 On 21 March 1918 , having been buoyed by the capitulation of Tsarist Russia , the German Army launched their Spring Offensive against the Allies with a staggering 63 divisions over a front of 70 miles ( 110 km ) . As the Allies began to fall back against the tremendous weight of this offensive , on 25 March the Australian 3rd and 4th Divisions were rushed south to Amiens from where they had been holding the line at Messines . The German offensive lasted with varying intensity for the next five months and during this time , all five divisions of the AIF in France were involved in the fighting as they attempted to stem the tide of the German advance , which achieved large territorial gains and at one stage looked like it might ultimately secure a remarkable victory for the Germans as they pushed to within 50 miles ( 80 km ) from Paris late in May . During this time , the Australians were involved in a number of actions at Dernacourt , Morlancourt , Villers @-@ Bretonneux , Hangard Wood , Hazebrouck , and Hamel . 
