Meuse-Argonne Offensive

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Meuse-Argonne Offensive
Part of the Western Front (World War I)
American soldiers burying their dead at Bois de Consenvoye
Map of the area, 1918.
Date September 26 –November 11, 1918
Location Argonne Forest, France
Result stopped with the end of the war
Belligerents
Flag of the United States United States Flag of German Empire German Empire
Commanders
John J. Pershing Georg von der Marwitz
Strength
American Expeditionary Force German Fifth Army
Casualties and losses
26,277 killed
95,786 wounded
122,063 total		 28,000 killed
92,250 wounded
120,250 total
v • d • e
Hundred Days Offensive
Amiens – 2nd Somme – Arras – Havrincourt – St.-Mihiel – Épehy – Hindenburg Line – Meuse-Argonne – Courtai – Selle – 2nd Sambre

The Meuse-Argonne Offensive, also called the Battle of the Argonne Forest, was the final offensive of World War I. It was the biggest operation and victory of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) in that war. The offensive took place in the Verdun Sector, immediately north and northwest of the town of Verdun, between September 26 - November 11, 1918.

Contents

[edit] Opposing forces

U.S. forces consisted of nine divisions (Paterson, 2005) of the U.S. First Army commanded by General John J. Pershing until October 16 and then by Lt. General Hunter Liggett. More than 1,200,000 U.S. troops eventually took part in the battle. The logistics were planned and directed by Col. George Marshall. German forces consisted of 5 German divisions, 4 of which were described as low grade. Resistance grew to approximately 450,000 German troops from the Fifth Army of Group Gallwitz commanded by General Georg von der Marwitz.

[edit] Objective

Its objective was the capture of the railroad hub at Sedan which would break the rail net supporting the German Army in France and Flanders and force the enemy's withdrawal from the occupied territories.

[edit] First phase: September 26 to October 3

The American attack began at 5:30 a.m. on September 26 and progressed 11 kilometres (7 mi) in two days. Montfaucon d'Argonne was captured on the first day. On September 29, six new German divisions were deployed to oppose the American attack, and in the words of General Pershing, "We were no longer engaged in a maneuver for the pinching out of a salient, but were necessarily committed, generally speaking, to a direct frontal attack against strong, hostile positions fully manned by a determined enemy."[1]

[edit] Second phase: October 4 to October 28

328th Infantry Regiment of 82nd Division line of advance in capture of Hill 223 on October 7, 1918.
328th Infantry Regiment of 82nd Division line of advance in capture of Hill 223 on October 7, 1918.

The second phase of the battle began on 4 October. The Americans launched a series of costly frontal assaults that finally broke through the main German defences between 14-17 October. By the end of October the Americans had advanced ten miles and had finally cleared the Argonne Forest. On their left the French had advanced twenty miles, reaching the Aisne River. It was during this operation that Corporal (later Sergeant) Alvin York made his famous capture of 132 German prisoners. [2]

[edit] Third phase: October 26 to November 10

The American forces reorganized into two armies. The First, led by General Ligett, would continue to move to the Carignan-Sedan-Mezieres Railroad. The Second Army, led by Lieutenant General Robert L. Bullard, was directed to move eastward towards Metz. The two armies faced 31 German divisions.

[edit] The battle's place in history

Although the battle was "probably the bloodiest single battle in U.S. history," the battle is little remembered today; its battleground memorials are neglected by most American visitors to Europe. [3] However, the battle's pressure on the Germans was an important factor in their agreeing to the armistice: "Until the last, this battle had worried German commanders most; unlike other sectors of the front, here they had little space short of a vital objective that they could afford to trade for time." [4]

[edit] References

  1. ^ THE MEUSE-ARGONNE OFFENSIVE: PART II: PERSHING'S REPORT. http://www.worldwar1.com/dbc/bigshow2.htm, accessed 1-15-2008
  2. ^ Thomas Fleming, "Meuse-Argonne Offensive of World War I," Military History, Oct. 1993 (online at HistoryNet.com).
  3. ^ Edward G. Lengel, "Why Didn't We Listen to Their War Stories?", The Washington Post, Sun. May 25, 2008, p. B03.
  4. ^ Leaders & Battles database, "Meuse-Argonne."