The Americans in the Great War; v 1. The Second Battle of the Marne / (Château-Thierry, Soissons, Fismes) by Unknown ISBN 9781465506597, 1465506594 instant download

The Americans in the Great War; v 1. The Second Battle of the Marne / (Château-Thierry, Soissons, Fismes) by Unknown ISBN 9781465506597, 1465506594 instant download

Excerpt:

"The two great German offensives of March and April both failed, despite their extreme violence and the fact that the Allies were taken by surprise. Neither Amiens on the Somme, nor BŽthune and Ypres in the north had fallen. Although in the course of these two offensives not less than 152 German divisions had been thrown into battle, the enemy failed to pierce the AlliesÕ front or break down their resistance. During the offensive against the British front, French reinforcements were brought up much sooner than the Germans expected. Moreover, the battles of March and April gave the Allies the decisive advantage of unity of command. To Marshal Foch was entrusted the co-ordination of the Allied forces in the last act of the great drama, which was to see the downfall of Ludendorff and Hindenburg.

To calm public opinion at home, where the people were clamouring ever louder for that victorious peace so often promised, the Germans were forced to make another attempt, and it was considered necessary to act promptly while they still had numerical superiorityÑowing to RussiaÕs defectionÑand win the final decision before the American intervention could make itself fully felt. Before attacking the British again, Ludendorff attempted to draw the French reserves southwards, his plan being to wear them down and then settle with the British alone."

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