The The Meuse Heights to the Armistice: Meuse-Argonne 1918

The Americans had initial success in their offensive against the Germans in the Meuse-Argonne in September 1918, but the attack became bogged down due to the Hindenburg System and logistical challenges. The presence of German artillery on the right bank of the Meuse created severe problems for the American commanders and their troops. Eventually, sufficient resources were allocated for an American-French attack on the right bank to remove the German artillery and push the Germans off the Meuse Heights. The terrain was rugged and heavily wooded, and the defending troops were not high quality, but the area includes significant vestiges of the war, including observation bunkers and shelters, and the traces of part of the Maginot Line. There is a tour dedicated to Henry Gunther, the last American soldier to be killed in action in the Great War, who is examined and his last action is placed on the ground.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 02 February 2022
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

The Americans achieved significant initial success when they launched their massive offensive against the Germans in the Meuse-Argonne in the final days of September 1918. However, the attack did not proceed as smoothly as planned, and it became bogged down due to several lines of the Hindenburg System and logistical challenges. A major additional obstacle was the presence of German artillery batteries on the high ground on the right bank of the Meuse, which were almost untroubled by any significant assaults by the allied forces. These guns posed severe problems for the American commanders and their troops.

Despite these challenges, sufficient resources were eventually allocated for an American-French attack on the right bank of the Meuse. The objective was to remove the German artillery and push the Germans off the Meuse Heights, which was part of a renewed offensive on the Left Bank and the Argonne Forest. The action often took place over ground that had already seen fierce fighting during the Battle of Verdun in 1916 and the French offensive of late summer 1917. It involved the difficult achievement of getting large bodies of troops over the River Meuse and its associated canal.

The terrain in the Meuse-Argonne region is rugged and heavily wooded, making it challenging for the American and French troops to maneuver. They often had to fight uphill and against German defenses that had been developed over the previous twelve months. However, the quality of the defending troops was not high, as Germany faced significant pressure in other sectors and included a significant number of Austro-Hungarian troops. Popular opinion tends to dismiss the fighting quality of these Austrian troops, who, in fact, performed well.

The tours of the Meuse-Argonne region take visitors through some beautiful countryside, offering stunning views of the Meuse and the Woevre Plain. There are significant remnants of the battles fought in this area, including monuments, cemeteries, and battlefields. These tours provide a valuable opportunity to learn about the sacrifices made by the soldiers who fought in this region and to appreciate the terrain that played a crucial role in the outcome of World War I.

Weight: 526g
Dimension: 140 x 216 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526796172