The new order of battle includes : I Corps - 77th, 28th & 1st Divisions V Corps - 32nd & 3rd Divisions: and III Corps - 4th 80th and 33rd Divisions.ĭoughboys Under Fire in the Village of Exermontįirst Army begins a major attack along the entire front, but this will just be the first in a series of attacks all resulting in high casualties with small gains in ground.Ĭlick Here To See the Advances of the First Army During October. Pershing shuffles his divisions for a renewed assault. Tank support because of the terrain and mechanical problems has not lived up to expectations.ģ October 1918 To the west, the Lost Battalion of the 77th Division is surrounded. Pershing replaces several inexperienced divisions. The lack of roads in the Argonne creates a stupendous traffic jam. This provest to be the most expensive missed opportunity of the AEF.ġ October 1918 The Offensive is clearly not meeting expectations. Landmarks captured include the Butte de Vacquois and the historic village of Varennes.Ģ7 September 1918 Montfaucon is captured, but the day and one-half delay allows German forces to escape and regroup avoiding a rout. This delay holds up the entire advance for over a day and allows the Germans to recover from their initial shock and to reorganize. The initial advance is brisk with the exception that the 79th Division encounters difficulties capturing the look out post and strong point of Montfaucon. Dismounted cavalry working as scouts and the Lt Tank Brigade are also deployed to support the assault. These divisions would be relieved, replaced and sometimes moved along the front during the different phases of the battle. The corps and divisions are : I Corps - 92nd, 77th, 28th & 35th Divisions V Corps - 91st, 37th & 79th Divisions: and III Corps - 4th 80th and 33rd Divisions. They are organized in three corps, arrayed facing north from the edge of the Champagne in the west to the River Meuse in the East. Ten American divisions of 26,000 men each are poised to attack. The Meuse-Argonne Offensive: A ChronologyĪt 2330 the initial barrage by 2700 guns begins. Marshall establishing his reputation and preparing him to lead - in the distant future - American forces to victory in the Second World War. These logistics were planned and directed by Col. The reshifting of forces in such a short period of time was one of the great accomplishments of the Great War. This new section of the front extended thirty miles east to west. Mihiel Salient - assaulted less than two weeks earlier - to a new jump off line north and northwest of Verdun. The bulk of the forces engaged in the initial onslaught had to be transferred from the St. 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. It was a very complex operation involving a majority of the AEF ground forces fighting through rough, hilly terrain the German Army had spent four years fortifying. In six weeks the AEF lost 26,277 killed and 95,786 wounded. The Meuse-Argonne Offensive was the greatest American battle of the First World War. Memorable For: Being the biggest operation and victory of the American Expeditionary Force in World War I. Opposing Forces: Approximately forty German divisions from the Army Groups of the Crown Prince and General Max Carl von Gallwitz participated in the battle with the largest contribution by the Fifth Army of Group Gallwitz commanded by General Georg von der Marwitz. General Hunter Liggett.Ĭlick Here To See the disposition of US forces at the start of the battle. Quick Facts Where: The Verdun Sector, immediately north and northwest of the town of Verdun.Ĭheck the Location on a Map of the Western FrontĪEF Units Participating: U.S. The Story of the American Expeditionary Forces
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |