136: The German Spring Offensive’s End, or The Second Battle of the Marne

History That Doesn't Suck

ProfGregJackson

Education, History, Society & Culture

4.5 • 5.1K Ratings

🗓️ 19 June 2023

⏱️ 56 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

“Every time I have felt annoyed since then at France, this picture comes to mind and my anger softens.” This is the story of the Great War’s turning point. After a fourth and failed Spring Offensive operation, German General Erich Luddendorf is ready to make a fifth push. He’s making a pincer movement around the city of Reims, and to its west, on the banks of the Marne River, the US 3rd Division finds itself caught in a fight that the French present call worse than Verdun. It’s a slaughter, but their tenacity and unwillingness to surrender an inch of soil will earn these Yankees a new nickname: “the Rock of the Marne.” Seizing upon this German failure, Allied Supreme Commander Ferdinand Foch is ready to launch a counteroffensive. Doughboys are once again in the worst of it, fighting to take open fields from entrenched Germans near Soissons. Their sacrifices will help turn the tide of the war, but “sacrifice” is indeed the right word as tens of thousands of these young Americans will meet their end between the Aisne and Marne Rivers. ___ 4 Ways to dive deeper into History That Doesn’t Suck Join our growing facebook community Get our weekly newsletter, The Revolution Become part of the HTDS Patreon family Subscribe to Greg’s monthly newsletter, Connected History Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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0:00.0	History that doesn't suck is a bi-weekly podcast, delivering a legit, seriously research
0:03.5	hard-hitting survey of American history through entertaining stories.
0:06.4	If you'd like to support HTDS or enjoy bonus content, please consider giving at patreon.com-forutslash-history-that-doesn't-suck.
0:20.1	It's a beautiful summer morning, the 4th of July, 1918.
0:23.5	We're on the Chesapeake Bay's Virginia coast, and thousands of visitors are walking amid
0:28.4	the gorgeous greenery surrounding the home of the continental army commander and first
0:32.6	president of the United States.
0:34.7	George Washington.
0:36.2	That's right, we're at Mount Vernon, and thanks to the Mount Vernon Ladies Association
0:41.0	and current director Harrison Howell Dodge, the whole of these grounds and its various
0:45.2	buildings are immaculately preserved.
0:48.1	Everything about the cream-colored 2.5-story mansion home, it's several shuttered windows,
0:53.5	it's striking red roof, the dove of peace weather-bane atop the Coupola, as well as the
0:57.8	details of the flanking and matching detached one-story wings are all spot on.
1:03.5	You have to expect George himself to walk out the front door, but he's not the president
1:07.8	we're here to see this somber wartime independence day.
1:11.6	We're waiting on President Woodrow Wilson.
1:13.4	In fact, let's head around back and watch for his yacht on the Potomac River.
1:20.4	Standing amid the columns of this shaded 96-foot-long porch running the length of the mansion's
1:25.4	back side, the sight is unreal.
1:29.1	Just look at that view.
1:30.7	At the verdant grass, sloping down to reveal the tops of the trees farther below, and how
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