Second Battle of the Marne
The Second Battle of the Marne took place on July 15 – September 16, 1918. It was fought at the Aisne-Marne Sector, about 75 miles Northeast of Paris. It was in a triangular area surrounded by Chateau-Thierry, Soissons, and Reims. The nine United States divisions under French command fought in the battle. They were coordinated by Marshal Ferdinand Foch. The United States divisions were fighting the first, third, seventh, and ninth armies of Germany.
It was fueled in late May of 1918. Germany had said they would attack the Chemin des Dames towards the River Marne. That attack would threaten Paris. The first major part of the battle was The 5th Ludendorff Offensive. The main route for the Germans was part of the main Paris highway. During July 15-17, three and a half armies of Germans led an attack in the early morning of July 15. In response the Americans decided to wait on the left end of the Marne River line for them. On July 17, however, the Germans took over the southern bank and started advancing toward Reims.
Erich von Ludendorff, Quartermaster General of Germany, said about The 5th Ludendorff Offensive: “...All [German] divisions [along the Marne] achieved brilliant successes, with the exception of the one division on our right wing. This encountered American units! Here only did the Seventh Army, in the course of the first day of the offensive, confront serious difficulties. It met with the unexpectedly stubborn and active resistance of fresh American troops.”
The second major attack was The Aisne-Marne Counter Offensive, which happened on July 18 – August 17, 1918. This part of the battle, which lasted almost one month, started off with French armies attacking and Germans reinforcing their plan. The German air force started to fight just days after. On August 4 the Germans started to heard toward and fought at the Vesle River. The third attack was The Oise-Aisne Offensive on August 18 – September 16, 1918. The Germans were using mustard gas. Near Soissons the French Army launched a major attack. It startled the Germans. On August 28 the Americans captured Juvigny and cut off the Soissons-St. Quentin road forcing the Germans back.
Ludendorff had hoped the Germans could fight off the French before the Americans showed their power. Obviously that plan didn't work. The Second Battle of Marne was the last major attack by the Germans, and also a very big loss for them. Of the more than 250,000 American soldiers fighting, 30,000 of them died or were wounded. In all, the allies had about 120,000 casualties and the Germans had about 168,000 casualties.
I have an intrest in battles so this was a good blog topic to have. I thought it was an interesting one. I think I liked having this topic rather than another one because this was the last major attack from the Germans. I don't think it would be as interesting or 'special' if it was a semi-important battle in the middle of the war. Some of the information I found went over my head a little, but I think I have a pretty good grip on it. I know Germany lost anyway! I also like that we're doing blog topics on World War I -- I never knew much about the war before and it's really fun to learn about!
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