Marne, Battles of the

Marne, Battles of the (World War I) (5–11 Sept. 1914, 15–20 July 1918) Two crucial battles at the start and end of World War I. In 1914, the Germans hoped to realize the Schlieffen Plan through rapidly conquering France. Having overrun neutral Belgium, they advanced to within 25 km of Paris. They crossed the River Marne on 6 September 1914 in an attempt to outflank a French counter-attack by Joffre. Eventually, they were forced to retreat, and moved north to the River Aisne where they dug in, setting the pattern of trench warfare for the next four years. On 21 March 1918 the Germans launched a strong offensive north of the Somme. This failed to break the Allied line and did not reach its objective of Amiens. On 15 July, however, Ludendorff renewed the attack further east. His troops crossed the Marne east of Château-Thierry and again Paris was threatened; but on 17 July Marshal Foch ordered his counter-attack, successfully using tanks. Thus the last German offensive of the war was repelled and all German hopes for victory dissolved in the subsequent Allied attack.