Battle of Grand Couronné

The Battle of Grand Couronné (French: Bataille du Grand Couronné) was an episode of the Battle of the Frontiers, at the beginning of the First World War. The battle was fought from the 4th to 13 of September 1914, between the 6th German Army commanded by Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria and the 2nd French Army commanded by Noel de Castelnau.

Background

After the failure of the Battle of Lorraine on August 20, 1914, the 2nd French Army retreated. It occupied the Grand Couronné; a series of heights near Nancy, on an arc of Pont-à-Mousson, Champenoux, Lunéville and Dombasle-sur-Meurthe. After the Battle of the Mortagne, a first attempt at opening at the junction point of the First and Second French Armies, the German troops decide to simultaneously attack Saint-Dié and Nancy at the time of the Battle of Grand Couronné.

After the failure of the Battle of Mortagne, the capture of Nancy would be an important German psychological victory. German Emperor Wilhelm II came in person to supervise the offensive.

In parallel with the German attack, pressure is placed on the Allied forces in the west and Castelnau must dispatch several divisions to reinforce the French 3rd Army.

The battle

The battle begins on the 4th by the starting of a German artillery bombardment. Many villages of the sector are destroyed. From September 5, in spite of heavy losses, the issue remains in doubt. On the 9th and 10th Nancy is bombarded.

On September 12, the Germans start a retreat under the protection of their artillery. On the 13th, Pont-à-Mousson and Lunéville are recaptured by the French without combat.

The French forces will continue to advance until close to the Seille river, where the front will stabilize until 1918.

Aftermath

The Battle of Grand Couronné and the Battle of Mortagne largely contributed to the allied success of the First Battle of the Marne, by fixing a large number of German troops in Lorraine. Castelnau was promoted to Grand cross of the Légion d'honneur on September 18, 1914.

See also

• WW1 France (Lorraine)
• Col de la Chipotte battle, Vosges, WWI
• Pierres Photo impressions of the Western Front - Alsace/Northern Vosges

References

• Bataille du Grand Couronné (in French) - Accessed 02 Oct 2009

Further reading