Lotan M., Ricky D., Ian C., Libby N., Pierce K.

The Second Battle of Marne was the waterloo of the German Empire, causing it to suffer catastrophic losses which contributed to its economic and military downfall, ending the war and impacting numerous countries in Europe and over seas. Thesis

Germany had achieved military success on both the Western and Eastern fronts in Europe Germany attempted the Spring Offensive which was a series of attacks along the Western front Attempted to strike as much as they could before America sent in their troops Was one of Germany’s last failures before the second Battle of the Marne Before the Battle

This was one of Germany’s last major Spring Offensive Most commanders knew the fate of the battle was not in favor of Germany Fought from July 15-August 5, 1918 as the war hauled to its end German Chief of Staff, Erich Ludendorff was convinced that the best chance of winning was by an attack in Flanders The 2 nd Battle of Marne-Plan

Ludendorff was determined to lure the Allied forces from Belgium, to the Marne for a diversionary attack On July 15, 23 German divisions of the First and Third Armies, under command of Mudra and Einem, attacked French Fourth Army to the east of Reims 17 divisions assisted by attacking the Sixth French Army in the west The 2 nd Battle of Marne-The Attack

85,000 U.S. forces from Sir Douglas Haig’s British Expeditionary Force (BEF) joined the French in Flanders East attack quickly failed for the Germans West of Reims attack was successful Breaking through the French Sixth Army and crossing the Marne Boehm with aid of six divisions, established a front line stretching 9 miles The 2 nd Battle of Marne-The Attack

Germans failed to break this line Ferdinand Foch, Allied Supreme Commander authorized a counter-offensive on July 18 Aim was to eliminate large German divisions Successful leading the Germans to order a retreat on July 20 August 3 the Germans returned to where they started: Aisne-Vesle Rivers The 2 nd Battle of Marne-The End

Germany- 168,000 French- 95,000 Britain- 13,000 U.S.- 12,000 Casualties

Ludendorff planned the Flanders offensive but it was postponed then canceled No further large scale strike to win the war was attempted by Germany Germany After

m 975/Second-Battle-of-the-Marne 975/Second-Battle-of-the-Marne history/second-battle-of-the-marne-begins-with- final-german-offensive history/second-battle-of-the-marne-begins-with- final-german-offensive Sources