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In Tolkien's The Hobbit, what army makes the first attack in the Battle of the Five Armies in Chapter 17?

The goblins and wolves make the first proper attack in the Battle of the Five Armies in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. It's worth noting that, in determining who the actual five armies are in this battle, there's some controversy. Some include the eagles in this list, while others identify different goblin/orc factions. For our purposes, it makes the most sense to say that the five armies engaged in the conflict are: men (humans), elves,...

The goblins and wolves make the first proper attack in the Battle of the Five Armies in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. It's worth noting that, in determining who the actual five armies are in this battle, there's some controversy. Some include the eagles in this list, while others identify different goblin/orc factions. For our purposes, it makes the most sense to say that the five armies engaged in the conflict are: men (humans), elves, dwarves, goblins, and wolves (also called Wargs in Tolkien's universe). Before the battle even starts, tensions are high, as the elves and the men are contesting Thorin's right to the treasure in the Lonely Mountain. Thorin's reinforcements (the army of Dain) appear just when emotions are at their most tense, and, for a moment, it seems like the elves, dwarves, and men (the "good guys") are going to fight amongst themselves. However, just in the nick of time, Gandalf appears and informs everyone about the coming threat of the goblins and wolves, giving the three armies just enough time to unite against their common foes. When the actual Battle of the Five Armies begins, it's the goblins and the wolves who attack first.    

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