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Three headstones at the Necropole Craonelle, a French military cemetery, of British soldiers who died May 27, 1918, most likely killed in the German Aisne offensive that began that day. From left to right the headstones are those of Norman Gibson, East Yorkshire Regiment, age 18; C. G. Sills, Machine Gun Corps; and G. Rees, Yorkshire Regiment. Webmatters.net includes these men and two others noting that, 'These men were caught up the whirlwind of Operation Blücher launched by the Germans on the morning of 27th May 1918. They were part of the 150th Brigade of 50th Division holding the Plateau de Californie and Craonne.' © 2013, John M. Shea
Headstone of Paul W. Derrickson, 2nd Lieutenant, 28th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, A.E.F., recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross, killed in action, May 28, 1918 in the Battle of Cantigny, France. His citation reads, 'The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Paul W. Derrickson, Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in the advance on Cantigny, France, May 28, 1918. Second Lieutenant Derrickson courageously went forward with his platoon and reached the position he had been directed to take. Fearlessly walking up and down his line, he cheered and directed the work of his men until he was killed.' (Source: www.homeofheroes.com/members/02_DSC/citatons/01_wwi_dsc/dsc_05wwi_Army_DE.html, May 24, 2018) © 2013 by John M. Shea
German expedited advance reserves on the battlefield in the 'Great German West Offensive', likely Operation Michael in March, 1918.
Cover to the sheet music for 'Good-bye Broadway, Hello France,' the 'big song hit of 'Passing Show of 1917' at N.Y. Winter Garden,' lyrics by C. Francis Reisner and Benny Davis, music by Billy Baskette. Standing in New York, General John J. Pershing shakes hands over the Atlantic with a Ferdinand-Foch-like French general.
Map of the Marne salient showing the battle line of June 2, 1918. From The History of The A.E.F. by Shipley Thomas.
"It was difficult to get a clear picture of the attack. This had been so violent and our trenches so thinly held that all organised resistance on our divisional front had been at once overwhelmed. But the chief danger had come apparently from the flanking movements, helped as those were by the pronounced salient we were holding. The enemy had carried the strong French positions on the Chemin des Dames after a fierce but short assault, and at the same time under cover of the very heavy mist—the sure shield of the German offensives—and helped by the sparse nature of the trench garrison, had worked his way up the Miette stream on the right. Indeed, the advance on this flank was so rapid that small groups of Germans were across the Aisne near the Bois de Gernicourt before the remnants of the 23rd Brigade had been collected at Pontavert . . . it was evident that any attempt to hold the line of the river with the few survivors was quite unthinkable." ((1), more)
"On April 25th the First Division relieved two French divisions on the front near Montdidier and on May 28th captured the important observation stations on the heights of Cantigny with splendid dash. French artillery, aviation, tanks, and flame throwers aided in the attack, but most of this French assistance was withdrawn before the completion of the operation in order to meet the enemy's new offensive launched May 27th towards Château-Thierry. The enemy reaction against our troops at Cantigny was extremely violent, and apparently he was determined at all costs to counteract the most excellent effect the American success had produced. For three days his guns of all calibers were concentrated on our new position and counter-attack succeeded counter-attack. The desperate efforts of the Germans gave the fighting at Cantigny a seeming tactical importance entirely out of proportion to the numbers involved." ((2), more)
"This scattered remnant was disposed along a steep ridge, deep in growing corn, which sloped away towards the left into the wooded valley of the Ardre. Here, among the trees which bordered the river were more French, blue-clad 'poilus' as well as khaki-clad colonials, chattering and laughing and making great play with their Hotchkiss automatic rifles against German planes. In rear the hillside sloped abruptly down to a miniature valley in which nestled the village of Treslon and at which farther side the ground rose sharply up to another ridge of a more wooded nature, which I will call the Bouleuse ridge, from its proximity to the village of that name." ((3), more)
". . . received the news of the great capture of stores at Fère-en-Tardenois, and particularly of an American dump of almost fantastic proportions. This gave us our first impression of the American Army. We realised with what prodigious resources of material the U.S. troops were supported. We were destined not long afterwards to make the acquaintance of fresh American troops in action west of Château Thierry and in the Bois de Belleau. There I was to see young regiments coming on in masses, exactly the same as earlier in the war I had seen the Russians advance. The difference was that unlike the Russians, the Americans were supported by a volume of fire we could never have concentrated owing to our diminished resources in ammunition." ((4), more)
"On May 31st [1918], when the Germans were already in the outskirts of Château-Thierry, an American machine-gun unit was hurried thither in motor lorries. Château-Thierry lies on both banks of the Marne, which is spanned by a big bridge. A little to the northward a canal runs parallel to the river and is crossed by a smaller bridge.The Americans had scarcely reached their quarters when news was received that the Germans had broken into the northern part of Château-Thierry, having made their way through the gap they had driven in our lines to the left of the town and then pouring along the streets to the bridge, intending to establish themselves firmly on the south bank and capture the town.The American machine gunners and French colonials were thrown into Château-Thierry together." ((5), more)
(1) Excerpt from Sidney Rogerson's The Last of the Ebb, an account of his experiences on May 27, 1918, the first day of the German Aisne Offensive. Four British divisions that had been devastated in Operations Michael and Georgette in March and April had been moved to the eastern end of the Chemin des Dames, in what was expected to be a quiet sector, one held by the French. French General Denis Auguste Duchêne ignored General Henri Philippe Pétain's order to strengthen and restructure his line and dismissed reports of German preparations for an offensive.
The Last of the Ebb: the Battle of the Aisne, 1918 by Sidney Rogerson, pp. 39–40, copyright © Sidney Rogerson, 1937, publisher: Frontline Books, publication date: 2011
(2) Account of the May 28, 1918 offensive at Cantigny, the first American offensive, by American commander General John J. Pershing. The German action was part of the Aisne Offensive, begun on May 27. The attack began at 6:45 a.m. by the 28th Infantry supported by ten French tanks and a platoon of French flame throwers on a mile-long front. The Americans took the town and held it against two big counterattacks that afternoon and evening, and against a third attack the next morning. In the battle, the American 1st Division suffered 1,067 casualties, 199 of them killed.
The Great Events of the Great War in Seven Volumes by Charles F. Horne, Vol. VI, 1918, p. 190, copyright © 1920 by The National Alumnia, publisher: The National Alumni, publication date: 1920
(3) Excerpt from Sidney Rogerson's The Last of the Ebb, an account of his experiences in the first days of the German Aisne Offensive launched on May 27, 1918. Rogerson and what remained of his unit had been retreating for two days when they stopped and collected the roughly 250 men he describes. Four British divisions that had been devastated in Operations Michael and Georgette in March and April had been moved to the eastern end of the Chemin des Dames, in what was expected to be a quiet sector, one held by the French. French General Denis Auguste Duchêne ignored General Henri Philippe Pétain's order to strengthen and restructure his line and dismissed reports of German preparations for an offensive. Rogerson had already retreated 30 km before taking up the defensive position at Treslon.
The Last of the Ebb: the Battle of the Aisne, 1918 by Sidney Rogerson, page 68, copyright © Sidney Rogerson, 1937, publisher: Frontline Books, publication date: 2011
(4) Excerpt from an account of the Aisne Offensive, the Third German Drive of 1918, by Major-General A. D. von Unruh, Chief of the General Staff, 4th Reserve Corps. American commander General John J. Pershing planned to field an American Army under American command, and was preparing for the offensives of 1919 when German commander Erich Ludendorff made his bid for victory with repeated offensives in 1918. Pershing had been transporting both arms and men to Europe until Britain, desperate for men, offered to transport American troops, bringing 250,000 of them towards the battle each month. Going into battle in 1918 the Americans relied on British and French tanks and planes.
The Last of the Ebb: the Battle of the Aisne, 1918 by Sidney Rogerson, page 143, copyright © Sidney Rogerson, 1937, publisher: Frontline Books, publication date: 2011
(5) Beginning of a British press dispatch of June 5, 1918 on the fighting at Château-Thierry during the German Aisne Offensive. The defenders prevented German forces from crossing the Marne River, blowing the big bridge referred to. Three days earlier American troops working in unison with a French tank brigade and a platoon of French flame throwers had captured the village of Cantigny, and held it against repeated German counter-attacks. The action at Château-Thierry was critical in holding the line of the Marne.
The Great Events of the Great War in Seven Volumes by Charles F. Horne, Vol. VI, 1918, p. 196, copyright © 1920 by The National Alumnia, publisher: The National Alumni, publication date: 1920
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