The Western Front, in the region today called Grand Est, saw the largest number of American soldiers in history fight in the Meuse–Argonne offensive. This epic confrontation was a critical battle in the final year of World War I, lasting from 26 September 1918 to 11 November 1918. This involved the largest contingent of American soldiers in any battle, with 1.2 million soldiers taking part. The American forces were joined by troops from France, while the other Allies, including Britain, Belgium, and France, also made significant contributions to major battles on the Western Front. The Meuse–Argonne offensive resulted in over 350,000 casualties, including 28,000 Germans, 26,277 Americans, and an unknown number of French. Despite these losses, the offensive played a critical role in bringing about the end of World War One.

The offensive was sparked after the Allied breakthroughs in September and October 1918, which included the Battle of the Argonne, described as the Grand Offensive by Allied forces on the Western Front. The Meuse–Argonne offensive marked a renewed vigor among the Allied forces, and its scale, bolstered by the inexperienced yet enthusiastic American soldiers, played a crucial role in leading directly to the Armistice of 11 November 1918. In Pandora's Box: A History of the First World War, German historian Jörn Leonhard notes that "American soldiers were well fed, but for a long time the supply of modern weapons and ammunition to combat units failed to meet requirements. The new Browning machine gun became available to American troops only toward the end of the war. And the most intensive traiinng behind the lines could not adequately prepare soldiers for the deadly efficiency of the machine guns, mortars, and gas directed at them from German defensive positions." (Leonhard 2018, 761) He also notes that American losses were low in relation to other Allies due to their late entry into the War.

The American attack began on 26 September, with the V and III Corps meeting their objectives. However, the 79th Division failed to capture Montfaucon, and the 28th attack came to a halt due to formidable German resistance. The inexperienced 37th Division also failed to capture Montfaucon d'Argonne. In detailing the war's devastation, author of A World Undone: The Story of the Great War, 1914 to 1918, G.J.Meyer writes "The BEF and the French were attacking the Hindenburg line, capturing soldiers by the thousands and guns by the hundreds, and the Americans and French were attacking on a forty-mile front in the Meuse-Argonne. The war had rarely been bloodier--the British took a hundred and eighty thousand casualties between August 2 and September 26. and the Americans would have twenty-six thousand killed and ninety-five thousand wounded in approximately the same period. But for the Allies such losses were made bearable by the hope that a satisfactory end was coming within sight." (Meyer 2007, 693)

Despite these setbacks, the Americans made headway when the 35th Division captured the village of Baulny, Hill 218, and Charpentry, and the 79th Division took Montfaucon. The Germans, however, rallied and launched a significant counterattack on 29 , deploying six divisions to oppose the Americans. The 5th Guards and the 52nd Division counterattacked the 35th Division, which was out of food and ammunition. The Americans were able to repulse the Germans, however, thanks to the 35th Division's 110th Engineers, 128th Machine Gun Batt., and Harry Truman's Battery D, 129th Field Artillery.

During this phase, the 1st Division created a gap in the lines, advancing 1.6 miles against the 37th, 52nd, and 5th Guards Divisions. The Lost Battalion event occurred during this phase, and the battalion was rescued by an attack by the 28th and 82nd Divisions on 7 October. The Americans went on to launch a series of costly frontal assaults that finally broke through the main German defenses between 14-17 October. Brigadier General MacArthur led the Rainbow Division, which was able to take Côte de Châtillon after exposing a gap in the German defenses. This victory at Côte de Châtillon marked the turning point of the Meuse–Argonne offensive. By the end of October, American troops had advanced ten miles and cleared the Argonne Forest, while the French had advanced twenty miles, reaching the Aisne River.

On 8 October, Corporal Alvin York made his famous capture of 132 German prisoners near Cornay. By 31 October, the Americans had advanced 9.3 miles and had cleared the Argonne Forest. On their left, the French had advanced 19 miles, reaching the River Aisne. The American forces reorganized into two armies, with the First led by Gen. Liggett moving to the Carignan-Sedan-Mezieres Railroad, and the Second Army, led by Lt. Gen. Bullard, directed to move eastward toward Metz.

The American troops captured German defenses at Buzancy, allowing French troops to cross the River Aisne, when they capturing Le Chesne. In the final days, the French forces conquered Sedan and its critical railroad hub on November 6, while American forces captured surrounding hills. News of the German armistice on 11 November put an end to the fighting. The suddeness of the War's end affected both sides differently. In Sons of Freedom: The Forgotten American Soldiers Who Defeated Germany in World War I, author Geoffrey Wawro illustrates this stark difference "A platoon leader in the 89th Division was stunned by the contrasting reacitons to the armistice on the two sides of the Meuse. The Americans on the left bank 'just gave a sigh. They lay down, some went to sleep; others started writing letters.' But on the right bank 'the Germans were cheering, laughing, singing, just going crazy.' Their bands thundered away--'all these german songs--you know, dee-boom-boom, dee-boom-boom. all that brass they use. We were beginning to wonder who the hell had won the thing.' Father Francis Duffy, the chaplain of the Rainbows, recalled nothing but grief. 'I could think of nothing except the fine lads who had come out with us to this war and who are not alive to enjoy this triumph. All day I had a lonely and aching heart.'" (Wawro 2018, 475-476)

Bibliography

Beckett, Ian F. The Great War: 1914-1918. London: Routledge, 2014.

Hart, Peter. The Great War: A Combat History of the First World War. Oxford: Oxford University Press, USA, 2013.

Herwig, Holger H. The First World War: Germany and Austria-Hungary 1914-1918. London: Arnold, 1997.

Leonhard, Jörn. Pandora’s Box: A History of the First World War. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2018.

Lloyd, Nick. The Western Front: A History of the Great War, 1914-1918. New York: Liveright Publishing, 2021.

Meyer, G.J. A World Undone: The Story of the Great War, 1914 to 1918. New York: Bantam, 2007.

Stevenson, David. 1914-1918: The History of the First World War. London: Penguin, 2004.

Wawro, Geoffrey. Sons of Freedom: The Forgotten American Soldiers Who Defeated Germany in World War I. New York: Basic Books, 2018.