American Armies and Battlefields in Europe

16 April – 9 May 1917

Second Battle of the Aisne

EVENTS OF 1917 TO APRIL 6

Meanwhile the Allies had decided to undertake offensives on a large scale. In April, a few days after the United States declared war, the British began the Battle of Arras, and the French the Second Battle of the Aisne. These attacks gained some ground but the losses suffered by the attacking troops were very great, espe- cially in the battle on the Aisne. The results created a serious situation in the French Army and brought grave dis- couragement to the Allies. With Russia’s strength waning fast, this was almost final proof that without additional help the Allies would be unable to defeat Germany.

AMERICAN OPERATIONS IN THE AISNE-MARNE REGION

The 32d Division, after its relief on the Vesle River early in August, was assigned on August 23 to the French Tenth Army. That Army was then engaged in the Oise- Aisne offensive northwest of Soissons which, if successful, would force the Germans to withdraw from their posi- tions along the Vesle and Aisne Rivers.

AMERICAN OPERATIONS IN THE CHAMPAGNE REGION

After further fighting near the Aisne River the 36th Division was relieved from the line on October 28. Its fine accom- plishments in this region are even more creditable when it is considered that the division had been in France but two months, had never served at the front

INDEX — AMERICAN ARMIES AND BATTLEFIELDS IN EUROPE 545

Second Battle of the Aisne 7

27 May – 6 June 1918

Third Battle of the Aisne

EVENTS OF 1917 TO APRIL 6

Meanwhile the Allies had decided to undertake offensives on a large scale. In April, a few days after the United States declared war, the British began the Battle of Arras, and the French the Second Battle of the Aisne. These attacks gained some ground but the losses suffered by the attacking troops were very great, espe- cially in the battle on the Aisne. The results created a serious situation in the French Army and brought grave dis- couragement to the Allies. With Russia’s strength waning fast, this was almost final proof that without additional help the Allies would be unable to defeat Germany.

AMERICAN OPERATIONS IN THE AISNE-MARNE REGION

These characteristics had been amply demonstrated by the troops of the 1st Division in its capture of Cantigny, north of Paris, on May 28, and in its retention of that place despite repeated counter- attacks, as well as by the brilliant fight- ing of the 2d and 3d Divisions near Chateau-Thierry. They were finally

AMERICAN OPERATIONS IN THE AISNE-MARNE REGION

The 32d Division, after its relief on the Vesle River early in August, was assigned on August 23 to the French Tenth Army. That Army was then engaged in the Oise- Aisne offensive northwest of Soissons which, if successful, would force the Germans to withdraw from their posi- tions along the Vesle and Aisne Rivers.

AMERICAN OPERATIONS IN THE CHAMPAGNE REGION

After further fighting near the Aisne River the 36th Division was relieved from the line on October 28. Its fine accom- plishments in this region are even more creditable when it is considered that the division had been in France but two months, had never served at the front

28–31 May 1918

Battle of Cantigny

EVENTS OF 1917 TO APRIL 6

Meanwhile the Allies had decided to undertake offensives on a large scale. In April, a few days after the United States declared war, the British began the Battle of Arras, and the French the Second Battle of the Aisne. These attacks gained some ground but the losses suffered by the attacking troops were very great, espe- cially in the battle on the Aisne. The results created a serious situation in the French Army and brought grave dis- couragement to the Allies. With Russia’s strength waning fast, this was almost final proof that without additional help the Allies would be unable to defeat Germany.

AMERICAN OPERATIONS IN THE AISNE-MARNE REGION

These characteristics had been amply demonstrated by the troops of the 1st Division in its capture of Cantigny, north of Paris, on May 28, and in its retention of that place despite repeated counter- attacks, as well as by the brilliant fight- ing of the 2d and 3d Divisions near Chateau-Thierry. They were finally

AMERICAN OPERATIONS IN THE AISNE-MARNE REGION

The 32d Division, after its relief on the Vesle River early in August, was assigned on August 23 to the French Tenth Army. That Army was then engaged in the Oise- Aisne offensive northwest of Soissons which, if successful, would force the Germans to withdraw from their posi- tions along the Vesle and Aisne Rivers.

AMERICAN OPERATIONS IN THE CHAMPAGNE REGION

After further fighting near the Aisne River the 36th Division was relieved from the line on October 28. Its fine accom- plishments in this region are even more creditable when it is considered that the division had been in France but two months, had never served at the front

1–26 June 1918

Battle of Belleau Wood

AMERICAN OPERATIONS IN THE AISNE-MARNE REGION

proved beyond all doubt when the 2d Division, starting on the morning of June 6, struck back at the Germ.ans and after prolonged and bitter fighting recaptured from them the strong positions of Belleau Wood, Bouresches and Vaux.

AMERICAN OPERATIONS IN THE AISNE-MARNE REGION

side of the 3d, and some of its units encountered extremely heavy fighting. Northwest of Chateau-Thierry, the front of the American I Corps, held by a French division and the American 26th Division, which had relieved the 2d in the sector between Vaux and Torcy, was subjected to a heavy bombardment. The 2d, which had suffered over 8,100 casualties in the fighting near Belleau Wood, and the 4th Division were in reserve to the west of the salient. The 1st Division was northeast of Paris.

AMERICAN OPERATIONS IN THE AISNE-MARNE REGION

troops were relieved on the morning of July 21; and the 26th Division drove the Germans through the Bois de Bouresches and beyond, after hard fighting. Assisted part of the time by the 56th Infantry Brigade of the 28th Division, it con- tinued the pursuit until the 24th of July, when it was stopped near La Croix Rouge Farm, having made an advance of 10 miles and having suffered more

AMERICAN OPERATIONS IN THE AISNE-MARNE REGION

During the morning of June 6, the first of the many 2d Division attacks in this vicinity was launched from its line on the far side of the wood to the left front. This attack, made in conjunction with the French, resulted in a gain of about % mile. That afternoon a powerful as- sault against Belleau Wood was made from here and succeeded in obtaining a foothold in that part of the wood seen to the right. While advancing across the open fields to the right front, heavy casu- alties were suffered. During the course of the attack the village of Bouresches to the right at the foot of this hill, but not visible, was captured and held in spite of five de- termined attempts made by the Germans during the next few days to recapture it.

15–23 June 1918

Second Battle of the Piave River

JULY 26, 1918-APRIL 7, 1919

The regiment was first stationed near Lake Garda, where it trained in methods of warfare suitable for the difficult mountain terrain which comprised the greater part of the Italian theater of oper- ations. Early in October it moved to Treviso, behind the Piave River From;, where it was assigned to the Italian 31st Division. From there, for purposes of deceiving the enemy, it staged a series of marches in which each battalion, with

AMERICAN OPERATIONS IN ITALY AND NORTHERN RUSSIA 431

Ihe 332d Infantry Crossing the Piave River on a Ponton Bridge in Pursuit of the Austrians