Battle of Le Cateau

E215257

The Battle of Le Cateau was a major early World War I engagement in August 1914, in which retreating British forces mounted a hard-fought defensive stand against advancing German armies in northern France.

All labels observed (3)

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (48)

Predicate Object
instanceOf World War I battle
battle
alsoKnownAs Battle of Le Cateau
surface form: Battle of Le Cateau–Cambrésis
associatedWith British Expeditionary Force retreat of 1914
Schlieffen Plan
surface form: Schlieffen Plan offensive
belligerent British Expeditionary Force
German Empire
United Kingdom
campaign 1914 Western Front campaign
casualtiesAndLosses heavy British casualties
significant German casualties
commander Alexander von Kluck
Douglas Haig
Horace Smith-Dorrien
Karl von Bülow
conflict World War I
country France
date 26 August 1914
followedBy First Battle of the Marne
front Western Front
involvedUnit 3rd British Infantry Division
surface form: British 3rd Division

4th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)
surface form: British 4th Division

British 5th Division
German III Corps
German IX Corps
location France
Le Cateau-Cambrésis
Nord department
notableFor defensive stand by retreating British forces
effective British rifle fire
use of massed German artillery
objective delay German advance
outcome enabled continued British and French retreat
partOf Great Retreat
precededBy Battle of Mons
region northern France
result German tactical victory
successful British delaying action
strategicSignificance contributed to time gained before the Marne
slowed German pursuit after Mons
strength German First Army units
German Second Army units
II Corps (British Army)
surface form: II Corps of the British Expeditionary Force

elements of British III Corps
theatre Western Front
typeOfEngagement defensive battle
rearguard action
year 1914

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (5)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Manchester Regiment notableEngagement Battle of Le Cateau
Battle of Mons followedBy Battle of Le Cateau
4th Queen’s Own Hussars battleHonour Battle of Le Cateau
this entity surface form: Le Cateau
Field Marshal Sir John French participatedIn Battle of Le Cateau
subject surface form: John French
Battle of Le Cateau alsoKnownAs Battle of Le Cateau
this entity surface form: Battle of Le Cateau–Cambrésis