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Western Front: 1918: The Year of Decision
Reduction of the German Salients
1. Aisne-Marne
Offensive, July 18-August 61
2. Reduction
of the Amiens Salient, August 8 - September 3
3. St.Mihiel
Offensive, September 12-16
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Short Summaries:
REDUCTION OF THE MARNE SALIENT (Aisne Marne offensive;
July 18 - Aug. 6, 1918). General (later Marshal) Ferdinand Foch planned
to launch a general offensive as soon as the German drives had spent
themselves. First, however, it was necessary to reduce several salients
occupied by the Germans which restricted Allied lateral communications
along the front. The Marne salient, created during the third German
drive, was attacked by Allied forces, predominately French, from three
sides in July. In a brilliant operation the Allies forced the Germans
back to the Vesle and Aisne rivers, thus straightening the front
REDUCTION OF THE AMIENS SALIENT (Aug. 8-Sept. 3, 1918). The Amiens salient
was created during the first German drive. In August, Allied forces,
predominately British, strongly supported by tanks, forced the Germans
to give way and drove them back to the Hindenburg Line, from which they
had started their first drive in March.
REDUCTION OF THE ST.MIHIEL SALIENT (St.Mihiel offensive;
Sept. 12-16, 1918). The St.-Mihiel salient was created during the initial
German offensive in 1914 and had been practically dormant ever since.
The task of reducing the salient was given to the American First Army
(with one French corps attached) as its first operation as an independent
army. Appreciating their vulnerability in this exposed salient, the
Germans had begun to evacuate heavy equipment and materials before the
attack was launched. German resistance to the American attack was not
determined, and the salient was reduced in four days.
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