detailing all the battles fought over the centuries in this part of Europe. (If I can remember the name I will add to this post later). Remember this area also saw medieval battles like Crecy and Agincourt and, indeed, battles by Iulius Caesar in his subjection of the Gauls. It has been one of the most disputed areas in Europe.

Answer 9

The breakthrough out of the Ardennes by Rommel's 7th Panzer Division was at Sedan. News of the breakthrough caused panic in Paris, 1 million left heading south fearing that the Germans would swing south, instead they headed to the coast and bagged the BEF and best French divisions in Belgium.....but i digress....

Answer 10

Yes, most of the battles in Europe were.