American Troops in the Second Battle of Marne

The conflict around the Marne River was a watershed moment in World War I’s development. This was the defining moment of the war, beginning with the last German offensive uprising and quickly followed by the first allied victory (Doughboy, 2008). Over 250 American soldiers were part of an expeditionary force led by Marshal Ferdinand Foch and fighting under French command. They were crucial in the early defensive and subsequent offensive phases of the Marne conflict. Over thirty thousand American troops died in this war, causing the United States to suffer a massive loss of lives during the Great War battles (Doughboy, 2008). This paper focuses on the weaponry used in the battle and the soldiers’ experiences to assess the unique role played by American troops in the Second Battle of the Marne.

The Role of the American Troops at the Second Battle of Marne

The American troops played various roles during the battle, but their primary role in the war was to reinforce the French army. The American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) were sent to aid the French and British forces when the Germans launched a major offensive in the Marne region in July 1918. According to Mason (2010), the fourth Infantry Division was the first American troops to arrive in the Marne on July 18, 1918, halting the German advance and pushing them back.

American troops provided vital reinforcements and artillery support to the Allied forces, allowing the Allies to gain an advantage over the Germans. Besides, Americans provided morale boosts to Allied troops, as their presence inspired hope and confidence in the Allied forces. According to Mason (2010), the French believed that the United States would provide them with the best defence possible during the war, considering that the first French defences were inferior to the American defences. German forces’ entry into France was partly slowed due to American military efforts. The bombing of the Marne Bridge severely hampered German reinforcements, making it difficult for German troops to obtain fresh ammunition and weapons. The American forces’ artillery units enabled them to provide the necessary support in terms of weapons and soldiers; thus, the American artillery battalion was well-known from the Revolutionary War on.

On August 8, 1918, American troops led the charge against the German lines, aided by tanks and artillery. The attack was successful, and the Germans were forced to retreat; this victory was a watershed moment in the war, mainly due to the American Expeditionary Forces’ efforts.

Weaponry used by soldiers in World War I

As soldiers relied heavily on rifles during battle, participating armies in World War I used various rifle designs; for example, the British primarily used rifles. The bolt-action rifle was the most commonly used type, capable of firing up to 15 bullets per minute and killing an opponent at a distance of 1,500 meters (Historynet, 2014). The machine gun was extensively used; five or six men were required to finally get it to the floor because it had more firepower than a rifle. Based on a Hiram Maxim design from 1884, these machine guns were designed to fire between 450 and 600 bullets per minute, making it easy for soldiers to repel enemy attacks.

Tanks were a new invention during World War I, which were used to break through enemy lines due to their heavy armour and ability to withstand much damage from enemy fire. According to Historynet (2014), the British first used tanks in the First World War. They deployed approximately 470 tanks to fight their opponents as they were battlefield ships that supported infantry attacks. On the other hand, trench mortars were used to fire projectiles over short distances and attack enemy trenches and bunkers. They could also be used to launch smoke or gas shells. During World War I, Britain introduced more modern mortars than its competitors, as British mortars could launch three shells per minute. To counter the British, the Germans eventually adopted mortars with 10-inch barrels and metal ball munitions, as supposed by Historynet (2014).

Gas was also used as a weapon; the Germans allegedly used chlorine gas for the first time in 1915, encompassed with mustard gas, which produced a thick fog-like substance that caused extreme discomfort. Therefore mustard gas was frequently used to cause confusion and chaos among enemy forces; however, it took 12 hours for the mustard gas, the deadliest weapon ever used, to do any damage. Mason (2010) depicts that, throughout the conflict, the spaceship-like Zeppelin was also employed by the Germans as a bombing weapon against their adversaries, but it was abandoned later at war due to its ease of detection Bayonets, which looked like knife swords, were widely used by the French army; the accessories were sometimes attached to the end of a gun. Another vital weapon used during the conflict was coal and sulfur, which were used as burning fuels. Many weapons were used, including flamethrowers, U-boats, Q-ships, artillery, barbed wire, pistols, and countless others.

The soldiers’ experiences at the war

A simple crush of army soldiers manoeuvring across a vast area of limits gave way to a massive battle with losses measured in yards across the involved borders. Photographs taken at the front by brave photographers reveal the harrowing conditions in which men fought. The soldiers’ lives and experiences on the front became intolerable, particularly in the west. A swarm of refugees and injured soldiers filled the air with a haze of mud, strange mysteries, and blood. According to Lengel (2017), the conflict was disastrous for American army platoons, who frequently fled from landslides, freezing winds and rain that fed off of them, exhaustion, and a lack of sleep before fighting the bloodiest war in American history.

Many soldiers committed suicide rather than risk being overrun as they realized how hopeless their situation in the trenches was and how close their adversaries were (Mason, 2010). Soldiers would go for several days without food or water while waiting for reinforcements; this was made clear in a letter from an abandoned trench in Cates to Major Thomas in Holcomb, pleading for reinforcements and supplies because leaving the trench would be equivalent to suicide (Doughboy, 2008). Soldiers endured a gruelling experience while fighting in the trenches as it was frequently muddy, cramped, and reeked of death. Because there were often bodies of dead soldiers and decomposing corpses in the mud, the trenches reeked of death. This odour was unmistakable, and many soldiers experienced nausea and vomiting. According to Doughboy (2008), food was frequently scarce in the trenches, as soldiers had to ration their meagre supplies. Many soldiers were forced to consume stale or mouldy food; some even ate rats or other animals. In addition, common trench injuries included shrapnel wounds, gas poisoning, and trench foot, as soldiers were frequently forced to suffer from these injuries without proper medical care. Nonetheless, rats and lice were a common problem in the trenches because they thrived in a confined and filthy environment, biting soldiers and spreading disease.

Conclusion

Overall, American troops were critical in the Second Battle of the Marne and subsequent battles with the Germans. Their presence provided critical reinforcements, artillery support, and morale boosts, allowing the Allies to gain an advantage over the Germans and ultimately win the war. As soldiers relied heavily on rifles, tanks, gas, and new weaponry during World War I, participating armies used various rifle designs. Unfortunately, soldiers endured a gruelling experience while fighting in the trenches. It was frequently muddy, cramped, and reeked of death. Soldiers had to wait in the trenches long before being called upon to fight and risk their lives for their country. The trenches were filled with the stench of death; food was frequently scarce, and poisoning, rats, and lice were common, resulting in a horrifying experience.

References

Doughboy C., (2008). SECOND BATTLE OF THE MARNE. http://www.worldwar1.com/dbc/2marne.htm

Historynet (2014). Weapons of World War I. http://www.historynet.com/weapons-of/world-war-i.htm

Lengel, E. G. (2008). To Conquer Hell: The Meuse-Argonne, 1918 The Epic Battle That Ended the First World War. Henry Holt and Company.

Mason, P. (2010). Live working or die fighting: How the working class went global. US: Haymarket Books.