Battles of the Marne - Key Points

Overview

• Two major battles of the Marne during World War I:
  • First Battle of the Marne (September 5-12, 1914)
  • Second Battle of the Marne (July 15-August 5, 1918)

First Battle of the Marne

• Date and Location: September 5-12, 1914, near the Marne River, close to Paris, France.
• Combatants:
  • Allies: France (Joseph Joffre), United Kingdom (Sir John French)
  • Central Powers: German Empire (Helmuth von Moltke, Karl von Bulow, Alexander von Kluck)
• Strengths:
  • Allied troops: 1,071,000
  • German troops: 1,485,000
• Casualties:
  • Allies: Approximately 263,000 (80,000 dead French, 1,700 dead British)
  • Germans: Approximately 250,000
• Outcome: Strategic Allied victory.
• Significance:
  • Stopped German advance towards Paris.
  • Involved use of planes for reconnaissance and taxis for troop movements.
  • First significant battle on the Western Front leading to trench warfare.

Prelude to the First Battle

• By August 1914, Allies retreated towards Paris.
• German forces pressed into France, threatening Paris.
• Issues in coordination between British and French forces.
• The French army and British Expeditionary Force (BEF) planned a counter-attack on the German flank.

First Battle Highlights

• German tactical error exposed their flank.
• Allied forces detected the gap and attacked.
• Use of Paris taxis to transport French troops was crucial.
• Von Moltke’s nervous breakdown; German retreat began.
• Retreated 65 km, leading to stalemate and trench warfare.

Second Battle of the Marne

• Date and Location: July 15-August 6, 1918, near the Marne River, France.
• Combatants:
  • Allies: France, United Kingdom, United States
  • Central Powers: German Empire
• Casualties:
  • Allies: 125,000 (95,000 French, 13,000 British, 12,000 American)
  • Germans: 168,000
• Outcome: Decisive Allied victory.
• Significance:
  • Last major German offensive on the Western Front.
  • Led to a series of Allied victories.
  • Contributed to the signing of the armistice and Treaty of Versailles.

Prelude to the Second Battle

• German Spring Offensive failed.
• Ludendorff’s plan to attack through Flanders; diversion along the Marne.
• Heavy involvement of American troops.

Second Battle Highlights

• German attack divided French forces.
• Allied counter-offensive led to German retreat.
• Allied use of tanks and combined forces critical to success.
• Halted German advance permanently.

Aftermath

• The Battle of the Marne marked a turning point in World War I.
• Stalemate and trench warfare dominated the Western Front.
• Failed Schlieffen Plan resulted in prolonged war for Germany.
• Demonstrated importance of reconnaissance and tactical mobility.
• The battles are remembered for the morale boost and tactical innovations.

References and Further Reading

• Dupuy, Trevor Nevitt: A Genius for War
• Greenwood, Paul: The Second Battle of the Marne, 1918
• Spears, Edward: Liaison 1914 A Narrative of the Great Retreat

Visuals

• Maps and images of flags and commanders involved in the battle.
• Photographs of the Marne taxis used during the first battle.

These notes summarize the key events and outcomes of the Battles of the Marne during World War I, highlighting tactical maneuvers, combatant details, and the lasting impact on the war.