French operations in Artois , Champagne and Alsace from November–December 1914 , led General Joseph Joffre , Generalissimo ( Commander in Chief ) and head of Grand Quartier Général ( GQG ) , to continue the offensive in Champagne against the German southern rail supply route and to plan an offensive in Artois , against the lines supplying the German armies from the north .

French troops were sent Sending into the area , as Général d'armée Maxime Weygand attempted to build Building up a defence in depth on the south bank of the Somme and make Creating bigger attacks to eliminate Destroying the German bridgeheads .