[citation needed] The British Third Army, with the United States II Corps launched the next phase of the campaign with the Battle of Albert on 21 August.

From German accounts, "Each day was spent in bloody fighting against an ever and again on-storming enemy, and nights passed without sleep in retirements to new lines.

The British Fourth Army's commander, General Henry Rawlinson, described the Australian advances of 31 August – 4 September as the greatest military achievement of the war.

[8] By noon that day the German commander, Erich Ludendorff, had decided to withdraw behind the Canal du Nord.

[citation needed] Faced with these advances, on the German Oberste Heeresleitung ('Supreme Army Command') issued orders to withdraw in the south to the Hindenburg Line.