Battle of Soissons (1918)

Battle of Soissons Part of the Western Front of World War I Date 18–22 July 1918 Location North-eastern France 49°22′54″N 03°19′25″E / 49.38167°N 3.32361°E / 49.38167; 3.32361Coordinates: 49°22′54″N 03°19′25″E / 49.38167°N 3.32361°E / 49.38167; 3.32361 Result Allied victory Belligerents  German Empire France  United States Commanders and leaders Erich Ludendorff Ferdinand Foch Strength At least 234,000 men, 210 planes At least 345,000 men, c. 478 tanks and unknown number of planes Casualties and losses 168,000 casualties of whom 56,700 died 107,000 casualties of whom 32,458 died

Western Front Belgium Halen Liège Dinant Namur Frontiers Charleroi Mons Great Retreat 1st Marne 1st Aisne Antwerp Race to the Sea Yser 1st Ypres Winter operations 1st Artois 1st Champagne Hartmannswillerkopf Neuve Chapelle 2nd Ypres 2nd Artois 2nd Champagne Loos 3rd Artois Verdun Somme Alberich Nivelle Arras 2nd Aisne Hills Messines 3rd Ypres (Passchendaele) La Malmaison 1st Cambrai Spring Michael Lys 3rd Aisne 2nd Marne Hundred Days Amiens

The Battle of Soissons (also known as the Battle of the Soissonnais and of the Ourcq (French: Bataille du Soissonnais et de L'Ourcq)* was a World War I battle, waged from 18–22 July 1918, between the French (with American assistance) and German armies.

*Le Soissonnais is the area surrounding the city of Soissons. The Ourcq is a river about 30 miles (48 km) to the south.

Ferdinand Foch, the Allied Supreme Commander, launched the offensive on 18 July; 24 French divisions and 2 U.S. divisions under French command, supported by approximately 478 tanks, sought to eliminate the salient that was aimed at Paris.

The Allies suffered 107,000 casualties (95,000 French and 12,000 American), while the Germans suffered 168,000 casualties.^[1]

The battle ended with the French recapturing most of the ground lost to the German Spring Offensive in May 1918.

Adolf Hitler, the future Führer of Nazi Germany, earned and was awarded the Iron Cross First Class at Soissons on August 4th 1918.

References

1. ↑ The Second Battle of the Marne, firstworldwar.com, accessed 3 September 2009