- 456 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
About this book
In July 1918, sensing that the German Army had lost crucial momentum, Supreme Allied Commander Ferdinand Foch saw an opportunity to end the First World War. In drafting his plans for a final grand offensive, he assigned the most difficult sector—the dense Argonne forest and the vast Meuse River valley—to the American Expeditionary Forces under General John J. Pershing. There, the Doughboys faced thickly defended German lines with terrain deemed impossible to fight through. From September 26 through the November 11 armistice, US forces suffered more than 20,000 casualties a week, but the Allies ultimately prevailed in a decisive victory that helped to end the Great War.
In Thunder in the Argonne, Douglas V. Mastriano offers the most comprehensive account of this legendary campaign to date. Not only does he provide American, French, and British perspectives on the offensive, but he also offers—for the first time in English—the German view. Mastriano presents a balanced analysis of successes and failures at all levels of command, examining the leadership of the principals while also illuminating acts of heroism by individual soldiers.
The Meuse-Argonne Offensive is widely regarded as one of America's finest hours, and the amazing feats of Sergeant Alvin York, Major Charles Whittlesey of the Lost Battalion, and Lieutenant Sam Woodfill—all accomplished in the midst of this maelstrom—echo across the ages. Published to coincide with the centennial of the campaign, this engaging book offers a fresh look at the battle that forged the modern US Army
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Table of contents
- Cover
- Half title
- Title
- Copyright
- Dedication
- Contents
- Preface
- 1. The War That Changed the World
- 2. The German Attack of 1914 to the Crisis of 1918
- 3. Dithering, Dreaming, and Speechmaking
- 4. The Plan for Victory
- 5. St. Mihiel: The Risky Plan Before the Meuse-Argonne
- 6. Meuse-Argonne: Plan for Victory or Elusive Gambit?
- 7. The Americans Attack!
- 8. Grinding to a Halt in the Argonne: 27–30 September 1918
- 9. Stalling in the Meuse Valley: 27–30 September 1918
- 10. Securing Montfaucon and the Center of the Meuse Valley: 27–30 September 1918
- 11. Stagnation and Stalemate
- 12. The Siege of the Lost Battalion
- 13. Alvin York: A Conscientious Objector Wins the Day
- 14. Cracking the Siegfried Line
- 15. The Battle for the Siegfried Line Continues
- 16. Falling Short of Glory
- 17. Maintaining the Initiative
- 18. Planning for the Last Grand Push
- 19. Heaven, Hell or Hoboken
- 20. Mad Dash to Sedan
- 21. The End of the War
- 22. Aftermath and Commemoration
- Conclusion
- Acknowledgments
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Index