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Battle of Meuse-Argonne

Meuse-Argonne Offensive
Part of the Western Front of World War I
Map of the area, 1918
Map of the area, 1918.
Date 26 September – 11 November 1918
Location Argonne Forest, France
49°05′N 4°35′E / 49.09°N 4.58°E / 49.09; 4.58
Result Allied victory
Belligerents
 United States
 France
Flag of the Siamese Expeditionary Force in World War I (Obverse).svg Siam
 German Empire
 Austria-Hungary
Commanders and leaders
United States John J. Pershing
United States Hunter Liggett
United States Robert Lee Bullard
France Henri Gouraud
France Henri Berthelot
Flag of the Siamese Expeditionary Force in World War I (Obverse).svg Phraya Bhijai Janriddhi[]
German Empire Max von Gallwitz
German Empire Georg von der Marwitz
Units involved

United States AEF

France Fourth Army
France Fifth Army
Flag of the Siamese Expeditionary Force in World War I (Obverse).svg Siamese Expeditionary Force
German Empire 5th Army
Strength
United States AEF: 1,200,000 personnel
380 tanks
840 planes
2,780 artillery pieces
Flag of the Siamese Expeditionary Force in World War I (Obverse).svg Siamese Expeditionary Force: 850 personnel
450,000 personnel
Casualties and losses
Total: 192,000

United States: 122,063
26,277 killed
95,786 wounded
France: 70,000
Flag of the Siamese Expeditionary Force in World War I (Obverse).svg: 19 killed
Total: c. 126,000
28,000 dead
26,000 POWs taken by Americans
30,000 POWs taken by French
874 artillery pieces captured by both
Meuse-Argonne Offensive is located in France
Meuse-Argonne Offensive
Location of the Argonne Forest in the modern Grand Est région of France.

United States AEF

The Meuse-Argonne Offensive, also known as the Maas-Argonne Offensive and the Battle of the Argonne Forest, was a major part of the final Allied offensive of World War I that stretched along the entire Western Front. It was fought from 26 September 1918, until the Armistice of 11 November 1918, a total of 47 days. The Meuse-Argonne Offensive was the largest in United States military history, involving 1.2 million American soldiers, and was one of a series of Allied attacks known as the Hundred Days Offensive, which brought the war to an end. The battle cost 28,000 German lives and 26,277 American lives, making it the largest and bloodiest operation of World War I for the American Expeditionary Force (AEF), which was commanded by General John J. Pershing, and the deadliest battle in American history. American losses were exacerbated by the inexperience of many of the troops and tactics used during the early phases of the operation.

The Meuse-Argonne was the principal engagement of the AEF during World War I.

The logistical prelude to the Meuse attack was planned by then-Colonel George Marshall who managed to move American units to the front after the Battle of Saint-Mihiel. The big September/October Allied breakthroughs (north, centre and south) across the length of the Hindenburg Line – including the Battle of the Argonne Forest – are now lumped together as part of what is generally remembered as the Grand Offensive (also known as the Hundred Days Offensive) by the Allies on the Western Front. The Meuse-Argonne offensive also involved troops from France, while the rest of the Allies, including France, Britain and its dominion and imperial armies (mainly Canada, Australia and New Zealand), and Belgium contributed to major battles in other sectors across the whole front.


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