The Second Battle of the Aisne ( or ) was a French attempt to inflict a decisive defeat on the German armies in France by an offensive of several French army groups. The attacks became known as the Nivelle Offensive and began on 9 April with the Battle of Arras. The French attacks began on 16 April 1917 against the German-occupied Chemin des Dames ridge, some to the north-east of Paris and south of the city of Laon. On 17 April the French Fourth Army, further to the south, began the Battle of the Hills. Robert Nivelle, Commander-in-Chief of the French Army, laid the plan in December 1916 after he had replaced Joseph Joffre, who had lost the confidence of the French government and been removed from office. The objective of the Nivelle Offensive was to secure the prominent long, east–west ridge of the Chemin des Dames and then to move north to capture the city of Laon.