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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.
Chosen Boy, a 1918 watercolor by Paul Klee. From Paul Klee: Early and Late Years: 1894-1940. © 2013 Moeller Fine Art
Map of the Marne salient showing the battle line of June 2, 1918. From The History of The A.E.F. by Shipley Thomas.
Tinted postcard of Marshal Ferdinand Foch. Made Commander-in-Chief of all Allied forces on the Western Front April 3, 1918, he led the Allies to victory in November.
"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." ((1), 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." ((2), 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." ((3), more)
". . . our casualties were increasing alarmingly; ammunition was running short and the problem of supply, in view of the large demands, became more and more difficult. It became all too clear that actions so stubbornly contested and involving us in such formidable losses would never enable us to capture Paris. In truth the brilliant offensive had petered out. This unpleasant fact was quickly realised by the High Command and the order came from General Ludendorff for us to consolidate the positions we had reached." ((4), more)
"(1) The line of conduct to be followed by the French Command is to stop the enemy's advance on Paris at all costs, especially in the region north of the Marne.(2) The means consists in a foot-by-foot defence of the territory in this direction, pursued with the utmost energy.(3) To accomplish this, it is essential that orders be drawn up prescribing exactly what the troops must do, and see that these orders are strictly carried out, by removing any commanding officer who shows signs of weakness.(4) All the Allied troops are oriented in the same direction, and they will be put into the battle as resources in transportation become available." ((5), more)
(1) 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
(2) 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
(3) 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
(4) Excerpt from 'Day 6. June 1.' the brief closing section of the 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 (Corps von Conta). German commander Erich Ludendorff made his bid for victory with repeated offensives in 1918. Unruh had faced four British divisions that had been devastated in Operations Michael and Georgette in March and April had been moved into what was expected to be a quiet sector, one held by the French. The offensive, successful in its advance, and in ground gained, created a salient that reached the Marne River from a base between Soissons and Reims. The Corps von Conta faced the Americans and French Colonial troops who held Château Thierry, a town that straddled the Marne.
The Last of the Ebb: the Battle of the Aisne, 1918 by Sidney Rogerson, page 146, copyright © Sidney Rogerson, 1937, publisher: Frontline Books, publication date: 2011
(5) Note from Allied Commander-in-Chief Ferdinand Foch to French General Henri Philippe Pétain after their meeting of June 2, 1918, and after the German advance of the Aisne Offensive. Foch adds that he added item (4) 'in order to restore confidence,' and that he 'took important steps to carry out this promise.'
The Memoirs of Marshal Foch, translated by Col. T. Bentley Mott by Ferdinand Foch, pp. 298–299, copyright © 1931 by Doubleday, Doran & Company, Inc., publisher: Doubleday, Doran & Co., publication date: 1931
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