The 2 nd Battle of Marne

Lotan M., Ricky D., Ian C., Libby N., Pierce K.

The 2nd Battle of Marne

The Second Battle of Marne was the waterloo of the German Empire, causing it to suffer

catastrophic losses which contributed to its economic and military downfall, ending the war and impacting numerous countries in Europe and

over seas.

Thesis

•Germany had achieved military success on both the Western and Eastern fronts in Europe • Germany attempted the Spring Offensive which was a series of attacks along the Western front •Attempted to strike as much as they could before America sent in their troops•Was one of Germany’s last failures before the second Battle of the Marne

Before the Battle

•This was one of Germany’s last major Spring Offensive•Most commanders knew the fate of the battle was not in favor of Germany•Fought from July 15-August 5, 1918 as the war hauled to its end•German Chief of Staff, Erich Ludendorff was convinced that the best chance of winning was by an attack in Flanders

The 2nd Battle of Marne-Plan

•Ludendorff was determined to lure the Allied forces from Belgium, to the Marne for a diversionary attack•On July 15, 23 German divisions of the First and Third Armies, under command of Mudra and Einem, attacked French Fourth Army to the east of Reims•17 divisions assisted by attacking the Sixth French Army in the west

The 2nd Battle of Marne-The Attack

•85,000 U.S. forces from Sir Douglas Haig’s British Expeditionary Force (BEF) joined the French in Flanders•East attack quickly failed for the Germans•West of Reims attack was successful•Breaking through the French Sixth Army and crossing the Marne•Boehm with aid of six divisions, established a front line stretching 9 miles

The 2nd Battle of Marne-The Attack

•Germans failed to break this line•Ferdinand Foch, Allied Supreme Commander authorized a counter-offensive on July 18•Aim was to eliminate large German divisions •Successful leading the Germans to order a retreat on July 20 •August 3 the Germans returned to where they started: Aisne-Vesle Rivers

The 2nd Battle of Marne-The End

Germany- 168,000

French- 95,000

Britain- 13,000

U.S.- 12,000

Casualties

•Ludendorff planned the Flanders offensive but it was postponed then canceled•No further large scale strike to win the war was attempted by Germany

Germany After

•http://www.firstworldwar.com/battles/marne2.htm•http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/365975/Second-Battle-of-the-Marne•http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/second-battle-of-the-marne-begins-with-final-german-offensive•http://www.worldwar1.com/dbc/2marne.htm

Sources