Muna February 1917, vaine chokwadi chokuti mutungamiri mutsva wechiFrench, General Robert Nivelle aizorwisa uye achifanoona zvakarurama kuti aizoedza kubvisa chiGermany pakati peArras neNoyon, vakadzokera kune chikamu cheHindenburg Line kumucheto kwechirevo, vachisiya nzvimbo yavakasiya seyakasvibiswa nyika, mu. Kurwisa kweNivelle
muna April 1917 yakaputitswa nokudzivirira kunofamba-famba kwakadzika. Zvikamu zvizhinji zveFrance zvakapanduka, kunyange zvazvo "OHL" isina kutongonzwisisa ukuru hwokusagadzikana kwacho.