Figure 1.--Here French school children cheers the Americans. Because of strict American military snsoes, the caption read only, "Inf enroute to Barracks--France." It is stamped August 20, 1918. But that was the date the photograph wa received in U.S. newsppers mening it was probably taken in July when the Second Battle of the Marne was being fought. With the Germans breaking through the Front, French attitudes toward America were very different than modern attitudes.

The German onjective from the first day of the War was to seize Paris. The Germans invaded a swept through Belgium, slowed but not stopped by the gallant, butsmall Belgian Army and BEF (August 1914). The last major defense line for Paris was the Marne. It was here that the Germans had been stopped at the onset of the War by the Fench (September 1914), saving Paris and beinning a 3 year staltemate on the Western Front. The Germans as a result of their spring 1918 offensive had reached the Marne a second time. And here in the Champagne region of France, the Germans launched what hoped would prove to be be their war-winning strike that would finally allow them to seize Paris and win the War. It is now known as the Second Battle of the Marne. The battle occurred in an area of France that civilians had not evacuated. And there ere the Americans baically deciding their fate. German General Erich Ludendorff believed that an attack to the east in Flanders aginst the BEF was the most likely route to a German victory in the war. And he prepared for this assault and as the A;;ies reacted would heavily defended by the Allies. So Ludendorff decided to launch a sizeable diversionary attack to the southeast to draw Allied troops away from what he planned to be the main attck. This would be an attack across the Marne River. It was made possible because of the capture of the strategic Chemin des Dames ridge from the French near the Aisne River (May 27). The German with 23 divisions of the 1st and 3rd Armies attacked the French 4th Army east of Reims. Another 17 divisions of the 7th Army, assisted by the 9th Army, attacked the French 6th Army to the west of Reims. Ludendorff's intention was to divide and conquer the French forces. Fake trenches absorved the preliminary German artillery bombardment. The French were also being reenforced by 85,000 U.S. troops. Thse were green troops nt yet fully trined. Pershing hsd no choice, but to commit them. BEF uniys located primarily in Flanders also enteed the fight. As the battle shaped up the Germans began to cross the Mare achieving some success with French forced to fall bck. Dead center in the crossing area was the American 3rd Division which did not withdraw. The Americans inflicted heavy casualties on the Germans crosing the River, disrupting the German thrust, earning the title--Rock of the Marne. The 3rd ID proved to be a eyrstone of the Marne defenses and the entire region. The 3rd Infantry Division stand to assist their beleaguered allies, helped to stop the ferocious German advance. The 3rd ID’s heroic fight against the German Army changed the whole course of the War. The Allies orgnized counter strokes. French and American forces supported by several hundred tanks, overwhelmed the Germans on their right flank. The Germans suffered substantial casualties. These were casualties the Germans could not ffiord whileat thecsame tiome Amerian troops continued to arrive at French ports. It is variously seen as the end of the German Spring Offensive or the beginning of the Allied Hundred Day Capaign that would force the Germans to seek an Armistice ending the War. Ludendorff and the Crown Prince were delt a stunning defeat. They did not think the Americans could stop the German Army andwere defeated on the battlefield. After the War, both who create the 'stab in he back myth' that the Grman Army had neve been defeated on the field.

Created: 9:23 AM 9/7/2025
Last updated: 9:23 AM 9/7/2025