On This Day – November 20th (Battle of Cambrai)

Michael Thomas, Editor

On this day, November the 20th, in the year of 1917, in the midst of the Battle of Cambrai, tanks were used successfully for the first time in warfare.

Occurring during the First World War, the use of tanks has been attempted, but conditions of battlefields were not conducive for tanks of the time to operate at full capacity.

British officers in charge of the tanks chose to attack in an area that would not impede the tanks movement.

The attack resulted in low casualties and the capture of 7,500 prisoners of war (Britannica).