Meuse-Argonne Offensive in World War I

Meuse-Argonne Offensive in World War I The Meuse-Argonne Offensive was one of the final campaigns of World War I (1914-1918) and was fought between September 26 and November 11, 1918. Part of the Hundred Days Offensives, the thrust in the Meuse-Argonne was the largest American operation of the conflict and involved 1.2 million men. The offensive saw attacks through the difficult terrain between the Argonne Forest and the Meuse River. While the First US Army made early gains, the operation soon devolved into a bloody battle of attrition. Lasting until the end of the war, the Meuse-Argonne Offensive was the deadliest battle in American history with over 26,000 killed. Background On August 30, 1918, the supreme commander of Allied forces, Marshal Ferdinand Foch, arrived at the headquarters of General John J. Pershings First US Army. Meeting with the American commander, Foch ordered  Pershing to effectively shelve a planned offensive against the Saint-Mihiel salient, as he wished to use the American troops piecemeal to support a British offensive to the north. Having relentlessly planned the Saint-Mihiel operation, which he saw as opening the way to an advance on the rail hub of Metz, Pershing resisted Fochs demands. Outraged, Pershing refused to let his command be broken apart and argued in favor of moving forward with the assault on Saint-Mihiel. Ultimately, the two came to a compromise. Pershing would be permitted to attack Saint-Mihiel but was required to be in position for an offensive in the Argonne Valley by mid-September. This required Pershing to fight a major battle, and then shift approximately 400,000 men sixty miles all within the span of ten days. General John J. Pershing. Photograph Courtesy of the Library of Congress Stepping off on September 12, Pershing won a swift victory at Saint-Mihiel.  After clearing the salient in three days of fighting, the Americans began moving north to the Argonne. Coordinated by Colonel George C. Marshall, this movement was completed in time to commence the Meuse-Argonne Offensive on September 26. Planning Unlike the flat terrain of Saint-Mihiel, the Argonne was a valley flanked by thick forest to one side and the Meuse River on the other. This terrain provided an excellent defensive position for five divisions from General Georg von der Marwitzs Fifth Army. Flush with victory, Pershings objectives for the first day of the attack were extremely optimistic and called for his men to break through two major defensive lines dubbed Giselher and Kreimhilde by the Germans. In addition, American forces were hampered by the fact that five of the nine divisions slated for the attack had not yet seen combat. This use of relatively inexperienced troops was necessitated by the fact that many of the more veteran divisions had been employed at Saint-Mihiel and required time to rest and refit before re-entering the line.   Meuse-Argonne Offensive Conflict: World War IDates: September 26-November 11, 1918Armies Commanders:United StatesGeneral John J. Pershing1.2 million men by the end of the campaignGermanyGeneral Georg von der Marwitz450,000 by the end of the campaignCasualties:United States: 26,277 killed and 95,786 woundedGermany: 28,000 killed and 92,250 wounded Opening Moves Attacking at 5:30 AM on September 26 after a prolonged bombardment by 2,700 guns, the final goal of the offensive was the capture of Sedan, which would cripple the German rail network. It was later reported that more ammunition was expended during the bombardment than had been used in the entirety of the Civil War. The initial assault made solid gains and was supported by American and French tanks. Falling back to the Giselher line, the Germans prepared to make stand. In the center, the attack bogged down as troops from V Corps struggled to take the 500-ft. height of Montfaucon. The capture of the heights had been assigned to the green 79th Division, whose attack stalled when the neighboring 4th Division failed to execute Pershings orders for them to turn the Germans flank and force them from Montfaucon. Elsewhere, the difficult terrain slowed the attackers and limited visibility. Seeing a crisis developing on Fifth Armys front, General Max von Gallwitz directed six reserve divisions to shore up the line. Though a brief advantage had been gained, the delays at Montfaucon and elsewhere along the line allowed for the arrival of additional German troops who quickly began to form a new defensive line. With their arrival, American hopes for a quick victory in the Argonne were dashed and a grinding, attritional battle commenced. While Montfaucon was taken the next day, the advance proved slow and American forces were plagued by leadership and logistical issues. By October 1, the offensive had come to a halt. Traveling among his forces, Pershing replaced several of his green divisions with more experienced troops, though this movement only added to the logistical and traffic difficulties. Additionally, ineffective commanders were mercilessly removed from their commands and replaced by more aggressive officers. US Marines during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. National Archives and Records Administration Grinding Forward On October 4, Pershing ordered an assault all along the American line. This was met with ferocious resistance from the Germans, with the advance measured in yards. It was during this phase of the fighting that the 77th Divisions famed Lost Battalion made its stand. Elsewhere, Corporal Alvin York of the 82nd Division won the Medal of Honor for capturing 132 Germans. As his men pushed north, Pershing increasingly found that his lines were subjected to German artillery from the heights on the east bank of the Meuse. To alleviate this problem, he made a push over the river on October 8 with the goal of silencing German guns in the area. This made little headway. Two days later he turned command of the First Army over to Lieutenant General Hunter Liggett. As Liggett pressed on, Pershing formed the Second US Army on the east side of the Meuse and placed Lieutenant General Robert L. Bullard in command. Between October 13-16, American forces began to break through the German lines with the capture of Malbrouck, Consenvoye, Cà ´te Dame Marie, and Chatillon. With these victories in hand, American forces pierced the Kreimhilde line, achieving Pershings goal for the first day. With this done, Liggett called a halt to reorganize. While collecting stragglers and re-supplying, Liggett ordered an attack towards Grandprà © by the 78th Division. The town fell after a ten-day battle. Breakthrough On November 1, following a massive bombardment, Liggett resumed a general advance all along the line. Slamming into the tired Germans, First Army made large gains, with the V Corps gaining five miles in the center. Forced into a headlong retreat, the Germans were prevented from forming new lines by the rapid American advance. On November 5, the 5th Division crossed the Meuse, frustrating German plans to use the river as a defensive line. Three days later, the Germans contacted Foch about an armistice. Feeling that the war should continue until the Germans unconditionally surrendered, Pershing pushed his two armies to attack without mercy. Driving the Germans, American forces allowed the French to take Sedan as the war came to a close on November 11. Aftermath The Meuse-Argonne Offensive cost Pershing 26,277 killed and 95,786 wounded, making it the largest and bloodiest operation of the war for the American Expeditionary Force. American losses were exacerbated by the inexperience of many of the troops and tactics used during the early phases of the operation. Germans losses numbered 28,000 killed and 92,250 wounded. Coupled with British and French offensives elsewhere on the Western Front, the assault through the Argonne was critical in breaking German resistance and bringing World War I to an end.

30 Things You Wish People Told You About College

30 Things You Wish People Told You About College This post is going to save tons of aspiring college students time, money, headaches, broken hearts, etc. Read it and discover 30 things you’ll be glad we told you about college. 1. â€Å"If possible, you should make sure the college you’re going to is accredited or it’s quite nearly a complete waste of time.† 2. â€Å"If the college isn’t worth a damn, you can get that same type/level degree through 2 year community college programs.† 3. â€Å"Community college credits transfer over to four year universities easily because of partnerships, while those from for-profit colleges do not.† 4. â€Å"Don’t take one class until you’re ABSOLUTELY SURE what your career path is. If that means waiting a bit and getting to work†¦do it.† 5. â€Å"Try not to miss a single job fair at your college†¦ever. It’s who you know in this world and how you know them, not what you know. Gather as much in-your-face time with potential employers in your field of study as possible.† 6. â€Å"Your ability to pass classes will get you a piece of paper with a shiny star, some highbrow writing with a nice font and your name on it. Your ability, or inability, to network will get you a great job or not.† 7. â€Å"Don’t just stick with what you know. Being the smartest guy in class is like being the coolest kid at nerd camp. Find something more challenging!† 8. â€Å"You should have your four years of college pretty much mapped out before you begin. You know exactly what classes you need and won’t waste any time or money.† 9. â€Å"Never procrastinate when it comes to signing up for important classes. Missing a class altogether can be a huge set-back.† 10. â€Å"Summer classes aren’t just for making up for your slack the year before, but also for getting an edge on the year to come.† 11. â€Å"It’s either get a job or an internship. Which one is more important to your career goals depends on your specific major. Keep in mind that once you enter the job market, an internship = experience.† 12. â€Å"Stay physically fit throughout college. It makes dating easier, the mind sharper and adds to the overall quality of your life during such a critically developmental stage. Plus people in shape get treated better and get more chances†¦sad but the truth nonetheless.† 13. â€Å"Yes, if you can and it doesn’t break some super-serious religious or moral inclination, go get some. Have sex! Most people don’t get to be around/sleep with young attractive college-age guys/gals much after college is over. Just protect yourself.† 14. â€Å"Studying abroad is something you should take advantage of while in college when you can get cheaper rates with tons of payoff. After college it becomes harder to travel like that without being in a career that requires it.† 15. â€Å"Make connections with important people like professors and those that work directly with anything having to do with internships. As they get more competitive it’s about who you know.† 16. â€Å"Keep a close eye on your reputation. It’s okay to be wild and crazy to a degree, but remember that someone’s always watching, especially when you’ve got high ambitions.† 17. â€Å"Do anything you can to save money on textbooks/non-textbooks for reading outside class. Is the college bookstore really the only place to get them? Heard of the internet?† 18. â€Å"Don’t be the poor college student who has to eat nothing but unhealthy crap all the time. Eat healthy! Do what it takes. Even if you have to wait tables in a local health-restaurant. Your brain takes up 30% of your daily recommended energy intake!† 19. â€Å"Don’t get swept up into the college blues. Depression sucks. It’s ridiculous. You’re young and in college rather than all the other horrible situations you could be in otherwise. Relax†¦Ã¢â‚¬  20. â€Å"Worry about being comfortable in your own skin. Be your own hero. Be your own best friend. After that new people will be attracted to you and making friends will be easy.† 21. â€Å"These college years ARE NOT going to be the best years of your life. You’re only getting started. College is transitory.† 22. â€Å"Taking a year off isn’t a good idea 90% of the time. Most never return and end up spending a fortune on a non-degree†¦Ã¢â‚¬  23. â€Å"Don’t depend on ANYONE else other than yourself to graduate. This includes advisors. Ultimately it’s your responsibility to take the classes you need.† 24. â€Å"Make sure you take any tech/computer classes seriously. The amount of human jobs in 2020 and beyond will be few.† 25. â€Å"Get a good amount of sleep each night. Seriously†¦Ã¢â‚¬  26. â€Å"Don’t get too comfortable.† 27. â€Å"Remember, most of the time the people in your class that are doing better than you aren’t smarter†¦they just work harder than you do.† 28. â€Å"Don’t be an idiot. Go to class!† 29. â€Å"Don’t just sit in class quite as a mouse or dozing off. Be engaged! This is costing money.† 30. â€Å"Take it easy with the gaming!† It’s your turn people. We couldn’t have possibly covered everything, so post a comment and tell everyone something you wish you had been told before doing the college thing.